French Bugs in Development: An Interview with Julius Berg

An Exclusive Backbrain Interview

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Bugs is a French feature film project, one that not only shows a lot of promise, but also includes one of the Backbrain’s favourite giant monster species — insects.

Remember all those great mutant bug movies of the 1950s? The Deadly Mantis (US-1957; dir. Nathan Duran) speaks for itself, but there was also the cut-out giant locusts of Bert I. Gordon (Mr B.I.G.)’s The Beginning of the End (US-1957), the giant killer bees of Monster from Green Hell (US-1957; dir. Kenneth Crane) and the no-contest classic of them all, the giant ants of Them! (US-1954; dir. Gordon Douglas). If we add giant arachnids (though they’re not actually insects, of course), represented by the excellent Tarantula (US-1955; dir. Jack Arnold), that other Mr B.I.G. entry Earth vs the Spider (US-1958; dir. Bert I. Gordon), along with the stop-motion animation favourite The Black Scorpion (US-1957; dir. Edward Ludwig), the decade certainly managed to make giant-sized cultural icons out of our creepy-crawly six- (and eight-) legged buddies.

Since then there have been many more, even leaving aside the insectoid opponents of Godzilla, such as Mothra, the super-sized mantises known as Kamakiras, the giant spider Kumonga (aka Spiga) and the giant dragonfly Megaguiras. A few other films worth highlighting are the parody short Mant! from Joe Dante’s Matinee (1993), the little-known Mosquito (US-1995; dir. Gary Jones), Ticks (US-1993; dir. Tony Randell) and the recent Infestation (US-2009; dir. Kyle Rankin). There have been, of course, many more (which you can handily track down on the Backbrain’s giant monster film listing), as well as so many giant spider films it seems best to avoid even mentioning them here (again, try the aforementioned film list). Okay, I’ll mention Eight-Legged Freaks!

So, there have been lots of giant bug movies over the years. Too many? No way! Especially as the new French project, Bugs, looks to be potentially a classy affair indeed, with a very different approach to the subgenre. Check out this trailer:

[youtube 1vpBiN9d6h8]

Intrigued, the Backbrain resident kaiju-spotter, Avery Guerra, tracked down director Julius Berg (pictured below on set) and grilled him on the subject. Though reluctant to reveal much about the mutant insects themselves — and in particular their size — he was more than willing to discuss the film and its potential genesis.

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Avery Guerra: Julius, could you tell us about the trailer?

Julius Berg: Well, I directed this faux trailer in hope of attracting the attention of a foreign producer who might be interested in developing the film in English and in Paris. So, it’s kind of a communication tool to promote the project. Actually, we’re in the process of finishing the script and very soon we’ll be contacting some producers in England and America, so the trailer will mean we have something to show them. Bugs is envisaged as a low-budget and high-concept film which may have some similarities with Matt Reeves’ film Cloverfield. The trailer was created in conjunction with Thierry Arbogast [pictured below], a well-known Director of Photography who has worked with Luc Besson and Brian de Palma.

bugs-Thierry Arbogast

How about giving us a bit of background about yourself and crew?

I worked for ten years as a director of commercials and more recently on various TV series. Before that, I created a production company called MakingProd (www.makingprod.com), which now specializes in fiction series.

In advertising, I’m represented by Quad, a production company which produced feature films and commercials. They recently produced Untouchable and The Heartbreaker — two big successes in France and in some other countries.

My career in advertising gave me a chance to work with huge artists such as cinematographer Thierry Arbogast (www.thierryarbogast.com). I met the producer Guillaume Dreyfus on a series for Canal+. In fact, gathering the team to create the teaser was actually quite easy. I was fortunate to be surrounded by great talents.

bugs-Vahina Giocante and Julius Berg

[Above: actress Vahina Giocante and Julius Berg on set]

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What are your main film influences?

Of course, I’m very influenced by American cinema, especially the New Hollywood that I take as a true period of grace in the history of cinema. I appreciate the freedom of speech and style that the filmmakers managed to have at that time: the ambiguities they showed to exist between good and evil, sympathy for marginal characters and a certain distrust in any form of authority.

