(Q)
What exactly is Consultant Producer, how big of a role did you play,
and how did you help write Bad Taste?
(A) I was hired by the Film Commission (Jim Booth, CEO) to be Consultant
Producer as Peter had no professional experience. They wanted someone
to look after the money they were going to put up, and co-ordinate
all the facilities. It was the first time I had 'made' somebody
elses film. I worked for the film, not the Commission, even though
they were paying me. I was piggy in the middle but the important
thing was completing the film as effectively as possible. I pulled
together a lot of gear and materials from within the Wellington
film industry, from places like FEC, then run by Brian Kassler.
There was a lot of support that people offered for nothing, just
to help cut a new path with a new talent. Not everybody approved
of course, some of the film aesthetes didn't think the Filmcom should
be putting money into a weekend splatter flick. Those doubters ought
to be eating their words now.
The script was not finished when I came on board. So Peter and I
spent time sorting out a better ending than was loosely proposed.
Plus I wrote some dialogue. Nothing extraordinary.
In published articles from the period (87/88) Peter said that I
contributed a lot to the film. I think I just did my job but I think
I did it very well.
(Q)Were you interested in making films before starting work on
Bad Taste?
(A)Yes. I had a number of projects of my own I was trying to
get going.
(Q) I heard from Mike that you helped get his bands song onto
the
soundtrack, how did you do that?
(A) By arranging a composer for the major sound track (Michelle
Scullion) with the provision that a track be done by Mike and
another by Terry. This was a
compromise as originally Peter had said they could do the entire
film music
track. I felt we needed a professional with film experience, so
that was the
deal. Michelle did the music, Mike did the title track, Terry
did 'the boys'
heavy metal played in their car.
(Q) Did you ever think bad Taste would become popular, also,
what do you
say when you think about how many people are into it?
(A) I think it's great so many people are into Bad Taste. I was
into it myself,
not that I like splatter especially, more that I like renegade
films, people
who break the rules and push the envelope. That's what I liked
about Peter's
work and approach. I never made any forecast for the film, I just
liked
doing it. It was a lot of fun. All anyone can do is their best,
and that's
what everybody tried to do. The result was not a huge surprise,
nice to see,
really. Very nice.
(Q) How did you land the role of the Zookeeper in Braindead?
(A) Peter asked me if I'd play it.
(Q) When you were writing the dialogue, were you just mucking
around
writing jokes or did you seriously think about what they could
say?
(A) Things had to be said. If an appropriate gag can help the
line, fine. We
were trying to make it work, not mucking around.
(Q) I see that on Internet Movie Database you have only directed
Jack Brown Genius, are you going to make any more films?
(A) I have made a lot of other films, doco's (Good Taste Made
Bad Taste) etc. As far as another feature
goes, wait and see. As long as I'm alive, anything can happen.
(Q) Can you remember which 3rd Class Alien(s) you played?
