PRODUCER OF GRAVEYARD FILMWORKS SPEAKS
As they promised, Cinescape present Graveyard Filmworks producer David E. Allen and his side of the story as to how he came to be involved with BOO, the feature-length directorial debut of Cinescape Editor-in-Chief Anthony C. Ferrante. Allen will also speaks of what plans are in store for future Graveyard films including his own directing gig, SERVANTS FROM THE DARK and more about what that film is about, all exclusive for our retinal input outlets!
And off we go:
Q: What attracted you to BOO? What made you decide that this script should be Graveyard’s first release?
ALLEN: We read about horror every day in the papers and on CNN. BOO is a great tale of horror because it is not beyond the imagination that something like a group of young adults could do, venturing into an abandoned, supposedly haunted hospital and getting trapped. It was well written and Anthony had a good vision of what he wanted to do with it. Plus, in the great spots of the script, it can get damn scary!
Q: What inspired you to launch Graveyard Filmworks?
ALLEN: Since starting Kismet in 2000, one of my goals has been to give emerging talent a break in the movie business. We did just that with Neil Marshall on DOG SOLDIERS, a film that he had tried to get made for six years. In my travels to various festivals and events, I have met a lot of young talent and seen a lot of exciting new visions. With Graveyard, we can give this new talent the ‘leg up’ that they need to get noticed. Plus I just love making horror pictures!
Q: What makes a movie a ‘Graveyard Filmworks’ picture?
ALLEN: Well, as I have said before, if the story scares the shit outta me, I want to make it! I want to see new takes on story ideas, fresh characters that are not stale, creative use of camera and light. But most certainly, it must be horrific and terrifying!
Q: ALLEN: What was so cool about SERVANTS OF THE DARK that made you want to direct this picture?
ALLEN: I was very impressed with SERVANT because the writing was some of the best I’ve ever read; Tony [Anthony Valletta, the screenwriter] did an incredible job, and I think he really had a great take for a psychological horror film. Again, it was very spooky in the high points. I easily saw this film coming together scene by scene within my mind’s eye. I have acted in and directed alot of theater, and feel that I know how to talk to actors. I have been looking for something to entice me to direct for several years now. SERVANT OF THE DARK is definitely an actor’s piece and I believe that that is why I jumped at the chance to direct it. Plus, once again, it just scared the hell out of me!!
Graveyard Filmworks has five projects in development: the aforementioned BOO (which will be the first film the company will release); SERVANT OF THE DARK, directed by David E. Allen and written by Anthony Valletta; CEMETARY GATES, written by Brian Patrick O’Toole; and a to-be-announced fourth film to be directed by Dagen Merrill. As well, work on a sequel and a possible prequel to DOG SOLDIERS is underway.
Courtesy of Cinescape
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