SCREENWRITER
black out the memory of that horrific event.
Tell us about the mask
The Mask was created by Monster Matt Patterson. I texted Matt the moment I created the Adam Lynch character and told him the premise. I told him what I wanted, but told him to have fun with it. The mask if you look closely has dates and initials placed inside of it. It has my initials, Matt's initials, and important dates carved into it like my wedding. These are meant to be the initials of his victims and the dates that he committed these heinous acts. Also, the mask is supposed to be the flesh of his victims sewn and stapled together, much like LeatherFace. I intentionally did this as a nod to Tobe Hooper and Leatherface, because you cannot make a skin mask without giving love to the creator of that type of mask.
one batch was also made with soy sauce, and I still feel sorry for my wife and Stephanie Tupper for having to use that batch of fake blood for their scenes.
What would you say to inspiring filmmakers?
I would say don't let anyone tell you you can't make a film. Also, don't wait around to make a film because you don't have all of the equipment. I was at a convention where a guy came up to me and said he wanted to make a movie. I said he should definitely go and do it and he said he still didn't have all the equipment so he wouldn't do it. This guy looked to be about sixty years old. Do not wait on equipment. Go and rent the equipment and go film the movie. By the time you gain all of the equipment by saving and waiting, it will be inadequate and something new and shinier will be out. Also, don't be afraid of getting bad reviews or having people judge it. Not everyone is going to like what you make. Just don't let anyone deter you from setting your goals and reaching for your dreams. I always wanted to create a horror slasher that was fun and people got behind, and I have done it. I can honestly say the coolest thing I have constantly heard from reviewers if that they want more of ADAM LYNCH in the sequel. I cannot wait to give them just that, another fun horror/slasher with a horror character they love to root for.
Later we decided to make the fake trailer for next weeks ASSLYS TRUE AMERICAN HORROR, to try and add more realism to the overall film.
Without any money, how
Who had the idea of making a movie within a movie?
That idea came from the CoDirector John Sovie II. When we filmed SLEDGE we only had 67 minutes of footage. That would not be long enough for a feature. So he brought up the idea of a girl sitting on the couch watch television and the film is SLEDGE. So I added the Assly's True American Horror Segment to it, and that is how the movie within a movie happened.
did you make SLEDGE?
Sledge in total was made for about $2000. To break it down for you, $1200 went to airfaire to fly myself, my mom and my wife up to New York. The other $800 was used to rent the lenses for the camera, buy the clothes, make the mask and create the blood. I have told people since we started filming that the best thing to do is rent the equipment. John already had the camera, so we rented the lenses and made all of the fake blood ourselves. The blood was primarily red food dye, corn syrup and cocoa powder. However,
September 2013
AZ FILMMAKER 31