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Today we are going to do an interview with founder of Old School Sinema, the one and only Joe
Ostrica. Hi Joe, can you please tell us a little bit about yourself so those who don't know who you are?
Sure. I’m an independent filmmaker from the Cleveland, Ohio area in the USA. I founded Old School Sinema in
2005 and we produce horror films and cult movies. It’s kind of a throw back to the exploitation classics you
would see during the drive-in era in the 70s and 80s. While I do write, produce and direct, my goal is for OSS to
produce about five films per year to satisfy our fans’ hunger.
What influenced and inspired you to become a filmmaker?
My father took me to the movies quite a bit when I was growing up, so I fell in love with the art form at an early
age and knew I wanted to make films of my own. My taste is all over the map, but I have a special fondness for
horror films.
Where is your company Old School Sinema based, and can you give a brief history its evolution?
It’s based in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2005 I made a short film comedy called “GUYS” that won a couple of awards
and got some very nice reviews, but realized that film, no matter what your budget may be, is a business first
and foremost. I knew if I wanted to continue making movies, even if it was on a micro-budget level, I would
have to market and sell them. Being a fan myself, I know horror has a very loyal fan base, and taking a cue
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from icons like Roger Corman and Russ Meyer, Old School Sinema was born. Corman is responsible for not only some of the greatest B-movies and
cult films of all time, he’s also the reason why Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Jonathan Demme and countless other great filmmakers are
well known.
I want Old School Sinema to produce several projects per year and give budding filmmakers a chance to show their talents, as well as a place for
aspiring actors to get their start.
You just recently made a film called The Horror Convention Massacre, what is it roughly about?
It’s all right there in the title. A killer is on the loose at a hotel that is hosting a horror convention and he’s knocking off the guests, the hotel staff and
anyone who encounters him. The kills are very inventive and sure to please fans of the genre.
When made you come up with the idea of making, an actual movie at the Cinema Wasteland horror convention?
I had attended Cinema Wasteland, which has a show in the fall and one in the spring every year, for about five years. I always thought it would make a
great setting for a movie and a great place for a slasher film. Plus horror fans attend conventions all over the world and I think they’ll enjoy seeing a
movie with characters they are very familiar with.
What films inspired you the most to write and create a film like, The Horror Convention Massacre?
There weren’t really any specific films that inspired it as it’s an original plot, something I’m very proud of and which is very rare these days. However, I
was inspired in a technical manner by films I grew up on like “Halloween” and “Dressed to Kill” in a couple of the scenes. But it’s really a unique film. It’s
almost like a documentary in a way because we shot it in a live environment very guerilla style.
One of the main things that did inspire it, however, was the lame PG-13 so-called horror movies that major studios have been putting out the past 10 or
15 years. All of these watered down so-called slasher films that had no blood! They also starred a bunch of pretty models in every part and it was just
insulting to a horror fan like myself. With “The Horror Convention Massacre,” I wanted to bring back the raw and hard R-rated bloody slasher film I grew
up on that wasn’t afraid to show gore and gratuitous nudity.
Did you have any problems while shooting your film, at the Cinema Wasteland horror convention?
Not really. The Cinema Wasteland staff, especially the head honcho Ken Kish, were very cooperative and supportive of what we were doing. We were,
however, worried about the hotel staff . We were fined $200 for “blood on the carpet” but that was a bunch of crap. I found out later it was for a little
speck of makeup we got on the sheets. It was a ridiculous fine and if I knew we would have been charged, I would have sprayed blood all over the place
to make it worth it and to put more blood in the scene!
There were a few well known celebrity guests "Lloyd Kaufman, Ari Lehman, Syn Devil, Lew Temple" that made a appearance in your film,
were they actually apart of the script or just thrown into the film on the day of shooting?
I knew we always wanted to get some cameos from the convention guests, but with the exception of Lloyd Kaufman, we weren’t sure who would be into
what we were doing. Luckily, everybody we asked said yes and they did some amazing work. They’re all actors and a great actor loves nothing better than
to do some improv and show what they can do. They all stepped up to the challenge and delivered.
Six months after you finished shooting your film, that same year you had the film done and ready for a premiere at the 2006 Cinema
Wasteland Fall show. What kind of reaction did you get from the fans?
We had an amazing reaction. The movie screened twice, both to packed houses. The second screening was so full that there were about 25 people
standing outside the screening room trying to watch the film through the doorway. The word spread about our film and audiences really got into it. They
loved all the kill scenes and thought it was very funny too. We also sold out all of our DVDs. I was very pleased, to say the least.
What are your thoughts on mainstream films now days?
Very low, unfortunately. I grew up loving Hollywood films, but today the majority of them are just to God-awful I won’t even waste my time with them.
There are, of course, some exceptions, but they are rare. I prefer discovering older treasures on DVD, films that I may have been too young to see when
they came out or I had not heard of. I love discovering cult classics from the 70s and 80s.
Are you currently working on any other side projects with any other filmmakers or companies. If so can you tell us a bit about what’s going
on?
I am in talks with one group about collaborating on something, but nothing to announce at this time. I’ll be sure to let you know once things are official
though.
If there ever was going to be a sequel to The Horror Convention Massacre, will it be at a different horror convention or at another Cinema
Wasteland convention?
