Toronto indie filmmaker making massive horror-centric documentary.
Toronto-based filmmaker Justin McConnell has devoted his life to cinema. The study of it. Exhibiting it (he curates the monthly Little Terrors short film series in the city in collusion with Canadian horror magazine RUE MORGUE). And, of course, the making of it (he is the director of features THE COLLAPSED and SKULL WORLD and has produced myriad short films and documentary subjects).
But for the past year or so, McConnell has combed the planet interviewing some of the most notable names from the annals of cult cinema, figures from both the fringe and the mainstream. The result is the impending feature documentary THE CLAPBOARD JUNGLE: SURVIVING THE INDEPENDENT FILM BUSINESS, a picture whose ultimate aim is to provide a primer for those insane, er, brave enough to venture into a life pursuing movie making.
The doc features interviews with over 80 subjects, including George A. Romero, Avi Lerner, Tom Savini, Dean Cundey, Tom Holland and dozens more (including, full disclosure, yours truly ).
SHOCK talked to McConnell to learn more.
SHOCK: What’s the focus of THE CLAPBOARD JUNGLE? Is it exclusively horror film personalities youre targeting?
McCONNELL: The film definitely focuses on a lot of personalities within the genre and will touch on horror filmmaking specifically, but is not strictly focused on horror. It’s a documentary to help filmmakers in general, and happens to focus on the horror genre mostly because it’s the main area I work in. I program for two genre films fests, write for a horror mag, several of the distribution companies I work with focus on genre, and horror is predominantly my focus with my own narrative work. It’s where I had best access and knowledge to start.
SHOCK: What are the challenges of being an indie filmmaker in Canada as opposed to the U.S?
McCONNELL: Having not personally worked as an indie filmmaker in the U.S., I can’t say from first-hand knowledge if there is a difference. But I can tell it is definitely different from talking to those working in the U.S. In Canada there’s a big gap between two camps of indie genre filmmaking: the DIY crowd who make films for incredibly low budgets, and the larger films supported by funding bodies such as Telefilm. There’s also less equity available in Canada, comparatively, and less of a focus on commercial filmmaking on the stuff that’s government supported. That said, I’d use the ‘big fish in a small pond’ analogy when it comes to Canada. There may be less equity here, but there’s also less competition for that dollar. I’d say both countries have challenges, they are just different. One major difference is access to ‘known’ talent; if you produce in LA, for example, you have a large pool of internationally recognized established talent to pull from. That exists in Canada as well, but there are far less actors to go around, so you end up flying people in, and your costs go up. I don’t think there is a definitive answer, though. Different paths to a similar result, is how I see it.
SHOCK: Who have you shot so far for the film?
McCONNELL: I’ve interviewed over 80 people so far. The full list is up on the official site but there have been tons of established and well-known people from the genre who have graciously taken their time and sat with me: George A. Romero, Mick Garris, Dean Cundey, Larry Fessenden, Tom Holland, John McNaughton, Dick Miller, Tom Savini, Vincenzo Natali, Brian Yuzna, Sid Haig, Noboru Iguchi…. the list goes on and on. But we’re still in production, and that list is going to grow. One thing I’m working toward at the moment is that although Ive interviewed a number of great female filmmakers, I still don’t find them well-represented enough in the doc, so am looking to change that.
SHOCK: What’s the greatest thing you’ve learned about the process so far?
McCONNELL: Patience. As a mantra to live by. I spent the earlier part of my career waiting for things to happen and keep happening. Working endlessly toward some lofty goal set when I was much younger. Now I’m realizing the key to not just success, but sanity, is patience. This business is a lot of ‘hurry up and wait’, and I’ve started to plan my own work accordingly. Launch things when they are ready, share scripts when they are ready, never be totally happy with a draft, make sure I get outside opinions, work and rework. Make the work the best it can be, and the rest will follow. No rushing to camera unless you absolutely have to due to some financial or scheduling commitments. Learn the craft, and do good work. All of that takes time and patience. And the interview subjects totally re-enforce that ideal.
THE CLAPBOARD JUNGLE has launched an IndieGoGo campaign to reach completion. McConnell and company are offering a wealth of perks for those willing to join his adventure. Go HERE for more information.
