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by Rusty White
Trial by fire! America’s introduction to ultimate evil was dramatic, big
slam. Now, CNN broadcasts our slow, calculated, measured response almost
every minute of every day. Are you numb yet?
Sal Ciavarello’s terrifying new horror film "Hard Core Poison Eyes" (HPE)
painfully makes its characters confront and respond without the benefit of a
Colin Powell or time to measure and calculate. Evil could be all around us,
even right outside your door waiting to test your resolve.
One of the great things about writing for EI is finding new talent who
needs wider exposure. What made finding independent New York filmmaker Sal
Ciavarello such a treat was the fact that his digital video movie "Hardcore
Poisoned Eyes" (click here to read my review of the DVD) is an excellent
horror movie that cries out for a widespread audience. Nominated for Best
Feature at next summer’s "International Festival of Darkness," HPE is a
smartly written, well researched, character driven, claustrophobic horror
film which hooked me early, rode me hard and left me Wowed.
HPE was written, directed, edited by Mr. Ciavarello.
After turning down a deal with MIRAMAX over censorship pressures, Mr.
Ciavarello is now distributing HPE in VHS and DVD versions over the Internet
(www.hpemovie.com). Contacting independent filmmakers is a hit or miss
proposition. Sometimes you come across folks who have no idea of which end of
the camera to point at the action. Of all the up-and-coming independent
filmmakers I’ve had the pleasure to interview and/or talk to, none have had
the cinematic vision and passion for their work as Mr. Ciavarello.
EInsiders.com: To start off would you give our readers some biographical info.
Whatever you feel is important to your background as a writer and filmmaker.
Sal Ciavarello: I was born in the Bronx, New York 29 years ago. Very fascinated with
anything supernatural when I was a kid. My first film experience was at the
age of 9 or 10 where a local library was having a screening of "Dracula"
starring Bela Lugosi which I imagine was projected on 16mm. I went to
Christopher Columbus high school in the Bronx which was just a "normal"
public school...I was rejected by the arty Laguardia High
School...(bastards)...anyway, there I really started to learn about shooting
films in 16mm in a VIDEO class I took in my junior year, talk about weird!
Afterwards I attended The School of Visual Arts in NY City where I majored in
screenwriting and film production. I dropped out on the third year to make
"Blue Shadows" a short film starring Nina Garbiras who plays the very hot and
slutty wife in (George) Romero's "Bruiser."
Have you had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Romero?
No, I haven't had the pleasure. Although I came close one day where Roy
invited me to the New York City premiere of "The Dark Half" but I had to
leave early because my friend was my ride and he had to go. That sucks
doesn't it? But that would have been weird for me. It's like meeting God. I
would have probably just stood there with a dumbfounded expression on my face.
On the commentary track you mentioned the inspiration for HPE was a
book linking the Son of Sam murders to a high powered satanic cult. I'm not
sure if it is the same book, but I read a similar book years ago which not
only connected the cult to Son of Sam but also the murder of a Hollywood
producer/drug-dealer and the rape of the blonde chick from "Welcome Back
Kotter." That book scared the ever-living shit out of me. If it's the same
book (even if it's not), how long from the point of inspiration to your
script coming together?
I don't think it's the same book. The book I read was written by Maury
Terry and is entitled "The Ultimate Evil." And like the book you read this
one scared the ever-loving shit out of me as well; and a great part of the
reason why is because most of the killings and alleged Satanic murderers took
place and live in my backyard called New York. The concept started with an
idea I had in my head of what I wanted my first feature to be about, and that
was something related to the most frightening subject matter I could think
of...Satan. I did some research on the web and came across this nonfiction
book called The Ultimate Evil. What scared me and what I wanted to place in
my film was the idea or theory that Berkowitz was not alone but taking orders
from higher ranking Satanists who hold very high and prestigious day jobs
that include positions in the government of the United States. Picture these
folks in that controversial scene in Eyes Wide Shut but besides sex they also
hold Satanic rituals filled with blood oaths, torture and murders being
filmed. Now that's some scary shit.
