Interview with Ryan Nicholson

Ryan Nicholson is an independent filmmaker. He has directed two feature-length films called “Live Feed” and “Gutterballs,” with the latter due on DVD in January. I recently had a chance to catch up with this independent horror director, and had the chance to interview him before summer ended. This is my first interview, and hopefully there are a lot more to come.


TonyD: Tell us about your early life – what kind of films were you into while you were growing up, and how have they created an impact on you now?


Ryan: Some of the films that I watched when I was younger made a lasting impression... I remember watching "Happy Birthday To Me" at my cousins birthday party...the kills were very inventive. I also watched "Driller Killer" and "Zombie" in the early 80's, I was blown away. Going to the theatre and watching "The Fly" and "Aliens" with my father was the first time I really wanted to make monsters. I ventured from monster movies to slasher movies... seeing movies like "Friday the 13th 3D" at the drive-in! That's what I'm talking about! "I Spit On Your Grave" and "The Hills Have Eyes" really got me interested in exploitation movies. When I was old enough to rent movies, I rented every horror movie I could find... it didn't matter how cheesy or campy, I grew to love the lower-budgeted movies with a passion. I think that comes across in the movies I make.


TonyD: How did you go from being a make-up artist to a film director?


Ryan: I always incorporated my early make-ups, gore into short films... I always wanted to make movies rather than just do make-up FX. Writing was a big part of my early life. I had a horror rap band in 1989 to 1994 called "Disturbed Company". All of the songs I wrote were essentially short horror stories. When my horror rap started turning into more "electronic metal", I started to write longer songs, short stories, and finally screenplays. I still have a band, it's called "Michelle Remembers" and we are just working on getting our site up and running. But my point is I always wrote and always wanted to make my own movies... it came pretty naturally. Make-up effects are still something I do, but on my terms... I don't need the work. I'd spend my efforts getting my product out to the horror crowd.


TonyD: What were some of your favorite films to work on when you were working with make-up?


Ryan: I really enjoyed working on "Final Destination". The concept was great and the kills were gory. Working on "War" with Jet Li and Jason Statham was a blast. Those guys are great and I enjoy all of their movies. "Pope John Paul II" was a great movie to work on because not only did I get to design 3 stages of aging make-ups on Jon Voight, I got to apply them on him in Rome! Some of the Sci-Fi channel movies I've done recently, "Loch Ness Terror" and "Yeti", were great to do as well because it was just me and my partners Michelle Grady and Roy Nicholson doing all the FX. I don't hire anyone anymore and haven't for quite some time. I'd rather do everything myself and/or keep it all in the family. We just recently wrapped "Troglodyte", a big creature feature for the Sci-Fi channel. It was good times, creatures and a ton of gore! Again, no hired help, just Michelle, my Father Roy and myself. When you hire out, you just feed other peoples ego's, they start to think that their responsible for your success, because they built a mold or something. That's one reason I decided to make my own movies... I want total control and I don't want to give anymore people a free ride on my talent and my success. That was my biggest flaw running one of Canada's biggest FX studios... I was too kind to too many freeloaders. It didn't get me anywhere but nearly bankrupt, keeping people around when I had no work, paying out of my personal savings. I finally smartened up and now it's much, much better.


TonyD: How do you respond to criticism on your films?


Ryan: I use to get into debates on the content of my movies. If someone called "Live Feed" a "Hostel" rip-off, I'd correct them, letting them know that my movie was made first, etc. But eventually, I just grew a thicker skin. If someone doesn't like my movies and calls them "crap", that's their opinion. And when you put something out in the public sector, that's the way it is. You can't please everyone. It's either too hardcore or not hardcore enough. The worst thing a film-maker can do is try to argue with people that don't like their movies. It's a war a film-maker can never win. I enjoy reading all of the reviews of my stuff, the good, the bad, and the ugly reviews.


TonyD: That's funny how you say that because I remember reading Gabe Powers's review of "Live Feed" over at DVDActive and he called the film a rip-off also. I also remember reading the comments section and reading your rebuttal about it. It's good to know that some filmmakers are willing to stand up for their movies.

