LDead: First I'd like to thank you on behalf of The Liberal Dead and all our readers for taking the time to talk to us today. It's a real honor to get to sit you down and pick your brain for a moment. Let's start things off with the more serious questions if you don't mind.So, Adam I'm sure you're asked this all the time but what made you get into film making? And who were some of your influences coming up in the field?
Adam: I grew up loving movies, especially "Jaws", and all of the early Spielberg stuff. Then as I got older I discovered real films and fell in love with them. Angel heart, Jacobs Ladder, The Exorcist, TCM, The Wicker Man, with nail & I. Those were the films that really informed me.
I’m not sure what it was that actually started me doing it professionally, I started making shorts when I was a kid, but I find it very cathartic from a psychological point of view, which is why I continue to do it.
I always wanted to either make music or films – and I remember one day in my teens making a very specific decision to follow the film thing, as I don’t think a person is really allowed to do both in society unfortunately! You can only do one thing it seems!
LDead: Beyond movies you've also directed many music videos who are some of the artists you've worked with over the years? And if you had to choose one which was the most exciting at a personal fan level?
Adam: Yeah I made about 90 music videos, used to make a great living doing that. The only artist I every really liked that I worked with was Martin Grech. Everyone else I thought was a bit shit or not my cup of tea, so to speak. Him and Fields of the Nephilim, who I was a fan of growing up and still really like. I quite liked Mortiis. I can’t actually remember any I did off hand!
I was making videos at the time just before the music industry got killed off by piracy, when technology was allowing everyone to make music and the market was flooded with absolute rubbish. Kind of what’s happening to the film industry now actually?
It was fun for a few years, and then I got involved in a horrific situation with a band called Within Temptation which put me off making music videos for life. The music biz is rotten to the core and filled with Patrick Bateman types, sociopaths and narcissists, much like the film biz, and you’ve got to be very careful dealing with them.
I, for one, am now getting endless pleasure watching them all go out of business.
It was sad really, my experiences, because I used to love music so much as a teenager and in my 20’s. But dealing with musicians, managers and record labels was enough to put me off for life. It’s actually put me off music!
That said – I’m just starting up doing it again. It’s taken me almost four years to get over dealing with that last band. I used to love hanging out with bands, it's always a lot of fun, although it became apparent very fast that the glamour and mythology behind it all is a complete façade.
LDead: Your next project is "Luster" correct? How is it coming along? When can all the blood thirsty Adam mason fans expect to get their fix?
Adam: Luster’s finished as of about two weeks ago… so should be out soon. It’s not a horror movie at all… more a dark comedy/thriller. I guess horror fans might like it, although they may well be left a bit bemused. I’m not really sure to be honest. It's impossible for me to categorize what I do as I lose all perspective once I’m done.
As for it coming out I’ve got no idea. No one has seen it yet. I’m not sure how it will do. Part of me thinks it might be super commercial, but you never really know until you start getting feedback. I hope so anyway! It's probably the most accessible film I’ve made.
LDead: Do you have any other upcoming projects you'd care to share with us today?
Adam: Yeah I’m going to start shooting a new movie about a blind girl getting tormented, which I hope will be my ‘Company of Men’. Super dark, Will be very disturbing.
I also want to do a one shot western with Andrew, kind of like Pig.
Aside from that I’m a bit burnt out with the whole thing if I’m being honest. I’m considering knocking it all on the head.
LDead: The special effects in your movies always seem to be impressive, what's your view on CGI blood and gore compared to practical effects good old latex and fake blood? Which do you prefer as far as a director goes to best represent your vision of a scene?
Adam: I’ve done a lot of CGI stuff in music videos. I’m not a big fan if I’m being honest. As soon as I see something I know is fake, it just takes me out of the movie. The only times I like CGI in movies is when it’s invisible, like in Black Hawk Down, or Fincher’s movies. That’s the smart way to use it. District 9 was absolutely amazing as well.
As a whole – I always shoot things practically. That’s why the crosses in Blood River were real!
LDead: Now that we got the suit and tie questions down how about a few oddities we'll call them?
On zombie day, what will be your plan for survival once you hear the invasion has started?
Adam: I’d probably take a gun to my head.
LDead: You're camping with five other friends in the remote back woods and two have already gone missing. In your backpack you have a pocket knife, fishing line, hooks, a small piece of rope, a camping shovel, and half a pack of cigarettes. What kind of trap would you create out of these items to protect yourself from lurking in breeders?
Adam: I would lure a bear into the clearing and woo it with cigarettes, then attach myself to it with the fishing wire and hooks, tie the rope round my head like Rambo and beat it to death with the shovel.
Then I would wear the bear like a tortoise shell and attack the in breeders. I would have the upper hand.
LDead: I'm sure you've seen where the real life Amityville house is up for sale would you ever personally live there if given the chance?
Adam: No thanks. I have always wanted to buy the Polanski house on Cielo Drive. But it's seriously expensive.
LDead: One last serious question before we go If you Don't mind, but how about some words of wisdom for all the starving and unknown horror film makers out there who are just trying to get their foot in the door ? Any advice on getting your work seen?
Adam: I guess the main thing I’ve learnt in the time I’ve been doing this is there are a thousand people talking about doing stuff for every person actually doing it. I could make a film with my phone and laptop these days, so there is literally nothing stopping people except fear and ineptitude.
Also – directing and writing isn’t some god given talent. Of course talent does come into it, but plenty of people are talented. Directing is like playing the guitar. You don’t just pick up a guitar and play. You have to learn how to play it. And the only way to do that is to practice. I know people who have been talking about making a film since I was at film school with them 12 years ago. They could have made 12 features since then, and would probably be quite good at it by now.
So yeah advice-wise pick up a camera and start shooting stuff every week. Start working with actors. Start writing every day without fail and practice practice practice.
LDead: We would like to thank Adam Mason once more for sitting down and talking with us and want to wish him luck with his upcoming projects; the entire staff can hardly wait to see what he has in store for horror fans across the world next.
Adam's Filmography
The 13th sign (2000)
Dust (2001)
Prey (2003)
The Devil's Chair (2006)
Broken (2006)
Blood River (2009)
Pig (2010)
Luster (coming soon)
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