We’re shooting a sequel this spring, actually two sequels, back-to-back. If you’ve seen “The Horror Convention Massacre,” you’ll realize the film kind of
ends wide open. Well that was intentional as the second part picks up immediately where part 1 ended, so the second part will definitely take place and be
filmed at Cinema Wasteland again. Part 3 will take place right after part 2 ends, but the location may move around. Our killer needs to be on the move
and find more victims.
What can we look forward to seeing from Old School Sinema?
In addition to the two sequels, we plan on producing a few other movies this year, including a movie in the spirit of “Evil Dead” that promises to deliver a
lot of gore. Joseph B. Miller, who shot “The Horror Convention Massacre,” is co-writing and directing it and I’ll be producing it. The plan is to shoot that in
the summer of 2007 and have it ready by the end of the year.
Also, anyone that has been to our website www.oldschoolsinema.com is well aware that we have dozens of gorgeous models called the Sinema Sirens
on there. They are models in the tradition of the old school pin-ups, like Bettie Page. Anyway, we’ll be producing a series of Sinema Siren DVDs which I’m
sure our fans will definitely enjoy.
What are your top 3 favorite horror movies?
I love this question, but find it difficult to answer as there are so many good ones, but my favorite always remains the same. I absolutely love
“Phantasm.” It’s so unique and original and Don Coscarelli creates such a strange and original atmosphere with that movie that I get excited every time I
watch it. It’s scary and well made and also makes you go “what the fuck was that?” every now and then. (laughs). I love movies like that.
Tobe Hooper’s original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is a classic for several reasons, most of all because it feels like you’re witnessing something real while
you’re watching it.
I also love Kubrick’s “The Shining.” I think that’s about as perfect as you can get with a film, not just horror, but any genre. It’s superbly directed and
has phenomenal cinematography, music, production design and performances. A true classic.
I also have to throw in “Night of the Creeps,” which I think is a modern day B-movie classic. Such a fun ride!
What’s the weirdest thing a horror fan has ever said or done to you?
So far I’ve been fortunate enough not to have anything too weird happen or said to me yet. I’ve found the horror fans I’ve encountered so far to be very
knowledgeable and respectful and also very supportive of what we’re doing.
Are you happy with the outcome of your film?
I couldn’t be happier. While we had very little money or time to make our film, it was a very ambitious undertaking. At the end of the day, I just wanted a
film that would entertain people and hopefully gain some notice and put Old School Sinema on the map of indie horror. Well it’s exceeded even my
expectations to say the least. First and foremost, the fans love the movie. That’s the most important thing to me is give the audience what it wants and
leave them entertained and wanting more.
We’ve also received dozens of great reviews from some of the biggest horror websites around and have also been featured in several magazines, so the
word is getting out about Old School Sinema.
If there is one thing you like to change to your film, what would you change and why?
Being a director, I could probably overanalyze things and nitpick here and there, because you never have enough time or money, but for the goals I set
for this movie, it’s exceeded all of them, so I’m very pleased with the final product.
Being a talented filmmaker, what tips can you give to other filmmakers who are just about to start a movie?
Be sure to just do it. You can spend years talking about making movies and not do a damn thing. Don’t hang out with the talkers and pair up with the
doers, the ones who actually make movies and love doing it.
Is there any other filmmakers that gets your attention? If so, who are they and what films have they made?
Actually, a few people who are also from Ohio have inspired me. First there is J.R. Bookwalter, who made the cult classic “The Dead Next Door” and
dozens of other horror films. Not only is Mr. Bookwalter a talented filmmaker, he’s inspiring in that he’s created a library of films and serves as his own
distributor, so like Roger Corman, he’s an inspiration as a business savvy producer.
I also enjoy the films of the Campbell brothers, Andy and Luke Campbell. They started out with a movie called “Midnight Skater.” While it’s very raw, one
must realize they were basically teenagers when they made the film and shot it for a few hundred dollars. It was meant to be something they would do
and show their friends and winding up getting distributed by J.R Bookwalter’s TempeDVD label. It’s also very entertaining and is a fun film. The Campbells
went on to make “Demon Summer” and “The Red Skulls” and their films got more ambitious than the last one, the sign of truly talented filmmakers.
If you could have any actor/s from any movie to star in your next film, who would you choose and why?
That’s a tough question as the list could be endless and I wouldn’t necessarily limit myself to actors from just the horror genre. However, I do have a
fond appreciation for Tom Atkins and would love to have him in one of our projects someday.
What is one thing you would like to say to the guests reading this interview?
Congratulations on reading this far! (laughs) But seriously, I just want to thank the fans for all their support. Indie filmmakers, especially micro-budget
filmmakers, need all the support they can get and the horror fans really do step up to the plate. We just hope to continue to provide you with entertaining
flicks. Keep checking out the website www.oldschoolsinema.com for new projects and updates.
Last question, what is the one thing you would like The Horror Convention Massacre fans to think of, when they hear Joe Ostrica?
That this movie was just the beginning of a long career for an independent maverick filmmaker.
Thanks Joe for taking the time to do this interview, and I wish the best of luck with your company Old School Sinema. You are truly a talented
writer and an awesome director. We all at DVD Resurrections wish you the best of luck in the near future with your films.
Thanks to you and DVD Resurrections for interviewing me. I truly appreciate it.
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