Of all the independent films that cross the desk of this movie editor, ‘Stagknight’ (scripted by Simon Cathcart and Robert Mercer, directed by Cathcart), has great appeal.
Don’t know if it is because of the laid back film presentation, the film’s pr people’s ability to bring out the comedy/horror theme of the film in correspondence or the damn addictive game on the film’s website.
Stagknight has just finished sound post production and is in the final throes of post for packaged presentation to sales agents and distributors at the American Film Market (AFM) in Los Angeles in early November.
Stagknight is inspired by the underground horror movement of the 70’s which spawned ‘Evil Dead,’ ‘I Spit on your Grave’ and ‘Samurai Assassin,’ blended with the finest most loved screwball comedy to create a great, GREAT satirical comedy/horror flick, throw in hot babes, a giant medieval killing machine, UK toilet humor and you have everything a guy could want to see.
Storyline goes like this: Brian Seamen has reformed the Weekend Warriors his old paintball team for his Stag night, a night of mind bending narcotics, crotch busting sex and grizzly bloodcurdling slaughter (not part of his plan).
There's a giant hulking ancient evil loose in the woods, out for blood and determined to make sure Brian and his Warriors don't make it out of Happy Valley Paintball park in one piece.
Simon Cathcart
Simon Cathcart was kind enough to speak with Monsters and Critics about his upcoming film:
M&C: Simon thanks for taking time to chat with us.
SC: My pleasure.
M&C: Why don't you tell us something about your film 'Stagknight'?
SC: It’s a movie about ten losers in a sad paintball team "The Weekend Warrior" who head out deep into ancient English woods for a bachelor party blow out, and accidentally summon a giant hulking medieval killing machine and of course are killed in the finest fashion.
M&C: So at 20, with no money in your pocket (I embellish your bio) via Tokyo (for a year) only a one way ticket to London.......What the hell did you leave Australia for anyway?
SC: I came to London to get depressed. It is the place where people come from all over the world to get depressed. Take the ‘Exorcist,’ Carry Grant was the US ambassador he was sent to London, same as me...to get depressed.
People in London want to be happy but can only sustain happiness as long as their tan lasts and then you know they revert to type. And this grimness this harsh crushing shitness is vital for "gravitas" and "pathos" two vital qualities that one cannot obtain lying on a sunny beach working the tan. M&C: What did you do in Tokyo for a year?
SC: Japan is a wild place. They are lovers of everything, there is something for everyone. I am dying to go back, hopefully with ‘Stagknight.’
Samurai Assassin" was a great guide into ways they cut around the kills: even though it was banned as soon as it came out.
Second biggest horror market in the world and I am keen to see their reaction to ‘Stagknight’. M&C: I understand that you developed a unique performance technique for actors. Can you tell us something about that technique? Any pointers for up and coming actors?
SC: Yeah if you can’t think of anything to do on camera, don’t do anything, nothingness is really fascinating, but one must have a clear inner life to hint.
For all you budding film actors two steps, keep the face still and the inside twisted in knots and you should be fine. M&C: You helmed a short in 2001/2002 called 'Black Velvet.' What was that all about?
SC: That was great fun, shooting in Ireland. Two asshole oil men land in a small town hoping to do a deal. Corruption is the last thing you need to worry about, pretty sick business. I wanted to make a short film which would say something and then...M&C: Have you seen Al Gore's 'Inconvenient Truth'? If so, what did you think of it? Was IT sort of the tone you wanted to set with 'Black Velvet'?
SC: Nah, I show patronizing bastards who come unstuck by their own greed, a metaphor shall we say of men that Al probably worked with.
It is 26 mins long, I'd like to do a directors cut down to ten minutes and get it out to the festivals. Al Gore and his movie is real pretty, but I was sitting in a ‘Black Velvet’ production meeting in 2001 when the twin towers came down, try shooting through that?
Al Gore's flick works because like all good things built for cinema it should be big and deadly. M&C: And then you got this crazy idea to mix horror with comedy - 'Stagknight' was born. But the relationship to paintball?? Have you ever played paintball?
SC: Hey it doesn't mean I can play the damn sport. I was talking about ‘Stagknight’ to a group of actors and someone mentioned paintball and boom the room lit up.
I didn't know that 39 million people played paintball last year in 104 countries.M&C: Tell us something about the movie? Cast and Crew? And the overall shoot? How many days? What kind of budget?SC: Six week shoot, nine month post production, big sound, big music.
Great cast - Jocelyn Osorio was just lovely to work with, Sandra Dickenson from ‘Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy’ a fabulous actor, some of the UK's best up and coming comedy actors, Martin Bayfield a fabulous actor once played 50 rugby caps for England as the mute but passionate giant little brother of his bitch bad sister Fay (Sandra) and some really funny guys.
M&C: Now that you are in Post - what is the next step? You are going to the American Film Market in November? Have a distributor in mind you would like to handle the film?SC: Yes, there is interest. We have had over 10 million hits on our site in three months. We had a private screening in Cannes, for friends.
Irvine Welsh the acclaimed writer laughed his ass off throughout, screaming “Fucking Brilliant!”
However, now the film is fully graded, sexy as all hell, with the grooviest sexiest soundtrack running throughout, genuine laugh out loud gags and deeply satisfying kills.
It is my ‘Porkies’ meets ‘Predators.’ M&C: What does the future hold for you? You have three projects pending - all horror?
SC: Nope not all horror. Next up is two movies back to back, teen comedies with a sexy sporting twist. I am really excited about it. M&C: Why do you think audiences enjoy the horror genre?
SC: Horror, say like the perfect pop tune, has very specific requirements: no escape, a monster that can't be stopped but can be, and kills in the most satisfying way, babes are always a bonus.
Horror delivers the ultimate conflict. I don't know, from Christians being fed to the Lions, we love a bit of blood; we are a sick sad species. M&C: Which do you like better, acting or directing and why?
SC: Acting is fast; rewards are quick, directing you get to be the boss but that involves pain. Pain is good but it can break you, and then there’s writing and producing which is less painful but hard, HARD work.
All I want to do is make great films, and then buy an island, call it Deathomania and build a republic." MC: Anything else you would like to tell our readers?SC: Yeah, anyone who wants to make a movie, go for it.
We made a film and marketed it with out major backers or big studio support.
www.stagknight.com is now ranked inside the top 100,000 websites online – ‘Jackass 2’and ‘Saw 3’ are the same size as us and they have the might of major companies behind them - if we can do it you can do it.
One other thing; film making is only 100 years old, its the youngest art form on the planet, there is so much to do and say, compared to literature, music or art, there is no right or wrong, and now with HD out on the streets young film makers and story tellers everywhere are free to make it real. M&C: Thanks once again for taking the time to visit with us.SC: No problem, if you guys would like to have a chat to Jocelyn she is up for it.
Jocelyn Osorio
So that’s our interview with Simon folks.
Now we would like you to get involved. Visit the 'Stagknight' website and think up some questions for Jocelyn.
M&C will choose the best ten questions and interview Jocelyn.
Who knows – maybe she’ll even sign a picture and send it to the 10 lucky readers who’s questions we choose.
You can ask your questions below in Talkback (please make sure you enter your email address or you can email questions to mcmovies@gmail.com with ‘Stagknight’ in the Subject.
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