The Jesus And Mary Chain - Interview with Jim Reid

Jim Reid (left) and brother William.

This article is something of a departure from my usual fare in terms of blogging subject matter. If anything, it's also probably by far the most self-indulgent piece I've ever produced - and no doubt if you've ever spent a few moments reading my stuff and nonsense, that really is saying something. However it's my blog, so my rules.

I felt the urge a little while ago to to do a little something different on my blog. However as the court ruling has yet to be made on that other outstanding matter, I'll have stick with the subject of this piece. For some reason I've been thinking about music quite a lot recently, in fact it came to a head the other day when I overheard some people talking in my office (day job duties I'm afraid). They were extolling the virtues of the latest gig they had attended.... "What a show they put on"......."They played all their hits"......"Ooooh they're still so cute" .... were just three of the comments from women who are quite frankly old enough to know better. It was the Take That concert which had taken place here in the North East of Scotland. Yes that's right. Take. Bloody. That. Just why we deserved a visit from them evades me. The ladies then followed that particular conversation up with a look forward to Elton John playing later that week in Aberdeen, well you could have killed me then and I would have thanked you for it.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a music snob, just the same as I'm not a Sci-fi & horror snob. It's just that the world of music that they were extolling upon wasn't just a world away from what rocks my particular boat, it was a bloody Alpha Centuri away......and then some. 

My own particular music loves have often fallen into time-frames of personal obsession, though the interviewee in this article needn't worry, I don't mean in a restraining order stalking sort of way. I tend to fixate on their musical output to the point that I go gorge myself over a periods where I try and buy everything I can find that they've ever made. Over the years there have been a number of these obsessions; Robert Johnson, The Velvet Underground, The Beatles, Nick Drake, Pink Floyd, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Ramones, Radiohead and The Libertines - to name but a few. 

One particular group has for quite a number of years been a constant reminder of just how much I can become obsessed when it comes to music. So much so that I'll be taking one particular song of theirs with me when this here blogger departs this mortal coil. For me, nothing in music has ever equalled power and beauty of The Jesus and Mary Chain.

Back in the day I emulated this look & tried to look as cool
 - I failed miserably......

In fact I've already decided on three of the songs that I want to be played at my funeral. They are, in no particular order;

* April Skies by The Jesus and Mary Chain

* Happiness is a warm Gun by The Beatles

* The Ying Tong song by The Goons.

Now before I cause panic in the hearts of countless women, blog readers and the manufacturers of restraining orders around the world (well at least in my mind), I'm not about to peg it just yet. No, I'm planning to be around for many, many years - Which thinking about it, may well be more likely to cause panic in the hearts of even more women and blog readers etc.

Anyhoo back to The Jesus and Mary Chain. Let's face it, for those of us that were around in the 1980's the music scene was generally crap at the best of times and its worst was bordering on soul destroying. However amongst the constant drivel of the New Romantic tosh of Duran Duran et al, the soullessness of the electronic scene  as well as the mind boggling depressing plasticity of Stock, Aitken & Waterman, there was wonderful 'alternative' scene to save ones sanity. The likes of The Smiths, The Cure, Bauhaus and numerous others were the source of ones musical solace in the same way that John Carpenter was an oasis of cinematic pleasure from the rest of the 1980's Top Gunesque crap.

The Jesus and Mary Chain were perhaps everything I wanted in music at the time, some quite beautiful songs intermixed with sounds of power and danger. There was some Jim Morrison, Velvet Underground, Ramones all in there - but they were far more than that. Whether it was the occasional wall of white noise feedback, the 'couldn't give one flying fuck attitude' or the true essence of Rock & Roll, they had everything I needed and in the few albums that they produced I took all that they had to give. Yep, they were my musical true bliss.

Of course, towards the end of the 1980's The Jesus and Mary Chain slowly began to disintegrate as drink, drugs and in-fighting eventually took its inevitable toll. By the end of the 90's the group was no more. It wasn't until a few short years ago that brothers Jim and William Reid decided to reform the Mary Chain. This suggested that not only was there a chance that new audiences would experience the back catalogue of stunning music that had once been produced on classic albums such as Psychocandy and Darklands, but maybe some new material would be produced too?......

So I ask you what is happiness? I shall tell you. Happiness is discovering that a friend of yours is also a good friend of one of your favourite ever groups and that your friend will ask the lead singer of said favourite group for a brief interview for ones blog. Happiness is learning that said lead singer/songwriter is happy to respond to ones inane questions. 

So what follows is an interview with Jim Reid who graciously gave some time to answer some of my 'tell me why you're so fab & great' questions.



THE INTERVIEW BIT.......

Better than Psychocandy......Oh yes it is.

Q) I believe that we share a mutual love of The Velvet Underground (for me, Pale Blue eyes & Sweet Jane are practically perfect). How much of an influence were they in your musical development?

A) The Velvet Underground along with many others were a huge influence on the Mary Chain, particularly at the beginning of the band.  But even now not much time goes by without me playing something by the Velvets.  In the mid nineteen sixties they just seemed almost ludicrously ahead of their time.

Q) I know the Psychocandy album tends to get most of the plaudits - but Darklands is actually my personal favourite. What are your memories of making that album?

