|
|
|
|
How long was the whole process; pre-production, filming, post, etc..?
Pre-production was maybe 20-30 days max, and that is being generous. When taking into
consideration we all have regular 9-5 jobs and had to do this in our free time it was more like a
solid 15 days. Filming took 14 months mainly because everyone could only work weekends, and
some of the cast are family people and they had to devote time to their family first. Not to
mention we took a hiatus for the winter of 2005 figuring it would be cold, and we were so
wrong. Both myself and Brian Wright work as business professionals by day and sometimes our
work load would be so heavy filming may occur one weekend, but a month would go by before
we could film again. Aside from the winter break of 4 months the longest hiatus between
filming was 2 months.
Now during the downtime I would actually edit the filmed sequences together and Brian and I
would co-compose the film together. I would compose the main part of the music, Synth’s
bass, Drums etc. I would then do a mix of the track and send it to Brian via Yahoo IM in wav
format so he could add live guitars to it and he would then send me a rough mix and we would
talk via the phone to complete the final mix. Brian and I live 60 miles away from each other
and neither of us had the room in our homes to make a studio to just sit in and do this at one
time so we had to get thrifty and use the file transfer feature with YIM and that really worked
out the best for us and our schedules and location.
|
|
|
For those who may be unaware, how did this come about?
Hmmm, well like I said being a zombie fan I had always wanted the film I made to be a zombie film first. I knew so many low
budget guys who did zombie films and the market was over saturated, but I didn't care. I love zombie films and I wouldn't have
traded doing one for a million bucks.
But the main fire under my ass was lit from being invited to the set of the Dawn remake and being a zombie in Land of the
Dead. I had an online radio station many years ago called WETNWILDRADIO.COM and around that time Universal was beginning to
make DAWN 2004. I was so mad, there was no info about a remake of this movie… I did everything I could to track the
production down and when I did, I started getting some photos from people and posting them on the website. Well this started
a buzz with Zed fans and soon thereafter Universal saw the potential and let me run with it, and they began providing a lot of
the photos for me to upload. I kind of became the single source for everything Behind the Scenes during the making of DAWN
2004.
That event led me to the world premiere of DAWN 2004 and I met Greg Nicotero and we talked a lot that night at the premiere
and spoke a bit afterwards. He then invited me to the set of Land and I got to live a dream a lot of people wished they could do
and that was be a zombie in a Romero film. Talk about being able to die happy... well after seeing how both Zack Snyder and
George kept their sets fun and entertaining I said I have to do my own thing now, so I sat down and penned a short story called
Deadlands, which became a short script that turned into a feature length script, based on a script I had written in 2003 titled
Beyond Dead... When that became too expensive to film, I cut it down to the essentials and that became Deadlands: The Rising.
Is there any possibility of a sequel happening sometime in the near future?
A 99.9999% chance. I am currently signed with an agent in California whom is actually wheeling and dealing with some studios
and film financiers. However, it may look like a bigger budget remake of Deadlands: The Rising may be occurring as opposed to
the sequel, but it really means nothing until someone signs papers and hands me a check or whatever it is they do... Whether or
not that happens I am still ready to do Deadlands 2 and hopefully have it out by late 2009 early 2010. Even if I have to mortgage
my home to finance it myself.
What other films and directors inspired you to create your film?
The single biggest influence was Dan O'Bannon's The Return of the Living Dead, followed by Romero and Zack Snyder. O’Bannon’
s return was a different breed of zombie film, in that you can't kill them and that made them more terrifying, now… I do use the
shoot them in the head method, but a lot of the zombie characteristics, especially their movements were based of ROTLD1.
Yes, Deadlands zombies run, but they also shamble and there is a ton of misconceptions about running zombies. A lot of people
hate them and to be honest there really is no reason. Yes ROTLD and DAWN 2004 had running zombies, but they didn't run unless
there was something to run after... like food. If there is no food for them to eat why run? So they just walk around and when
they spot something boom they’re off. However, I did stay away from the track star style zombies, mine run but are more
aching to the running style of ROTLD. I do also use the rules of rigor mortis. As time progresses on and it does settle in the
zombies will slow down, and if you see a mix of those in the film it is the rigor mortis rule... Just remember rigor mortis does
eventually work itself out and then the zed's could be more mobile again.
How did the horror fans re-acted to watching Deadlands: The Rising at the screenings?
At the screenings Deadlands seemed to get a very warm reception. I guess being able to address the audience before hand and
to give them a little background about it helps, but the DVD reviews on Netflix, and other online rental houses are mixed, and
mostly negative. I have never seen anyone leave a screening of the film, and our recent theatrical run in Hagerstown, MD USA
did very well. I really believe you have to like low budget filmmaking to sit through indie stuff today. Hollywood has saturated
films with CGI and other nifty gizmo's that for guys on my level, it is harder to pull things off. Even really good indie zed films
like Last Rites of the Dead (Gangs of the Dead) are getting slammed, and to be honest… considering the budgets and what they
pull off I really think some people need to take their heads out of their asses.
