EXCLUSIVE Interview with the Directors of Flesh Crawl

Posted By : deadmanwalkin, Wednesday Dec,31
Filed Under : ,

One of the best parts about this job is finding out about new horror films, especially independent films like this new upcoming film by first time directors Dustin Bennett and Troy Collins - Flesh Crawl. Outside of being one of the fasting moving films in the Horror Movie Tomb, currently ranked 262 out of 1,920 films..that's pretty impressive since I we first broke the story on this movie a little over a week ago.

Now Dustin and Troy have been cool enough to give Horror Movies.ca the "exclusive first" interview for Flesh Crawl.. so without further waiting peeps.. it's storytime with the deadman.

Q. Dustin Bennett and Troy Collins, first off I'd like to thank you for taking the time in doing this interview - very cool of you.

Dustin: You're quite welcome, it's our pleasure!

Troy: Absolutely, no problem.

Q.  Before we get into "Flesh Crawl". tell us a little bit about yourselves. How long have you been directing? Is this your first feature film? Have you done any others (short films maybe)?

Dustin:  This is our first feature length production, we did work together on a short test production prior to "Flesh Crawl" and realized we may have something good going on.

Troy: Dustin had asked me to help him work on what was going to be a short for the annual Short Screamers TV festival, but well, one thing led to another and it just grew.

Q.  Both you and Troy Collins are credited with the "concept" of Flesh Crawl. How did the story come about, what where some of your inspirations?

Dustin: George Romero! Seriously, Troy and I have been close friends since we were in kindergarten together and spent many days together as kids watching Horror films and Godzilla movies in the mid-seventies together.

I can vividly remember watching the original "Dawn of the Dead" and "The Gates of Hell' with him and just loving that creeped out feeling I got after viewing movies of that genre....its a feeling you just don't get with modern Horror films anymore, I want to give the audience that same feeling again.

Troy:  I agree completely with Dustin. I thought that I had sort of left horror films behind as a relic of my youth until we ran into each other again and I started watching all the "Classics" again. I realized that nothing current gave me the same thrill as those original films. So when Dustin suggested working on something adopting that DIY feel, I naturally say OK

Q.  In this film, are you trying to relay any type of social commentary, or just make one "kick ass" zombie film?

Dustin:  A little of both actually. A great Zombie film needs some type of social commentary. Without it...it's gore for the sake of gore. I can't reveal too much about it though without giving up some crucial plot points.

Troy:  I will add that when Dustin asked for my help with this project, I insisted that we had to work an anti-government angle into the proceedings, otherwise I didn't see the point in it. Without giving away any of the story or plot, I will say this: Most zombie genre films tend to place the blame on "the government" in general, or an accident, or remain simply unexplained. Although we have a government tie in on our film, as anyone can guess from some of the pictures online, we have added a little twist, lets just say that perhaps the zombies aren't the ultimate evil our protagonists face.

Q.  What's the synopsis of "Flesh Crawl?"

Troy:  OK, as I mentioned in the website teaser our delightful band of youngsters is out on a camping trip. They get detoured by a military road block and after inadvertently stumbling into an area they shouldn't be in, end up in the thick of a government conspiracy so damning that just getting out alive is going to be a challenge. Again, without giving away the entire film, I can say that there is a military presence whos intentions aren't necessarily as honorable as one might suspect, and then, of course, there's a shitload of zombies to content with.

As far as the "feel" of the film, and it's pacing, imagine a cross between the "Texas Chain Saw Massacre" and "Evil Dead," with a hearty dose of "Day of the Dead" thrown in for good measure.

Q. What's the current status of the film? How are things coming along?

Dustin:  Early pre-production, some pick up shots still needed.

Q.  Dustin, you've mentioned to me before about just finishing a "huge zombie scene" - can you tell us about it?

Dustin:  Yes, it is one of many mass Zombie scenes we have filmed. Very intense and very gorey. Our Zombie extras have been great!

Troy:  We have been very fortunate with all our "zombies." They seemed to have gotten better and better as shooting progressed. Our final "mass scene" is definitely THE end capper as far as our gore content is concerned. I had to walk away from the cameras I was laughing so hard, it was SO over the top from or initial beginnings.

Q.  Looking at the stills you have on your website, your zombies look very "Romero" inspired. Who's doing the SFX for the film?

Dustin:  Most of the major make-up fx have been done by an incredible artist named Marnie Adam. She has been assisted by Robin Hassler and a crew of about three others as we have so many Zombies on set at one time.

Troy: Marnie has been great to work with and has been a real trooper. Her own site, detailing all her other work is linked off the Flesh Crawl film site, be sure to check it out, she does great work.

Q.  Is it safe to say that these zombies walk?

Dustin: Yes. We have tried to stay true to the Romero mythos he created without being a rip-off and creating our own spin on that world as well. We pushed "Flesh Crawl" into new directions...and we explain what causes
the "outbreak" at one point. Plus we didn't want another "Run for the hills and board up the cabin" movie.