A) By the time we got around to making Darklands there seemed to be a lot of pressure that wasn't around when we recorded Psychocandy.  I remember reading a couple of comments in the music papers - something along the lines of the band should split up before they go and ruin it all!  We seemed to be in an impossible situation.  We felt that had we followed Psychocandy up with more of the same, we would have been crucified for that, but not to do that, we would have been accused of selling out.  In the end we just thought Fuck it, let's just make the record we want to make and let everybody else deal with it.  Darklands, as with any Mary Chain record, we always imagined what people might think of it 10 years down the line.  At all costs we wanted to make a record that we would feel good about at any point in the future.

Q) I'm sure that you're thrilled (sic) to know that I plan to have April Skies played at my funeral. What would be on your funeral playlist?

A) For years I'd left instructions with my sister Linda that if I should die before her, she should play As We Go Along by the Monkees, which would segue into Born to Lose by the Heartbreakers, just as my coffin starts to disappear through the curtain.  I'm not so sure now if I'd even have music or a funeral.  I've toyed with the idea of having my fingerprints burned off with acid and any identifiable features removed, and have my naked body placed on the top of a London double decker bus.  As yet I have no takers to help me achieve this.

Q) Your cover of 'My Girl' was a beaut - if there was one other cover that you wish that you could have done (or still do) what would it be?

A) Really, if we had wanted to do any cover of any particular song, we probably would have done it by now.  But very recently it occurred to me that the Mary Chain could do a very good job of Midnight Moses by the Alex Harvey Band.

Jim Reid on stage in Miami - the
last show of the latest tour.

Q) I've been watching some excerpts of the recent tour of the U.S - what has the reaction been over there to you guys again?

A) The reaction has been generally pretty good and it's nice to look out there and see younger kids that weren't even born at the time we were making these records.

Q) Is touring any easier, better, worse an experience for you than it was earlier in your career?

A) It's not nicer or easier, it's just different.  As to how easy a tour is for me, largely depends on whether I'm drinking or not.  I'm sober at the moment so finding it quite tough.

Q) What news, if any, about the much vaunted album of new material from The Jesus and Mary Chain?

A) We are in the process of recording that record right now, but it's early days.

Q) Personally I think the current music scene is pure crap. What's your opinion?

A) I gave up listening to new music quite a while ago.  The kind of music I'm interested in moves in cycles.  After a while you get to the point where you came in.  There's not much in rock music that is truly unique.  I'd rather listen to Television than listen to some new band that sound like Television.  Also, great music has a way of getting through to the people that would appreciate it anyway.  I've heard some great bands in the past that got through to me without me reading music mags or listening to the radio.

Q) Do you feel you've mellowed with age, or like me do you still get as angry as ever?

A) I suppose in some ways it's inevitable, but not quite that simple.  I guess the older I get, the more tolerant I am of some things.  Having kids tends to put things into perspective too.  Sometimes I do feel a little ground down by the weight of the bullshit that one encounters.  But having said all that, I suppose I can still have a good rant with the best of them.

Q) One for my blog - what's your favourite movie and why?

A)  I like movies very much and couldn't pick just one film.  But since you do a sci-fi blog, I love The Illustrated Man, which was based on the book by Ray Bradbury, which I also loved.

Q) You're going to play up here in Aberdeen at some point, right? :-)

A) I guess when we get this new album together there will be the inevitable tours.  Let's see what we can do about Aberdeen...

Funeral song number 1

I cannot thank Jim enough for taking a little time to talk to this fan. Of course, reading that last sentence "Let's see what we can do about Aberdeen..." in other words means that Jim and I are now regarded as BFF's in his mind and that he's probably right at this moment rearranging the Jesus and Mary Chain itinerary to include a few shows nearer to where I live here in the the North East of Scotland.  Thanks Jim.

To read the current news about shows (before they're amended to suit just me) and find read (better written than this) accounts of the band then visit their website at http://thejesusandmarychain.uk.com

Shopping Tour (2012)...."It’ll cost you an arm and a leg …"

Written and directed by: Mikhail Brashinsky

Cast: Tatyana Kolganova, Timofey Yeletsky

Genre: horror | Year: 2012 | Cert: 15 [TBC] | Country: Russia

Language: Russian / Finnish with English subtitles | Running Time: 70 minutes

Released in the UK on DVD and VOD - 26 October 2015

It's not often that I'm lost for words, but this week I was indeed momentarily at a loss for something to say. A few days ago I received an email from the wonderfully named Sharp Teeth Films asking me if I'd like to watch a soon to be released film, Shopping Tour, which features Finnish cannibals feasting on an unsuspecting group of Russian tourists in a paranoid, satirical horror comedy. Blimey, I thought to myself, that’s not the sort of request one gets every day - well not in the legal sense of the word anyway. Naturally I felt the need to investigate further, I needed more information, I needed more details…… I needed a synopsis. And so the good people at Sharp Teeth Films provided me with one.

