Film Title: 1-900
Running Time: 102 minutes
Format: Shot on Beta
SP
Summary: "1-900" is an exciting erotic thriller about a female serial killer and the two detectives hunting her down. It's a cross between, "Basic Instincts," "9 1/2 Weeks," with a little "Pulp Fiction" thrown in for good luck.
Crew: M. David Lee III - Executive Producer, Director, Writer,
Editor, Publicist, Cook
Wendy Lundstedt
- Producer
Craig
Peterschimdt - Director of Photography
Michael
Spencer -Audio
Andrew
Stess - Music
Cast: Danielle Thys - Paula Lane, Christienne Wadsworth - Martha, James
Gioa - Detective Paul Sally,
Lance Gray - Detective John Rugger, Erik Kever Ryle - Joey Kalin
Q) How did you come up with the idea for your movie?
A) The idea for the movie came as I was writing a short film.
I started writing a short film about a woman who lost her husband and the
next thing I knew, boom I had a feature that had more plot twist and turns
than
any roller coaster.
Q) Tell us about the production-what format did you shoot on and why?
A) We shot this film on Beta SP with the idea that one day we would transfer it to 16mm. Our DP had his own camera, lights and a Stedi-cam so that's why we went with Beta this time.
Q) What was the budget and how long did it take you to make the movie?
A) The budget was less then $800.00. Most of the money went towards
feeding my cast and crew who all worked on deferred contracts. As
for how long it took? The actual shoot took 10 days. We shot
very long weekends and then I
scheduled easier shoots during the week at night. I had to juggle
everyone's work schedules. I just used up all of my vacation from
work that year to shoot it.
Q) Tell us about the main actors...
A) I had an outstanding cast. The main female lead, Danielle Thys was perfect. She was sexy, dark and confident. The second female lead, Christienne Wadsworth shocked us as well. She came in and almost stole the film with her performance. My two male leads were dynamic as well. James Gioa and Lance Gray worked well together and have the rugged good looks that should make them stars. Make sure you check out a supporting role played by Erik Kever Ryle as "Joey Kalin." He is too funny in his role. I only wish I had more for him to do!
Q) Anything crazy happen while shooting it? Any funny stories?
A) We shot without permits because the city of San Jose wanted $250
for a one day permit and we figured that money could best be used some
place else, like for food! So we had this major sex scene to open
the film that we shot on
the first night of production. It was near a park, in an underground
walkway. Well this area is a quiet area in town and we had a cast
and crew of about 20 working to clean this tunnel area out and then to
shoot this scene. It's 2:00am and we have a generator outside that
is making all of this noise and I am freaking out. I need this shot
for the film and I am
trying to get it as quickly as possible. So at one point I get
a call from one of our look outs on the walkie talkie that the police have
been sighted and they are coming down to look. Our producer Wendy
Lundstedt greets them
and we of course have our story that we are shooting a PSA on safe
sex as our cover. The cops come down the stairs and look around to
make sure we have cameras and equipment, they say it's OK and leave.
We then waited for them
to return the rest of the night to ask about our permit, but they didn't.
We ended up getting the sequence and the film was off with a bang!
Q) What were you trying to convey with the movie? Was it a message movie? Pure entertainment, what? What influenced you to make such a movie? What was your intention -- to make money, to make a critically appealing movie, to make a fringe movie, etc.?
A) We were trying to talk about a couple of issues in this film.
One the use of phone sex as an alternative to unprotected sex. We
also wanted to show that maybe not all criminals are bad, just misled.
The last thing is that
all different types of people and sex are exciting.
Q) Tell us about your favorite film maker -- which one inspires you the most? How did these filmmakers affect this movie and the other ones you may have made?
A) There are several, but I will try to keep it short here. The
first, any filmmaker who gets their film made. I have so much respect
for anyone doing this that they instantly become my favorite. But
in terms of influence,(Not
in any particular order) Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas,
John Singleton, Robert Rodiguez, Kevin Smith, Rose Troche, F. Gary Gray
and yes James Cameron. I mean he had so much pressure on him
and he got his film
made and it lived up to the hype.
Q) What is your dream project?
A) To be invited to direct an episode of, STAR WARS Or anything where I can have a cast that include: Kevin Spacey, Glen Close, Christina Ricci, Salma Hayek and Laurence Fishburne.
Q) What's lined up next for you?
A) Well that all depends on financing. I am constantly writing, I have at least 6 different features ready to go. I've also been working on a cool series about people who talk about death. Even if I can't raise a lot of money for this one, I may do it for public access television. I have to keep creating.
Q) Any advise for hopeful young filmmakers?
A) Don't talk just make it! Too many people talk about making
films, but very few do it. Don't be a wanna be. It doesn't
have to be a major 70mm epic, it can be on home video. If you have
a story to tell and you want to
be a filmmaker make a film. Also make sure you take care of your cast
and crew when you're shooting. A good meal and respect can go a long
way in the world of independent film!