Troy: Yeah, we even include a brief "cabin" hommage/in-joke, just to play with convention a bit. And yes, all our zombies walk. The idea of running zombies appalls me. It was fine in "28 Days Later" as they weren't technically zombies, but really, thinking of the mechanics of it, it just makes NO sense to have running zombies. There are plenty of "monsters' that can run thank you, if one needs fast enemies, please pick something other than zombies.

Q.  When I think about zombie films. I instantly think "gore". Will the gore fans be happy with what they will be seeing?

Dustin:  Yes. Although it's not as over the top as "Dead Alive"...watching some of the raw footage that we shot and even knowing how the fx were done still made my stomach turn.

Troy:  Yeah, I've been pleasantly surprised with what we've gotten on film and it's been a learning process too. What we were capable of when we first started shooting almost a year ago is nothing like what we've become capable of. Just wait 'til we do some pick up shots.

Q.  Can you give us a "Holy Shit" Flesh Crawl moment?

Troy:  I think the "mass scene" we just shot is going to catch some people off guard. Just the ferocity alone was stunning. One never expects unpaid extras to "go for broke" but like we said before, we've been very fortunate to work with such an enthusiastic and dedicated group of people.

Q.  Some of the "Behind the Scene" pictures look great (especially the machete in the head). Who are some of the actors and how is it working with them?

Dustin: Jason Berlet, Crystal Litwin, Alicia Byler, Greg and Brandy Sterner...and a cast of many, many Zombies! It has been great, I can honestly say it's been one of the best experiences of my life...almost like working with one great big family. I think everyone involved had a blast!

Troy:  I can't really add anymore to what Dustin said except ditto. It really has been unlike any other project I've worked on and has been consistently great fun.

Q.  Do you have any funny "on the set" moments that you would like to share?

Troy:  We've been shooting in an old candy factory (partially converted into studio spaces) for what will be the final third of the film. Our initial contact there is an artist, Glenn Burgoon. Late on night after finishing shooting some particularly gruesome scenes we all packed up and loaded up our gear to leave. We noticed some police presence on the block we were in and Dustin and his crew were even briefly asked if they "saw anything suspicious?" Other than zombies running around downtown Lancaster they thought? So naturally they said, "no." And we all left.

Well, it seems the cops found a "bloody" shirt on the street near an alleyway we had been shooting in, based on a call they had received from someone who saw it laying on the street and thought someone was murdered. After checking out the hallway and finding an enormous puddle of "blood" they panicked, climbed up the roof and jumped through some open windows only to be confronted by Glenn, who had just come downstairs to see what all the fuss was, since he could see all this unfolding from his rooftop studio space.

Naturally there was some intense "Get the fuck on the ground" clichéd screaming and a whole lot of guns drawn on Glenn (Lancaster is a pretty sleepy town) until his girlfriend and another artist came running downstairs to explain about the movie. Fortunately it seems we missed cleaning up ALL the zombie gore in one of the bathrooms and they quickly relented when presented with the evidence (we never bothered to get permission from the local police as we were filming in a private building and never thought about any of the props leaving the space). No charges were pressed, as . well, there was no crime and both Glenn and the cops had a good laugh afterward, despite the fact that they almost shot him minutes earlier.

Q.  Myself, as well as our readers are anxious to see a trailer. When can we expect to see one?

Dustin: August 1st 2005

Q.  Do you already have a projected release date for the film? And what are your plans for "Flesh Crawl?" Can we expect a DVD right away, or are you going to do the festival circuit first?

Dustin:  Well I think we would both love to see it on the big screen...mostly it will depend on what type of distribution deal we get. We would love to have it released by Summer-October 2006.

Q.   Looking down the road, what's next? Flesh Crawl 2 maybe?

Dustin: Time will tell and how people respond to our film will have a big influence on what we do next. We do have some other ideas for films that are going to be great. I am also very comfortable being labeled a Horror director...it's been my life watching and loving Horror films since I was three years old.

Troy:  Yeah, it all depends on how this goes over with the viewing public. I could definitely see doing another film again. Although I am no fan of sequels I might add.

Q.  Are you a reader of Horror-Movies.ca?

Dustin:  Yes. It's a great site and we are proud to be a part of it now!

Q. Before we go, is there anything else you would like to add about the film or say to our readers?

Dustin:  I would like to say: Thanks to everyone! To the many great comments and feedback we have received from fans and supporters of "Flesh Crawl" and to the cast and crew who have been absoutely great. Mostly,I would like
to thank my partner Troy Collins, my girl Robin Hassler, my FX artist Marnie Adam and my good friend, camera operator and editor Vince Rosati of Newinelabs.com. Vince, we couldn't do it without you. Keep checking
WWW.FLESHCRAWLMOVIE.COM for updates.

Troy:  I second everything Dustin said. We have had great fortune with everyone involved in this so far, no egos, and no major complications we couldn't overcome. I hope the film translates to the screen as great as the filming has gone. If so, your readers will be in for a surprise.

Thanks again for taking the time to do this interview. Nothing but the best of luck to you and your film.

Dustin: Thank You for giving us a chance to be part of your site.

Troy:  Yes, thanks for giving us the opportunity to talk about the film.

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Be sure to keep an eye out for some exclusive new pics from the film - coming soon!

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