….."Unlucky Russian tourists get more than they bargain for, when their shopping trip to Finland turns into a fight for survival. According to ancient Finnish tradition, Summer Solstice marks the one day a year when locals eat foreigners …......Part social satire, part survival horror recalling Romero’s DAWN OF THE DEAD, with a topical mix of underlying themes including xenophobia, immigration panic, consumerism and personal morality."

Now there are very few things that I would say that I hate, life is just too damn short to waste time on such an extreme and often destructive emotion. All too often people overuse the word 'hate' with such abandon and ill-thought out considerations of what the actual implications could be for others. However, if someone was to tie me down (as it were) and demand to know some of my personal pet hates then a few things would spring to mind. Firstly Pistachio nut shells that don't open, despite near breaking a finger nail in the attempt - I hate those bastards with a passion. In a very close second on the list would be the super sized shopping store or mall, god don't get me started on those soul-sucking creations with their insipid background music, pseudo-psychological methods to get you to buy stuff that you simply don't need and the endless fast food areas with each and every one of them attempting to take you on that one way train to heart attack city. In terms of film styles, there's little that I hate, but there is much I dislike - for instance the found-footage style has never found it's shaky hand held way onto my personal Christmas card list.

All this meant that it was doubtful whether Shopping Tour would viewed with a semblance of appreciation even before I watched it, because it contains two of the three aforementioned pet hates (Spoiler alert; there are no Pistachios in this film). So would I actually enjoy a film that combines shopping stores and a found footage style of filming? Well do you know something? I really did.

This Russian/Finnish horror comedy is the child creation of Mikhail Brashinsky, who not only wrote, directed, produced and edited the project, but he probably helped to sweep the floors and fetch drinks too. Now I don't profess an in-depth knowledge of Russian-Finnish relations and attitudes, but it seems quite clear from the outset that Brashinsky is quite keen to find amusement in the obsession that many Russians seem still to have after the advent of communism with what they regard as their more sophisticated consumerist western neighbours. At the same time there is also a constant undercurrent of commentary on the contemporary hot social topic of immigration and the xenophobia that often accompanies it.

Shopping Tour was shot on a tiny budget of $70,000 over a period of just 11 days and has already been the winner of Critics’ Prize, Best Female Performance and Grand-Prix at the Russian National Film Festival ‘Window to Europe’ and the Special Jury Prize at the Polar Lights International Film Festival in St. Petersburg. A popular film on the international film festival circuit, screening at Sitges International Festival of Fantastic Cinema, Gothenburg International Film Festival and Torino International Film Festival.

The first act of the film sees a young teenage boy, played by Timofey Yeletsky who is reluctantly accompanying his mother, played by the delectable Tatyana Kolganova, on a short coach trip across the border from Russia to Finland. It is quite clear from the outset that the boy has a perpetual sulk on with life, particularly as his father has recently died and seemingly resents his mother for their situation. Matters are made even worse for his state of mood when his mother confesses that the coach trip is simply to visit some of the seemingly more affluent and superior shopping malls that the Finns have to offer. So in order to reduce his boredom, he decides to film all that he sees on his mobile phone camera. This first section of the film is where Brashinsky is clearly having fun with pastiching the notion of Russian perceptions of feeling less cultured and advanced in regard to consumerist opportunities. An early favourite scene is where every passenger on the bus has to remove all luggage and submit themselves to very personal border checks , all in the name of shopping. 

This impressionable innocence of the Russian shoppers is soon further exploited when they are given news by their guide that a brand spanking new mega store in Southern Finland has agreed to open up especially for them. So the tired but desperate shoppers are dropped off in the middle of Finnish nowhere and stumble into this sparkling new store... However it soon becomes clear that it's not technological consumer goods that will be on the shopping list, but the consumers themselves as the Russians are attacked by bloodthirsty and flesh eating Finnish employees. The shoppers need to get out of the store and they need to do it before they die a grizzly death. We've all been there.

The final third of Shopping Tour is a fast paced adrenaline ride as the mother and son try to outwit and outrun the flesh eating locals who are equally intent on fulfilling their annual right to eat as many Russians as they can. Interposed within the frantic scenes there are some wonderful sections which wonderfully contrast the terror of the victims with the suburban normality of the Finns - the one scene involving the picnic with the local police and council members is simply a joy. The film's final scene is genuinely horrific and disquieting leaving the viewer with a picture that will stay in ones mind for some time.

Shopping Tour will not appeal to all facets of the horror community, but lets face it, what film ever does? There will undoubtedly be some who are put off by the hand held found footage style, especially some of the more frantic 'run away' moments which sees the picture bounce around to the point some may feel a little queasy at the effect it produces. The low budget also ensures that the film rarely shows too much in the way of gore which may disappoint those who like their high dosage quota of zombie blood and guts. Indeed, the film is quite clearly more of a chiller than a horror while the comedy is more considered than slapstick.

Are these major concerns and drawbacks? Well no, because what Mikhail Brashinsky has contrived to produce is a warm yet pointed commentary on social values and wraps it up in a very enjoyable slice of Zombie eating fun. 

On a totally unrelated note, I have the misfortune to visit a certain Scandinavian furniture store this weekend - now I know these are Swedes, not Finns, but one cannot be too careful. So I'm taking a big heavy cricket bat with me for protection. 

