"BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FOUNDING FATHERS AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT."

Richard Griffin: Director

1. Give us a little background on yourself, when did you decide that filmmaking was what you wanted to do? I was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. Around the time I was 12 my father bought me a Super8 camera. But it wasn't really until I was about 20 that I started thinking about seriously making movies. 2. Who inspired you both to become a filmmaker? I was very much inspired by the drive-in movies I saw as a kid, and movies I would see on late-night television. This is really before cable television and VCR's. Movies like "Phantasm", "Night of the Living Dead" and other great horror classics fueled my fire to make my own movies. 3. Tell us about your latest films “Seepage!” and “Raving Maniacs” which was co-written by Trent Haaga. Seepage! is a return to the great, fun horror movies of the 50s and 60s. It's got humanoid fish monsters, mad scientists, chicks with guns, a lot of southern-fried humor and some great make-up effects by Ben Chester and Leigh Radziwon. I had been making some seriously dark horror films, and I wanted to make one that was just a lot of fun. A laff-in-the-dark ride for the audience. Raving Maniacs is a very intense, very dark movie. It's also very trippy, sort of early Dario Argento. Brain Damage films just picked that one up, and it should be released worldwide in about three months. I'm very proud of it, it's a quirky, dark film. 4. Often times you write and edit along with directing your films. Is it tough wearing so many hats? Well, as for the writing I usually work with a co-writer. Mostly because I know my limits. I'm pretty good at coming up with story ideas, scenes, and characters. But I usually leave the bulk of the actual writing to someone with the serious chops like Trent Haaga. As for editing... I just love it. It's relaxing. No stress at all. 5. Tell us about your 2004 film “Feeding the Masses”. Feeding the Masses is a social satire on the state of the US media and government. I've said this before, and I'll say it again, I have never seen in all my years such a corrupt group as the Bush camp, nor have I seen such a propaganda machine as Fox News. Feeding has zombies in it, a little blood and guts, some action, but most of all ... it's a pretty direct satire on the state of things. 6. What’s the most important thing for a director to bring to the set? Drive. A sense of humor. And, probably most of all, an understanding that everyone is human and everyone makes mistakes. You're surrounded by very creative people from all walks of life, and everyone has their problems and crisises... so, if you're not compassionate, you're going to be facing a great deal of people problems.

7. Any new projects in the works? Give us the scoop! We start shooting a new movie in May called "NightLife", and one of my favorite actors, Patrick Pitu and I are writing the screenplay for our Fall project called "Funeral Home"... which is going to be a very creepy, old-fashion (And by old fashion, I mean like a Val Lewton film!) chiller. 8. What is the biggest problem with Hollywood today? There is no problem with Hollywood. It's a business, and it's run like a business. If a director wants 200 million to make a movie, there should be some checks and balances. If you want to be an artist, make your movie for 20 thousand dollars and you'll be able to make the movie the way you want to make it. Basically, I'm sick of filmmakers blaming Hollywood for everything. You want someone to blame? Blame the audiences. The reason why most horror films are pretty weak these days is because no matter how much a movie sucks, people will still go out in droves to watch it. I mean, everyone should know not to see the remake of "The Fog", but they do anyways! Plus, audiences should now be blamed for allowing movie theaters to show 25 minutes of commercials before a movie! Whew. Went on a rant there... I'm back. 9. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I'll never answer that question because I'd rather not know. I like to keep these things a mystery. Hopefully I'll still be in love with my partner... that's all. 10. Do you have any advice for aspiring filmmakers? Stop watching every stupid remake, sequel and other crap horror movie out there and take in some classics! Go out and rent some Howard Hawks, John Ford, Val Lewton, Hitchcock, Welles. And stop trying to copy Hollywood movies! The thing that made the indies great at one time was they gave audiences what Hollywood wouldn't. Now it seems that all the horror indies are trying to ape Hollywood movies, but they're doing it for millions of dollars less.... and it shows. 11. When all is said and done, what 3 things would you like for people to remember about you? 1. Sense of humor. 2. Good husband. 3. Hard worker. 12. Here's where we give you a word or phrase and you give us the first thoughts that pop into your mind. Hollywood: The Marx Brothers Toxic Shock TV (shameless plug): Writers of fine questions. Biggest regret: Having watched one too many Charles Band movies. Biggest prick: George W. Bush. Tied with Bill O'Reilly. The funniest thing that has ever happened to you on a set: Too many to remember. But I did enjoy walking into a Starbucks drenched in stage blood to get my coffee. The looks I got were amazing. Your biggest "break-thru" moment: Feeding the Masses being released worldwide. Also getting great reviews in Fangoria, Shock Cinema, Rue Morgue and Video Watchdog! You can only watch three movies for the rest of your life, which three: Taxi Driver, My Favorite Year, Touch of Evil. You can only listen to three albums for the rest of your life, which three: School's Out - Alice Cooper Songs from a Room - Leonard Cohen Genius - Warren Zevon