Filmmakers David C. Valdez and Philip H.R. Gunn have been writing and directing films together for over fifteen years. Holding degrees in filmmaking from the University of Southern California and Emerson College, respectively, 'Klown Kamp Massacre' is the duo's first produced feature film. They also collaborated on the 2006 New Mexico Governor's Cup winning short film, 'A Day in Heaven'. Mr. Valdez and Mr. Gunn currently reside in Albuquerque, NM. Along with Darren Gunn, they own the film production company I Can't Believe It's Not Hollywood! Entertainment, LLC.
Fear Fete's Derek Morris recently had the opportunity to interview Mr. Valdez.
Fear Fete's Derek Morris recently had the opportunity to interview Mr. Valdez.
Welcome David. I would like to thank you for taking the opportunity to talk more with us about your film 'Klown Kamp Massacre'. Tell me, Was 'Klown Kamp Massacre' your first horror film as a filmmaker?
'Klown Kamp Massacre' was the first feature film I directed, though I had made many shorts before. Among them was the 'The Accordion Killer, which also included creepy clowns. Just before production, I edited 'Under My Skin', an award winning short about a man who gets parasites in his blood and goes mad. Many of those crew members worked with me on 'KKM'.
What made you want to create your first horror film?
I love horror movies. I lived near a video store growing up, and rented every 70s/80s horror film I could get my grubby hands on. I was enamored with slasher flicks, especially the 'Friday the 13th' & 'Nightmare on Elm Street' series. As a filmmaker, the horror genre is probably the most cinematic. It relies on mood which is largely built with cinematography and the soundtrack.
Can you tell our readers what 'Klown Kamp Massacre' is about?
'Klown Kamp Massacre' is the story of Edwin the clown, who years before was unfairly flunked out of clown school and murdered his fellow students. Years go by and old man Bonzo decides to reopen the camp, which of course brings Edwin back on another bloody rampage. As one reviewer put it, it's 'Friday 13th' with exploding cream pies and big floppy shoes.
I have to say I am terrified of clowns and it litterally terrified me to have to watch this film. Are you scared of clowns as well?
Clowns don't scare me, but they certainly frighten many folks. I think it's a mixture of the anonymity of the performer, much as the unseen face of Michael Myers creates fear, and also the pale clown makeup isn't dissimilar to a corpse. Besides, it's a good rule of thumb to be weary of enthusiastic strangers who hang around kids.
What inspired you to write Klown Kamp Massacre?
There was a short film about clown school that was really saccharine and represented everything I hated about mainstream movies. I told co-writer/co-director Philip H.R. Gunn that the only way to make that film watchable was to add a "massacre" to the end of the title. That was a "eureka" moment and within an hour the basic plot was laid out. The character of Edwin was lifted from the first short film we made back in high school, 'Edwin: The Tragic Tale of the Clown Who Couldn't Make Anybody Laugh' and transplanted into a slasher flick.
The movie contains so many micro-genres, such as horror, comedy, thriller, romance and even has classic twist-ending. What dirctors or screenwriters inspired you in creating this film?
'Klown Kamp Massacre' is a valentine to all the 70s/80s slasher films. Director John Carpenter was probably the greatest individual influence, particularly his use of static shots to create claustrophobia and that distinct Carpenter music score. There was also obvious parallels to the Chiodo Brothers' 'Killer Klowns From Outerspace'. However, seeing that we were creating a clown world that had a lot of slapstick, we drew from our favorite directors growing up, the ZAZ team - Zucker, Abraham, Zucker (creators of 'Airplane!', 'The Naked Gun', & 'The Kentucky Fried Movie').
What classic horror movies inspired you?
We outright parodied scenes from 'Friday the 13th' -- the crazy old man warning of a "death curse" and the early murder of a hitchhiker. Our twist ending was inspired from one of my all time favorites, 'April Fool's Day', and also 'Happy Birthday to Me'. The character of Edwin, with his bad puns and ironic punishments, definitely owes a debt to Freddy Krueger. Troma films served as a water mark for how shocking we wanted our more extreme moments to be (see necrophilia scene). It's fitting we had Troma founder Lloyd Kaufman make a cameo. Troma Entertainment is also distributing the film.
When was 'Klown Kamp Massacre' first released?
Troma Entertainment is releasing the film sometime this year. We've heard summer, but that's not confirmed yet. It'll be available on Netflix, Hulu, iTunes, and DVD. Go to www.klownkampmassacre.com to get the latest info!
Has the film earned any awards?
Not yet. We are just releasing it. Though, a Fear Fete Horror Film Festival award would be a great start!
What has been the films biggest achievement thus far?
The film is really connecting with fans of vintage slasher films. The enthusiasm has been contagious, making us want to get started on something right away.
Horror or not. What is the best movie of all time?
Hmmmm. Such a loaded question. My favorite genre film of all time is 'Robocop'. I love its mixture of sci-fi, extreme gore, and social commentary. Also, has a film ever had better one liners? "I'd buy that for a dollar!"
What advice can you give any beginning filmmakers out there?
Learn to love the process because that's 99% of moviemaking. The more you evolve as a filmmaker, the more quality you'll want, the longer it takes to finish something. The best times you'll ever have are the moments you never planned for and the relationships developed on the way. Once the movie is completed, you'll never want to watch it again.
Are you currently working on any new horror films?
