Blog Archives
Interview with War Machine’s Topher Grace
Biff Bam Pop! Founder and Contributing Writer Andy Burns, and other interviewers, had a chance recently to chat with actor Topher Grace, who folks might remember from That ’70s Show and as Venom in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3, and now stars in Netflix’sWar Machine with Brad Pitt. Come join us for this fascinating discussion after the jump.
Andy Burns Interviews Actress Carolina Bartczak of X-Men: Apocalypse
Earlier this week I had the opportunity to speak with Canadian actress Carolina Bartczak, known for her work in Smurfs 2 and Brick Mansions. In X-Men: Apocalypse, opening this week in North America, Carolina plays the small, yet pivotal role of Magda, Magneto’s (Michael Fassbender) wife. Meet me after the jump for the interview.
Marie Gilbert Interviews John Paul Ruttan and Ella Ballentine of Against the Wild 2: Survive the Serengeti
A few days ago, I posted a review of a new film, Against the Wild 2: Survive the Serengeti. I really enjoyed the film and, so will you. I also had the pleasure of interviewing the producer/director Richard Boddington which you can read here. I wanted to ask the two young stars of the film what they loved best about doing this film. Join me after the jump with my interview of John Paul Ruttan. Read the rest of this entry
Against the Wild 2: Survive the Serengeti, with Producer/Director Richard Boddington
I was asked to view a film called Against the Wild 2: Survive the Serengeti which was written, produced and directed by Richard Boddington. The review of the film will be followed by an interview with Boddington. What if your backyard was the Serengeti and your children were lost? Read the rest of this entry
Interview with This Changes Everything’s Co-Producer, Katie McKenna
The word on This Changes Everything, the latest documentary film from the socially charged husband and wife team Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein, is starting to spread. After debuting this past September at the Toronto International Film Festival to resounding applause from its audience, the film is already premiering around the world in a unique and ultra-relevant way.
Exclusive: Andy Burns talks to Lost After Dark Director Ian Kessner
Earlier this week we spoke with Kendra Timmins, one of the stars of the new 80s slasher throwback film Lost After Dark. Today, we offer for your consideration our email conversation with the film’s director, Ian Kessner. As you’ll see from our chat, Ian is passionate filmmaker with a love for the genre. On that note, let’s get right to it:
Andy Burns: Ian, congrats on Lost After Dark. I had a lot of fun watching it with a crowd – everyone was in on the nods and winks to horror films past. Which films from the genre did you grow up loving, and why?
Ian Kessner: Watching it with a crowd is the best. Hearing them laugh and scream in all the right places brings joy to my heart. Some of my favorite slashers growing up were Friday the 13th, Halloween, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Happy Birthday To Me, Sleepaway Camp, My Bloody Valentine, and A Nightmare on Elm Street. I saw them all on VHS rentals I managed to get my young hands on. I think they had such a big impact on me because they were a safe way for me to experience fear and death from the relative comfort of my safe suburban home. Read the rest of this entry
Exclusive: Andy Burns talks to Lost After Dark’s Kendra Timmins
Today (September 1st, 2015) sees the release of the new horror film, Lost After Dark. Co-written by Bo Ransdell and Ian Kessner and directed by Kessner, the film is set in Spring 1984, when are group of high school friends decide to take off for the weekend to spend a few nights at Adrienne’s (Kendra Timmins) family’s cottage. However, things take a turn for the worse when the school bus the friends have stolen breaks down, leaving them stranded on a deserted road, near an abandoned house that’s sole occupant is Junior Joad, a long-thought cannibal killer. Mayhem and murder ensues.
I had the chance to check out a screening of Lost After Dark at the end of August with cast and crew in attendance, and I enjoyed the film quite a bit. It’s a love letter to ’80s horror films and knows exactly what it is. While it’s a little long at times, there are some genuine shocks and surprises throughout, and you can’t say that about every horror film out there.
