Adam Mason Interview

1.Welcome Adam and thanks for talking to us at FOF. Easy one to kick off with. What got you into films?

Lack of any real work ethic probably. And the abject terror at the idea of actually having to get a real job. I was never much of a morning person, and could never understand how people actually get up at 7am, day in and day out, and go and do some piece of shit job they hate.... and ultimately never have anything to show for it anyway! I'd always loved movies growing up, movies and books - although where i grew up I'd never met anyone who was in anyway involved in film - so it always seemed like an impossible dream.

Then when i was about 18 I met this girl whose dad was Frank the monster from Hellraiser.... which was one of my favourite films. Me and her went out for about 3 years and that family made me realize that it was possible to lead an alternative life to most people. And then, when i got kicked out of university, he suggested i go to film school, which had never even crossed my mind up until that point.

I'm not sure if I hadn't met that family if I'd be doing what I'm doing today. Kind of a scary thought, and not one I like to linger on for too long!
 
2.You're obviously doing things the hard way. Writing,producing,directing and even editing. You must have fucking huge balls but do you sometimes wish you could have it easier or is it good to learn the craft like this?

Well I don't see why anyone would do it any other way. Must be nice to grow up in Hollywood, or have a rich film producer for a daddy. But frankly thats why most films are so fucking awful.  You think Bret Ratner struggled to get where he is? Fincher (who i love) grew up next door to George Lucas for christssake....

I think to create anything, be it a film, novel, painting, whatever - you've got to have something to say. Most American films, for example, say a hell of a lot without saying a single thing. Its like the emperers new clothes - all style and no substance at all. Pretty pathetic when you think about it.

I'm getting sick of editing these days, as thats just becoming a chore to me. I've been editing non stop for about ten years now, and as soon as I get to the position of being able to afford someone decent I'll knock that on the head. I don't think its particuarly good for a director to edit their own stuff (i've edited everything i've ever made) - because you start seeing the film in micro detail, whereas its probably more healthy to be able to deal in brush strokes.... But then again I can't understand how a director would not be able to know how to edit. Thats absurd to me - its like being a painter and not knowing how to use a paintbrush. Just lazy more than anything... Same with writing. If you don't know about writing, how can you appreciate how a script works? How a story is told? I'm not sure you really can.....
 
3.It must give you freedom though to do projects you want to do and not what others want. In the future do you fancy the big budget thing?

I don't really. Who knows. Never say never. I like the idea of being really fucking rich. But I'm not sure I'm willing to suck that much cock. Which is really what it comes down to. All those guys whose movies you watch in the movie theatres must have taken miles and miles of it. And i don't much like getting raped by fucking idiots.

The downside of that is that I have to do pretty much everything myself. I've got a good bunch of people around me now, who all respect what I do and give me the space to do it, thank God. The downside is that I am 34 and don't have any money! But I live my work really, there's never a moment I'm not either working on my movies, or on some future project. I really love what I do, but to say its not really hard would be a lie.

Its hard in the sense that i feel like I'm fighting a loosing battle in the lions den (i live right in the middle of Hollywood) - people just don't really want movies that make you think anymore - reality shows are dumbing audiences down.  So is the internet. It kills peoples attention span.

I think its a shame, but what can you do? I just try and ignore the facts as much as possible and keep doing my own thing - keeping myself entertained essentially.

Fighting against the film industry is like picking a scrap with Ronald McDonald. He doesn't give a shit he makes rubbish burgers cause he's selling a billion of them a day, and after all - he's a fucking clown.
 
4.I recently watched The Devils Chair and thought it was pretty fucking good but films like yours struggle to find an audience due to Hollywoods crap horror fixation. Do you find it frustrating that you don't get as promoted as much as say the crap remakes out there?

It doesn't really surprise me. Its a formula that works. Ultimately film isn't really an art form - kind of like literature. You can spend your life trying to be Sylvia Plath, but ultimately people are always going to want Harry Potter. A film like Devils Chair is never going to be for everyone. I always like to think that all my favourite things are hated by most people.. Look at when Angel Heart came out... or Jacobs Ladder. Or the Wicker Man... Irreversible... Look at Antichrist now. People generally don't like them.. they fail at the box office.. but twenty years later they are still loved by a minority who cherish them.

I'd much rather try for that than have a #1 at the box office.

5.Obviously you're a horror fan. Any favourites?

Yeah the ones i mention above... Bunch of stuff... Texas Chainsaw.. Exorcist... Jaws.. The Beyond. Reanimator.. I like horror cause people take more risks with it. Most other genres always play everything so safe that it just all gets watered down to nothing.
 
6.Ok admit it, which ones made you shit your pants?

First time i saw Texas Chainsaw.. The exorcist....
 
7.As a low budget film maker do you have any advice on how to get going?

Just make stuff. The film industry is full of chancers who talk and talk about doing stuff, but never really do. If you want to get good, you need to be practicing everyday - and these days there's almost nothing stopping you. You can shoot video on a $100 stills camera and edit for free on any computer. So i'd say get out there and start making stuff, whatever it is. Its not like some skill you're born with, its mainly a set of skills you've got to learn. People always seem to talk themselves out of making films... as if the logistics of it all are impossible to crack. Thats really complete bullshit. It's fear. Just get on and do it and have fun doing it. Everyone seems to take is so seriously. I don't really get that. As I said - i'm doing this as a deliberate choice away from the 9-5. If i'm not enjoying it I'd probably have a much better life working for some company....
 
8.Your latest Blood River is getting good reviews and I want to see it. When can we see it here in the UK?

I dunno mate. Its all a bit of a fuck up. Long story... Hopefully soon. Its been a long time coming.
 
9.Any chance of a private screening? Ha ha.

Give me your address and i'll send you a copy. Anyone else wants to see it - they can email me and i'll post them one. I just want people to see my movies... and am never against dishing them out...
 
10.Hollywood has gone remake fucking mad recently especially with horror films. Any you'd like to do?

No.
 
11.Well thanks for giving us your time Adam. You've seen the site. what do you think and any message for our readers?

Yeah its great. Thanks for the opportunity... I'll send you a copy of Luster soon too. That is very nearly done now!
 
 

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