In your DVD interview with Roy Frumkes, he states that he is familiar
with your other work. Can you give me a quick history of you work.
Roy Frumkes is speaking about my previous films which include the short
horror film "Blue Shadows" and my early films in film school. Besides being a
filmmaker of such films like "Street Trash," " Document of the Dead" and "The
Substitute." Roy was also my former instructor at the School of Visual Arts.
Any plans to work with Roy in the future?
I would love to have the chance to work with him on a future project. I
was recently on set of his latest feature "The Sweet Life" where I played a
background wedding attendee and I can see that the producer side of him is as
cool and calm and funny as he is in real life. It would be great if the right
project would come along.
Was the script for HPE all yours or did you collaborate with producer
Anthony Fariello and DP Huy Troung?
The screenplay was written entirely by myself and only with the
assistance of many cigarettes and King Diamond music pushing me along.
When I wrote my first script I played Beethoven's "Pastoral" whenever I
was working on the hero's character and The Doors "LA Woman" when developing
the bad-guy. It helped me get into their mindset. Did you use King Diamond in
a similar way or was it just to keep the blood flowing.
King Diamond's dark and twisted lyrics at one point got me out of a
writing block towards the end of the script. It's amazing to see how much
music can help.
Did you approach King Diamond about using any Mercyful Fate on the
sound track? Ever thought about getting him to score your movie?
I have that dream all the time. "Revelations" is full of King Diamond and
Mercyful Fate music that the main character happens to be listening to all
the freaking time. One day when I have the proper backing for my next feature
King Diamond will be number one on my list to contact for a score.
You brought personal elements from your life into the script. On the
commentary track you point out two specifics. We had to take it on faith that
these girls were long time friends and also had issues in their past which
remain a mystery. I thought the personal touches made the concept work. Even
more important to the script's depth is the obvious research you put into the
occult. Is this an area you have had a long time interest in?
I guess you can say I've been doing research on the subject matter for a
great number of years now. There is something very alluring and repulsive
about the Devil that I can't quite shake. I've picked up a great number of
books in my life on the subject matter. Also did some research on the Church
of Satan and I think it will always continue to be a very fascinating and
frightening subject for me.
How long did it take for the script to come together?
The screenplay was written in about a month and a half. It only took two
drafts until it was final.
I read that you said you came out of "The Blair Witch Project" and said
I could do better than that. Were you afraid that folks would write HPE off
as a "Blair Witch" rip-off because of the "three people in the woods"
concept?
Well, I don't want to sound like a pompous prick but I didn't believe
Blair Witch was a great film at all, or a film period. I thought there was
pure genius when you think of the marketing aspect of Blair Witch. It surely
racked in the big bucks. I knew folks who went into the theaters thinking
"this is real." My exact words when I came out of the theater after watching
Blair Witch was "Wow, I have such a headache." followed by "I can see the
Texas Chain Saw Massacre influence...and damn, that was bad." When shooting
HPE I knew immediately that there would be the inevitable comparisons and
statements that HPE is a Blair Witch rip off...and the reason why these folks
would say such a thing is because both flicks were shot on Digital Video and
we also had three main characters. But gladly the few critics who have seen
the picture have been very pleased with HPE. One good thing that came out of
watching Blair Witch was the hope that it gave filmmakers like myself to say
hey, if we make a good picture and shoot it on Digital Video Hollywood will
accept it. Sadly, that's not quite the case today...but I see that it is
slowly changing.
On the commentary track you guys state that the three of you (Producer
Fariello and DP Troung) were the entire location crew. How far back do the
three of you go, childhood friends, film-school buddies?
I have known Huy, the director of photography since 1991. We were in the
same film class at SVA. Anthony Fariello was a friend of a friend. I think we
hung out for about a year until we realized that both of us were heading in
the same direction. That day was pretty funny because neither of us really
ever talked about film when we hanged out with our friends. So, it's great to
work with people you know and trust and more importantly like!
» continue interview (part II)
Rusty White
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