Lost After Dark’s lead actress Kendra Timmins was kind enough to answer some questions via email about the film, the shoot and much more.
Andy Burns: Kendra, I was at the screening at the SoHo and the audience seemed to have a great time – what’s it like watching Lost After Dark with a crowd?
Kendra Timmins: It might sound strange, but it’s actually such a relief to see Lost After Dark with an audience. We knew as actors that we had something really fun to work with in terms of a script and a genre, but because it’s set in the 80s and an homage to a genre that is beloved by so many horror fans, that can easily be lost on an audience. So hearing people laugh and scream and have fun in all the right places, is so gratifying as an actor.
Exclusive: Andy Burns talks with Ejecta directors Matt Wiele and Chad Archibald
Ejecta is a science-fiction thriller that combines found footage and real film to create a unique viewing experience. Filmed on location in Collingwood, Ontario, Ejecta stars genre favourite Julian Richings as a reclusive writer/blogger Bill Cassidy, whose experience with extraterrestrials has him in the sights of a clandestine group who are eager to learn what he witnessed the night of a solar storm.
Biff Bam Pop was lucky enough to chat with co-directors Matt Wiele and Chad Archibald over email about Ejecta, the creation of the story, filming on location, and much more.
Andy Burns: Matt and Chad, congrats on a very trippy and cool movie. Can you talk to us about how Ejecta came to be?
Matt Wiele: Trippy is good! Glad you got a high from watching it. Ejecta, in it’s original form, came about through wanting to make a tense “found footage” or “POV” style film that centered around a small scale alien crash and the claustrophobic aftermath of what that might look like. The evolution of the film and the story happened after shooting the initial material and wanting to expand on it. Make it bigger and better while still keeping it set amongst a small number of characters with opposing interests in the alien presence and witnessed/recorded crash.
Chad Archibald: Initially I had worked on the film on a different capacity and I loved the concept and the entire experience. I had worked with Matt in the past but it was exciting seeing him in the directors chair oppose to producing. I think everyone was excited to be making an alien flick with a bit of a twist, along with the fact that Julian was in it. After the film was cut together, the team decided to take the found footage element and push the movie even further. I was asked to come on board to help direct the additional segments of the film and Ejecta in it’s current state is what we came up with!
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Daniel Reed talks to Berkshire County director Audrey Cummings
Horror films are just as unpredictable to create as they are to watch. Audrey Cummings, director of Berkshire County, knows this. In her latest work and first feature-length picture, she presents all the ingredients necessary to the babysitter in peril story. However, even with so much aligned in her favour, the process to completion has been rigorous, demanding, and rewarding.
Biff Bam Pop Interview: Ron McKenzie talks to SPRING’s Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead
Horror Cinema has been experiencing a rennaisance as of late, with indies such as THE BABADOOK and IT FOLLOWS being prime examples of this “new blood” transfusion. Now, we can add SPRING to the list of genre trailblazers.
The sophomore effort by writer/director duo, Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (and the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2012 debut, RESOLUTION ), SPRING details the whirlwind romance between Evan (Lou Taylor Pucci) and Louise (Nadia Hilker). Evan is an American ex-pat, dealing with grief and a personal emotional tailspin. Louise is a genetics student dealing with … well, secrets of her own. Deep, dark monstrous secrets. With brilliant practical special FX by Masters FX, bolstered by the solid performances and red-hot chemistry between Pucci and Hilker as well as the sumptuous and eerie beauty of Italy, SPRING is a rare beast in every sense of the word. Weaving horror, sci-fi and romance into a cohesive and fascinating whole that’s been described as “Before Sunrise, as re-imagined by Clive Barker.” A good-enough description for a film that defies comparisons. There’s been a lot of hype for SPRING. I’m happy to report that it’s completely warranted.
I had the chance to sit down with Benson and Moorhead in advance of last Friday’s premiere screening, to talk about SPRING’s genesis, the search for their film’s young lovers, mythology and monsters. Read the rest of this entry