Rosemary’s Baby, The Graduate, The Exorcist, Deliverance, and Jaws are some of the films that have made a lasting impression on me. I still have a lot of respect for filmmakers who are able to create a strong atmosphere without showing the object of fear itself. Polanski, for example, didn’t show an evil child, even though Rosemary’s Baby remained a very scary movie all the way through. Genuine cinema.

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What sort of achievements and goals have you?

Commercials affords me the opportunity to work in such comfortable and innovative conditions that I’ve been able to explore new and different styles. Directing fiction series for television has also given me a chance to work further with actors in telling an actual extended story.

I’m looking forward to putting together subject matter and style. Feature film seems to offer the right balance for me to do this.

What more can you tell us about this film project without giving away too much?

Bugs is a fantastical film whose action takes place in Paris. Creatures progressively invade the city and plunge its inhabitants into chaos. In the meantime, a young mother must traverse the city through the danger and the devastation to find her 8-year-old son.

The monsters as such are not the film’s main focus and appear only occasionally on screen. It is mainly a film of atmosphere, like Cloverfield and the early works of M. Night Shyamalan. The challenge lies in the downward spiral the main character must go through to save her child.

The title “Bugs” has a double meaning. It refers to insects, of course, but also to mechanisms and systems that go wrong. The film deals with these bugs in the social order  that lead us sometimes to act totally irrationally.

As in many monsters movie, creatures can become a metaphor like a social commentary. Romero’s zombies are a satire on consumerism, while other monsters have arisen with the arrival of AIDS. Here, in our film, bugs embody the end of civilization, the rampant poverty that exists amid financial crisis.

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What are your inspirations for the film and its creatures?

The creatures are mutant insects: a mix between termites and cockroaches. Following the advent of the nuclear threat many movies in the ’50s dealt with mutation. However, limited VFX often made these monsters look pretty cheap.

From a technical point of view, things are easier today. But the narrative issues remain a major challenge in a filmmaker’s ability to avoid making them into mere unbelievable grotesqueries.

I enjoy thinking that Bugs is the opposite of the animated film Ratatouille. I don’t intend to denigrate the work of Pixar in saying that. On the contrary, I think Ratatouille is a success from every point of view. But Bugs differs from the way Ratatouille‘s creators deal with Paris — world capital of gastronomy, good food, that was a major focus. Instead Bugs deals with the junk food that has invaded our gastronomy and shows a sticky Paris behind an idyllic vision of a perfect Paris.

What would you hope to achieve from this project?

A beautiful meeting!

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Any producers/backers out there interested in taking this project on-board should contact Julius Berg via the Quad productions website or the film’s Facebook page.

Sources: Julius Berg via Avery Guerra; Julius Berg’s website; MakingProd website; Quad productions website; IMDb info on Thierry Arbogast. Written by Robert Hood.

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Cinema of the Backbrain Presents: Attack of the Daikaiju Cats

Some time ago, the following image appeared in one of the Worth1000 thematic image-creation competitions — a lovely piece of digital manipulation using the latest Photoshop technology (created by “boofhead”):

But the idea of a rampaging giant cat didn’t begin here. Before this, animator Terry Gilliam defended the world from a plague of Killer Cars in the Monty Python’s Flying Circus episode: “How To Recognize Different Parts of The Body” (1970), using not digital manipulation but hand-crafted cut-out methods:

And of course the Goodies inflicted London with a rampaging real-life kitten in the form of “Kitten Kong” (1971), using miniature sets and super-imposed video:

Now, after a bit of a hiatus, however, the Cinema of the Backbrain brings you the latest daikaiju cat — Catzilla. This brief tale of a giant laser-eyed feline and his downfall was created as a demo video by Poland’s Plastic Demoscene Group in collaboration with Platige Image using spectacular state-of-the-art digital animation:

Though the Goodies’ Kitten Kong might have provided more plot, Catzilla (Poland-2012; animation, short [approx. 2:43 min.]; dir. Bartlomiej Kik and Jakub Jablonski) offers a frenetic, eye-popping spectacle that is both fun and very, very cool.

Check it out on the Cinema of the Backbrain now.

Source: via Twitchfilm and Avery Guerra.

