Richard Anasky

SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE: RICHARD ANASKY
Introduction & Interview by TIM RITTER
It was March 6, 1997 and the phone rang. I was sick in bed with the flu (watching H.G. Lewis’ classic GORE GORE GIRLS) and didn’t really feel like talking to anyone, but I answered. It was a guy named Richard Anasky, whom I didn’t know, and he wanted to talk shop on making movies, one of my favorite subjects.
Richard had just completed a script and was in the process of putting the project together. He wanted me to get involved and also had a million questions. As he explained his storyline to me, I began to get excited. His heart was in the right place: he wanted to make a balls-to-the-wall splatter film that was inspired by movies that he loved. The passion and excitement in his voice was infectious, the sign of a good director, one who can get people to do crazy things on camera.
I quickly forgot I was sick and began to spin tales about many of the experiences I had while making movie like Truth Or Dare?, Killing Spree, and Creep. Richard soaked up the information like a sponge and we began a friendship, held together by our love of horror movies, heavy metal, and filmmaking aspirations. We were alike in many ways, both of us having “done time” in the video retail scene as well.
Upon reading Richard’s screenplay to I Am Vengeance, I was blown away. It was the true work of a die-hard fan wanting to join the filmmaker ranks, the same way I jumped into the business. We enjoy what we see so much that we have the undeniable urge to put our own spin on the genre we love, for better or worse.
IAV was definitely for the better. It is a dark tale of revenge, redemption, madness, and religion. Think Death Wish meets Skipp and Spector. A splatterpunk salad with unexpected ingredients that push the envelope, giving it an entirely new taste. And a mighty pleasant one at that.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t get involved with the production of the movie. I had tired of Florida and was committed to moving up north to try snowy winters and maybe scribing a novel or two (which I’m still working on, of course!). Due to financial circumstances, I fell out of touch with Richard.
Flash-Forward to 2001, and due to the incredible powers of the Internet, Richard and I make contact again. Amazingly, he’s still working on IAV, three years later. Despite the overwhelming odds against him in every aspect, he is a mere one-day away from wrapping the shoot!
Now he’s telling me filmmaking war stories. A true veteran, he went out there and did it, not stopping until the fat lady screams for mercy. His stories remind me of the trials and tribulations I went through making a little movie called Wicked Games back in the early ‘90s. Stop and start. Personality problems. Equipment problems. Having to shoot the same scenes three, four times over to get what you want. Until you’re so sick of it you don’t even want to hear that dialogue again! It just seems to never end…
Yeah, it’s a trial by fire. You jump into the pit and if you have what it takes, you simply do not stop until your vision is on the screen to the best of your ability. That is what separates the “talkers” from the “doers” in the independent movie scene.
As I watched the trailer that Richard put together for his movie, I am blown away. It looks to be one of the most exciting projects to come down the line since Eric Stanze unleashed Scrapbook or Ron Bonk revealed Strawberry Estates. I can tell I Am Vengeance is going to be a winner…the gore is horrific, the camera angles are twisted and professional, the quality of the picture is amazing, and the whole tone of the project is quite unlike anything I have seen before. Think Oliver Stone to the ninth power with a severe Hong Kong gore film influence…and so much more!
This is one of the few movies that I am looking forward to seeing from the indie horror scene. Most of the stuff coming down the pipeline now seems very uninspired, and no one is putting the time and effort into their projects to actually find a style or signature, particularly in this genre.
Richard Anasky is the exception to that. His movie has attitude, and I am also overwhelmed with the incredible soundtrack that he has put together for his project. Dark and gloomy metal accompanies his vision, perfectly complimenting the onscreen mayhem. Richard has assembled some of the finest doom bands, who all contributed original songs to his film. Space Probe Taurus, Rainmaker 888, and Doomsday Gouvernment are among the dozens of contributors. Not to mention TWO CD soundtrack releases to help hype the movie!
Richard has become quite the suave promoter, something you have to have a knack for to get any kind of attention in the flooded marketplace.
Amazingly, as we talk again, Richard is now recommending equipment and tricks of the trade for me to use in future projects, whereas before, I was the one giving him all the shortcuts! This is the sure sign of the student becoming the teacher, and I am proud to have been able to help Richard in whatever small ways I could. His movie speaks for itself.
