The Independent Film Corner: Jay Lee

Welcome to The Independent Film Corner. Jay Lee is a director and writer from California. He is an up and coming horror director, who burst on to the horror scene in 2006 with the very entertaining horror film, “The Slaughter” which was a hit on the festival circuit. Today, he’s here to talk about his latest horror film “Zombie Strippers!” which stars Adult film star Jenna Jamerson and horror legend, Robert Englund.

Tell my readers about yourself and what made you want to go into directing?

Well, I am one of those rare oddities in Los Angeles – a native. My parents were novelists so I grew up in a very creative atmosphere. When I was very young my mother took me to see a re-release of Fantasia in the theaters, for the dinosaurs. I remember holding a red ticket stub in my hand. The things I saw that day blew me away, the colors, the motion, the stories, for two hours NOTHING was impossible. After the movie my hand was red – the ticket stub had dissolved in my palm. From that point on, which was pretty much my whole life, all I ever wanted to do was make movies.

I was going through the official website and imdb.com, when researching for this interview, I noticed that your sister, Angela Lee is the producer for this film. Give me a perspective of what it's like to work with a family member on set?

She’s my older sister, and the good thing is she supports me as if I were a little brother, being that I am. There’s also no issue of trust or backstabbing or personality conflicts that I have seen split companies apart, we’ve gone through that already at home as kids. The bad thing is that she’s my older sister, so if I don’t do what she tells me she’ll beat me up.

Tell my readers about your latest film, Zombie Strippers!, and how came up with the film's unique title?

We were making “The Slaughter” which we were catering towards being a shamelessly marketable horror film, hitting all the clichés and stereotypes. So I made a joke “at least we’re not making something like Zombie Strippers.” I got a laugh. But then it hit me like a ton of bricks – why not make Zombie Strippers? The title sells itself, it would be fun, and being that absurd and low-brow we could hide a fair amount of social commentary like we used to in our non-horror films. So I based the script on classic French absurdist literature, specifically Ionesco’s Rhinoceros which is a commentary on the dangers of conformity, something I find strikingly relevant right now, but coated it with enough zombies, gore, nudity and humor to make it more than anything just a good time.

I noticed, in your first film "The Slaughter" (which is available on Lionsgate) that the film went for more of a straight horror approach, in scare value. What made you want to go, the grindhouse route, for this film?

Actually there’s been a big misunderstanding. “The Slaughter” was made to be more or less a campy tongue in cheek parody of “bad horror movies.” We DO like to think of it as a comedy, just done straight up with a good dose of suspense, eeriness and horror with respect to the genre. When the film was advertised at the film festivals as a comedy we did very well, great audience response, we even won a few awards. When Lionsgate marketed the film as straight horror the film didn’t go over so well. People thought it was a bad movie, when it is, just an intentional parody of bad horror movies. Zombie Strippers was geared to fix some of that misunderstanding by making sure NO ONE could mistake this film as a serious film. Funny thing was that of all people who did take it too seriously were our producing partners and the studio who at one point had their own cut of the film trying to make it a “kick-ass zombie movie.” It didn’t work. So the grindhouse tone was more or less restored, some of the humor and political commentary put back (but not all) and now it’s the movie it is today.

One of the things that is done very effectively, you takes shots at the current President of the United States and the religious right, to name a few. What made you want to focus on those elements in the film's subplots?

I just very much would like to make relevant films, films with a message, challenging films, offensive films to shake things up and maybe some day important films. I try to put some subtext in everything I do. The political and social commentary of Zombie Strippers was instrumental in conceiving the film.

The film features a very good cast that horror fans will love, including adult-film superstar Jenna Jameson and Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street). How did both Jameson and Englund agree to be aboard on the project and what was it like to work with each of them?

Well, with Jenna it was Angela who somehow got the script to her. Jenna read it, saw three things she wanted to do - horror, comedy and a political statement. So she agreed to do the film. Then when we had “Zombie Strippers!” starring Jenna Jameson Sony saw the dollar signs and picked up the project. It was then we went out to horror icons for the Ian role. Our stunt coordinator had just worked with Robert and got the script to him on a personal level, and shortly after he was on board too. Both are total pros. They were there to get the job done and not make any problems doing it. They were behind the project 100% and gave it their all. Robert is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. He spent many days sitting with the other actors and extras regaling them with tales. Both Robert and Jenna didn’t need much direction at all, being who they are, but they were always very open and respectful whenever I did have direction for them. It was a joy to work with both of them.

What is your favorite Jenna Jameson and Robert Englund story on the set?

With Jenna it was the day we shot her big dance number. She didn’t want to choreograph anything and we just talked about something that needed to be mindboggling sexy yet twisted and unnerving. So we just set up two cameras and let her do her thing. She improvised her dance three times. Most of the people in the room had never seen anything like that in their lives before, including me. She was graceful, horrifying, unnerving and sexy as hell. For me I’m sure it was something akin to George Lucas hearing the Star Wars theme for the first time. I knew no matter how bad I screwed the rest of the film up we had a hit on our hands. My favorite Robert story was the last shot we did of him for the film was at the end of one of our longest nights, it was probably pushin 4 A.M., everyone was tired and grumpy, and Robert had to do a face-slide through Blavatski’s blown-up remains. 2 takes of Robert diving and sliding face first in guts across a hard stage. He then stood up covered in blood and latex and said “What, and quit show business?” And he was wrapped him for the film. But that was Robert in a nutshell, positive and nothing but support. Thanks, Robert. You’re the best.