Sharp Teeth Films promises to bring a taste of the unusual to UK audiences via cinema, DVD and VOD releases. Our carefully curated line-up will include a mix of languages and genres, with a focus on stories that are provocative, distinctive and thought-provoking … films with ‘bite’. The first two releases are New York documentary Rubble Kings, highlighting the true story behind cult classic The Warriors and ‘holiday from hell’ horror Shopping Tour, a George Romero-inspired satire. You can find out more at their website http://sharpteethfilms.com

A little bit about director Mikhail Brashinsky:

"The first popular film critic in Russian cinema to turn to filmmaking, Mr. Brashinsky has made his debut with BLACK ICE (GOLOLED, 2003) which he wrote, directed and edited. It premiered at the Rotterdam Int’l Film Festival, was an Official Selection of the 2003 Berlinale, and received the New Directors Showcase Award at the Seattle Int’l Film Festival. Since then, Mr. Brashinsky has directed ANOMALOUS ZONE (ANOMALNAYA ZONA, 2003), an episode of The Killing Force, a hit TV-series for Russia’s Channel 1, TUNGUS METEORITE (TUNGUSSKYI METEORIT, 2008), a TV-pilot, and BLOOD TYPE (GRUPPA KROVI, 2006) a documentary on Russian Koreans. SHOPPING TOUR (2012), his second feature and his first effort as a producer, has received three major prizes at the Russian National Film Festival ‘Window to Europe’ in Vyborg, 2012 (Critics’ Prize, Best Female Performance, and Grand-Prix) and the Special Jury Prize at the Int’l Film Festival Polar Lights, 2012, St. Petersburg. It also screened at int’l film festivals in Helsinki, Turin, Gothenburg, Sitges, Budapest, Wiesbaden and Nashville.

  

Book Review - Jaws 2: The Making Of The Hollywood Sequel by Louis R.Pisano and Michael A. Smith

My very own copy - all the way from the U S of A

You all know me by now, I know that you probably wish you didn't, but alas you do. Sorry about that. One of the things you will know about me is, to put it mildly,  that I have a general lack of fondness for movie sequels or, even worse, the abomination that goes by the name of 'Franchise'. I know, I know, I may well have  gone on (and on) about the unbending law of sequels and their consistent habit of diminishing returns. For example, one of the many rules that govern any number of seemingly never ending film series appears to be that as the movies continue thorough their mind numbing revisits, all the while the actors involved become steadily less well known and even less able to act, whilst becoming ever more prettier - same for the girls too.

Of course, there are exceptions to the sequel rule which any movie-bore will quickly advise you and me of; The Empire Strikes Back, Godfather 2 and Terminator 2: Judgement Day, amongst others which have well and truly circumvented their predecessors in terms of quality. Fair point. There is though in my world another list of sequel exceptions, namely those that on release may have seemingly eclipsed the original (or at least got very close) but in truth haven't successfully stood the test of time. One prime example in my personal list is that of 'Aliens', regarded by some at the time (myself included)as superior to the original - now I'm not so sure.

Jaws 2 is also on my list of sequels that I once loved, but now I'm not so sure whether I still love it, or merely like it. Readers of this blog (yes there are numerous readers and they get together with their crayons when let out of their padded cells once a month) will know of my obsession with Spielberg's original classic. In fact it forms one of the legendary (at least in my mind it's legendary) '5D Love letter to.....' series contained within this very blog. If you have a few moments before returning to your particular padded cell, you can read it RIGHT HERE. 

The fact is that on its release in the dim and distant year of 1978, I simply loved Jaws 2. It ticked most of the box's of my 12 year old heart; it still had the inimitable lead character, a seemingly even bigger shark, the return of the dastardly mayor and was set again (or so I thought) wholly in its original New England setting. I remember coming out of the cinema with my friends feeling psyched and emotionally exhausted by the exciting finale, and all to a man we agreed it was a worthy successor. If that wasn't enough, it had arguably one of the best ever movie poster tag-lines; "Just when you thought..........etc etc etc.

However, over the years my exalted opinion of the film as waned a little. Yes I still think that the movie has its worth, for example, the final third instalment where the kids then Brody face-off against the shark is genuinely thrilling and Roy Scheider is certainly as tremendous as he ever was in his reprised role. However on reflection over the years on each viewing I've found the film lacking, disjointed and ultimately far less satisfying than its illustrious predecessor. Perhaps the first films greatest asset was the chemistry that came from the stunning ensemble cast of Scheider, Dreyfuss and Shaw. I know that the comparison my be unfair, but this has always meant that the sequel remains a more hollow and unfillfilling experience. I still love it, but not quite as much as I used to

I had often wondered just what had contributed to the uneven quality of a film which at that point was arguably the most famous sequel ever to be produced. I remember watching a 'making of' documentary some years ago when Jaws 2 was released on DVD which provided some insight into the shambolic filming process. However I had read little more about the background to the film. 

So it was with great excitement that I heard some time ago of a plan to produce a book, Jaws 2: The Making of The Hollywood Sequel, which promised to shed more light in to the plethora problems and chaos that engulfed the making of the film. I was even more excited when the authors agreed to my pestering by promising to send my an early copy of the book. The details contained within not only enlightened me on what took place behind the camera, it also suggested what really could have been if things had happened differently during the film's production.

