Together with producer buddy Zach Green he runs and makes films for Fatal Pictures. His films explore the nature of the mind, mixing real dramatic situations with elements of horror.
We got the lowdown on this inspiring talent for young filmmakers, his thoughts on Familiar and his plans for the future.
Familiar seems very psychologically real. Where did you get the idea for the central character? What inspired you?
Richard Powell: What makes both Familiar and my previous short Worm so potentially disturbing for audiences is the way in which they can relate to the villains. The Dodd brothers aren’t monsters, masked killers or demons, they are men afflicted by desires and emotions many people face and some succumb to. These stories are about fear, regret and anger and the effects these emotions can have when they are bottled up and suppressed. That said I take my inspiration from the world, from news headlines and so on. Worm was inspired by my own fears of failure and settling in life and Familiar is really inspired by Worm, it is a re-imagining of the same themes but with a supernatural explanation rather then a societal one.
The film feels very professionally made. How difficult was it to bring it to the screen and was the end result as you’d initially planned it?
Powell: Thanks to our very skilled crew and a lot of planning we have great production values which go along way. I feel its important to focus on the technical craft of filmmaking as it compliments and enhances the story when done right. Thanks to our camera department lead by Michael Davidson the film looks great. The Butcher shop brought out FX elements to life and our sound team, editors and composer all honed the footage into something we can all be proud of. Getting a film that feels professionally done without a budget is a lot of hard work but worth every headache and sleepless night it costs. The film did turn out well, of course looking back there are things I would change but I use those regrets as lessons for the next project. No film is perfect or turns out exactly as you imagined it but if you come close and the end result is appreciated you’ve done a good job.
What advice would you give to any budding short film makers out there who want to get there work seen?
Powell: Take your time and make the effort of creating your short film worth it. If you do that the rest will fall into place. Don’t be afraid to invest in your self, that’s what my film partner and I did and its how we got to where we are now. If you aren’t willing to take a chance on your self why should any one else?
When watching your film Cronenberg certainly comes to mind. Do you have any other influences or artists that inspire you?
Powell: I’m a fan of the works of Michael Haneke, Todd Solondz, Roman Polanski and Gaspar Noe. I find they approach their work with an honesty that is absent in much of film. Their characters are human, weak and often repulsive. While all of this can appear to be morbid and dark there exists a humour, a kind of extremism and absurdity that cuts in a comfortable way. Its palatable darkness and for a reason, not for sensations sake.
Your film seems to be getting good word of mouth. You must be getting attention from studios. Are there any plans for a feature film?
Powell: The film has been accepted and praised by several critics and so forth and that is great! We appreciate anybody giving us the time of day and it inspires us to keep making movies. Perhaps we have popped up on some peoples radars but I wouldn’t know and I’m not sitting around waiting for the fabled call. My partner Zach Green and myself are moving forward regardless of who wants to help us, that’s our strength, we make our own opportunities. There is a feature film version of Worm we will be looking to produce in the near future. The script is done and being polished at the moment and I’m very excited to get that going. I’m looking forward to getting into the feature film world where I feel zach and myself belong.
Will you always stick with the horror genre or would you like to branch out into other areas?
Powell: I love horror but I am a fan of film first so I would never limit my self. My films are 80 percent drama anyway, they are tinged with horror more than horror films as a whole. I have several concepts for dramas, thrillers, crime films and so on, the great thing is keeping my options open and following my inspirations.
Here’s a look at the trailer for Familiar…
