Bong of the Dead

Thomas Newman created miniature models in "4: Rise of the Silver Surfer," to be destroyed; then, he had his rubber molds eaten by a giant crocodile in "Lake Placid," now Newman is laughingly hosing down dozens of undead extras with gallons of syrupy blood in "Bong of the Dead." In Newman's newest feature this passionate filmmaker got a chance to combine his past make-up skills, pyrotechnic experience, and love for the lens to deliver a full length feature film for fans of the arts. This expressionistic story teller, who now knows what bit him - the creative bug, takes some time out from post-production to talk about one of most stylistic sub-genres in horror, the coming zombie apocalypse!

(28DLA) How did you get into filmmaking?

(Thomas Newman) "I was always involved in stage, art and anything else creative right from Elementary school through to High school. Once I graduated I took a ten thousand dollar student loan and attended the Vancouver Film School (big mistake). I soon realized that film school was a bunch of people who had no idea what a good film was nor did they want you to have big ideas. They kept telling me to keep my ideas safe and small so that they could be doable. I guess in a way it makes sense but then again why limit your imagination? I decided to skip out and go to the local theater down the street every day and watch movies over and over again. I believe that's where I got my real education. Besides I'm a firm believer that you can't teach talent, you either have it or you don't. You can learn all sorts of technical aspects of the art but it still won't make you a good film maker. When I was not skipping out from film school I was making cheesy weekend films with my other film buddies. We would rent a camera from 7-11 and spend all weekend making stuff just to film. We would go til all hours of the morning juiced on Big Gulps and passion. Making those small no budget films made me believe that I could do this for a living. I decided to turn my hobby into my passion and my passion into my obsession! I wish I had taken my ten thousand dollars and made my first feature then!"

(28DLA) What do you recall about the filming of "Lake Placid?" Did you do any work on the scuba diver's dismembered body or the sheriff's beheaded body, in the film?

(Newman) "Lake Placid was a very fun experience for me because that is where I made my friends and connections for life! I worked in the shop mainly as a mold maker, painter, foam latex runner and other odd jobs. I was never a fan of being on set. I always felt being on set to be very frustrating and boring. You spend all day waiting for your scene then you run in really quick and all eyes are on you to set up the head or arm or what have you then it's back to hanging out at crafties waiting for the next scene. I liked being in the shop much more where all the behind the scenes magic and creativity occurs. I made a lot of cool friends there that are now my best friends who were involved in Bong Of The Dead also! Right down to my old boss Toby Lindala who gave me my break in the industry as a make-up artist waaay back when the X-Files were in Vancouver. He lent me dead corpses to use in my film."

(28DLA) Which leads me into my next question, did you work much with Toby Lindala on "Lake Placid?" And were you offered a make-up role for "Lake Placid 2?"

(Newman) "I have a great deal of respect and love for Toby! I was a young kid with no experience but a lot of talk and passion. I marched up to Lindala's FX, knocked on the door and Toby invited me in. He took a look at my home made make-up jobs that I did and hired me on the spot. He gave me my break and allowed me to learn from him and all the great people he had working at his shop. He will always be someone I will respect and look up to.

I never worked on Lake Placid 2 because I was doing my own thing. I started in make-up but only as a means to get my foot into the door so that I could get to the point of making my own films. I always approached the film industry as a means of education. I learned everything I could from it by doing everything I could in it so that one day I could put it all to use on my own films. I was a background performer for years just so I could learn about film sets, then I went to make-up, then directing music videos for local groups, then on and on and on, always aiming for producing and directing my own features some day."

(28DLA) Why have you stayed away from make-up since 2005s "Glitched?"

(Newman) "I worked on Glitched because my long time best friend and now co-producer of Bong of yhe Dead Vincent Akira Yoshida was producer on that film and wanted me involved. After Glitched I decided to get out of the film industry all together. I was frustrated by all the hurdles one had to jump just to get to a level where you could call the shots. I packed it in and got a job working in a pulp mill where I thought I could hide from my dreams and calling. It was very difficult to continue and to give up when you get a craving that just won't give in! I struggled with my inner monologue for a long time before I realized that making pulp was a waste of my life and talent. I needed to get back in the game and try again and try harder. I quit the mill and went back out there, this time only as a producer/director. I figured if I establish myself now as a producer/director then people will know me as such and take me more seriously."

(28DLA) You have a passion for make-up, special effects, and pyrotechnics will these elements be shown in, your directorial debut, "Bong of the Dead?" And is this, in fact, your directorial debut?