Authors Louis R. Pisano and Michael A. Smith have put together a wealth of interviews with cast and crew as well as 200 rarely seen behind-the-scenes photos taken by the people involved in the making of the film. Louis R. Pisano is the director of the very popular series of “JawsFEST” fan DVDs. Michael A. Smith is the co-founder of MediaMikes.com and is a long-serving officer of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle. In addition there are numerous footnotes and excerpts from the various screenplays and storyboards throughout the book. The one thing I was especially interested to read about was the account of the film's first director, John D. Hancock. Many people are now aware that Hancock, with a only a few minor productions under his directing belt, was initially hired to make a film with a distinctly different feel in terms of tone to the original.

However, almost immediately the filming ran into a plethora of troubles and strife as the studio bosses became increasingly panicked by the standard of daily rushes until eventually being replaced by Jeannot Szwarz. The book provides a nicely in-depth account from Hancock himself about the troubles from his point of view, the general consensus from the book is that he simply couldn't handle how to film the big set pieces. Though the exact details of just why he was sacked is never fully explained, and probably never will be from any source. The constant phrase from the interviews from those that experienced the initial filming experience was "He was fired and I'm not sure why". Even Hancock himself never divulges the actual reason, though he does seem keen to blame just about everyone else involved for the chaos of those early weeks in the life of filming JAWS 2, rather than take any personal blame at all.

What does come across in the early parts of Jaws 2: The Making of The Hollywood Sequel, via the accounts of Hancock et al is the very different film that would have seen the light of day if he had seen the production through. We are given an insight via excerpts from the original screenplay and personal accounts about the dark and bleak tone that the sequel could have had. In this alternate version, Chief Brody was a shade of his former self, haunted by what had happened to him previously. So too was Amity a pale imitation of its former self after the visitation of the first shark, fences were broken, houses were were left un-repaired and boast were un-sailed. The town and it's people had began to disintegrate after the events that had happened some years before. It all could have looked and felt very different to what the studio actually wanted, and got eventually from Szwarz. In all honesty, it could have been great - but we'll never know as very little seems to remain from the original Hancock footage and even less made it into the final cinematic version.

The other interviews with cast and crew are equally in-depth with the relationship between Scheider and some of the crew, particularly Szwarz being examined. The fact that Scheider was virtually 'tricked' into completing the film only as a way of ending his contractual dispute with Universal Pictures certainly didn't help his relationship with the film's director. It is testimony to Scheider's professionalism that he still turned in the level of performance that he did.

For many fans, it will be the behind-the-scenes photo's of the production that will be of interest - and certainly the book doesn't disappoint with its 200 photos. Personally, the collection of original story board art is the most exciting of all the visual excerpts in the book. Excellent stuff.

Yes there are still gaps in the story of the troubled making of this film, but after the wealth of interviews, pictures and insights from this nicely researched book I will admit that it's reignited my love affair with the movie. Jaws 2: The Making of The Hollywood Sequel is a must-have accompaniment to any lover of the Amity shark universe.

To find out more about the book and its authors then visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Jaws2book?fref=ts

You can also find the book via Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Jaws-The-Making-Hollywood-Sequel/dp/1593938373/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

Z Nation pt 2 - Interview with 'Doc', actor Russell Hodgkinson

Believe it or not, I’m a man who is rather prone to making the odd error or two when it comes to certain decisions in my life. For example, I am genuinely one of those deluded individuals who believed that Betamax and not VHS would dominate the video market and so invested in a top of the range model without hesitation, which naturally turned out to be a costly mistake. In addition to that, some years ago I was offered the chance to buy a bucket full of cheap shares in a certain electronics company, but instead I declined. A month later the bloody Ipod was released and my potential shares in Apple went stratospheric. Bugger. If that wasn’t enough I once made the mistake of watching the remake of The Wicker Man……..and I’m still trying to get over that particular catastrophic blunder of decision making.

Earlier this year I almost added to my extensive list of blunders by dismissing Z Nation, after watching the first couple of episodes, as nothing more than cheap and cheerful facsimile of The Walking Dead. How wrong I was........ and for a number of reasons. Yes, Z Nation may have more than a passing resemblance to that certain Zombie Apocalypse show set in Georgia. Yes, there may be one or two characters that share similar attributes of those found with Rick, Daryll et al. Now I love TWD, you all know that. In fact judging by the amount of times that I've watched my favourite ever episode about the escape from Terminus, I think it's safe to say that I probably love TWD more than any grown man should do. However, I would be the first to admit that if the show lacked one particular element, it is humour. Sometimes TWD, for all its brilliance, is quite simply unrelenting in its unforgiving bleak tone. Yes, yes I know that some of you might be wondering just where the hell the humour could be found in an apocalypse. Well funny that you should ask...........

