Interview: Adam Green

Director, Producer and Writer Adam Green(Spiral, Hatchet) took time out of his very busy schedule and allowed me a short Q and A, hinting at what he has going on right now as well as in the near future.

Brian S-Your working on Frozen right now, what can you tell me about it? Who’s in it? Anything else you’d like to share?

Adam Green-FROZEN stars Kevin Zegers (Dawn of the Dead), Shawn Ashmore (X-Men), and newcomer Emma Bell who is just absolutely fucking fantastic and heart breaking in this.  It’s about three skiers who wind up forgotten and stranded on a chair lift at a ski mountain that has closed for the week.  It’s survival horror at it’s most realistic and in order to keep it suspenseful enough for the fans I shot the whole thing practically with no sound stage or green screen work.  The actors are really up there, fifty feet off the ground and freezing to death.  How I ever got the insurance to shoot such a dangerous movie and how I convinced the actors to let me put them through this is a-whole-other story.  It’s back to the basics of film making where it was all about script and performance.  Yes there’s blood, yes there’s scares, yes there’s action- but it’s all centered around the ACTING for a change.  Weird concept, right?

Brian S-I’ve seen the creepy trailer for Grace, who’s in it, when is it coming out? I can’t wait to see this!

Adam Green-GRACE stars Jordan Ladd (Cabin Fever) in one of the most dramatic and challenging roles I’ve ever seen in a horror film.  The movie has caused quite a stir on the festival circuit, both winning awards and causing walk-outs at the same time, which is absolutely tremendous.  We’ve now had 3 confirmed faintings too.  Two on opening night at Sundance and one just last week at a small USC screening where 800 people showed up to try and get in.  It’s one of the most original horror flicks you’ll see this decade and the director (Paul Solet) is the real deal.  It will hit limited theaters at the end of summer with a DVD/Blu Ray release on September 15th.

Brian S-What’s been your favorite project so far?

Adam Green-This changes on a daily basis.  I typically get the most enjoyment out of my short film projects (my favorite still being my 2007 Halloween short film THE TIFFANY PROBLEM), but then again there were nights on HATCHET where I laughed until I cried.  FROZEN is the greatest physical accomplishment I’ve had in my life.  My crew and I literally conquered a mountain despite so many people in the industry nay saying and claiming we’d never finish or survive.  I have a feeling FROZEN will hold a special place in my heart on a personal level that just can’t be described to someone who wasn’t there.

Brian S-You’ve worked with Joel Moore a few times and also Zach Levi, will yall be working together any in the near future?

Adam Green-Joel and I actually have something else brewing that we’ll be starting much sooner rather than later.  Zac has been tied up with CHUCK for the past few years so his schedule doesn’t allow for much else.  But the day CHUCK is finished saving the world, I’ll be calling on Zac to help me save a film or two.  The guy is the next Tom Hanks in my book and you couldn’t ask for a more fun yet equally professional actor to have on your set.

Brian S-How was it working with  horror legends Robert Englund, Tony Todd and Kane Hodder?

Adam Green-It was surreal, especially at the time.  When I made HATCHET I was still new to everything and it was made from a “fanboy” perspective, so having those guys respond to the script and take part in it was just overwhelming.  Years later they are all good friends of mine and I attribute that to the sheer fact that they each lived up to my expectations of them while shooting.  No egos, no bullshit… exactly the type of awesome men you’d hope they would be.

Brian S-What’s been your favorite role to play  as an actor? I loved you in Gingerdead Man 2!

Adam Green-Thanks.  I really only like doing the comedic stuff cause quite frankly I’m not much of a dramatic actor, I don’t enjoy it, and it’s not like I have the chops to be chasing after Gary Oldman’s career anytime soon.  When I did COFFEE & DONUTS there were a couple of scenes where I had to cry.  The first few times it’s not so hard because you’re in the moment and it’s still new.  But after the 3rd or 4th take it is so, so hard to do.  What I really get out of acting (aside from the fun of it) is a strong lesson in how to direct actors and a much better honing of my craft as a writer/director/producer.  But shooting last year’s ROAD TO FRIGHTFEST short films with Joe Lynch couldn’t have been more fun.  Granted we are playing ourselves, but we were enjoying it so much that most people think we had to have been ad-libbing though every word of it was scripted.  Typically I only do cameos and I’m not pursuing any sort of career in front of the lens.

Brian S-Will you be at San Diego Comic Con this year?Or any other events?

Adam Green-I will be at Comic Con this year as always.  My little lightsaber spoof (SABER) that tore up the internet last spring was chosen by Lucasfilm to be part of their annual STAR WARS MOVIE CHALLENGE so it will be showing and competing there.  Also, Anchor Bay is most likely doing something there for HATCHET related announcements so I’ll want to be there for that.  Lastly, my fiance (Rileah Vanderbilt from SABER) is a huge geek so even if I wasn’t working at Comic Con- we’d be there anyway.  Other than that there will most likely be a whole slew of appearances this summer and Fall in support of FROZEN.  The only one I have in stone on the books is UK FRIGHTFEST in London at the end of August.  But more will be announced very soon.

Brian S-Ok, Hatchet 2…You aren’t directing this one but you ‘re still involved. right? Can you tell me anything about this yet? Any synopsis? Any cameos? Will you make a cameo? The Hatchet army wants to know!

Adam Green-I know it’s felt like a long wait but I’ve had other things to take care of and I didn’t want to go back to the HATCHET universe until I was ready and had the right intentions.  If I came back just because I was being offered a lot of money or because the studio wanted to cash in quickly with a sequel- I’d be doing a disservice to the same fans that gave me life.  Remember it’s been less than 2 years since the film was in theaters and in that time I’ve done SPIRAL, produced GRACE, and made FROZEN along with a dozen short films, TV projects, web series, and scripts.  I still haven’t had a moment off to sleep and I’m burned out.  I can tell you that talks are getting much more serious as for a time-table on HATCHET 2 and I’m certainly feeling ready to go back to the swamp and slaughter some more people with Victor Crowley now that I’ve gotten to pursue completely different creative outlets for awhile.  Fans can rest assured that I will remain involved since it’s my baby, I just still can’t say for sure as to what extent.  What I can say is that the Hatchet Army has been voicing their opinions loud and clear and I am listening carefully.

Brian S-Thanks for your time Adam, is there anything else you want to share with the peeps out there?

Adam Green-I’ll see you all in theaters with FROZEN next winter.  Bring mittens.

Brian S-(Just for fun)Has AerieScope gotten any NEW Hatchet shirts in yet? I want one!

Adam Green-More shirts are on there way- including some brand new designs.  Stay tuned to www.ariescope.com.

Brian S-Thank’s Adam for your time, we look forward to Grace out on video September 15th, Frozen in the theaters this winter, Hatchet 2 and all the other projects you do in the future! Fans, be sure to check out Adam’s Saber video over at Ariescope!   Also, Grace is in NY and LA theaters 8/14 and I am hosting the roast of LLoyd Kaufman at Comic-con so check Adam out at the con and see Grace in the theatre!