Like the character David William Hughes in I Am Vengeance, Richard Anasky has come full-circle. From humble fan to powerful visionary, all in the short span of three years. His trial was by fire, of course. And his voice will surely be as easily recognizable as that of Quentin Tarantino or Peter Jackson in the years to come.
Welcome aboard, my friend!

INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD ANASKY:
1. How and when did you get bit by the "film bug"?
A: It was years ago (probably as far back as 1982) but it was nothing more than a far fetched dream that I saw no realistic method of achieving. This thought process began to change back in "95" (I think it was "95") when I came across an issue of Film Threat Video Guide magazine. They were running a cover story on director Leif Jonker and his (then) new film, "Darkness". The article/interview proved to be quite illuminating in a lot of ways. Most importantly, it opened my eyes to that whole no budget film happening that was taking place in the mid 90's. I was made aware of all these new directors who were actually going out and making their films despite very limited resources. They weren't wishing and dreaming of making films (like everyone I knew). Weren't making excuses for why they couldn't do it. They were actually making it happen and I drew inspiration from them to do it for myself.
Where films like Night of the Living Dead made me "wish" and "dream" of making my own films, it was through films like Wicked Games, Ravage, Dead Next Door, and of course, Darkness that the "filmbug" latched onto me and I've remained locked inside its addictive (vicious) grasp ever since. :-)
2. What movies and directors inspire your work?
A: Movies that inspire... Hmmm... Ever heard of The Wicker Man? This would be the single most influential film in regards to I Am Vengeance. I saw TWM at quite a young age (the old sneak up and watch it when the folks are asleep routine) and I paid the price for my youthful curiosity in years of cultist themed nightmares. This film had amazingly strong visuals and a story that thoroughly intrigued me. Its haunting images left lasting impressions that over time would expand (mutate) and translate into the basic themes of I Am Vengeance. Other elements of inspiration came from the Slasher films of the late 70's and early 80's (Motel Hell, Mother's Day, Maniac and My Bloody Valentine etc.), darker themed Hong Kong films (Dr. Lamb, Red to Kill, Untold Story, Angel Hunter etc..). The psychedelic drug films of the 60's (Mantis in Lace, Alice in Acidland, Sign of Aquarius etc.). I also can't deny the impact of a little known indy horror film titled "Shock Em Dead.
Directors who inspire...I guess initially it would be George Romero. I like millions of others totally loved his zombie films! I was also very taken by the whole "team" concept vibe he had going on his early films. I really strived to make that happen on IAV but came up quite short unfortunately.
The Director I'm most inspired by visually and in overall style is a Hong Kong based director named Billy Tang. He'd be the director I'd most aspire to emulate if given the chance.
To be honest though, it's directors from the no budget level of filmmaking who have provided the most inspiration to me and IAV. Without the help from friends/directors like Tim (Twisted Illusions) Ritter and Ronnie (Borderline Ent.) Sortor, I doubt IAV would've ever made it much further then the wishing and hoping stage of development. Both provided me with great advice as well as hours of their own actual "on set" experience to watch and learn from. Ronnie sent me hours of raw footage from his own films (Ravage and Sinyster) and Tim sent me his classic "Blinded By The Blood" documentary which happens to chronicle the "making of" one of my favorite films in "Killing Spree". Since IAV is my first dive into movie making of any sort, you could basically say that I received the majority of my early filmmaking/directing education from actually watching those video's. Seeing them actually making their films provided me with excellent examples to model myself after as a 1st time director.
Also and maybe most importantly, both Tim and Ronnie opened my eyes to the MANY problems (and to the EXTREME damage) that certain types of people could (and eventually would) bring to my film. Without their repeated warnings (and tales of horror from their own films) I never would've imagined, expected or been prepared to deal with the sheer insanity that would soon come to plague, delay and nearly destroy this project on a number of occasions. So as far as directors being an inspiration to me and this film… I can basically look no further then Tim Ritter and Ronnie Sortor… Without them taking the time to help me when I was starting out (and even still today), I can't even imagine where IAV would be right now.
3. Tell us about "I Am Vengeance"… (plot, special fx etc…)
A: IAV at it's most basic is a pretty straight forward revenge film… Kind of like "I Spit on your Grave" (with cultists as opposed to rapists) meeting "The Exterminator" in some psychedelic realm of reality. Compare IAV to taking a hit of Acid... Just take it... See where it leads you. Where you'll end up... There's a lot that will be happening as David William Hughes shares his life story with you. A lot of freaked out faces to get lost in. So relax and (hopefully) enjoy the ride. Enjoy the colors.. The greens... The blues... The blood REDS! The pounding sounds of DOOM... Put it this way.. If I don't drop the Ball in editing (a big "IF" :-)), IAV should be a pretty unique and "far out" indy film experience...
