This week’s FilmQuest short is a horror-comedy parody movie trailer called fucking ghostIt tells the story of a family who buys a new home but is haunted by a hungry ghost.
This movie comes from the writer and director Jason Cook I’ve also included an interview with him, which you can read below.
This short is shared in partnership with FilmQuest Film Festival, where we hope to shine a light on some of the radical independent genre films and shorts filmmakers are creating.
Please tell us, without spoiling anything, what your film is about, its characters, and its themes. Is it a proof of concept, or a standalone story?
Ghosts of the Damned is a parody horror movie trailer about a family who buys a new home that’s haunted by hungry ghosts.
What was the inspiration for your film? How did you come up with this idea?
I’m thinking about a really scary ghost movie like Paranormal Activity and thinking about lowering the stakes a lot. What would happen if a ghost was really horny? What would that look like? I started looking for some answers.
Tell us about yourself. What is your background? How long have you been a filmmaker?
I am an experienced commercial director and creative director in the advertising field. My love for comedy and filmmaking led me to work with a comedy group called Superfunny, for whom this film was made.
What inspires you to work in genre films and tell these kinds of stories?
I thought the idea of a super broad comedic take on horror movie tropes would be really fun.
What was your favorite part of the filmmaking process on this project?
cooperate! All the improv we do is fun. The shouting broke off and the room erupted in laughter.
What are you most proud of about this film?
I love that this silly (but fun) idea resonates with so many people. And just trusting my gut has been very effective.
What’s your favorite story or moment from the making of the film that you’d like to share?
I was on set voicing actor cues and ended up doing ADR for the film.
What was the most challenging moment or experience you had while making the film?
Working with a small team has its challenges, but they work wonders. We had a great time and delivered on our promise.
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?
Editing the film myself was a big learning curve. It was changed numerous times in the edit and I definitely lost some of the amazing and hilarious scenes because they messed up the pacing.
Who are your collaborators and actors in this film? How did you start working together?
Ben Morrison, Natalie Lynch, Piotr Michael. Ben is a long-time collaborator of mine. Piotr, Ben and I made a film together called Stuck in Jeff , about a stand-up comedian who gets stuck in his Jeff Goldblum impression. Natalie came on board at the last minute and was very professional. She is the best!
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received as a filmmaker?
Trust your instincts and trust the process.
What are your plans for your career? What stories would you like to tell in the future?
I’m writing a feature-length version of Ghost and developing a few other things.
Where can we find more of your work? Do you have a website or YouTube/Vimeo channel? Social media handle?
Cookerama.com
Bonus Question #1: What is your favorite movie?
Just from a viewing standpoint, this has to be Point Break.
Bonus Question #2: Which film inspired you the most as a filmmaker and/or influenced your work the most?
2001 was a surreal experience for me. I remember being in awe of the production design and cinematography, the way the film was crafted and edited was so inspiring. It was the first time I noticed these things in my youth and the first time I aspired to be a storyteller in my own right.
Check out the short clip and trailer below. If you can’t view the clip in the player below, click here.