(Newman) "Absolutely! I love blood, guts and gore with some explosions thrown in for a good mix. And yes BOTD is my directorial debut and it's full of blood, guts and gore! However, I did not set out to just do a splatter film with no style; I made sure to design my shots months in advance with every scene story boarded with 3-D animatics also. I wanted to do a gory film that people would remember because it also has a plot and was beautifully shot. As for the amount of blood we used on the film....800 Gallons in one day! We had Brant's FX team using a fire hose to spray blood all over the actors and the zombies. There was enough blood there that we actually had a small creek running red most of the day!"

(28DLA) Do you find the horror genre limited or open enough to explore various creative possibilities? Do you find new challenges working in the horror field?

(Newman) "I'll be the first one to admit that the horror genre is a simple formula that is guaranteed to work every time. Do I want to be directing horror forever? I love horror but I also love biopics like the ones Martin Scorsese does, and dramas, action, sci-fi and basically every other genre known to man. I LOVE film so I don't believe a producer or director should limit themselves to one genre. If you can do something different then why not do it as long as its good. The beauty about the horror genre is that it allows first time directors such as myself a damn good chance to get noticed. More so then any other genres that are harder to sell. The horror genre is a simple formula that has always worked and always will because fear is a universal language. We all feel fear the same way which is why horror films are so big in the foreign markets also. I like mixing genres and making it work. In BOTD we have horror, comedy, suspense, action and a bit of romance to top it off. The horror genre for the most part has made it easier for hardcore film buffs to make a cool film by going back to the basics. Today there are too many CG monsters on screen and not enough good old rubber suits or foam latex appliances. Think of all the classic horror films like Evil Dead, Texas Chainsaw, Friday the 13th and many others, they used real people and no CG, so it made it a lot more scarier in my opinion. The only challenges I find with the horror genre is that its tough to get out of the five hot teens in a cabin, they all get killed in cool ways routine. I guess if you are going to do that same old thing you better have a twist that will make the film stand out more than the others."

(28DLA) How did you meet Mike Fields and how much did you collaborate with him on your film project "Bong of the Dead?" Did you see see things mostly eye-to-eye in the make-up, and special effects department or did you have different perspectives/visions?

(Newman) "I met Mike waaay back during the X-Files days and immediatly hit it off with him. I knew he was a great makeup artist and that he loved movies as much as I do. The guy has more movie tattoos over his body than any human alive! We share the same vision all the time to point that I did not have to say much and he already knows the look I am going for. Working with Mike is always a pleasure and always fun to say the least. He is a total pro and I believe if you are going to hire a pro to work with you then give them the freedom to do what they do best. I do not like limiting peoples potentials one bit. When we worked on BOTD Mike said he did not just want to be a co-producer but he wanted to be doing the make-up also 100%, which I obviously had no problems with. Again, let the pros do what they do best and allow them the freedom to give you their all. Mike is the reason the gore was made possible. We were always on the same page and there was never a moment that I doubted what he would come up with."

(28DLA) What new creative challenges came up for you as a director in "Bong of the Dead?" As well, are there any additional roles you would like to pursue in moviemaking for the future?

(Newman) "The additional challenges was keeping peoples spirits up everyday. My cast and crew were pulling eighteen hour days and starting to wear down. You would find people passed out in every corner of our sets when ever they could. The other challenge was trying to stay on schedule everyday in hopes of finishing on time. I believe we did everything I wanted to do and even more. My goals are set on producer/director for life! I love producing and directing together and will never just do one without the other. Producing is a great skill that if mastered will make you a better director, it only makes sense to do them together. Besides I like to be in control of my productions in hopes of preserving the vision from start to finish. I'm going Rodriguez the whole way!"

As of now "Bong of the Dead," has been entered into the American Film Market for distribution. As well, additional distributors are working with Newman for a European release and for those of you with an interest in Newman's projects check out the Mind in Motion homepage below. Then prepare to be blown away later this year as "Bong of the Dead," makes the rounds on the film festival circuit.

The "Bong of the Dead," homepage below...

Bong of the Dead Homepage and Thomas Newman Biography

And finally view the first trailer for "Bong of the Dead," here:

Bong of the Dead Teaser Trailer

Posted in: 2009,akira yoshida,bong of the dead,director,glitched,interview,lake placid,lake placid 2,make up,special effects,thomas newman,Toby Lindala,zombie