Interview by Geno McGahee
Found footage really hit home in 1999 when THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT was unleashed and captured the imagination of the moviegoers. It was a new experience. Rather than being told that we were watching a movie, we were part of something. You were able to sit there and pretend that you are seeing a story unfolding that could have really happened. It was gritty, shaky and different.
The next big mark on the found footage map was the 2009 PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, which gave life to a dying sub-genre. In 2012, a found footage anthology V/H/S was released and has had two sequels. Often compared to V/H/S is the found footage trilogy: DV.
Evan Jacobs created an atmospheric and unique experience in the DV trilogy and speaks to Scared Stiff about the series, his filming life, the horror business and the release of his series in the Scared Stiff Collection on November 11th.
GM: When was the first time you picked up a camera and what inspired you to be a filmmaker?
I was one of the people that got interested in making movies in the 1980s. It started with this video camera that you would rent BUT it had to be attached to the TV. Then it moved into the handheld cameras. It wasn’t until the 8mm video cameras came out that I decided I wanted to make a film.
I had written script that some agent was interested in. I did a rewrite, sent it off, and found out that they were no longer interested. I felt so powerless. This was right around the time Robert Rodriguez and Kevin Smith were hitting the scene. Pulp Fiction was a huge deal. I remember waking and up declaring at 21 that I was going to make my own film.
GM: The DV trilogy is coming out. Can you tell us what to expect from this series?
What I really like about this project is that all of the films are different from each other. The first film is about a derelict, serial killer who you almost feel bad for. The second film is about a brutal killer. The third film wraps up what started in the first movie.
These films are heavily based on mood. I was deliberately trying to keep each one the length of a DV tape. I didn’t realize this at the time but The DV Trilogy is a like a mini-series that you should probably binge watch over a few days!
GM: DV has been compared mostly to the V/H/S series. What do you think of the comparison and what does it have in common in your estimation?
I think we both are exploiting the mediums that are in the titles of the movies. Aside from that, I initially made the first film as a goof. I loved what the V/H/S people were doing. DV was more of a joke than anything else. I wanted to get the V/H/S people’s attention. Then I made the film, Cinema Epoch saw it, and they thought it was good. From there I said that I had an idea for a second film. The third film flowed very naturally because of how the second one ends.
The V/H/S series has a lot more going for it than The DV Trilogy, I am the first to admit that, but I also think that depending on your horror predilection, you can certainly make room for both in your library.
GM: What do you think of the current horror scene?
The Conjuring was one hell of a scary movie. I need to see Annabelle. I wish I was more up on the genre in terms of newer stuff. I just find myself watching ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, HOUSE OF CARDS and other things on Netflix. I am excited for PHANTASM: RAVAGER because I love the PHANTASM series. I love how Don Coscarelli examines death in those films.
I had an opportunity to befriend a lot of horror filmmakers in the 1990s. I met Kevin Lindenmuth who created the ADDICTED TO MURDER Trilogy. He wrote some books on indy filmmaking. They featured mostly horror filmmakers. Even though I was not one at the time (I was making mainly romantic comedies), he let me be in the books. One thing I took away from reading about all these people (and I think it holds true today), A) you have a great shot of getting your film made/distributed if it is a horror film and B) if you want to have fun making a film… make a horror film.
GM: What are your favorite horror films of all time?
Well, I will give you a top five…
1) Phantasm – This is a very deep film about death, loss and family.
2) Halloween 3: Season of the Witch – I love the first four films. I just love this one more.
3) Friday the Thirteenth Pt 4 – This is just a big horror film. Had it ended with this one I think that would have been fine.
4) Christine – I love the performances, the acting, the score… everything.
5) Targets – While not technically a horror film it deals with real world horrors and mixes in movie horror to boot.
GM: Do you see yourself remaining in the horror genre or do you have plans to branch out?
I actually am shopping around an animated horror film I made titled INSECT. It is heavily inspired by PHANTASM and THE GATE. There’s also plans for a fourth DV film that will completely reboot the series but also reference the trilogy. It’s present title is D4. It’s going to be something like MANHUNTER. Aside from that, making films is so inexpensive now. I want to make a lot of them.
I’ve gone through phases where I’ve wanted to be this director or that director… but I would say my biggest influence is Roger Corman. I just want to make a lot of things, be they movies or books, and see what happens.
GM: What do you have in store for the film fans next?
I just completed a buddy comedy called THE BRO DOWN. It stars myself and Isaac Golub (DV2). It’s about a guy (Isaac) who thinks his girlfriend is cheating on him. He ropes John (me) into helping him stalk her with a video camera so he can catch her in the act. What ends up happening is basically Murphy’s Law. If anything can go wrong, it certainly does here.
GM: What advice would you give to a filmmaker that is planning to make his first film?
Just make it.
Don’t get caught up in trying to get investors, big actors, or this or that. Make a film. A feature. You have a better chance of selling it. Then make another one and another one. Write a script. Make it the best it can be. Make it. Then make another one. Try and find distributors but release it yourself if you have to. Amazon makes it BEYOND easy now.
I find that people either have an idea and never write a script. Or, they write a script, they make the film have to be something that it can’t ever be and it ultimately falls short and is abandoned. If they finish it, they usually shelve it and never make another one.
Again to paraphrase Roger Corman, “there are very few great successes and true failures.”
GM: What was the most difficult part of making a film?
Truthfully, dealing with people sometimes. Not all the times. If you keep things lean and can do a lot yourself, you are in a much better position. The reality is that nobody (not even a distributor) will care as much as you do.
On the flipside, you need other people to make films. However, so much can be done as a one person operation that I would say only involve those people that you know you can trust.
GM: Any closing thoughts?
I think I have spoken too much probably! Thank you for reading and you can visit my website http://anhedeniafilms.blogspot.com/ to find out more about me.
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