It seems, judging from the comments I’ve seen out there in the Internetland, that one either loves or hates Z Nation. The ones that hate it seem to have (as I almost did) dismissed it as an example of some light and fluffy Syfy channel offering eager to jump on the seemingly never ending Zombie bandwagon. However, those of us who have grown to love the series have recognised it what it truly is: an exciting post-apocalyptic tale that refuses to take itself too seriously. Whether it’s the regular periods of light-hearted humour, the occasional genuinely exciting moments or the fine ensemble cast, the show is simply saying “Hey, just because it’s the apocalypse, it doesn’t mean that we can’t have any fun.”

Plus, the show has Kellita Smith………I firmly believe that it's only a matter of time until a real Zombie apocalypse takes place (well fingers crossed anyway) and I find my natural place as the heroic leader of a surviving band of humans. In the event of my saving humanity there is one thing that will be nigh on number 1 in my 'apocalypse to do list'  - and that is to make well and truly sure that in my group there are at least one or two kick-ass sexy ladies who are handy with swords, machetes etc. I know, I'm shallow and superficial, but I never said that the apocalypse would rid me of those qualities. So Kellita, or the future Mrs 5D. The Fifth Dimension blogger is simply perfect, well, I’ll leave it at that. After all, I have enough restraining orders to deal with at the moment.

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to interview actor, David S. Hogan who had a guest appearance in episode 6 of season 1, the fabulous episode that is 'Resurrection Z'. You can read the interview RIGHT HERE if you are so inclined. Thanks to David I was able to contact one of the core cast members, Russell Hodgkinson who plays arguably one of the most popular characters of the show, the inimitable 'Doc', purveyor of the finest pharmaceuticals that the apocalypse can provide. Russell kindly agreed to not only chat with me about a few things Z related, he also provided me with some most excellent on-set photos.

So just who is this Russell Hodgkinson chap? Well according to IMDB;

Russell was born on Homestead Air Force Base and grew up on Florida's gulf coast. He became a father at age 17, passing up a Theatre Arts Scholarship to join the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division. Peace time provided a unique opportunity as he soon began performing regularly at the esteemed Fort Bragg Playhouse. By the end of his enlistment he had earned his Actor's Equity card and headed for New York City, where he spent the next two liberating years. In 1986 he joined the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Sassafras where he patrolled the Hawaiian Islands performing Federal Aids to Navigation. During off duty hours he studied at the Honolulu Film Actor's Workshop and was soon transferred to Long Beach, California where he met his wife, actress Shelley Poncy. In 1992 they moved to Louisiana, where the couple became fixtures on the New Orleans stage. They relocated to Seattle in 2003, luckily missing Hurricane Katrina. Russell resumed his theatre career and soon became a familiar face in the Independent film scene. In 2014 he landed the role of 'Doc' on the SyFy original series 'Z Nation'.

So once again, the interview bit...........

Q) In the 'meticulous' research that I've done on you I see that you have a personal history that's far from your typical actor. So how did you fall into an acting career?

A)  One day after school (7th grade), I was waiting for my friend Tammy, who was auditioning for 'The Wizard of Oz'. The drama teacher saw me sitting in the hall and asked if I wouldn’t mind reading the Scarecrow’s role because there weren’t enough boys. I auditioned, made the teacher laugh and she offered me the role. I was hooked. 

Q) Were you a fan of Zombies or the horror genre in general before landing the part of Doc in Z Nation?

A) I was never a fan of the horror genre, although I did love ‘Carrie' and ‘Poltergeist', but typically not my thing. I have grown fond of the zombies though...and I'm on a first name basis with some of them now!

Q) How did you get the part?

A) I had a horrible first audition. I went home and tried to forgot about it. I figured they would probably cast an LA actor anyway.  A week or so later I was asked to submit a self-taped audition, which I did...on my iPhone. It was way better.  I thought, wow, I’m perfect for this. When I was offered the role, I knew my life was about to change. I cried a little bit. I still have the audition on my phone. I’ll never delete it.

Q) For those unfortunates who are unfamiliar with the show, explain who your character is and what you like about him.

A) I play Steven ‘Doc' Beck, a self professed "amateur pharmacologist” He is a former counselor in a drug rehab center who has been in recovery for about eight years. It's no surprise that the stresses of the apocalypse have caused several much deserved relapses. He is called ‘Doc' because of the knowledge he has gained watching re-runs of ER. A trusted member of the team and a pacifist by nature, he has no problem unleashing his inner ‘bad-ass' when necessary. I enjoy his kindness, sense of humor and optimism.

Q) I'll admit that at first I made the error of unfavourably comparing Z Nation to The Walking Dead, until I 'got' what you guys are trying to do. Does the comparison to TWD annoy you?

A) When you consider that one episode of 'The Walking Dead' costs about 3.4 MILLION dollars and ours costs roughly $700.000 an episode, then comparing the shows seems absurd….Our show is also light-hearted and fun with a clear cut mission. I'll refrain from comparing actor salaries, It may send me into a deep depression.

Q) We're just coming to the end of season 1 here in the UK & it's clear to see how the group are beginning to bond on screen. How has it been for you to experience that growing process as an actor of an ensemble piece?

A) I have been a stage actor for over 30 years, so I understand the importance of ensemble work. TV is no different in that regard. I love being part of this show. We have found our sweet spot with each other (crew included) When we lose a member of the team it hurts. We are a family.

