Fantastic duos in the history has existed from long times in real or fiction worlds, Batman and Robin, Shaq and Kobe or even Super Mario and Luigi, right? Complements that coexists and the result is a balance of powers that converts their actions in almost ideal things. Well, this is what happens when Devon Downs and Kenny Gage decide to make a new film, this complementary duo one from California and the other from Chicago since they met decided to shoot their movies together and compiles their ideas in one, you know the said:you know as the expression says "two heads think better than one". From ANARCHY PARLOR to their recent film CYNTHIA both has shown a determined form to tell stories and a characteristic cinematic look, always getting the best from their resources.
I had the chance, big chance to talk with both of they (Before they get more famous and became more difficult talk to them haha) and they told me their thoughts, what they did to create ANARCHY PARLOR and CYNTHIA and advice to new filmmakers.
EFF: Ok, first off, is really a pleasure you've let me interview you. I always begin with a simple, where are you from?
DD: California born and raised. Los Angeles, Pacific Grove, Santa Barbara,
KG: Thank you it’s our pleasure. I’m from Chicago.
EFF: When and how it was that moment in your life that made you say: "Films will be my life"?
DD: I've always been a storyteller. I realized pretty early on, Film is the best possible medium to tell a story. So I started in Pacific Grove High School media class. From there started a long journey getting my stories to the screen...still going to this day.
KG: To make a long story short my interest started when I was a 10 years old and got my hands on my father’s Canon Zoom 518, messing around shooting crazy little films with friends, then in High School, watching old films. Subconsciously all the way back then, filmmaking is what I truly wanted to do and really never stopped.
EFF: Your directorial debut was with "Anarchy Parlor" which also you two written in 2015, how was directing that movie? How was all the process and how the idea came to both of you?
DD: The experience was amazing. We shot Anarchy Parlor in Vilnius Lithuania in 2013 and got to live out there for a couple months. Really great cast and crew and made friends for life. I'll let Kenny go into the skin, but for me I'm a tattoo enthusiast and have spent a lot of time in tattoo parlors getting tattooed, hanging out with artists and friends. The central idea for me was how vulnerable and trusting you are when you are getting tattooed...
KG: adding to what Devon had just mentioned, the skin Idea believe it or not came from a few interesting true stories in history where certain individuals would use the skin of their enemies for various purposes such as binding books etc..
EFF: Why after shot your first movie on horror genre you commenced to shoot the following movies on thriller genre? Why that change? I mean it's not so dramatic but still a change it is.
DD: So I think in this business it's really easy to get pigeonholed into one particular genre. People tend to want to label you one thing or another. For me it's about elevating the story, look, and feel of the picture no matter the genre. So nothing has fundamentally changed, it's more about the opportunities and stories that are presented to us, but nothing beats a great horror movie and if you have one financed give us a call!
EFF: You two guys have a remarkable directing duo, where hatched that duo? And how you two relate each other in the moment to coordinate ideas?
DD: We've been great friends for years and started out as writing partners. Directing evolved out of the writing and producing side. To make a great team you have to have trust. There's litterally no one I trust more than Kenny, we're just starting prep for our 8th feature together.
KG: Same goes for me, we work as one as a directing team, we both believe in a lot of preparation regardless the budget and have the mind set to shoot every movie to land in theaters.
Downs and Gage
EFF: Speaking of your last movie "Cynthia", how was the path to create it, how did you reach the budget?
DD: All movies have a very unique path to creation. In the case of Cynthia Robert Rhine had seen Anarchy Parlor and liked it and was coincidentally looking for Director/Producer for a script he had written. We took a look at it and thought it was a fucking crazy project that was going to be a blast so we signed on as Directors and Producers.
EFF: How long it took all the creation process of "Cynthia"?
DD: Start to finish roughly a year, development thru post.
