I had the opportunity to chat with James Bickert,
independent film director, who brought to the screen his most
extravagant hallucinations. In this interview James not only talks about
his films. This interview is hallucinogenic trip through the world of
American independent film.
Drugs, monsters, gore, blood and a lot of dark humor in this
delicatessen of american cinema.
Good appetite ....
1 - Who is, and
what does James Bickert do?
I'm a filmmaker
who lives in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States. I
write, produce and direct exploitation and horror films.
2 - What are your influences?
It's pretty broad and extensive. I like Japanese Samurai
films, Eddie Romero's Blood Island films from the Philipines, José Mojica
Marins, Oswaldo de Oliveira,
Jesus Franco, Luis Bunuel, John Carpenter, Alejandro
Jodorowsky, Joe Sarno and the films Roger Corman produced in the 1970s.
3 - With what genres do you like to work?
Biker, Women in Prison and monsters. I love monster
movies.
4 - Do you have a permanent team? Who are they?
I have a few regulars. Cinematographer Jonathan
Hilton, Special Effects artist Shane Morton, actor Jett Bryant and musical
composers
Richard Davis and Bryan Malone.
5 - Tell us
about Mondo Bondo, your first film.
I was hired for
that and it was basically a gothic S&M / Bondage film for the sexual fetish
crowd. I
tried to turn it more into
a film like
French director Jean Rollins. I don't think the producers were
very happy.
6 - What were your first steps in the world of
cinema?
Shooting Black and white 16mm silent shorts.
7 - How did your love emerged to gore and low-budget
films?
I've loved them
ever since I was a kid and my parents would take me to the drive-in. Do
you have drive-in movie theatres in Argentina?
They are giant outdoor screens and people park their
cars and bring grills to cook hamburgers, sausages and chicken. They would
also bring
smokers to make pork barbecue. The theatre would show movies all
night and they were usually cheap horror or action car chase movies.
We did that along with other families every weekend.
It was cheap and then men could bring their own beer and whiskey.
8 - What movies left a mark in you as a kid?
King Kong, Spider Baby, Tombs of the Blind Dead,
Faster Pussy Cat Kill Kill, Creature from the Black Lagoon, El Topo, Night of
the Hunter,
Night of the Living Dead, Them!, The Candy Snatchers
and Humanoids from the Deep.
9 - You write,
edit, direct, act, and do special effects. in what field do you feel more
comfortable working?
I like it all
but I would probably have say Producing. There is something
satisfying about putting everything together.
10 - How did the idea for "Dear God No!"
was born? It came out in theaters?
It came from a night of watching old biker films
like Werewolves on Wheels, The Wild Angels and the Glory Stompers. Me and some
of my crew
ate some
psychedelic mushrooms, sat around drinking moonshine and talked about what the
perfect 70s biker film might have in it. I woke up and wrote
Dear God No! the next day. Yes, it played in several
cities in the United States and Canada. I did all the booking myself and it was
a great deal of work.
It played a couple of times in Austrailia, England
and the Netherlands.
11 - What you
can tell us about your latest project "Frankenstein Created Bikers"?
It involves a
scientist bringing back a notorious biker gang from the dead to kill his
enemies. He get's more than he
bargained for
when it alarms a rival gang.
12 - Tell us a
anecdote about filming.
There are some
places they won't let you film but the location
looks so good you just have to do it. The best way to
get away with it is
always have
really good food on set so when the police show up you can offer them something
before they can ask what you are doing.
I always try to start asking them questions first
like, "Are you hungry? Do you want some coffee? Do you want to be in a
movie?"
It always seems to work.
13 - How do you organize to collect locations to
film? Have you ever had problems with showing gore-softcore- sexual perversions
in public?
I'm always taking pictures of places that might work
and I spend a couple of weeks searching and making sure it will go smoothly. I
haven't had
any problems
with public screenings but a woman did slap me for killing a character in a
movie.
14 - Is there an
independent film movement in the United States? Tell us about
it.
There is but it's very disorganized and Hollywood is
trying to make films that appeal to our audience.
15 - Movies like
"Dumpster Baby" were produced by Troma. What was it like to be
supported by one of the great companies of the Z-movies?
I produced that
film and it was distributed by Troma. It wasn't a very good
experience and I lost all my money. It took 10 years before I could afford
to make another
film.
16 - how is the
distribution of your movies? Do you send them to festivals?
I self distribute in America and Canada. A sales
representative handles other countries. Hopefully Archstone will be able to
sell it to Argentina.
We played a few festivals and one some awards in
Bogota Colombia, Las Vegas, Raleigh, Tuscon and Indianapolis. I actually prefer
screeening at horror
conventions with
gore fantaics.
17 - does
Internet helps in some way to the distribution independent films?
It helps a great
deal with self distribution.
18 - If you
submit an opportunity, filmarías something big, with a big budget?
If I had the
opportunity, I would for an action or horror film.
19 - How would
you define your filmography?
Perverted, bloody and horrific.
20 - How do you handle the actors? Do you make
casting calls??
Yes, some roles we have in mind but others we hold
auditions.
21 - "Dear God No" shows many improvements
over your previous films, more
artwork, more
elaborate shots, and so on. What is he reason for this?
I'm getting better?
22 - What is a
day of shooting with James Bickert? What can't be out of place?
The coffee! That should be in the right place. I
shoot very fast because I like to be organized and not waste time.
It's important also to make everyone feel like they
are part of a happy family determined to complete the film together as a team.
23 - Where can one get your movies?
itunes,
Amazon.com, Diabolik DVD and wwww.AleternativeCinema.com
24 - "Dear
God No" is a tribute to the grindhouse films of the 70s. Is
it true that was filmed entirely in 16mm? Does the mixture
monsters-biker-softcore-gore was well received by the public?
Yes, it was shot on 16mm Fuji film using Arri
cameras that were converted to shoot Super 16mm. That gives you more space and
the same look as 35mm.
The movie has been well received in Austrailia and
people really enjoy it in the United States. Many people don't seem to like it
in England where
they are not
used to as much blood and never had grindhouses or drive-ins. They
just don't understand how a violent sexy film can be fun.
25 - Finally, what advice would you give to someone
who wants to start filming?
Don't make any excuses and just do it.
We'd love that
you bring your movies to Argentina, there are several film festivals dedicated
to gore and exploitation in the country ... We'll be expecting you
whenever you want!
Thanks so much
for this interview!
Thank you. If someone wants to fly me to Argentina,
I will come. I would love to see your beautiful country.
