Fiendish Friday Interviews : Masters of Horror :: Scott Glosserman
::New Editor's Note: This is one in a series of interviews that we plan to do every Friday with someone or something that is changing the face of the Horror Movie or Haunted Attraction Industry. This week's interview is with up and coming director Scott Glosserman. Ever since I saw Leslie walking around at SXSW in 2006 in full costume posting his own film flyers (carrying a burlap sack and a knife no less) I knew I needed to talk to the man behind this film. Of course I am talking about "Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon". This ain't your average slasher movie. Read on to find out why. So check this interview out and enjoy the film at your local theatre....
Hey Scott, why/how did you first become interested in Horror?
1981. TIME BANDITS. Scared the crap out of me. My aunt had no idea when she took me and my brother and my cousins. Haven’t seen it since. All I remember is a mountain in darkness, vaguely resembling Q-bert (also scary), and terrifying little people who were bigger than me, at the time. I’ve been hooked ever since.
What previous jobs have you had?
Oh, this is a JOB interview! Um, let’s see. I haven’t had too many jobs in the past. Mostly stints. I had a stint in a pizza shop, stint scooping ice cream, running a little car wash business when I was 10. (Can that still go on my resume)? Stinted coaching soccer, piano-teaching stint (I taught THE BEST piano lessons), camp counseled, waited tables at Houston’s and CPK and a summer stint at a Mexican restaurant, in D.C. – all that prepared me for CAA (Creative Artists Agency), a talent and literary agency where I assisted the head of the motion picture talent department for a couple of years (while conferring upon myself a business degree in Entertainment).
How long have you been a filmmaker?
I started experimenting with chemical alloys when I was very young. One day my brother and I were playing with our G.I.Joes and we wanted to simulate Nagasaki, so I set off an electrical explosion using D batteries and Epson Salt. It caused flash blindness in both of us (I’ve since recovered, but my brother is a restaurateur, so he obviously hasn’t). Nevertheless, when I regained my sight, I noticed that the explosion had rendered an image of our G.I.Joes on the cellophane that I was perforating, and at that point I realized I had a knack for making film. I called Kodak right away to get working for them, but by that point they’d mechanized the process, so I decided to go back to elementary school.
How did you get your start?
This is actually true: We had a terrible thunderstorm come through when I was in Jr. High. The storm left trees down, power outages, stunned birds, no school – lots of structural damage. I went out with my dad’s new home video camera and I “reported” from the scene, interviewing neighbors and the PEPCO guy. I loved it! Then I got home and my brother simulated the storm by ruining all my G.I.Joes with flash floods (buckets of water) and “earth”. I had the video camera and we started making mini “G.I.Joe” movies. We later graduated to Beastie Boys and Bon Jovi music videos. Did you mean professional start?
What inspires you to create?
That’s a great question, but one I can’t accurately respond to for lack of space. Here’s a ridiculously abridged answer:
Dreck. And sunshine. And injustice. And puzzlement. And Cameron Crowe and Stanley Kubrick and Guillermo and Gus and Rian Johnson and Craig Brewer and Macy and The Boss and Whitman and Rand and Twain and Dali and The Lost Boys (of Sudan) …
Do you ever get scared?
Rarely.
What does scare you?
Art Monk never making the NFL Hall Of Fame.
Do you believe in real Haunted Houses? Ghosts? Etc.
My girlfriend stayed at a hotel in Arkansas during a writer’s residency that, she says, is quite haunted. And, she also warned me, when I slept at her folks’ place that a ghost hangs out in her bedroom who is extremely protective over her. And, I believe in her. So, transitively, I guess that means my answer would have to be, yes.
What is Fear?
Fear is worry taken waaaay too seriously.
What are your goals for the next 5 years?
If I say, they won’t come true!
Where will your film be playing?
Thanks for asking! We’re opening on March 16th, in about a dozen major cities including LA, New York, Chicago, Dallas, etc. The following week, I believe we’re going to expand into 6 or 8 additional cities. Hopefully, heading into April, BEHIND THE MASK will be in virtually all the major urban markets. Then, your guess is as good as mine!
Thanks Scott and don't forget us when you get HUGE.....
- iamlegend