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Today we going to interview a new upcoming filmmaker and his name is Robert Harari, who has currently
made a new suspense mystery horror film called Murder Game, which you can check out our review right
here.
Hey Rob, thanks for taking the time to do a interview with us at DVD Resurrections. Would you like to
tell us a little bit about yourself mate, just so those who don't know who you are?
Sure. I studied filmmaking at Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland. Since graduating back in ’99, I’ve
worked on several feature films and shorts as an editor, and often assistant director as well.
You just recently made a awesome film called Murder Game, can you explain to our readers, what
your film is roughly about?
It’s about a group of teenagers who invent a game where one of them is secretly chosen to be a killer, while the
others remain innocent victims. Then, armed with prop weapons, the killer attempts to eliminate everyone,
while the other players try to figure out who the killer is. One night, they all sneak into a large, dark and creepy
self-storage warehouse to spice up the excitement of the game. At first, it’s the best game ever. But, things
eventually go horribly wrong when the teens start dying for real.
What exactly inspired and influenced you to become a filmmaker?
Well, I’ve always been a HUGE movie fan. Not only the films themselves, but the process of filmmaking. When I
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was a kid, DVDs and “Special Features” weren’t around yet. I got all of my movie set exposure by watching HBO’s “Behind the Scenes”, which was
a half-hour show dedicated to the making of a movie. I watched them all, always hoping one day to be on a movie set myself.
Were their any films that were a major influence on creating such a wicked film like Murder Game?
I appreciate the thought. Murder Game is 100% inspired by all the great slasher films of old. Halloween, Friday the 13th, April Fools Day…they’re all in
there. We wanted to make a movie that emulated the raw simplicity we all loved about those films. No deep-seeded, psychological reasons as to why the
killers do what they do. No long, drawn-out explanations. Just good ‘ol fashion crazy evil. Those were the days.
What type of feedback did you get from the public and the press, when they viewed your film for the first time?
Well, like with most movies, the reviews have been mixed. While some people feel the concept is fun, entertaining and a nice way to spend 90 minutes of
your time…others feel the movie is too simple. They think that in this day and age, simple slasher films just don’t cut it anymore. Personally, I can
understand that point of view. We’re certainly a more savvy audience today than we used to be. Not to mention how desensitized we are to all the
violence and gore thrown at us these days. But, if you’re a fan of the slasher genre, I think you can put that aside long enough to sit back and enjoy this
movie for its pure entertainment value. We weren’t setting out to win Sundance with this film. We wanted to give people an entertaining movie watching
experience, while pay homage to all those great slashers of old. If we pulled it off, we accomplished our mission.
How many film festivals awards have you won?
Two. We won Best Feature at the Terror Film Festival in Philadelphia, PA. And we won Best Feature at the Salem Independent Horror Film Festival in
Salem, MA. The film also screened at the Freakshow Horror Film Festival in Orlando, FL, and at the Annapolis Film Festival here in Maryland.
Did you have any problems or set backs while shooting the film, If so what happened?
Always. Any indie filmmaker will tell you…there are ALWAYS problems, issues and setbacks. Our most noteable one was the first night of shooting. It was
January 3, 2005, and it was freezing outside. Everyone reported at the scheduled call time ready to go. Then we found out the bathrooms at the storage
facility were broken. Not the best way to kickoff your production. This was more than just an inconvenience too. We had roughly 25 people on-set that
night. Having to have them walk across to the business next door for "pee breaks" throughout the bitter-cold night was unpleasant, to say the least. Not
to mention how this hiccup affected the schedule. We made our day, but it wasn't easy. Luckily, the next day, the bathrooms were fixed. However, the
building's security went haywire. To this day, no one knows what set it off. But the alarm sounded and all hell broke loose. It took about an hour for
everything to return to normal. Once again, we fell behind, but managed to catch up. It wasn't until day 3 before we finally got through a night of
shooting without any crazy incidents.
How long did it take to write the script and shoot the film?