Posted in Animation, Cats, Cinema of the Backbrain, Daikaiju, Giant Monsters | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Jellyfish Eyes: Early Trailer

Check out this early trailer for Japanese artist Takashi Murakami’s proposed live-action fantasy trilogy, Mememe no Kurage (Jellyfish Eyes):

[youtube ZFzBR9afBdI]

Full of the sort of cuteness displayed by much of Murakami’s work, and looking rather kid-centric (and no doubt the final will have both those attributes) — but we know from previous information that the cute monsters that bond with the children turn into rampaging daikaiju (giant monsters) thanks to the fear and hatred provoked in the kids by a devastating earthquake that decimates Japan.

Check out these Backbrain articles for more information:

 

Source: via Avery Guerra. Official website.

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Pacific Rim: Official Trailer

Well, we’ve had hints about Guillermo del Toro’s anticipated daikaiju epic, Pacific Rim — and if you thought you were excited before, check out this just released official trailer:

[youtube 2vKz7WnU83E]

This could make a profound change to my top 10 giant monster movie list!

Posted in Daikaiju, Film, Giant Monsters, Mecha, Monsters in general, Science Fiction, Update | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Gadzooka, Larry! The 50s Rule!

First Look! Presented in Undeadoscope!

As we await the arrival of the big-budget giant monster spectacle of Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim (2013) and Gareth Edwards’ much-anticipated Godzilla (2014) — not to mention whatever Big Thing turns up in Joss Whedon’s sequel to his mega-successful The Avengers, scheduled for 2015, we can ponder the tongue-in-cheek retro cheesiness that is likely to be in evidence in Gadzooka the Unbearable!

Unlike the above-mentioned blockbusters, Gadzooka the Unbearable will feature no slick and infinitely complex digital creations at all, but will be made purely old-school, with practical effects one of its major attractions — to ’50s monster flick fans, if not the general public. This is, after all, a “dream project” of independent filmmaker Larry Blamire, working in conjunction with infamous “Monster Man” and make-up FX guru, Cleve Hall.

In a decade that has seen movie budgets skyrocket and the rise of digital SFX allow almost anything to be convincing depicted on screen (more or less, and depending on the skill of those involved), it’s perhaps not a coincidence that low-budget, retro-styled productions using only old-school practical FX — made by individuals and small, independent companies — have also reached towards some kind of zenith. Some of these take a “serious” approach, but many others (especially those that hark back to the 1950s) fondly recognise the dodgier aspects of the old monster/scifi flicks and take the route of parody instead. Usually the desire to make 50s monster movie parodies rises from the fond memories of these old, hands-on, warts-and-all flicks and the sheer entertainment they could provide. The audience for them might be smaller than the audience drawn to the multiplex blockbusters, but it is, without a doubt, an enthusiastic and quite extensive one.

One of the most successful of these celebratory 50s parodies is The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra (US-2001), produced, written and directed by Larry Blamire (who also acted in it) — a film that fans embraced with enthusiasm. Shot in “Skeletorama” (naturally) it proved to be an extremely popular and entertaining romp through the cheesier absurdities of 1950s B-film monster/scifi culture. And it was very funny.

[youtube Pe9Fs10IIk0]

The Lost Skeleton redundantly returned (again) in The Lost Skeleton Returns Again (2009), again directed etc. by Larry Blamire, with a bigger crew and even the involvement of one of the famous Chiodo Bros (Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Critters).

Now comes news of a second sequel from Blamire, The Lost Skeleton Walks Among Us — this time with Cleve Hall. At the moment the film is but a gleam in Blamire’s eye, but we’re assured it’s on the way.

And after this comes the production of Gadzooka the Unbearable, which will hopefully join the ranks of great giant monster cheesefests. No indication has yet been given as to the plot, but that “See giant monster battle giant monster” line no doubt says it all! May the farce be with Blamire, Hall and the rest of the Thingworks team!

Source: Newskaiju Avery Guerra; DreadCentral. Text: Robert Hood.