Also, most of the cast who are in this film, including Jessica Custodio, Penny Drake, and Carmit Levite, to name a few were also in your first feature film, "The Slaughter". When casting this film, what made you want to use, most of these actors again, for this project?

They paid me cash. Not really. “The Slaughter” was a no-budget film and the cast busted their ass for free to make that film happen. We used “The Slaughter” as a calling card to get “Zombie Strippers” off the ground, so not only was it just the right thing to do to bring everyone with us, we actually wanted to. We’ve stayed very close friends with that group of very talented people and will work with them again and again.

You also did the film's cinematography, along with the writing and directing of this film. Why did you do your own cinematography and what made you want to use a music video style approach, when shooting the film?

I shot the film myself mainly because I’m cheap. Seriously. Personally I love doing it. So I did it for cheap. Free, you might say. It also saves a lot of time for me not having to explain what I need to another DP, and on a shoot as fast and furious as Zombie Strippers was that helped get a lot more accomplished. I think you could say some of the dance sequences came off music video style, each dance was stylized visually and conceptually to match the characters. Roxy Saint’s dance was very music video because she’s a rock n roll star, and the style fit her character best.

Zombie Strippers! was released back in March theatrically in limited release and video on demand from Columbia Pictures and Stage 6 Entertainment. Tell me how Columbia Picture became involved in your project to the point that they decided to give the film a limited release and what was the mood over at your production company Scream HQ, when you and team heard the news that they were giving the film, a limited release?

Sony Pictures paid for the film, and ultimately owns it. During the time of going back and forth with my and the studio’s cuts of the film we screened the versions a few times at the studio. There were many at the studio very eager to see the film and would sit in the screenings. Someone from marketing must have been in one of those screenings and saw the potential for the film. We were all ready for a straight to DVD release, had recorded the commentary and everything, when we got the word of the theatrical release. We were stunned, then crazy with excitement, then quickly overwhelmed by the hype and pressure. But all in all it was an amazing experience.

Tell my readers about the DVD extras that my readers can expect when it hits stores, on October 28th.

The Unrated DVD has more gore than the theatrical release. I was able to include extended versions of many of the scenes, mainly containing more humor and political satire, and a couple deleted scenes. I think the film makes more sense with those available. There are two making of videos, one about the film, the other about the make-up. There’s a commentary by myself, Robert, Jenna and comedian Joey Median who plays Paco. Since the film was inspired by and parodies a lot of French existentialism, the Blu-Ray has a trivia track where those references will be pointed out. But for all who watched the film on TV the DVD will be the wide-screen 2:35 aspect ratio, make sure you take a look at it the way it was intended to be, it looks MUCH better.

After having the dishonor of watching horror remakes, such as, "The Eye" and "One Missed Call" (aka, One and a half Missed Hours of my life. Had to throw that punchline in there, since it's true). Your film was a refreshing relief to all that dreadful crap, as I had fun watching this film. What is your opinion of the horror genre, as the endless remakes that seem likely to continue?

Well, the thing about the re-make is it’s all about the business. Some call it “built in audience,” some “laziness,” some “lack of creativity.” But the fact of the matter is is the studios are run by accountants now, so the numbers are what matters, be it a remake of Halloween or Get Smart. Now all that is good for the film industry, films need to make money. But more often than not a purely business venture can loose the creative and artistic venture of the original film. That is not always the case as there has been some re-makes I’ve actually really liked. Well… two, to be exact. I am very happy you liked my film. But I’m hoping that that’s a reflection on me as a filmmaker, and if I was to do a remake I’d do just as good a job. Hopefully.

Are there any current projects that you're working that you want to share with my readers?

Right now we’re developing a serious horror film with Roxy Saint, who played Lilith in Zombie Strippers. We have a slate of films ready to go, more horror-comedy and more straight-up horror, and as soon as this actor’s strike is resolved hopefully we’ll hit the ground running. You can keep updated at screamHQ.com if you like.

Is there any advice that you would give to any director, looking to make his/her own film?

Yes. Do it yourself. Just get whatever you can together and make the damn movie yourself. But then remember the days of being discovered overnight are on hiatus right now. So individual films are stepping stones towards a career. It may take a few. You may not make a whole lot of money, if any, for a while. But don’t give up, just keep making them, and punch your way through this wall of marketing and catalogs and accounting that is the film industry today. Someone will notice you and your work.

Mr. Lee, I would like to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk about your recent film "Zombie Strippers!", which hits DVD stores tomorrow, from Columbia Pictures.

You can read my review of Zombie Strippers at: http://www.filmarcade.net/2008/06/reviews-from-horror-chamber-diary-of.html

On the next edition of The independent Film Corner, I will be talking to an up and coming scream queen in the independent horror film scene, Elske McCain.

Until then, my name is Anthony Thurber. Have a good day.