The script only took about two months to write, from first draft to final draft. Shooting the movie was another story. We shot nearly everything in the
storage building in fourteen straight days, beginning January 3, 2005. After that, we released the cast and crew for a few months in order to wait for
Spring to roll around so we could shoot all the exterior scenes, as well as all the scenes that make up the beginning of the film. Since we had to
reassemble the cast for the Spring shoot, we also took the opportunity to get any pickups we missed at the storage location back in the Winter. Because
of everyone’s schedules, the only way we could make the Spring stuff work was if we shot on weekends only. Overall, the production took about 22 days
to complete. But it was spread over about 2 months time, not counting the 3 months we took off when waiting for Spring to come.
Did you have much of a budget to shoot your film?
Not at all. My co-producer, Jason Contino and I always refer to Murder Game as a “true” independent film. The reason is because we not only wrote and
filmed it, we also paid for it out of our own pockets. No investors, no third parties, just us. And, believe me, we’re NOT independently wealthy. The reason
this movie took three years to get from script to screen was because sometimes we had the money, sometimes we didn’t. When it wasn’t there, we
waited until we had it, then pressed on. We’re proud that we managed to accomplish that feat. But I’d never want to do it this way again. There’s a
reason why filmmakers are always trying to get someone else to put up the money for their film. It’s a lot easier to spend someone else’s money.
Most filmmakers are perfectionists and once they complete their film, they usually think to themselves, damn I wish I done it like this or
that. Would you change anything in your film, if so what would it be?
Oh boy, where to start….as a first film, there are literally hundreds of things I would do differently on Murder Game if given the chance. In fact, there are
so many, I just can’t even begin to list them. The truth is filmmakers see their films (especially their first films) as their baby. Given the time, you could
tweak your film forever, literally. There’s an old saying….film’s never get finished, they’re eventually just abandoned. That’s as true as can be. You work
and work and work…until eventually, you just have to let it go. I think the best thing you can do is learn from your mistakes and then use that
knowledge when making your next film.
Just recently Lightyear Video just picked up your film for distribution. How hard is it for independent filmmakers to get their films
distributed?
Well, it can be really hard. Some films get picked up right away…others never see the light of day. I think a few of the keys to success are research and
perseverance. These days, everybody’s making movies. Thousands upon thousands of indie films are made each year. So, if you’re one of those people
with a film in your hand and no distribution, you need to figure out how to get a distributor to stand up and take notice of your product. Personally, I
heard good things about Lightyear from another filmmaker. After doing some additional research on them myself, I decided to send them a screener. Of
course, getting a distributor to notice your film can be tougher than it sounds since distributors get hundreds of screeners every month. So, the key is to
find a creative way to make your film stand out from the rest of the pile. I actually passed along some good advice I once got to another filmmaker who
was researching distribution. Here’s what I posted to him on a message board:
“There are many, many options when it comes to distribution. It’s been my experience that your best bet would probably be to go with a smaller ‘sub-
distributor’ that has an output deal with a large, nationwide distributor to maximize your reach. For instance, there's a company called MTI Video that has
a wide reach. There's also a New York company called Lightyear Entertainment who has an output deal with Warner Bros Home Video. Another is Xenon
Pictures who has an output deal through Universal. These companies are easy enough to research. Just google.
For more options, I suggest you go to your local Blockbuster Video or Best Buy and start grabbing some films that could be considered "similar" to yours.
Meaning, look for movies that appear to be in the same genre and of the same quality/caliber/budget as your film. When you find one, flip the DVD over
and look in the bottom right (or left) corner of the back cover. That's where you'll find the distributor's logo. Often, their website will be right under it too.
If not, just google again. Researching online can be useful, but nothing beats actually speaking with the filmmakers who have already been through what
you're about to embark on. So note the names of the filmmakers and/or the movie's website and contact them. Distribution is often referred to as ‘shark
infested waters’. If you find the filmmakers who've already worked with company "x" and ask them how their experience was you'll likely find out some
priceless info. The goods, the bads, all of it.
