Bradley Malcolm Xavier: Let’s start with the basics, this is the third installment of recon, how was it working on this film compared to the first 2.

John Fallon: I wrote both screenplays with director Christen Viel. As a writer, my contributions to Part 2 were like 35% of the script – pretty much working off/polishing what Viel was writing on his end. With Part 3 we did the reverse. I would say that my contribution was more like 75% of the script. I wrote Part 3 from scratch, off ideas that both Viel and I had and then Viel took my final draft and did his Viel make over on it. So I had more freedom initially writing Part 3 than I did Part 2 and that made for a more rewarding process.

As an actor (term used loosely), when playing CyberMerc in part 2, I was shaky as to HOW to handle the role. I had never played somebody so distanced from reality before and over the top acting has never been my style. But by the time we did Part 3, I had learned from Part 2, was comfortable with the role and how to go about it. He’s a rapist, psychotic, alien made Cyborg – there are no rules to play a part like that – so I tossed my usual approach to roles in the trash and just went nuts with it, no boundaries, full on nuts.

BMX: What key factors were different that made this experience perhaps more memorable?

JF: In my opinion we had more experienced producers on Part 3 than Part 2 hence a smoother and more organized shoot.

Lets talk about budget seems this film had a much larger budget, with some pretty wild locations, what was it like working in a harsh environment at times,

Part 3 actually had less money than Part 2 to play with – but like I said, it had more experienced producers hence we maximized what we had more. I didn’t have to be at any of the harsh locations as an actor (CyberMerc is basically in a room the whole film), so I was all good and comfy for my bit. I can’t speak for the rest of the cast/crew though who had to eat sand day in and day out while I was chilling at the Pub with a brew.

BMX: I’m a big Sci Fi fan and CGI is a big part of story telling in my opinion, do you feel the CGI in this Film added or enhanced the experience for the audience or was just a side treatment to the story?

JF: We do what we can with what we have. The CGI is there to serve the story in RECON 3 if you ask me, not be the story. I know some of it looks low budget, that’s because it is! It’s a low budget film. But I think the CG’s quality goes hand in hand with the type of film it is – a B Movie that doesn’t take itself seriously. For example the giant chicken scene had me in stitches. Was the CGI tops? No. But for me it still worked, going hand in hand with the kind of movie it was.

BMX: Lets talk about the fan base, I know by the second film Recon had become a big hit in the Asian markets with demands for more do you feel that this is still the case or the audience has begun to grow into other demographics?

JF: Yes the RECON audiences keep growing and growing but not where I thought it would. With Part 3, which from my perspective, is a tad more our there than Part 1 and 2, I’ve noticed a trend: North Americans audiences seem to hate it, Europeans audiences dig it – they seem to get it more – go figure.

BMX: Can we see a fourth edition to this series and if so is there a direction you would like to see it go in?

JF: I’ve already written Part 4 (RECON 2024: The Rise of Merc) and it’s ready to go when director Viel is. The vibe is totally different than Part 3 – polar opposite really. I didn’t think we should go further with the comedy – we went as far as we could/should with Part 3. So Part 4 does a total 180, its meaner, darker, more grounded and much more serious than any of the other Recons. It’s my favorite Recon to date to be honest as its more in tune with my individual affinities. I usually like my films bleak and edgy while Viel really likes comedy. So Part 4 is more “me” where Part 2 and 3 were basically me on hand to serve Viel’s vision at the time. Although I’ve worked on all the Recons they are Christian’s films.

BMX: The first recon clocked in a budget of around 5000 dollars ran as a demo and is now in its third install, it seems Christian is a gung ho go get em guy when it comes to his films, does this drive translate onto the set and if so does it motivate the film making process or the crew involved.

JF: Christian is a machine, he needs to be: no money, no time, big movie. I can only speak for myself, his drive and attitude does inspire me on set and fits with how I like to work. No time to sit around eating bagels on a Viel set, its go, move, go, hurry up, move, MOVE BITCH… the way I like it.

BMX: What were your favorite and worst scenes in this film?

JF: My favorite scene had to be the cafeteria shoot out, it pretty much came out the way I envisioned it when I wrote it. It has a very James Cameron feel to it directing wise. The chicken bit kills me as well so it’s up there. And I really liked the dialogue/chemistry between Doctor Scott and First Base. I don’t really have a least favorite scene, but if I had a bone to pick with Part 3 it would be: it has pacing issues (especially in the middle). In my opinion we could’ve shaved off a good 15 minutes. But that’s just me and last I checked I don’t know shit.

BMX: Lets talk about props and costumes seem the budget got better do you think this had any affect on the way characters were seen due to upgrades in props and effects basically would you say characters looked more or less cool, my belief to much on the costume prop side can make or break a film?

JF: Uber talented costume designer Anderson Bradshaw (who also plays Sharp in the film) upped his game with Part 3 and it showed and of course I think the film is better for it. And personally, I was really happy that CyberMerc got a tune up for Part 3. The costume in part 2 was clunky and the goggles kept fogging up. Result it took hours to put the costume on, it was hard to move in it and I couldn’t see Jack or shit. That didn’t help, especially when I had to do the fight scenes. The costume in Part 3 was a breeze compared to how much trouble the Merc get-up gave us in Part 2.

BMX: Ok last but not least , the sex scenes seems they got a little more riske and hotter this time around would say the characters are developing a sexier side with more physicality or is it just another form of scifi nerd gratuitous for the masses ?

JF: We just wanted to push the envelope further with Part 3 on every level – top what we had put out in Part 2 hence making it funnier and racier. I remember when I wrote the pretty nasty threesome scene, I was sure Viel was gonna ask me to water it down, but he didn’t, he went with it and shot it the way it was written – I was surprised by that. It should be said that it’s Viel who added that Peeping Tom alien to the scene, i.e. he’s more fucked up than I am! Who knew?

BMS: Thanks for the chat man!

Tags: BMX, CyberMerc, John Fallon, Recon 2023