 |
|
Main Menu
|
|
|
|
|
People talking 'bout us
|
|
|
|
|
Y'all are the coolest!
-- Elizabeth Blue
|
|
|
|
|
Ad
|
|
|
|
|
Previous Stories
|
|
|
|
|
|
Did you miss something? We keep all our news articles stored in Ziploc bags so they stay minty fresh. Click HERE to catch up.
|
|
|
|
|
Login
|
|
|
|
|
Newest Reviews
|
|
|
| | |
Bum Interviews:
The Ethan Dettenmaier Interview III | Were we interested in how our buddy Ethan was doing?
Not really, we just want to know where the hell Sin-Jin Smyth is!
|
|
 | |
Scraps: I’m sure since SJS is part of your daily life you’re more aware of the timeline, but looking back…we’ve been curious about this project of yours for over a year now…is this typical of big productions?
Ethan: Unless you want to be a part of the machine, taking studio blue prints, studio ideas and studio money, you’re going to have to punch your way through it…and that takes time. Financing, development, pre-production, casting, shooting, editorial, more financing, sound design, everything takes time-
On this film we had a limited budget and this (the horror) audience is smart and they’re not going to accept that excuse if the film doesn’t deliver after you ask them to buy a ticket…So I split the schedule, first rolling the entire budget into the first ten days and we made an effort to get the best ten days possible…then, I ordered a trailer cut from it and used that to raise the additional financing to finish the picture because I would rather have a great ten days and have to raise more money than have an average or poor 20 days and have to explain why the film is weak…and everyone went off the hook saying ‘That’s crazy! It’s suicide!’ And I had to ask everyone to hold it together sayin’ ‘This audience is smart despite the studios attempt to ‘dumb everything down’ for them…they are intelligent and they know a good movie when they see one and that’s the effort and direction we need to try to take” Because I believe that the audience will forgive a long shooting schedule before they forgive a bad movie…I may never direct again, I wanted to do my best (editor note - Ethan and the producers didn’t even accept a paycheck, instead putting that money back into the film to get the most on screen they possibly could) I have to do my absolute best for this audience-
Scraps: So what’s left to do before this puppy’s wrapped up?
Ethan: Some action elements and some additional post work…(A rough cut has been seen:
http://blogs.ign.com/Horror_Brain/2006/09/21/31486/
http://www.moviehole.net/news/20060810_clint_gets_a_sneak_peek_at_sin.html )
Scraps: I heard a naysayer mention this was slated for direct-to-DVD now. I punched him in the throat and called him a horrible rumor monger – but I should probably have checked my facts first. Is this still slated for a theatrical release?
Ethan: (editor note - The following statement does not reflect the views of the producers or SNAPKICK PROD. INC.) Yes (laughs) It’s going theatrical! I don’t condone violence (Yeah right!) But if you hear that again be sure to throw that guy under a bus someplace!!! | |  | |
Scraps: Realistically, when do you anticipate the SJS release?
Ethan: All the (Distribution) talk has been for a theatrical release during the second quarter of next year….(Rumored to be in the running are Lion’s Gate, The Weinstein Company, Warner Independent, Imagination World-Wide and several others)
Scraps: Every step of the way you’ve been very gung-ho about this project, and you’ve certainly gained my respect for doing YOUR project YOUR way. What have you learned about the Big Movie Machine in this process?
Ethan: You have to stand up for what you think is right otherwise you’re just part of the problem. If you want to live in a Hollywood fish tank where bad scripts are further compromised with worse actors then go ahead and make your film---that’s not for me! I work for the ticket buying public and if I’m fortunate to build any sort of audience with Sin-jin Smyth I want to give them (The audience) my best effort....I can’t do that if I have to cut content (Sin-jin Smyth being a hard R) for a wider PG-13 audience or if I have change story elements to hit a certain demographic based on studio marketing notes…Make the movie great to begin with---or in my case, as best you can---then the business/money will follow.
Scraps: And we thank you for that! There are plenty of PG-13 fluff horror movies out. As SJS steadily moves towards release, what other projects do you have lined up
Ethan: Next March we start KNIGHT FEVER; A super 70’s police satire about a platoon of renegade GI’s who traffic opium back to the States from Vietnam in the Flag draped coffins and bodies of dead GI’s and the special police force assembled out of Vice, SWAT and The Bomb Squad who have to stop it.…Then a film about the French Foreign Legion. And the a western about Confederate Raiders who refuse to surrender at the end of The Civil War-
From a production company stand point we just launched MARK OF THE VILLIAN about a turn-of-the-century Scotland Yard investigation of a corrupt medical school. Also SOLDIERS OF DESTRUCTION which follows the German Afrika Korps in their last days of World War Two. FORTRESS AMERICA about a one-world government. And a film called the STATION CHIEF about CIA advisors in the Middle East. Also more horror like RESPECT THE DEAD about a New Orleans based grave robbing racket operating on the edge of the bayou. (Early production reports say that it’s about much more than that, centering around a lost National Guard patrol boat in the bayou which makes a series of haunting discoveries starting with a burnt out house boat)
And a film about Samurai ghosts who terrorize the countryside during a Japanese civil war….
And we’re currently shooting a TV show in Vegas called ‘Minxx’ based inside actual (now legendary) club itself (www.minxx.net with special appearances by Tera Patrick and a few others) and there’s some additional TV work in development with a couple of ‘Bums’ I know- | |  | |
Scraps: Yes, yes…the mysterious TV project! I didn’t know if you were going to delve into the collaboration between Snapkick and BumsCorner, we’ve been keeping things under wraps here…but as it gets closer to becoming a reality…I know we’ll be talking about it more!