Q) So time to spill the beans. Who in the cast is the joker, who's the giggler, the one who forgets their lines etc etc?

A) We all wear our characters pretty close to the bone. What you see is pretty much what you get. We all have our moments, but I think we feel incredibly supported and loved…at least I do.

Kellita in charge - damn right

Q) What nuggets of clues can you give us about what happens in season 2 & beyond?

A) It’s definitely a wild ride from start to finish. Not only are the stakes higher, but the characters are too, thanks to Z-Weed!!!!, (marijuana grown using dead zombies as compost). We are also introducing many new ‘types' of zombies as well as some wonderful guest stars and a new member of the team.

Q) Erm, Kellita Smith...... You can give me her number, right??!!

A) Kellita has made it known that she is looking for a "sugar daddy", but there are height requirements that must be met.  How tall are you?

Q) If you had a choice, which director would you want to work for?

A) They’ve all be great, but I have a particular fondness for John Hyams. We have worked with him the most. He also gets extra points for being a great daddy. I love to hear him talk about his kids.

Q) What are the future plans for Russell Hodgkinson?

A) Future plans include a trip to the dump, a garage sale, completion of my basement remodel, and then finding a foreign exchange student to move in and help with all my technological challenges

I have mixed feelings about this interview. On the one hand I would like to thank Russell for giving up his time and providing me with a wonderfully entertaining insight together with photos of his Z Nation experience. On the other hand, being just 5'10" tall means that I apparently have bugger all chance of making Kellita Smith fall for my undoubted charms. Oh well.

Russell Hodgkinson's IMDB page can be found at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1428690/

You can follow Russell on Twitter via his handle of @hodgmahal

This article can also be found via the 5D website www.5d-blog.com. There you can find a veritable feast of blog articles, news items, pictures and and other mouth-watering salutations to the gods of the geeks and the nerds. We have now inherited the earth, you know.

There is also a newly launched forum on the website designed for ANYONE involved or interested in the Independent film industry related to genres of Sci-Fi, fantasy and horror. Feel free to register and contribute - Everyone is welcome!

In addition the 5D website now has PayPal Donate button. Any donations kindly made will be fed directly back to help with a podcast materials, competition prizes and other general costs etc. If you wish to contribute to the exciting growth of the website & blog then we here at 5D headquarters would be eternally grateful. If you would like your contribution to be acknowledged publicly then simply send a message via the website’s contact section and we’ll send you some love!

If all that was enough to entice to 5D land, should any of you fine people out there wish to advertise on the 5D website then have a look at the offer below.

 

Z Nation part 1 - Interview with actor, David S. Hogan.

You may have noticed that once in a while a TV programme becomes something of an obsession for me. I know, no shit Sherlock I hear you say. Sometimes it runs right up to me and then metaphorically slaps me around the face with a large slippery wet fish, sometimes it takes a little longer for the show to work whatever magic it may contain. In the case of the subject of this blog article it is a case of the latter, as slowly but surely a certain television show has been shuffling and shambling its way into into this here bloggers obsessed little mind. 

I'll be writing more about the mad as a box of frogs show that is Z Nation in a number of future articles so I'm not going to go into to much detailed musings on the various delights of the Zombie apocalypse show at this point. In fact there are one or two VERY exciting developments coming up concerning the 5D blog and the show itself, one of which is given away later on in this very piece........and if you think that's just a cunning plan to make you read the rest of this article, then like most people who know me you've seen through my not so clever facade.

For those who may not have seen it.......Z Nation is a horror/comedy that begins three years into a virus-caused Zombie Apocalypse which has already killed most humans. A group must transport Murphy, the only known survivor of a zombie bite who did not himself turn into a zombie, from New York to the world's last known functioning research lab in California. Murphy had been the unwilling subject of a government test vaccine in the days just before society fell apart, and his blood contains antibodies that are mankind's last and best hope for a vaccine. However, Murphy harbors a dark secret that threatens them all. (Wikepedia).

Now, the situation is that here in the UK we are currently meandering our way through season 1 whilst season 2 I believe is well and truly up and running across the pond so as usual we are a little way behind the States..... no change there then. So a few weeks ago I was sitting down with a much deserved glass of red wine to watch the sixth episode of Z Nation, Resurrection Z. It was all looking rather good, when who should pop up but a guest actor who is something of an old friend of 5D. The Fifth Dimension, David S. Hogan. Well, I say he's a friend, he may indeed say otherwise, but we follow each other on Twitter and get this, we've even communicated with each other. In fact his lovely wife and also follow each other........but David, mate that's been in an entirely professional manner, I promise! So in my delusional mind, David & I are actually BFF's - no matter what he tries to say.

Well, somebody's too damn good looking 

for their own good....

David's work first came to my attention last year when I was asked to watch and review a new Scifi shocker 'The Device' from Seattle based production company, The October People (yes, more friends of 5D). It's an excellent slice of Alien infiltration and abduction filmmaking (for which you see the article RIGHT HERE, and in it David plays Calvin who lets just say succumbs to all manner of Alien possession. It's good stuff. Anyhoo, "there's my buddy right there on screen in one of my favourite shows' I thought. You won't be surprised to hear that my next immediate thought was to see what could be in it for me, I mean, ahem, for my blog. So after intense negotiations between David and myself (in other words, I begged, he gave in and said yes) he generously gave me an interview.