Special FX are of the extreme splatter (almost comic book like) variety and are handled by Orlando, Florida's most wicked FX team in Brian Angeloff and Joy Patricoski. These two are amazing artists (as well as great people!) and I'd feel safe and proud in recommending them to any filmmaker looking for a dependable (and trustworthy) FX team.
4. Who stars in I Am Vengeance?
A: IAV's main cast is as follows... Joseph Michael Lagana in the lead role of David William Hughes. Greg Freeman as Father Hyde Pearcy. "Uncle" Mike LaChance as "Brother Mike Chancela. Chuck Gallagher as Steve Stevens. Sabrina Leigh as Jet Dempsey (kind of a co-leading role), Karen Pharo as Cheryl Koye. Gabriele Lomerson as Jenny Al Hughes. Michelle Polefrone as Tiffiny Berlin. David W. Anasky as Musko Tell. Christy Carey as Tracy Saunders. I also want to give a mention to the Orlando based actors who joined IAV as the Doomed band, "Count Fondelius". Cheers to Sam Mathewes, Carrie Grafton and Greg Hernke for an amazing job during their characters death scene. I also had a couple of excellent up and coming scream queens in Chrissy Turban and Mary Bruno join me on set this past weekend and they did great work on and off camera! I hope to be working with each of them again very soon! IAV also has cameos from noted independent film actors Joel D. Wynkoop (appearing as the Dirty Cop himself, Gus Kimball) and Tina Krause… Video Dungeon's Mark Wilson also appears in a victim cameo.
5. How was it working with Tina Krause and Joel Wynkoop?
A: It was great working with them! Both Tina and Joel were very down to earth and INCREDIBLY easy to work with! They kept everyone loose and laughing behind the scenes and yet were always serious and on the mark when the camera rolled.. What more could you ask for?
I have nothing but praise for them. They were both a blast to work with and to hang out with.
6. It has taken you a few years to shoot Vengeance, tell us about your trials and tribulations in getting this movie into the post production phase.
A: Man. This is going to be a long, long answer.
I suppose much of the blame for IAV's delays would stem from the old seemingly unavoidable first time filmmaker curse. You know the one I'm talking about right? The curse that states that nearly everything must ALWAYS go wrong as you fight to get your first film completed...
Of course I can't defer all the blame to "the curse". There's no doubt (now looking back) that I made some severely bad people related choices/decisions. These (desperate to get my film made) errors in judgment would come back to nearly kill this film on more occasions Than I even care to remember.
Through all the (millions of) trials and tribulations I've learned that the key to making a film are PREPARATION and PATIENCE. I've learned that if (more like "when") things go wrong, the best thing to do is just step back and take a breath. Survey the situation (the wreckage) from afar. Stay focused (somehow). Make the needed adjustments and then proceed accordingly... As the stereotypical first time filmmaker I always seemed to do quite the opposite. Bad things would happen (often!)... I'd freak out... Get disgusted... Lose focus... Anyway... Read on as I relive the nightmare of the last few years with you. A nightmare that only now seems to be fading away... Read on and learn a few of the reasons WHY "I Am Vengeance" has taken so long to get to the postproduction phase.
IAV version one (there's been three separate casts!) provided a harsh introduction into the world of no budget filmmaking. I had the displeasure of going through all the negatives that other indy filmmakers constantly speak of. People flaked, people lied, people didn't give a shit, FX guy #1 didn't deliver the goods and quits after one night on set because he can't go 5 hours without seeing his wife (no joke!). You know the routine. Bad things were happening pretty consistently but we managed to survive.... Briefly.