Posted in Daikaiju, Film, Giant Monsters, Humour, Independent film, Retro | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Pacific Rim: Viral Footage Gives a Glimpse of a Giant Monster

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If I was excited by news of Guillermo del Toro’s “love letter” to the kaiju [daikaiju] eiga tradition of Japanese monster movies exemplified in Gojira [Godzilla] (1954; dir. Ishiro Honda), Pacific Rim when it was announced a while back, seeing this first “viral” footage confirms the excitement. No detailed view of the creature in the following news broadcast, but lots of suggestive glimpses of the monster that is described as being “over 300 feet tall”.

And here’s a blueprint of the mecha “defender” (Jaeger) being built to deal with the invasion of the giant monsters:

There has also been a suggestive memo “leaked” from the official website of the Pan Pacific Defense Corps.

Source: Bloody Disgusting.com; via kaiju artist Todd Tennant.

Posted in Daikaiju, Giant Monsters, Horror, News | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Having your Cake and Being Eaten By It, Too

If you think a  ’50s retro/parody film featuring a daikaiju-sized cake might be fun, watch the following faux trailer and you can help get it made.

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Lobsterdance Productions, under the creative auspices of Jared P. Foust, have taken to making 50s-style monster-film trailers. THE TERRORMISU!「ザ・テラーミス」Trailer was made for entry into the Vimeo Weekend Project’s fake trailer contest. If the trailer succeeds in getting at least 10,000 views by 31 December 2012, it will be made into a full-length film.

Foust’s previous faux trailer was OGGRA, VOODOO MONSTER FROM HELL「地獄の怪獣オッグラ, which starred this guy, all in scratchy black-and-white, of course:

The Terrormisu is, in Foust’s words, the “spiritual sequel” to Oogra!. Take a look and you’d readily see what he means.

[vimeo 22833579]

Foust commented that Oggra!, which can be seen as a test run for the recent “larger, more substantial project” and is “composed of entirely practical, in-camera special effects work. With the sole exception of the composite fire effects in the final shot, everything was created with miniatures, costumes, smoke bombs, baking soda, etc.”

Same goes for The Terrormisu.

He added: “This is truly my favorite style of filmmaking, to be sure.”

Checkout this behind-the-scenes video for The Terrormisu, made by crew member and co-star David “Tim” Johannaber:

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More behind-the-scenes pictures can be seen here.

Cool stuff! So share the link around and get those hits up!

Source: via Avery Guerra. Text: Robert Hood.

Posted in Competition, Daikaiju, Exploitation films, Film, Giant Monsters, Where's the Film? | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Robot Chicken’s G-Spot

Ha! Godzilla makes [another] appearance on Robot Chicken.

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First Sighting of Jellyfish Eyes’ Monsters

Two of the monster designs for Part 1 of artist Takashi Murakami’s proposed live-action fantasy trilogy, Mememe no Kurage (Jellyfish Eyes) [if you need to catch up, see  The Art of Monsters: Takashi Murakami and Jellyfish Eyes], have surfaced — and they look suitably cute:

These are, of course, the “small” versions of the monsters, before they mutate into much bigger, city-stomping daikaiju.

And here’s an early poster, rampant with Murakami-style imagery:

Source: Generasia and via Avery Guerra.

Addendum: Jellyfish Eyes will be in theaters in Japan from 26 April 2013. The story is set after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Sueoka Takuto stars as a young boy named Masashi, whose family moves to a new city. He discovers a strange jellyfish-like creature that adults cannot see (presumably, and he and the creature gradually become friends. Asami Himeka plays the heroine, a young girl who spends her time with Masashi and the “friend.” Other cast members include Sometani Shota, Kubota Masataka, Saito Takumi, Tsuruta Mayu, and Tsuda Kanji.

Cast:

Posted in Animation, Daikaiju, Fantasy, Film, Giant Monsters, Japanese, Update | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

A Giant Gila Monster for Christmas

Including an Exclusive Interview by Robert Hood with the Star of the Film

The producers of Jim Wynorski’s giant monster remake Gila! are currently whipping up a grassroots campaign to get the film — much lauded among B-Movie Celebration attendees who saw its premiere during September — aired on the SyFy Channel for Christmas.

Check out the trailer and I’m sure you’ll agree this would be a perfect Christmas monster treat.

