Executive producer Steve Parker discusses his upcoming slasher.
Three years ago, 22 year old girl-next-door Rachel (Callie Ott) barely survived a brutal massacre that left her friends in pieces. Time has passed, Rachel has moved on, but unfortunately history has a way of repeating itself. Her close friends are spending spring break in a secluded house in the woods, and they have cordially invited her to join. Little does she realise that another bloodbath will be showing up as plus one. Once Rachel and her friends arrive at the cabin, the partying, sex, and terror begins.
Executive producer Steve Parker gives us the lowdown on WTF!, out August 1st on Cable VOD and Digital HD from Midnight Releasing.
You and your producing partner Jody [Wheeler] are both best known as filmmakers - how did it end up that you don’t hold the reigns here?
Jody and I have been busy with our two next projects, Beverly Hills Lizard People and The Dark Numbers. Peter Herro showed up with a simple Cabin in the Woods style script, and a willingness to drive the time-consuming production work. Jody and I were extensively involved in making sure the pieces came together and guiding Peter through his first movie. Jody and I did drive creative input to get the script in a condition to shoot, editing, and more.
Having made your own movies, do you think that helps when it comes to producing?
Movie-making takes a village, and that’s an advantage. Whether it’s makeup and wardrobe, actor performances, cinematography, or music and sound design, no one person can supply a finished movie in all those aspects themselves. This production balanced our experienced movie-making with Peter’s freshman effort. That’s the only way this movie was getting made.
Is it more difficult or easy producing another’s work?
As someone whose favourite role is editor, I am constantly in the position of helping a director take their “baby”, and help them come to grips with the difference between the movie they see in their mind, with the one they shot on set. Really that means you are the therapist, helping to balance the vision, the execution, and ultimately how the audience will experience the project. That’s work that every project needs.
Anything the producers and the filmmaker didn’t agree on, or had to compromise on?
Ultimately Peter would not agree to anything that deviated from the script. Because this had been two years in post already, we gave in on that. We produced a much more interesting opening, and non-linear threading that gets you interested in the main character and the story sooner. We’ve kept that as a possible future alternate edit extra, because the difference is small enough not to matter. We felt that was a lack of imagination on his part, and we won’t work with him on future projects.
Is there a character in the film that’s based on any of the filmmakers?
Well I sure hope no one is the killer! But, no. None of us resemble any of them, but I feel like each character is someone I know.
Who do you both relate to the most in the movie - character wise?
I think I relate to Jacob, who is so sweet and sexy. Although on a bad day, Toby!
Did you toy with other potential titles for the movie? Remember any?
No. From day one this was WTF!.
Do you see this as a franchise?
Peter does want to explore that. It also leaves open a prequel as well as sequel opportunities.
You have another horror film in the works, I believe?
Yes, Beverly Hills Lizard People is slated to shoot in early 2018. Everything you ever thought about Beverly Hills is true - they are lizard people, they are hungry, and we do taste like chicken.