David S. Hogan is an actor and producer known for Z Nation (2014), The Device (2014), and Grimm (2011). He was raised in Seattle, Washington by James and Susan Hogan. He holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Seattle University, where he also studied music, psychology, and drama. After graduation, he hit the boards, working often with Seattle Shakespeare Company, where he played roles like Puck, Caliban, Antony, and King Henry. He is a three time winner of the Seattle Times Footlight Award for Stellar Acting. He also plays an important role in the Seattle independent film scene, where he teaches acting for the camera and promotes the northwest film and television industry. (IMDB)

THE INTERVIEW BIT....


Q) To begin with I'll start with the inevitable 'How did you get into acting' question. So........how did you get into acting?

A) I was in college when I auditioned for my first show. It was a musical, The Threepenny Opera. I remember peeking into the audition room and watching actors perform and sing, and it absolutely terrified me. I ducked quietly away, only to slink back to the director next day and plead for another shot. I went to the callback audition, and was eventually offered the role of Street Singer. I got to close the show singing “Mack the Knife.” It was pretty special, and I was hooked.

Q) Before I ask you about Z Nation I want to talk about a film that I reviewed last year, a marvellous Scifi shocker called The Device. I think it's safe to say that your character 'loses it just a little' - What was that filming experience like?

A) Yeah, it’s very safe to say that Calvin loses it, but he is going through the ringer a bit, isn’t he? There are literally alien voices in his head. Which are real. I had to make it real for me, and what Calvin experienced is obsession, extreme paranoia and delusional thinking. So I employed my imagination and used that magical “as if” to put myself into right his shoes.

Q) So tell me how easy/nice/difficult/terrible it really was working opposite your real life wife, Angela DiMarco?

A) I absolutely LOVE working opposite my wife, Angela DiMarco. As partners in life and business (producing and teaching), we work together often, and it’s something I always look forward to. Not only is she a great actor, she is a hard worker and is really fun to be around on set!

Q) Do you have plans to work with John Portonova & the rest of The October People company again?

A) The October People are fantastic filmmakers, and I would leap at the chance to work with them again. Gents, if you are reading this…Hint Hint!

Q) How did you land the role of Brother Eli In the Resurrection Z episode?

Just your normal day with a few Zombies...

A) Landing the Brother Eli role on Z Nation came from the good old fashioned actor audition grind. The first read (video submission) was for the Patrick role (the character that slits his own throat in order to turn into a Z), and I was called back for the Brother Jacob role, which ended up going to my buddy Brian Sutherland. It was a great process, and I was thrilled to do the work - from the first read to my time on the set.

Q) How easy / difficult etc it really was it to fit into an ensemble cast that had probably by his point began to knit together pretty well?

A) Resurrection Z was the sixth episode of Season 1, so the cast and crew had gelled and were working very efficiently. The director, John Hyams, was very easy to work with, and great at his job, so my time on set was delightful. My character, Brother Eli was a member of a Zombie worshipping cult, so I had some co-horts (Brian Sutherland, Julian Gavilanes, and Julia Keefe) and we banded together to form a soft of “Z Family” while we were together. My friend Russell Hodgkinson is a series lead, “Doc,” so it was great to be on set with him, too. Other highlights were working with Kellita Smith and getting plugged in the head with a sniper bullet from Nat Zang. 

Q) The episode is perhaps my favourite of season 1. Do you watch your own work at all and have you seen it?

A) Yes, I have seen the episode and I do watch my own work. I usually see stuff that I wish I could have done better, but to me it’s all about learning, growing, doing my best, and moving forward.

David hobnobbing with Russell Hodgkinson (Doc)

Q) The popularity of Z Nation and the rest of the various Zombie Apocalypse TV shows & movies still seem to have little sign of slowing. Why do you think we are still so fascinated with Zombies & the like?

A) I think Zombie shows allow creatives to explore extreme gore, violence, and humor in a very exciting way. And the genre also gives the audience room to grapple with realism (the world of the characters and their challenges) and escape into fantasy (the undead come to life). 

Q) I've been fortunate to land an interview with actor Keith Allan (Murphy) form Z Nation, is there anything you'd like me to ask or say to him?

A) My question for Keith Allan: “How do you blow off steam or relax when you are off the Z Nation set?”

Q) What upcoming things are there planned for David S. Hogan?

A) I just came of an audition with Seattle Shakespeare Company (performing Shakespeare is one of my passions), and our first feature film as producers (Mighty Tripod Productions), Paralytic, is currently in post-production. I also have two web shows to plug - The Mighty Minute on the Mighty Tripod Productions YouTube channel and the David S. Hogan Show on my YouTube Channel. Thanks again for the interview!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank David for taking time out from what I know to be a very busy schedule in order to answer my questions. Thanks mate too for the photos that you sent me from the Z Nation set!

David's IMDB page can be found at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1592117/?ref_=tt_cl_t12

You can follow David on Twitter via @SeattleActorDSH