What was the inspiration for your film? How did you come up with this idea?
I love anthology movies (like “Creepshow” or “KFC Movie”), but I wanted to make an anthology where all the stories flowed into each other. Kind of like a Russian Doll.
Tell us about yourself. What is your background? How long have you been a filmmaker?
I’ve been a full-time illustrator for 13 years and I’ve been making films since 2017.
What inspires you to work in genre films and tell these kinds of stories?
I love avant-garde and experimental cinema, and genre cinema goes hand in hand with experimental cinema (at least in my book).
What was your favorite part of the filmmaking process on this project?
Pre-production. I loved all the concept art and preparation. There was a lot of dreaming during pre-production.
What are you most proud of about this film?
edit. My editor did a huge job putting this stuff together and it was glorious.
What’s your favorite story or moment from the making of the film that you’d like to share?
One day we had a wardrobe malfunction. My heroine, Carly Russell, couldn’t put on her space captain costume because you could see through the shirt. So my producer (Katie Weiss Porter) had the bright idea to grab some paper plates and use them as bras for Carly to wear. It looks great on screen and is hilarious.
What was the most challenging moment or experience you had while making the film?
We had a big shooting day and we had to change the shooting date and have to reschedule 30 people. It was a nightmare.
If so, how did your film change or differ from the original concept during pre-production, production, and/or post-production? How does this impact the way you approach future projects?
There was a lot of improvisation in the editing room. We basically shot a lot of BTS footage and inserted it into the movie in post-production. This created a lot of creative confusion during the editing process. It just makes me want to improvise more on future projects.
Who are your collaborators and actors in this film? How did you start working together?
Actress Carly Russell: I have worked with her before in “Sister Storm”. Director of photography Daniel Waghorne, editor Joseph Estrade, composer Jason Kruppa: working together on every project. I do believe in creating a troupe of cast and crew to work on multiple projects together. Together you build workflows that can only occur across multiple projects.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received as a filmmaker?
Advertising is about making money. Making movies is about creating art.
What are your plans for your career? What stories would you like to tell in the future?
I hope this film will draw attention to my work. I wanted to disrupt normal narrative structures and create new and different ways to tell stories.
What’s your next project?
There’s a lot going on under my hat. But I won’t make money unless I find investors. So are there any investors? I’m here! There are many stories!
Where can we find more of your work? Do you have a website or YouTube/Vimeo channel? Social media handle?
joebadon.com https://www.youtube.com/@JoeBadon https://www.facebook.com/joebadon https://www.instagram.com/joebadonart/
Bonus Question #1: What is your favorite movie?
True Story (David Byrne)
Bonus Question #2: Which film inspired you the most as a filmmaker and/or influenced your work the most?
The Essex capsule inspired me the most. The Holy Mountain has the greatest impact on me.
