Recently, I got a chance to meet Zach Fox, the director of the comedy-horror short "Homer". Check out his film and then give his interview a read.
MT: When did you first start creating films?
ZF: I first started making films when I was in high school. I went to the Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven and during my freshman year I took a video class and instantly fell in love with video. I started out doing lots of short experimental films. I took as many video classes as I could during high school before moving on to the film program at the School of Visual Arts. That's when I really started to do narrative films.
MT: What do you want audiences to take away from your work?
ZF: With Homer, I wanted to show that we should all try to treat people with respect. So I'm showing what happens when you don't do that. You've got Bob and Al treating Homer really badly and then they face the consequences of their actions. Things don't turn out too well for them. It's not what happens in real life but it's more of a fantasy of revenge. So I want people to take away the idea that bullying has consequences. I like the idea that art can be therapy for the world. I don't know if I achieved that with Homer but I'm always trying to go deeper with my work.
MT: Do you have any major influences? Who are some of your favorite directors?
ZF: My biggest influences would have to be Stanley Kubrick and John Carpenter. My two favorite films being The Thing and The Shining. I can watch those movies over and over again. The Thing still has some of the best practical effects I have ever seen and apart from having no women in the movie it's basically perfect. The Shining is all about the psychological side of horror. I feel like these 2 films were crucial in my horror education. As for my favorite directors, I love Alejandro Jodorowsky, David Lynch, Nicolas Winding Refn, Akira Kurosawa and David Cronenberg. I could name a lot more but those are my top 5.
MT: Have you ever gotten in front of the camera yourself? Would you?
ZF: I've gotten in front of the camera a few times. The last time was in 2013 for an upcoming film my friend Neil Meschino is working on called Maggots. I would love to do it again but I'm not for acting and directing at the same time.
MT: What would you say is the most difficult part of making a film?
ZF: I'd say the most difficult part of making a film is making that first day of shooting happen. Getting everything ready on time for that first day takes a lot of work and there are a lot of times where it seems impossible but once you're on set and get to see the fruition of all the pre-production work you've been doing for months; there's no better feeling.
MT: What words of advice do you have for aspiring filmmakers?
ZF: You have to be determined, like you want to start a fire but all of your wood is soaking wet. It seems impossible but that doesn't slow you down. If you have that determination, nothing will stand in your way.