The SEVERE crushing blow that would hit the first IAV team came courtesy of one of the main cast members. Interestingly enough, this was the person who spoke so sincerely of dedication and being true to one's word and supporting the cause. He was... (Drum role please)... "THE PROFESSIONAL" (You know the type.. The guy who walks around on set wearing headphones, a 3 piece suit, and tries to talk like Shakespeare). The guy who tries to get actress's to go out in the woods with him so they can 'find" their characters. "Find" their motivations. Beware of these types (if any of you reading are first time filmmakers like myself) because it's about 99.9% odds that you WILL come across these "wolves in sheep's clothing" while making your film. BEWARE of people who come to your set and say "They are PROFESSIONALS". Remember that truth doesn't need to go advertising itself. Let people's actions speak louder then their (often empty) words. Base your decisions on what people actually deliver. If I would've waited people out and based my decisions on what they actually delivered...Man, could I have saved myself a lot of stress, money, and wasted time!
Anyway... We (remaining IAV cast/crew #1) decided that in light of all the negative shit that had gone down that we would take a break and regroup a month or so later. We'd seen a lot of people fall off the project and there was a serious need for some added pre production. Well... Soon into this break arrives a fax from this key cast member ("THE PROFESSIONAL"). It seems that in the span of our few weeks apart, he's come to the conclusion that he's now a 'MOVIE STAR"...(!)
This fax (betrayal letter) from "MOVIE STAR" contains an assortment of demands that were completely outrageous and inappropriate. Simply put, he's history and we sever our ties. Chalk up about a month of work (about 20 hours of raw footage) as being nothing more then an expensive (for me) waste of time and a hard lesson learned.
IAV #2 is built out of desperation and the wreckage of version 1. It's thrown together quickly (starts shooting about 3 months after "MOVIE STARS" flake out) as I want to quickly erase the memory of version #1... As hard as it is to imagine, IAV #2 will become marred with even more lies, betrayals, and flake out's. It would soon become apparent that (some of, not all) my inner circle were far more interested in sleeping all day and making excuses for "why" they couldn't deliver what they promised then in making a movie.
I seriously didn't think it could be physically possible to surpass the 1st IAV team in terms of sheer ineptitude but thanks to some generous donations of non-effort, we'd manage to do so. It became incredibly obvious that nearly everyone had lost what little interest they might have once had. People seemed to be flaking out and falling off the project daily and inside I knew IAV was dying for a 2nd time but I didn't want to admit it. I couldn't imagine failing again.
Finally it got to the point where I had no choice but to put IAV #2 out of it's pathetic misery. It wasn't a sad moment. No one shed a tear of regret because by this time no one cared one way or the other. I was left to swallow the losses and to deal with the humiliation of explaining a second failed attempt at making this film.
Chalk up about a year+ (we were only able to shoot every few months due to the use of out of state actors) of work (and about 20 more hours of raw footage) to being a total waste.
Now I enter the abyss of disgust and misery. I've hit bottom. Outside of an amazing display of support from pals in the Doom/Stoner Rock scene (Cheers to Dan Fondelius of Count Raven, Eric Harrison of GRIEF, Ola Sjoberg of Space Probe Taurus, Bobby Liebling of Pentagram etc.), support of any sort is pretty much non-existent. No one can understand "WHY" I can't get my film completed. It seems that everyone out there (who hasn't tried to make a film) thinks it's so BLEEDING easy to get one made. Repeatedly I'm told that I should give up on the filmmaking dream but that sure as hell wasn't going to happen.
Soon I set the stage to do it all again... This time I'm doing it alone and am depending on nobody but myself. This time there will be no rush job. I am too shell shocked and so beyond burnt out on people's facades that there'd be no rushing anything. This time I proceed with extreme caution... slow and steady... This time I would make a focused effort at hopefully weeding out the potential troublemakers who would only be out for their own agenda's and not the collective cause.
It took awhile (maybe 7 months or so) but it all finally came together again... Enter Joe Lagana (also IAV's lead actor). His arrival on IAV would literally signify the re-birth of this project. Outside of his enormous responsibility in filling the lead role, he would also become the first and ONLY behind the scenes help that I ever had (up to that point) whom I could completely count on. He was that rare person who actually delivered everything they promised and IAV benefited immensely from his efforts.
I also need to make mention of Greg Freeman's (Father Pearcy) contributions to IAV behind the scenes. He picked up where Joe left off and I'm afraid to imagine (SERIOUSLY!) where IAV would be without Greg's help, hard work and dedication. Greg's also one of those rare "true" friends who've come through this project and I can't say enough good about him and the overall impact he made. (The same can be said of my FX team of Brian Angeloff and Joy Patricoski)
So did things run smooth the third time around? No WAY.... NOT even close. It was every bit (if not MORE) the aggravation (for some new, some different and some of the same reasons) it had always been, but with Joe's help, we managed (along with the combined dedication of IAV's 3rd cast and FX team) to ride the storm and get the film shot.