I think if we had 10-20 million we too could make a DAWN 2004 or LAND of the DEAD, but at some point you have to separate
the films, $10,000 is not going to look like $10,000,000.00 no matter how you slice it. However, there are those who also just
like to run off at the mouth. My single pet peeve is with those whom say their 2 year olds can do better... Well I got $10,000
and a DVX100B for your 2 year old... so step up or shut the fuck up.
Was their any bits and pieces left behind in the script that never made it on film?
There is actually 46 minutes of deleted footage sitting on the external HDD's that now sit in the closet because with Deadlands
now on DVD there is no reason to keep the files connected to the PC. However, yes a lot of the script is missing and only
because of budget constraints. I really wanted to shoot in the city and show people being attacked in all different places. The
Police and Military being overrun pretty much the collapse of society in one night. Hopefully someday that can all get filmed.
Did you have any problems or set backs while shooting the film?
Some stuff. the city of Baltimore was not easy to work with so we had to sneak around just to get those city shots you see in
the film. Their film office was quite uncooperative and I really had the feeling they don't support the indie community as much
as they claim. All I wanted was a simple permit to do some stuff in the city after hours in commercial districts and they were
just not trying to hear it... It gave me the impression that they only care about studio money which is sad. I bet if I were John
Waters or Barry Levinson they would have stood there with open arms, but that was sadly not the case.
Baltimore can be a great backdrop for any kind of zombie or disaster flick. I really want to show people how great the city
could be for a super zombie flick, and I am not giving up. If a studio deal happens I am aiming to shoot it in Baltimore.
What's your favorite part of Deadlands: The Rising?
The traffic jam slaughter. Hands down my favorite sequence. I tried to make that as violent as possible, and I feel I pulled it off.
Most recently I did do a re-edit of the films ending for the theatrical release. I like the new ending a lot too, but the DVD
version I did I consider my definitive cut.
TempeDVD bought the distribution rights, where was it at when your film finally got noticed by them?
I sent them a work print and they took it on. While they were making their decision I finished it and I did a self release and sold
1000 units through the website alone.
What can we expect from Gary Ugarek in the future?
Well believe it or not I am trying to take time off from film projects. Deadlands was taxing. In the summer of 2006 I was helping
some of my make-up guys do their short film Eating Habits and I had a medical issue pop up that required heart surgery. So now
I am using this time to relax because whether a remake happens or part 2 happens, I know I am going to be running around like a
chicken with my head cut off. I would pretty much say the remainder of 2007 will be attending the last few festivals Deadlands
will play at, and finishing Eating Habits for my make-up guys.
I am hoping though some day I can bring the definitive zombie film to the masses, the zombie film everyone imagines and
wants but no one has yet to deliver because the studios don't have the balls to pony up the cash to do it. I really want to see a
truly epic zombie picture that when the credits start to roll you can't get out of your seat for at least 5 minutes because you are
just blown away at what happened.
Can you name some of your favorite movies?
I won't limit it to just horror...
Goodfellas, The Shawshank Redemption, Shaun of the Dead, The Usual Suspects, Batman Begins, The Godfather, Planet Terror,
Pulp Fiction, Dawn of the Dead (original & remake), Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Dog Day Afternoon, Straw Dogs, Bullitt, Nobody's
Fool.. the list goes on & on. The one film I think a lot of people should check out is a gem title Thank you For Smoking. This is
really a great entertaining flick and it is so under the radar. People should check it out, best 90 minutes I have spent watching
TV in quite sometime.
What advice would you have for people out there considering breaking into the industry?
If you truly have it in your heart to do it... just do it. You may not get distribution, you may not get famous, all that really
matters is do your best. No one can take that moment in time away from you.
However, if you find yourself in a position where you are getting noticed... watch your ass, there are good people and there
are wolves. Actually there are more wolves than decent folks and they're ready to take advantage of you in a heartbeat.
What are three things that people do not know about Gary Ugarek?
I would never get married again, Once was enough.
I love Sushi and General Tso Chicken
If it were up to me everyone would own a Ford Mustang
Is there anything you like to say to our readers, before we end the interview?
Yes... film fans are some of the best people on the planet. More than anything I love talking film with anyone who can stand the
conversation. Films allow us to enter a whole new world and are there to entertain us, give us something to talk about. Without
them I really don't know what life would be like and I don't know if I would ever want to live in a world without films.
Everyone in the film business, from low budget to big budget works hard for you and while everything released may not appeal
to you it may appeal to someone. Remember everyone has an opinion and they have the right to voice that opinion. You may or
may not agree with it, but it is an opinion just the same. All of you have a right to be heard.
Last but not least. Thanks for taking the 5 minutes of your lives to read this little blurb. Many thanks again to the fans of
Deadlands, and DVD Resurrections.
Gary Ugarek.
|
|
