A Hunt For Updates; Interview With HellBlazer

I've managed to grab HellBlazer here for an interview; which, as we all know, is perfect timing, considering that he has an upcoming film, "The Hunt For Nuns", a comedy film that, with its comical trailer, has some built up anticipation surrounding it. Let's see what we can learn.

Casa: Hello everyone, and I hope you all join with me in welcoming HellBlazer, as I was just about to thank him for his time tonight. It has been a slow few weeks, and even though one may not notice much happening, HellBlazer is one of the directors who is still typing away, and I was hoping to find a little more out about that, but first off, how are you doing?

HB: Oh, I’m doing alright Casa. Working on Hunt for Nuns (With a new March release date) and planning some other stuff. How are you doing?

Casa: Well, I'm doing fine, thanks; though I must admit to being curious about something, and that is how "Hunt" is going. Surely everything seems fine, the trailer was well made, though as you type more and more, how do you see the direction of the film heading, is it pleasing you?

HB: Oh, it's coming along nicely. I'm, at a guess, about 75% done (Not saying how many pages it is until it's done hehe) and so far, it's coming along just like I hoped it would, that being a really good MR-based film.

Casa: You seem to have worked hard on this film and, in return, had a nice schedule for writing it, and will undoubtedly have a marvelous release date for it. How was the process of working on its, did you allow yourself to have some freedom and just have fun with it? Was it more of a relaxed period then your previous work? Do you think audience’s will have as much a good time with it as you did?

HB: Yeah, it's much more relaxed writing a total comedy instead of a horror TV show or any of the failed movies before HFN. And since it's a comedy, I don't have to make myself try and make it filled with action, or scares. Just write what I think will be funny, and that's really relaxing, since I seem to be good (or at least I hope I am) at writing jokes. And will people enjoy it as much as I have? I really hope so. Nat and Bat's both complimented me on pieces I've showed them, so I'm hoping everyone who reads it will at least get a chuckle out of it.

Casa: Well, it does sound like you are taking it where you want, which leads to my next question. Have you a future in comedy? Surely you have other projects you will want to work on; do you expect any of them to be in the vein of this? How many of them are movies and how many television shows?

HB: A future? I'm not sure. I'll probably do another comedy at some point, maybe a sequel to HFN. Am I planning what to do after HFN? Of course. No comedies at the moment. A movie based in the Resident Evil universe (The games, not the movie) but it'll be original instead of covering any of the games, since the last time I did that it failed like hell. And I'm thinking of a crossover mini-series at the moment.

Casa: What about this mini-series, have you any news for us at all? With experience writing television, cutting things into episodes, do you feel you have the capacity to make a successful series, spacing out plot turns and such out enough?

HB: Not really, as I’m still unsure as to whether or not I’ll make it. I can tell you that if it’s made it would star Hugh Laurie and Paul McGann. And yeah, I think I could make a successful mini-series, as I think I’d be able to pace the story right to fit the time frame, like with Urban Legend.

Casa: So you are in a stage of more deliberation, then, where you are running through options of what to write? This is good though, as it leads right into my next question; how do you go about picking a project and what inspires you?

HB: Yeah, I guess you could say that. At the moment I don’t want to really start writing anything else so I can finish HFN without getting distracted again. What inspires me? God, just about anything. Music (This is a big thing, it inspires more things from me then anything else), TV shows and movies, books, conversations with friends. You name it, it could probably inspire me at some point.

Casa: And all these forms, do they influence the way you write, do you think. More accurately, what part of your writing is 100 percent original and what is influenced by your likes and mentors?

HB: I like to think my ideas are at least somewhat original. Even when I write something using previously made characters, I try to make the story original without seeming like something that’s already been done using said characters. And to answer the second part, I’ll give an example of a character I recently came up with. I got the basic idea from listening to “An Englishman in New York” by The Flying Pickets, but from there I improved on the idea and his friends and enemies, becoming more and more original from the basic idea of “An Englishman who knows nothing about America moving here”

Casa: Enhancing concepts as you do, are you a director who feels that once you have a character, you have a film? What makes a movie, for you?

HB: No, not at all. A character can’t be the sole selling point of a movie. Without a decent story to keep the character afloat, then it won’t seem complete to me. And what makes a movie? It’s a few things. Interesting characters, a good story, and a good writer. You can have the best story in the world and the most interesting characters anyone will ever see, but if there’s not a good writer behind them to meld them together and make them work with each other, then the movie won’t seem right.

Casa: And out of those things you named off, which of them is emphasized in “Hunt For Nuns”? Does it have uniquely compelling characters, a great story? Or just plain out good writing?

HB: Which is emphasized? I’d like to think the characters stand out the most, not to say the story isn’t good as well. In my opinion at least. And I’ve been told, from bits and pieces I’ve shown others, that it’s good writing, but I’m worried they might be just saying that to make me feel good, so I’m really not the best person to ask about whether or not the writing’s good.

Casa: Is it pulled off as more of a spoof film, or do you stick pretty close to a constant and continuous story? From the trailer, it looked somewhere in between, and that is what I am guessing, but have you any intention of how close it will be to some narrative?

HB: Alright, I’ll be honest with you. The trailer was made when I was still finalizing the story, so I just made it up of jokes I’d thought of for the film, so that’s probably why it appeared “in the middle” for you. It does actually have a consistent story, not really being a spoof. More “g” then “Scary Movie”, though I really don’t want it to be compared to g, as it’s still one of the best MR movies ever. The story might be somewhat cliche’, but I like to think I can make it good regardless.

Casa: So, in short, you plan on appealing to sheer enjoyment without restraints? Also, will you be using clichés as a parody, or avoiding them? And lastly, as it is of similar nature, and wrapping things up, what do you feel about the latest batch of MR comedies, or upcoming ones, even if you have not seen them, judging on the trailers?

HB: Staying away from them, thank you very much. I don’t want people reading it and saying “Oh, look, I saw that before!” every ten pages or so. And MR comedies? There’s only a few recent ones I’ve checked out, mostly just the trailers, and most of them excite me. I’m definitely looking forward to (no homo mr arigato) and 19th Road. Especially 19th Road. I’m not excited for check at all, it just seems....bland. I’ve also read Renegade Justice, which I loved and laughed at so much, and Electric Boogaloo that...well...I’m not really gonna talk about it.

Casa: I agree that clichés, while sometimes used with caution, often lead to a familiarity that makes the film of considerably less originality and value. However, that is going off on another matter, I would like to, though, thank you for your time and finish off with one more question, the one we ask always, what do you see for the future of Mr and At the Movies?

HB: As always, I can only see bigger and better things for it. This is one of the best sites I’ve ever been on, and your show will be a big part of it for a long time. I look forward to the RCA awards this Friday as well, as it’ll promise to be awesomesauce.

Casa: I’m sure they will be; once again, thank you!