What are the pros and cons of being a director of an independent film like "Gutterballs?"


Ryan: A movie like "Gutterballs" is a blast to make! Having a cast and crew that are as into it as me is always a bonus. And everyone enjoyed the shoot. I think when you're working with your own funds, you are put to the ultimate test. You have to stretch every dollar. If I was given tons of money to make a movie, it would be less fun. I'd be forced to deal with other people’s bullshit. Self-producing means I can do what I want, shoot everything no matter how depraved it is. Every movie I make gives me more resources for the next one. I'm eager to shoot my third feature at the end of summer.


TonyD: When I reviewed “Gutterballs” a few months back, I saw some enormous references to some films back in the 70s and 80s. What were some of your major inspirations for the film?


Ryan: Films like "Halloween" and "House on the Edge of the Park" are big influences. You can see the "Halloween" nod with the "Ben" and "Cindy" death scenes. Just the plain nastiness of the David Hess character in "House on the..." really comes through in the "Steve" character. Our marketing strategy was to pay homage to classic slasher films "Maniac" and "Happy Birthday to Me". The art really lends itself to the movie. So do the taglines. We swap knifes and shish-ka-bobs with balls and pins. It worked out great! Giallo films are a big inspiration. The black gloved whodunnit theme really plays big in "Gutterballs".


TonyD: One of the taglines for "Gutterballs" is "Ten pins… ten ways to die," and the deaths in this film are extremely graphic. What was your favorite death scene in the film and why?


Ryan: I think the DB69 is by far my favorite and a crowd favorite. It was my goal to create a very original death without any blood whatsoever yet still be memorable. I think I achieved that with the DB69! If I had to choose a gory death, it would be the shotgun decap at the end of the movie. I modeled the blood after an 80's slasher "Nightmare" where the blood is like a volcanic eruption of blood, not so much a spray but more a giant flow of blood like lava.


TonyD: I know that tons of people, including I, have said that if "Gutterballs" was sent to the MPAA that they wouldn't know what to do with it. Have you sent "Gutterballs" into the MPAA (or have you thought about it and of their reactions)?


Ryan: Thankfully "Gutterballs" is being released in North America UNCUT by "Danger After Dark" in January 2009. So it bypassed the MPAA. But in other countries, we haven't been so lucky. In Germany, for instance, nearly 30 minutes of "Gutterballs" was cut out, making it the "most cut" horror/gore movie in German history! They did a similar thing in Germany with my last movie "Live Feed"; they cut so much out, they had to run the end credits for over 20 minutes to have a decent running time! Man, it sucks to be a horror fan there. But Austria is getting their "balls" uncut, so it will be easy for the German fans to source there.


TonyD: What is your opinion on people in the industry like Eli Roth and Rob Zombie that can easily be fit into that "beloved" "torture-porn" genre?


Ryan: I really dig their movies. I just wish that the MPAA would be easier on us little guys to. Roth and Zombie get away with full frontal shots, etc... the multi-million dollar stuff gets a pass to show cock in the multiplex but the Direct to DVD stuff gets the shaft. It's not fair by any means. But that aside, I'm a fan of both Roth and Zombie. They make great films and their both such fans of horror. Their movies are always a pleasure to watch. You can see the passion in them.


TonyD: What is next for Plotdigger Films and yourself?


Ryan: I'm currently prepping "Hanger", my abortion/revenge movie. I shoot in a few weeks. I also have "Star Vehicle" on the burner. Debbie Rochon is in "Hanger", possibly "Star Vehicle" as well. I have sequel ideas for "Gutterballs" and "Live Feed", as well as special re-releases of "Live Feed" and my short "Torched" planned. It's going to be a very busy 2009!


I want to thank you, Ryan, for joining me in this interview. “Gutterballs” will be released on DVD sometime in January 2009. You can read my review of it at: http://www.filmarcade.net/2008/04/indie-scene-gutterballs-kush-and-juno.html, and Anthony Thurber’s at: http://www.filmarcade.net/2008/05/reviews-from-horror-chamber-gutterballs.html