When you finally decide to send out screeners of your film, the first thing you should do is call the company, tell them who you are, what you’re sending
and when it's coming. This way, when it crosses their desk a few days later, they'll remember you. As for the screener itself, don't just send a DVD with
a title scribbled on it. They get hundreds of those a month. Do something different. If you have a full, professionally produced press kit, send that. If not,
send anything you have that'll make them take notice. Include any reviews you may have praising your film. Include info on any festival accolades you've
earned to date. Anything that might give your movie even the slightest edge over any other submissions is worth including. Finally, because of the
onslaught of DVDs these companies get every month, you may not hear from them for a few weeks, or at all. But, that doesn't mean they don't want
your movie. It may mean it's just buried under 400 other DVDs somewhere. If you don't hear anything within 2 weeks, call again to ‘follow-up’. If they
tell you they haven't gotten to it yet, wait 2 more weeks, then call again. Obviously, you want to give them adequate time to get to your film. But you
also want to stay on them so they don't forget about you. I'd keep calling until they say either ‘let's make a deal’ or ‘no thanks’ to your film.”
Do you have any filmmaking tips for those who want to get into this type of work?
Yeah, don’t do it. Just kidding. It’s a tough business though. If you’re trying to break into the business as a filmmaker, the best advice I can offer you is
to try to make something commercially marketable your first time out. Don’t try to make that “meaningful, real, from the heart” film. All distributors care
about is making money. Since you’re a nobody (just like me), no one will take you seriously at first. You have to prove you’re bankable in order to get
anyone interested in your abilities. Then, after you’ve shown that you can contribute to the film community financially, perhaps you’ll get an opportunity
to make the movie you really want to make. Look at how long it took for Spielberg to get the opportunity to make Schindler’s List.
Which do you prefer the most, Independent or Hollywood cinema, and why?
Honestly, I’m split 50/50. Indie films tend to take more chances and tackle subjects Hollywood’s too afraid to touch. But, even though much of what
Hollywood puts out is garbage, they do hit the jackpot every once in a while. For every 50 crappy remakes, sequels or Lindsey Lohan movies they make,
there’s usually one great film like “The Departed” to follow. So, it’s tough to hate Hollywood 100% across the board.
Is there any other filmmaker who gets your attention? If so, who are they and what do you think of their films?
In the Hollywood world, I love Zemeckis. He doesn’t make as many movies as directors like Spielberg. But, whenever he does, it’s usually amazing. I love
everything he’s ever done. In the indie world, I’m a David A. Cross fan. Of course, I’m biased because Dave is my close, personal friend and colleague. He
worked as A.D. on Murder Game. But, Dave is an accomplished filmmaker himself. He made the 2004 and 2005 films, “GhostWatcher” and
“GhostWatcher II” which came out on Lions Gate Home Entertainment. They’re good, solid horror stories told in classic “ghost story” fashion. This
winter, we’ll be going into production on his next feature. I can’t say much about it right now. But I will say it’s going to be one of the most original
supernatural thrillers in years.
I gotta ask you this question, are you a fan of DVD Resurrections?
Obviously, DVD Resurrections rocks! It’s not the best place on the web for movie fans….it’s the ONLY place.
What are your top 5 films of all time?
Wow, tough one. But I’ll give it a shot…
1. The Usual Suspects
2. The Empire Strikes Back
3. Psycho
4. Halloween
5. Goodfellas
Is there anything you would like to say anything to our readers reading this interview?
Just that I’d like to thank everyone for reading this and when/if you get the opportunity to see The Murder Game, be sure to drop by our website or
myspace page to tell us what you thought.
www.murdergamemovie.com
www.myspace.com/themurdergame
Thanks for taking the time to do this interview with us Rob. I wish you great success in the future with your films and I can't wait to see what sick
and twisted films you are going to come up with in the future, you have definitely have our support at DVD Resurrections, cheers bro.
Thanks a lot, guys. I really appreciate the support. You’re the best!
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