Ethan: Yes…let’s take a minute to get into it…this is a long awaited opportunity to collaborate with the comic brilliance that makes up Bums Corner…it will be a new concept bringing interactive television to a whole new level, the ultimate in both humor and entertainment…You can read more on this ‘show’ as development continues but I can promise you this: This show will do some damage and you can expect nothing less than top-flight entertainment from it!
-When you deal with the Bums…you get nothing but the best!!!
Scraps: I wouldn’t go THAT far. Sure, it’s funny as hell, but we’re not out to redefine the media or anything! Some rumblings say it’s "a highbrow movie show for the beer and pretzel audience" or "the head Bums from BumsCorner hanging out and drinking with hot women while they watch movies".
Ethan: (laughs) All of that and much, much more! Get ready for greatness because this show WILL deliver…
Scraps: Fear not, as we get closer…it’ll be hard NOT to hear about this one! But as much as I’d love to sit around and talk about our TV concept all day…there’s more Sin-Jin to cover.
Scraps: Every guy reading this is dying to know – what is it like getting up in the morning and getting ready for work, knowing Jenna Jameson is going to be there?
Ethan: There are worse things I could be doin’!
Scraps: You’ve been very secretive throughout this process. Can you share just ONE interesting story from the filming? | | Ethan: All the ‘real’ stories stem from my political fire-fights with the evil studio empire (Rumor has it the studio tried to block this interview:
http://esnips.com/doc/df31efec-7a3b-49c3-9f15-5a2dbb6d5175/Channel-66.6-HM-~-Haunted-Radio-102706b.mp3 )
But we had our moments on the set as we slugged this movie out that could be considered entertaining…We shot in a prison in Downtown Los Angeles…the place had been closed for decades…It was also used as a location for the original assault on Precinct 13 for Carpenter…it’s rumored to be a haunted place and when you work there, you have to channel in your own electricity so you can only light about 20% of the place up….and this complex is massive with under ground tunnels and boiler rooms…we filmed in an old, industrial meat locker which, in the film, serves as an interrogation chamber where the steel doors are opened up and prisoners are trafficked in on meat hooks, removed and then faced with a room full of stainless furniture and craftsman power tools….and as the temperature in the chamber drops, the interrogation led by Richard Tyson (Kindergarten Cop, Three O’clock High) who plays this instructor at The Federal School Of Interrogation right, this bureau we created that is in-tune with the political climate of the film, intensifies…Now these chambers locked from the outside and could seal a member of the crew inside and the locker itself is soundproof so no amount of screaming would get someone attention….and…it’s dark inside…
So Kevin Gage who plays Dax climbs into his SWAT gear and pulls over his rain coat to keep the blood off his uniform and as he picks up his sledgehammers and gets ready when he suddenly stops…’Did you hear that?’
I look back at him, “What?”
‘I thought I heard something…like a scream or something…
‘Get back to work-‘
‘Would I waste your time with this?‘
Meanwhile, the actor known as KM was set to be tortured in this scene starts to get nervous...
So I jump on the radio and get the AD Jonathan Zimmerman who worked with Tobe Hooper and I say: “Jonathan where are you’re people…anybody in D Block?’
And his voice cracks back…”Negative…I’ve got unit 1 on its way back to you from lunch and unit 2 shooting exteriors’…
“There’s something down there-“
So I did what every responsible director would do---not willing to play the teen slasher victim---I said “Security….check out the west wing…I’ll be at the craft service table having coffee”-
Then Kevin says: “Don’t leave it to security…they’ll get lost down here….send KM to check it out….”
And I say “Good idea, KM get down there, let me know if you see anything-“
And he practically cries…”Meeeeeeee?”
“Yeah you, get movin’!”
So he slowly starts to move down the dark passage and he’s getting nervous….”He-hello…Any-any one in here?” and just as he disappears into the darkness----BOOOOMMMM!!!! Suddenly everyone jumps out and the lights go on….It was his birthday! Surprise sucka’!
That’s a production story with some on set production humor, now if you want a political story about trying to get this film launched then that’s another matter but remember this: No one is going to give you the opportunity to make an impact….They want re-imagined versions of last years hit! They want re-makes! They want a film that follows their marketing plan…And although I’m very new at this, I, even with my limited experience would prefer to make the best ‘original film’ possible and would like to consider what an audience may want over the demands of cooperate America- Because that is who we work for…the audience! Without them we’ve got nothing! | | Scraps: Any truth to these rumors that Josh Hartnett is slated to be in the sequel?
Ethan: Yes…Josh Harnett will play a man who can’t act and has to sign his soul over to the Devil for a career-
Scraps: He’s freekin’ dreamy, no matter what you say. What kind of candy did you pass out to the kids for Trick or Treat?
Ethan: I unloaded some full-sized candy bars…
Scraps: I know you’re a busy dude-
Ethan: Not where BumsCorner is concerned….
Scraps: Touching. Seriously though, we appreciate your time today – any final words of wisdom for the Bums before you head out?
Ethan: Just thank you for being considerate enough to talk to me-
For more information on SIN-JIN SMYTH which was just nominated for a Spike TV/ Screamfest Award of Most Anticipated Film of ’07 go to http://www.sin-jinsmyth.com |
|
Updated Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Written by Scraps |
|
|
| |
| |