Why, yes I am! Several projects in fact. Co-writer/co-director Philip H.R. Gunn and myself are busy writing 'Klown Kamp Massacre 2' and hopefully will make a sequel if our release goes well. I'm also directing a horror-comedy short written by Jason Witter (co-writer 'Romeo and Juliet Vs. The Living Dead') called 'Pizza Girl Massacre' -- which will be full of bloody-sexy goodness. There is a feature script for that as well, but one thing at a time. Lastly, Mr. Gunn and I are writing a latino themed family comedy called 'A Day in Heaven', which is about a widower who builds a rocket car to see his dead wife in heaven, but accidentally ends up in hell (which is a giant mall).
David, thanks again for joining me. I hope you continue to create more great films and I wish you the best of luck in the future.
'Klown Kamp Massacre' was the first feature film I directed, though I had made many shorts before. Among them was the 'The Accordion Killer, which also included creepy clowns. Just before production, I edited 'Under My Skin', an award winning short about a man who gets parasites in his blood and goes mad. Many of those crew members worked with me on 'KKM'.
What made you want to create your first horror film?
I love horror movies. I lived near a video store growing up, and rented every 70s/80s horror film I could get my grubby hands on. I was enamored with slasher flicks, especially the 'Friday the 13th' & 'Nightmare on Elm Street' series. As a filmmaker, the horror genre is probably the most cinematic. It relies on mood which is largely built with cinematography and the soundtrack.
Can you tell our readers what 'Klown Kamp Massacre' is about?
'Klown Kamp Massacre' is the story of Edwin the clown, who years before was unfairly flunked out of clown school and murdered his fellow students. Years go by and old man Bonzo decides to reopen the camp, which of course brings Edwin back on another bloody rampage. As one reviewer put it, it's 'Friday 13th' with exploding cream pies and big floppy shoes.
I have to say I am terrified of clowns and it litterally terrified me to have to watch this film. Are you scared of clowns as well?
Clowns don't scare me, but they certainly frighten many folks. I think it's a mixture of the anonymity of the performer, much as the unseen face of Michael Myers creates fear, and also the pale clown makeup isn't dissimilar to a corpse. Besides, it's a good rule of thumb to be weary of enthusiastic strangers who hang around kids.
What inspired you to write Klown Kamp Massacre?
There was a short film about clown school that was really saccharine and represented everything I hated about mainstream movies. I told co-writer/co-director Philip H.R. Gunn that the only way to make that film watchable was to add a "massacre" to the end of the title. That was a "eureka" moment and within an hour the basic plot was laid out. The character of Edwin was lifted from the first short film we made back in high school, 'Edwin: The Tragic Tale of the Clown Who Couldn't Make Anybody Laugh' and transplanted into a slasher flick.
The movie contains so many micro-genres, such as horror, comedy, thriller, romance and even has classic twist-ending. What dirctors or screenwriters inspired you in creating this film?
'Klown Kamp Massacre' is a valentine to all the 70s/80s slasher films. Director John Carpenter was probably the greatest individual influence, particularly his use of static shots to create claustrophobia and that distinct Carpenter music score. There was also obvious parallels to the Chiodo Brothers' 'Killer Klowns From Outerspace'. However, seeing that we were creating a clown world that had a lot of slapstick, we drew from our favorite directors growing up, the ZAZ team - Zucker, Abraham, Zucker (creators of 'Airplane!', 'The Naked Gun', & 'The Kentucky Fried Movie').
What classic horror movies inspired you?
We outright parodied scenes from 'Friday the 13th' -- the crazy old man warning of a "death curse" and the early murder of a hitchhiker. Our twist ending was inspired from one of my all time favorites, 'April Fool's Day', and also 'Happy Birthday to Me'. The character of Edwin, with his bad puns and ironic punishments, definitely owes a debt to Freddy Krueger. Troma films served as a water mark for how shocking we wanted our more extreme moments to be (see necrophilia scene). It's fitting we had Troma founder Lloyd Kaufman make a cameo. Troma Entertainment is also distributing the film.
When was 'Klown Kamp Massacre' first released?
Troma Entertainment is releasing the film sometime this year. We've heard summer, but that's not confirmed yet. It'll be available on Netflix, Hulu, iTunes, and DVD. Go to www.klownkampmassacre.com to get the latest info!
Has the film earned any awards?
Not yet. We are just releasing it. Though, a Fear Fete Horror Film Festival award would be a great start!
What has been the films biggest achievement thus far?
The film is really connecting with fans of vintage slasher films. The enthusiasm has been contagious, making us want to get started on something right away.
Horror or not. What is the best movie of all time?
Hmmmm. Such a loaded question. My favorite genre film of all time is 'Robocop'. I love its mixture of sci-fi, extreme gore, and social commentary. Also, has a film ever had better one liners? "I'd buy that for a dollar!"
What advice can you give any beginning filmmakers out there?
Learn to love the process because that's 99% of moviemaking. The more you evolve as a filmmaker, the more quality you'll want, the longer it takes to finish something. The best times you'll ever have are the moments you never planned for and the relationships developed on the way. Once the movie is completed, you'll never want to watch it again.
Are you currently working on any new horror films?
Why, yes I am! Several projects in fact. Co-writer/co-director Philip H.R. Gunn and myself are busy writing 'Klown Kamp Massacre 2' and hopefully will make a sequel if our release goes well. I'm also directing a horror-comedy short written by Jason Witter (co-writer 'Romeo and Juliet Vs. The Living Dead') called 'Pizza Girl Massacre' -- which will be full of bloody-sexy goodness. There is a feature script for that as well, but one thing at a time. Lastly, Mr. Gunn and I are writing a latino themed family comedy called 'A Day in Heaven', which is about a widower who builds a rocket car to see his dead wife in heaven, but accidentally ends up in hell (which is a giant mall).
David, thanks again for joining me. I hope you continue to create more great films and I wish you the best of luck in the future.
