Any filmmaker who says that making a movie is one of the easiest things they have ever done must have filmed themselves in the shower. Because if you truly are a filmmaker you know that making movies is one of the hardest jobs in the world. I’ve been there, eighteen to twenty hour days, your the one shelling out the cash, but your not making any at all. Dealing with actors who won’t perform an act or say a certain line. And what about the ones who refuse to cover themselves in blood. Those are some problems among a list of problems that you will have during any independent production.
Horror Business is a film that brings you into the lives of a few independent (guerrilla) filmmakers from around the United States. However, the key word is horror, one of the most unforgiving genres. One above porn, but the bottom of the bottom in some peoples eyes. As it’s mentioned in the film, there are Independent filmmakers who make their art house, film festival movies; and then there are the indie horror filmmakers.
Horror Business is the brain child of native Long Islander Christopher P. Garetano. Now I never breathed air in the same room as Chris and nor have I ever had the chance to talk with him. But I do know people who are friends of his. From what I’ve been told Chris is one of those guys who works hard and has a huge passion for horror films. Horror Business is his way of showing the world that all horror filmmakers are not crazy nuts who just want to make films about killing people. But rather that the majority of them are actually intelligent individuals who have artistic visions.
Now the subjects in this documentary all have a different idea in the way the horror film should be portrayed. Some of them make films with low or no budgets, others take the time to develop a good and solid script, and attempt to save up the cash to make a decent film. And then there is a guy like Mark Borchardt, a guy who had a taste of Hollywood when a documentary titled “American Movie” (in which he was the focus of), gained popularity back in 1999. Borchardt even goes on to say that despite his success with the film Coven, (Which was the film in American Movie that Borchardt was trying to make.) he has landed a few jobs in other movies and even some televison work. However he goes on to say that he can care less about what Hollywood or other independent filmmakers want to do, because what he always wanted to do was direct and make movies himself.
However with each individual that Garetano interviewed during this documentary, I have to say I gained the most respect for filmmaker David (Slave) Stagnari, he’s not a name that many people know, but he is one of the main focuses in the film and his ideas and values towards the art of filmmaking I couldn’t of agreed more with. He hit the nail on the head when he said that the majority of filmmakers today are living in the past and trying to make a film that we’ve all already seen, instead of trying to be creative and come up with their own ideas. My hat’s off to Dave, out of all the filmmakers interviewed in this film, he was the one that any aspiring filmmakers should take advice from. His bit about the drive-in theaters is excellent as well, and the guy also has a great collection of horror memorabilia and great knowledge about the genre
Other interviews include Ron Akins, John Brodie, Joe Bob Briggs, Herschell Gordon Lewis, Lloyd Kaufman, and Sid Haig. David Gebroe’s Zombie Honeymoon was also a big focal point in the film as well, which showed the hardships of working on a set of a film that has very little money. Garetano also interviewed special effects artist Tate Steinsiek while on the set of Zombie Honeymoon as well, to show that not only are the filmmakers the ones working their asses off but that the crew and everyone involved is also working day and night to get the job done.
Shooting a documentary such as Horror Business is a risk in it’s own way, and I’ve read a few other reviews about the movie where some of the critics didn’t think it was a good example of the way things really are done in the business. My question ithen is this; Have you ever made a fucking movie before? What Garetano has bought to light about the hardships of filmmaking is exactly the way shit goes down when you make an Independent film. I myself can say that because even though it’s been three years since I worked on a feature film, it’s not all pixie dust and candy sticks. Independent (Guerilla) filmmaking is a tough job. You get paid shit, and you work twice, three times as hard as anyone on the planet. I was just reading a post on the Horror Business message board on IMDB where some guy said he was an aspiring filmmaker and he didn’t think this film was inspiring at all. Well buddy, go produce your first film and then tell me if any of these filmmakers inspire you then. Because you can’t talk shit until you’ve been there yourself. I may be a filmmaker turned web critic, but I’ve been there, I’ve been in these filmmakers shoes before, I’ve been twenty thousand dollars in debt, living at home with my parents. I’m not in that situation any longer, but I know where these guys are coming from. Their following their dreams, and are working hard to make them come true. And for that I give them all the respect in the world.
Garetano is a gifted filmmaker with great ideas and an eye for the camera. His editing skills are top notch and the pacing in which he cut this film was precise enough to not only make the film pacing move along, but one can’t help but also be entertained as well. Garetano also gives us a gift full of special features on the DVD which includes a documentary about getting the word of Horror Business out to the public, and follows him on his adventures across the U.S. screening the movie at film festivals. There is also Garetano’s short film “365 Ways to Cook Chicken” as well as an introduction to Horror Business by Garetano himself and the trailer to the film. And trailers to some of the movies featured in Horror Business.
Overall Horror Business is a one of a kind documentary that shows the true art and hardships it takes to produce an independent horror film. Any aspiring filmmaker who is thinking about getting their feet wet in the horror film industry should check this film out. It may inspire you or it may make you think twice about becoming a filmmaker. This is the way this business is folks, in a nutshell Chris Garetano is handing you the keys to the indie horror business here. This is the real deal, the way it is in all it’s glory, not just for horror films but for all independent films in general. It’s not about making a living, it’s about the passion of the art and to keep going and believing in yourself to succeed in your dreams. Horror Business is a film that asks you; Do you have what its takes to be a horror filmmaker? Get your hands on this film anyway you can, it’s well worth watching. And should be an inspiration to anyone thinking about becoming a filmmaker.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