Anyway...Yes... IAV has fallen way short of it's original intended completion date but you know what? I don't even care any more. It's all fine by me. Everything has come together and worked out in my favor. IAV (even if it BOMBS!) is a million times better off now then it would've been if it were completed by the earlier groups. Besides, all the trials and tribulations have provided me with an amazing learning experience! They may have left me broke as hell but they also made me know without doubt how important making this film was to me.
7. Tell us about the 2 heavy metal CD’s that are inspired by the movie.. How did all this come about?
A: I am a lifelong fan (fanatic) of the sounds and atmosphere which were created by the original Black Sabbath lineup. A sound that continues to be carried on today through bands such as Count Raven, sHEAVY, Witchfinder General, Pentagram and a host of others... I wanted to engulf my film (and any film I'll ever do) in this sound. In this atmosphere of slow impending DOOM... It's thanks to all the bands who would join IAV and graciously donate their musical talents that this dream would be accomplished. Together we've created "The First of the Doom Rock".. A film dedicated to these sounds and to the bands that create them.
Apparently (and lucky for me!), word traveled about this no budget (totally independent) splatter flick with all kinds of Doom/Stoner acts involved. This would lead Jadd Shickler and Aaron Emmel from the Meteor City record label to contact me and to inquire who had beaten them to releasing a soundtrack... The answer was quick and to the point... NO ONE...
At this point I was just planning to have the bands songs in the film itself as I had no clue of how to get an actual soundtrack released in a way that would make it worth the bands time. Jadd and Aaron joined in and immediately went to work in taking care of all the band related details from contracts to putting some of them in the studio to record originals for the film. Their involvement would provide the bands with the chance to get their songs heard in their complete form on a CD. Something that would be near impossible to do within the structure of a film.
Well... Needless to say we ended up with a ton of great music. So much that Meteor City decided to split the music with another label which turned out to be Game Two Records. The Meteor City volume has actually just been released (check stonerrock.com for details). The Game Two volume will probably come out either with the film itself or maybe later in the summer. I'm not sure what the plan is yet but I will say that each volume is a masterpiece of late 60's/early 70's hard/acid rock styled bands. If you dig bands like Black Sabbath and Blue Cheer then you'll probably LOVE what we've put together. It's an awesome representation of today's Doom and Stoner Rock scenes and as a fan of this music and these bands, I couldn't be prouder of this accomplishment.
8. What kind of equipment did you use to shoot and edit this movie?
A: 99.9% of IAV was shot with my Panasonic AGEZ1U 3 chip mini DV cam. I'll be editing it on a stand-alone editing system released by Applied Magic called The Screenplay.
9. When will I Am Vengeance be released to the general viewing public?
A: This is rather impossible to predict. My HOPE would be that the film can be ready before the end of this year but a LOT will obviously have to go right for that to happen. I've also learned to never predict anything because who knows what unforeseen circumstance might come up to delay things…
10. What are your future plans and projects?
A: The plan (outside of editing IAV) is to stay busy with occasional film projects. I want to keep learning and improving and hopefully having some fun while doing so.. The ultimate goal (after IAV is behind me) is to follow up with a 2nd feature length horror project. My favorite topics are cults, psychedelic freak out's and grim betrayals so expect those themes to be prevalent in any film I'll ultimately do.
I've also been very fortunate to have formed an alliance with Twisted Illusions and Joel Wynkoop for future projects which I'm very excited about!
My biggest hope for the future is to FINALLY come up with some kind of serious core group here in the area to join me (and IAV's FX artists Joy and Brian) in making these no budget gore films. It would be an incredible benefit to find some like minded people here locally to work with on a regular basis.
On the more immediate horizon is a project that could best be described as a shock/mockumentary. If all goes according to plan we should be shooting in June or July and it'll star (barring any unforeseen circumstances) Joel Wynkoop as well as IAV's own Greg Freeman and Brian Angeloff and a host of up and coming scream queen's.
Anyway... Those are the hopes... We'll see how things play out... The only sure thing is that it's time to finally walk IAV into post production. Wish me luck! :-)
*Keep your eyes peeled for IAV’s release in late 2001 or early 2002!