KG: Pre-production included our friend Mario Torres Jr’s (Sculptor - Shape of Water) build of the Cynthia puppet, little creature in the dream sequence etc.…
EFF: Speaking of actors, the movie has a fantastic casting, for example Robert Lasardo who acts with you again, Taylor Compton, James Karen, etc. First, how the actors got involved and how it was the relation with these actors.
KG: Devon took the words right out of my mouth. Fortunate and honored to have had the opportunity to work with such talent.
EFF: Why people should go or buy "Cynthia"?
DD: I think these days, films are either one thing or another - they rarely span two genres. Cynthia is different, it has some laugh out loud moments and some real scares. Its a lot of fun.
Cynthia stills
EFF: Since when was “CYNTHIA” out in sale ?
KG: Select theaters August 31 and VOD September 18.
EFF: What particular scene in the movie you consider it was a challenge to shoot it?
KG: There wasn’t a scene in particular that was challenging to shoot, we had 2 versions of the creature designed, one was a functioning puppet that was handled by 3 puppeteers and a version we called the stunt creature. Keeping that puppet intact was probably the most challenging. Lol
EFF: What were those setbacks, problems you had to beat out to keep going on with the project or maybe any issue during the shooting that forced you to change something you expected do it in another way?
DD: That's kind of every movie. You're always going to be making adjustments. As a director you might think something will look a certain way but then when you see it you have to have the flexibility to see it's not playing. The biggest advice is you have to be able to adapt your vision while in progress.
KG: Preparation is key, as well we always shot list the film well before the first day of Principal photography.
EFF: Are you a horror fan? What horror movies you like the most?
DD: Yes. Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Omen, Friday the 13th part 2 just love the sack on Jason’s head, Frontiers, The Thing, Alien.
KG: Without question. I would also add to the great horror films Devon mentioned, Nosferatu, Halloween, The Shining and big fans of foreign horror such as Sheitan (Vincent Cassel version), Inside, to mention a few.
EFF: What directors has inspired you on your directing style?
DD: Some of my favorite directors are: John Carpenter, Craig Brewer, Fede Alvarez, George Miller and Nicholas Winding Refn.
KG: Agree with Devon’s choices, growing up I was heavily inspired by the master of telling a story in film Alfred Hitchcock, as well Stanley Kubrick and Brian De Palma were great influences.
Kenny Gage and Devon Downs
EFF: What is your directing style, what kind of cameras movements you like to use more or angles?
DD: We definitely prefer movement but the shots always depend on the specific scene and the story we're trying to tell.
EFF: What camera (model), equipment did you use in”CYNTHIA" and why?
KG: We shot with 2 Canon C300 Mark ii 4K, B Cam with Steady at the ready the entire shoot. To be honest we had other ideas for camera but the Canon’s were our only option at the time of the shoot, we were extremely pleased with the results.
EFF: What advice would you give to newbies filmmakers who are undecided about how to do a film?
DD: The great actor Sid Haig who quoted Winston Churchill "Never quit."
KG: Don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done, the industry is always evolving, and there are so many platforms for content, trust your instincts, get out there a create content!
EFF: If a rookie filmmaker with no experience at all, goes to you and ask you for an advise about a cheapy camera or equipment’s he or she can uses to make his low budget film, what would you recommend him or her?
KG: Depends what the filmmaker’s idea of cheap is, there are a lot of options for 4K cameras under a thousand dollars, as well as 4K drones for cool establishing shots that can be tied into a particular scene to give it scope.
EFF: What remake would you like to shoot and why?
DD: Demons aka Demoni, killer demons let loose in a movie theater set to 80s metal equals classic.
KG: Hmm that’s a good question, I would have to say Friday the 13th Part 1 (1980), staying true to the original just setting in 2018. This was the first horror movie I ever watched as a kid and I was hooked.
EFF: Anything else you want to say?
DD: Check out our website: gagedowns.com for all the latest news on our upcoming projects. Thanks for the opportunity to talk it's been a pleasure.
Kenny Gage and Devon Downs
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