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

Rick Danford: Director

1. Tell us a little about your background, where are you from and when did you decide that you wanted to become a filmmaker? I'm originally from New York but I've lived in Florida for the last 30 years of my life. I've always been a huge fan of all types of films. I originally wanted to be a stuntman and then I even tried my hand at acting here locally. I still like to act from time to time. I first realized I really wanted to be a filmmaker while I was writing the script for my first film, The Web of Darkness. I wrote it with the intension of trying to sell it and as I started the process I thought, wouldn't it be cool if I could film this myself? So I decided to roll the dice and give it a shot. I learned a lot while making that film, both good and bad. But it made me realize that this is what I really wanted to do. 2. What has been your favorite project to date and why? To date I would say, The Reaper. It's a short film I shot a year or so ago. With each film I have basically been learning how to be a Filmmaker and a Director for that matter. Essentially pushing the envelope a little more with each project. I think The Reaper is the closest to what I had been hoping for with each film. Although I am still not completly happy with anything I've done as of yet, I'm learning, growing and getting closer to getting what's in my head on film. 3. Tell us about your latest directorial project "Web of Darkness". What was your experience like both writing and directing the film? The Web of Darkness was actually my first Feature Film. We shot it several years ago but have had many issues once we got to post. I just recently completed it to the point I could show it to a crowd. As I stated above, it was essentially my first project and I was really learning how to Direct as we were making the film. We had many issues with sound and several crew members we had involved in the project but I promised my mother that I would finish it, so I did. I have many concepts in my mind but getting them on paper has always been the hardest part for me. I am just not comfortable being a screenwriter and it is a long process for me to punch out a screenplay. As for Directing, I love it. I haven't really had the chance to just Direct to this point. One of the things about being an Indie Filmmaker is that everyone has to wear many hats all the time. Even the Director. I one day hope to be able to just be able to work with the Cast and help them get my vision across with out all of the other duties that are needed to make an Indie film. Maybe one day. 4. What do you think is the most important thing for a Director to bring to a set? A vivid and clear understanding of exactly what he wants to see on the screen when the film is complete. This will help him communicate that vision to his Cast members so they can give him the performance he wants and needs. He or she needs to also have a clear understanding of what they expect from the shots to help with the Camera, Lighting and Sound so the final product comes out the way they want and in the least amount of time. Having a solid and clear vision will help everyone get on the same page and help the takes move along smoother and quicker. Essentially a good Director needs to know what he wants to see and how he wants to see it inside and out so he can Direct everyone on both sides of the camera to help make his vision a reality. 5. Often times you both Write and Direct a movie. What inspires you to make a particular film? I have many ideas that I think will make good films. I am hoping to bring some of them to life to not only have quality projects out there that will hopefully be well received, but to hopefully have it create opportunities for me to bring more to the table. With The Web of Darkness, I am just a huge fan of Vampires. Mainly because of my Father. I had this concept after reading countless books and seeing even more films about them that I thought would bring something fresh to the genre. I still love the story and will hopefully one day get a chance to remake it. I just love movies and want to be a part of the industry I love so much. If I can bring something to the table that people like and I get the chance to do it for a living, it will be a dream come true. 6. Along with directing and producing your also a writer. Tell us about your recent script "Death Island". The script for Death Island came about in a very unique way. My partners and I in my former company Renegade Films decided we wanted to try and put together a new script after we finished shooting Web. We wanted to move on to the next project and put what we learned on Web to use. We gathered several friends we knew and have worked with together and we all met in the living room of one of my partners houses. We all discussed the concept and fleshed it all out between us while we sat there. We bounced scene ideas out there and discussed them and essentially put the main story and all of the characters together right then and there. We put together a solid synopsis and character breakdowns and moved on to the next stage. Myself and Jennifer Whitaker and very capable screenwriter wrote the script in stages. I would write a couple of scenes and send it to her. She would pick up where I left off and write a few more scenes and send it back to me. By going back and forth like this is what really kept the everyday writing duties interesting and kept the juices flowing so to speak. Once we had the script complete we had another friend, Jaime Jessup go through the entire script and clean it up. Once we got it done I contacted Tom Savini, who I got to know pretty well during the filming of my The Web of Darkness. He loved the concept and wanted to Direct it. We brought him in for a script session and it was decided that Tom and I re-write the script. He and I sat on the phone for hours each day hammering away until we had a completed version that Tom felt he could make into one of the most original and creepy Zombie films ever made. Tom once told me that he never felt he could Direct a Zombie film again because he didn't think he could make them scary any longer. After getting this script finished, he feels we can finally make Zombies scary again and now we just have to get the money to do it. Tom is currently shopping the script around and we'll see what he can do.

Krista Grotte in THE REAPER Damian Breurer is "The Reaper"

Movie Poster for Tom Savini's "Death Island" Tom Savini in "Web of Darkness"     BE SURE TO VISIT ENIGMA FILMS FOR MORE INFO: WWW.ENIGMA-FILMS.COM

7. Any other future projects in the works? Can you give us the scoop? I am currently writing the script for a new Feature that I will co-produce with my new company Enigma Films. It's kind of a cross between From Dusk till Dawn and Resovouir Dogs with Voodoo and Zombies instead of Vampires. That's all I can tell you for now. The working title I have for it is Just Business. If all goes as planned we will start filming by March. 8. What is the biggest problem with Hollywood today? I think one of the biggest problems is that Hollywood is one big private club. There are so many quality Writers and Directors out there but it's so hard for anyone to break into the business unless you have a connection on the inside. I wish there were more opportunities like the former Project Greenlight. Let's give the little guy a chance and see if we can bring a fresh new idea to Hollywood. 9. Do you have any advice to aspiring filmmakers? Just do it. With the dawn of the digital revolution now, there really is no excuse not to get out there and make product. Film School is all well and good but like one of my favorite filmmakers, Robert Rodriquez said in his book, Rebel without a Crew, take the money you were going to pay for Film School with and make your own movie. You will learn much more doing it yourself than you will in a class room. 10. Here's where we give you a word or phrase and you give us the first thoughts that pop into your mind. Hollywood: An 'In Club' that I would very much like to be a part of one day. The land of milk and honey. Where dreams are made. Indie Film: The true heart and soul of the film Industry. Toxic Shock TV: Great title. Biggest Influences: Robert Rodriquez, Quentin Tarantino, Steven Speilberg and Peter Jackson. Biggest Regrets: Not starting sooner in life. Being too trusting with some of the people I work with. Biggest Prick: One of the Filmmakers I worked with on one of my early projects. He knows who he is. The funniest thing that has ever happened to you on a set: Having my Sound Guy fall asleep and start snoring during a scene. Your biggest "break-thru" moment: Reading an Interview with Tom Savini in Cinemafantastique magazine where he said that he thought I was going to make a great Director one day. You can only watch three movies for the rest of your life, which three: Shaun of the Dead, Dumb and Dumber and The Incredibles. You can only listen to three ALBUMS for the rest of your life, which three: The Eagles Greatest Hits, Green Day's American Idiot and Linkin Park's Meteora.