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An exciting prospect, eh? Well, the Backbrain’s newshound and Gila’s publicist Avery Guerra suggests the best approach to getting this Christmas pressie delivered to TV screens across the US during Christmas would be:

“Send a quick e-mail to: feedback@syfy.com, asking the SyFy Powers That Be to play our great film Gila! — Jim Wynorski’s remake of The Giant Gila Monster — this holiday season on their Channel. It’s the perfect giant monster movie for the holiday season!”

So go do it!

Sadly, it won’t help me to see it, of course, as SyFy doesn’t screen in Australia.

Meanwhile I thought this might be the perfect opportunity to catch up with the film’s star, Gila himself. [The Backbrain’s previous interview with Gila can be read here]:

An Interview with Gila by Robert Hood:

RH: Welcome once again to the Backbrain, Gila. How’s it feel now that the film’s in the can and has even premiered.

Gila: Feels great! I got a bigger hole in the ground than I useta have — and a holiday hideaway at Malibu that I bought the other day in anticipation of the profits…

RH: Well, that’s wonderful. But I guess what everyone wants to know right now is —

Gila: Did I mention my Malibu condohole is right next door to Godzilla’s radioactive slag-heap?

RH: Um, no, you didn’t. That’s exciting. He’s a big celebrity.

Gila: Big celebrity! The guy’s a loser! King of the Monsters, my ass. He’s gettin’ all high-‘n’-mighty and we’re still waitin’ on his new movie to make any sort of noise at all.

RH: Comes out in 2014, they say. It’ll be a big theatrical release. Huge.

Gila: Pah! My giant monster buddies willa gone on our scheduled ‘pocalyptic rampage by then and there won’t be no cinemas left standing.

RH: Rampage? Really? Which buddies are these?

Gila: Oh, you know — Hostie from Korea’s takin’ another shot at it, Fin Fang Foom from China’s makin’ a comeback (or so he reckons), an Old One you mighta heard about — Cthulhu, the Eater of Men’s Faces or somethin’ — he’s heard the Call again — and … Hey, you’re not gonna publish any of this, are ya? This is all off the record.

RH: No, no. Confidentiality’s my middle name.

Gila: Better be. Don’t want the authorities to hear about it. They take a dim view of ‘pocalyptic rampages.

RH: Getting back to the point of this interview, the producers are trying to get your new film onto the SyFy Channel for Christmas. You excited about that?

Gila: Sure. Christmas. Perfect time.

RH: Why’s that?

Gila: I wanna do my bit ta destroy human civilisation and everyone’s in a relaxed sorta mood in the aftermath of the pressies and roast lunches and lollies and shit. Get ’em while they’re weak an’ susceptible, I always say.

RH: The film’s going to destroy human civilisation, is it? I thought it was a good movie.

Gila: It is! Bloody damn good. [He leans close. I gag from a wave of lizard breath] But there’s these secret messages hidden deep in the subtext. Has ta do with hypnotism and subliminal commands — crap like that. Cthulhu’s an expert at infestin’ scripts with coding that’ll prepare you puny humans for the Time of Destruction. All parta the Plan.

RH: The apocalyptic rampage plan?

Gila: That’s the one. [He frowns. It looks real weird on a lizard.] Hey, ya can’t publish anythin’ about the Plan.

RH: No worries. Listen, ah, I have to go now. There’s a couple of guys from the military I have to talk to.

Gila: Geez, that was a quick interview.

RH: Yeah, sorry. Anyway, good luck with the campaign to get Gila! on SyFy. I’m sure my readers’ll be right behind it.

Gila: I hope so. Mebbe we can do another interview next year — no, no. That’s no good. The whole world’ll be a smoking ruin by then. You happy with interviewin’ me in the wreckage of ya house?

RH: What? Wreckage? Um, sure. Pleased to do it. I’ve got to go now.

[I run to the car, jump in and take off down the road. I half expect him to chase me, but when I look back he’s busy eating a huge vat of burritos…]

Source: Producer Bill Dever and publicist Avery Guerra. Written by Robert Hood. Register your interest in seeing Gila! on the SyFy Channel on feedback@syfy.com.

Posted in Cthulhu, Giant Monsters, Godzilla, Horror, Monsters in general, News, TV, Update | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment