chiller blog

Posted Mar 22, 10 02:57 PM

The Flocky Horror Picture Show

You have nooooooo idea.

Set down the Mocha Joe. Read no further until you click the link (two-and-a-half minutes of your time) below:

Official Trailer from Severin Films: http://www.vimeo.com/9592175

That is Birdemic: Shock and Terror - that unicorn breed of a movie experience whose very title - it's title!!! - is an invitation to smirk. And I haven't even mentioned - ohhhh - those opening credits.

And some of those scenes. The lead actress lands a job as a Victoria's Secret spokes model (despite a photo shoot at a strip mall). Naturally, that's the same day that our hero high-fives closing a phoned sales transaction for a million dollars.

And the dialogue (akin to "My parents got killed so I've been hiding under this car. I haven't eaten in a long time").

In a story that perhaps deserves its own movie, Severin Films scooped up the rights to James Nguyen's guerilla indie at Sundance [That's AT, not IN]. With rubber chickens-refitted-as-vultures plummeting from the rafters, and wire hangers gifted as hip souvenirs, the savvy marketing campaign is cult-ing out packed midnight screenings from Eastern Standard Time to Pacific.

Man, I want that punk rock theme from the trailer.

The Rocky Horror-style reception may not have been exactly what writer-director-producer Nguyen had envisioned over the course of his four-year (total) labor of love. He set out, after all, to channel Hitchcock's aviary classic and Coppola's fever dream of Apocalypse Now while underlining ambitious, ample pro-Green themes. There's even an archival cameo by Tippi Hedren.

OK, so he was short on licenses. And permits. And equipment. And budget. And crew (just 1-3 people). And then there was that kid - the one who was supposed to do the special effects. The one who lived in a ten million dollar house in a gated community, but whose dad - who didn't know about the business - told him not to do it ("he cost his son a movie career"). But the former refugee-turned No Cal software salesman-turned-weekend auteur has overflowing measures of grace, good cheer, patience and heart. He also has a looming you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it sensation on his hands - and a whopping new last-laugh contract.

Chiller attended the deliriously raucous LA premiere. After brushing the cannon-ed dust feathers from our hair, we deconstructed the merry madness to Nguyen's method.

CHILLER: Hitchcock's The Birds - why does this movie inspire you so much?

James: Of all the Hitchcock movies, The Birds is prophetic. It's a romantic thriller, but it's prophetic in that it was made in 1962. There were instants - if you watch carefully - that deal with environmental issues. When the girl asks why are the birds attacking. And that diner in Bodega Bay (with) the bird expert...I was scared when I first saw it on TV. The scene that stays in my mind is when she was in the phone booth and the seagulls pounded the glass.

CHILLER: Take us through what it took to make your movie.

James: Way back in 2005, I started writing. As far as (what I was) inspired by, there was the environment - a lot of issues. I'm a single person and a software salesperson just like Rod in the Silicon Valley...it's very stressful, so I went down to the bay and just thought, "What if I made a movie called Birdemic - inspired by The Birds, but made it contemporary?"

We started production in 2006 and 2007. We had two false starts. One of the lead actresses - she signed the contract, everything. And when it comes to her coming to Northern California here, the whole thing...blew up because she wouldn't stay in Motel 6. I didn't have a budget for the Hilton, you know (Motel 6 - that's where we shot the bedroom scene). So, two false starts, and I spent the rent of 2007 casting, and I got lucky. I found Whitney (Moore) after seeing hundreds, thousands of faces. Alan Bagh played Rod. To me, it's the success of the movie right there - a big picture Hollywood-style or a small indie film like mine. You have to cast it right. That's 60% of the movie.

By February 2008, that's when the whole production started...we shot mostly during the weekends.

CHILLER: And what about those very special special effects - which you learned to do yourself?

James: With a limited budget and resources, I think I got very far with the animation and digital effects. The model cells I bought from an animation website...eagles and vultures and fire. The animators (were) right out of the Academy of Art in San Francisco, so basically I gave them their first job under my direction. They would do the animation, the rigging. And they'd give me the outfit and I'd composite together with the live action footage and edited it.

I think from a distance, with how much money we had, the animation was pretty shocking and terrifying and looked pretty realistic. When you get a movie close-up of them (the attacking birds) - hey, it's something unique. Different. And something that you've never seen before. Maybe it's art, or however you want to look at it.

CHILLER: Word is that you didn't get into Sundance. So you went to Sundance anyway.

James: I was disappointed. I had spent three years of my life making this movie. So if I didn't get accepted, I'd at least try to get distribution.

What I did was a cinematic Hail Mary. Using my production van, I put the poster on it, with some blood on it (writer's note: and prop dead birds) and drove down Main Street in Utah. To create some attention. And it did.

The police stopped me. It was a scene. They asked me, "What are you doing?" And I said, "I'm just trying to promote my movie." The officer saw the blood on the van - and that my driver's license was valid. I had done nothing wrong. And the last thing they said was, "Good luck with your movie." And I got lucky and met Severin Films. And here I am talking to you.

CHILLER: The executives from Severin Films - what were those discussions like?

James: Somehow, a screener from Sundance got to them. So we met, signed a deal, and after that we went to Barbarella - a restaurant in LA - to celebrate. I have nothing but respect, working in association with Severin.

CHILLER: Respectfully...this couldn't have exactly been what you had in mind: spending four years making a movie, only to have it picked up and sold as potentially the new Rocky Horror Picture Show. How does that make you feel?

James: You know, Birdemic: Shock and Terror is supposed to be a very serious romantic thriller. And because of lack of money, lack of resources and beyond, it became what it is today. And so be it. That's the risk when you make the movie. The good, the bad, and the ugly part of it.

CHILLER: Yeah.

James: When people watch Birdemic: Shock and Terror, beyond a few good laughs - I know that you were laughing, too, at the Hollywood screening...I know that was the first full house screening I'd sat through. People were laughing with the movie. They were entertained. So beyond all that, I think that perhaps when they walk away from the movie, I hope that the audience will think. And seriously think about a lot of elements in the film.

CHILLER: Your movie is heavily pro-environment. And to that note, I watched you, too, at the LA premiere. You have steel skin, a great sense of humor...and seem like such a nice man. So we, the audience, root for the movie. There were times when I felt bad for laughing at Birdemic. But should I? I'm enjoying it.

James: I think that, hey, everybody has their own opinion. To me, it's fine. If you're entertained, if you liked it - beyond all the imperfections...if you walk away thinking about some of the elements of the film, the issues side rather than the technical side, I think I'd be a very happy guy.

CHILLER: The movie is so sincere, there's no cyncism at all. It's really refreshing. So James, what's next for you?

James: Well, I have a deal with Severin Films to make another romantic thriller. It's called Peephole: The Perverted...it's not just another slasher film or serial killer movie. At the end of the 90 minutes, you'll feel compassionate and empathize with the serial killer. Obviously, there's going to be some nudity, but I'm not interested...in a sexploitation film. It's very romantic.

CHILLER: Congratulations and good for you. Is there anything you'd like to take this opportunity to correct? Any misinformation out there on the net? The forum is yours.

James: ...I'm actually 45, not 42.