You mightn’t know his name, if only because he’s let others take the credit for some of the big scripts he’s written over the past decade.
In 2014, “ghost-writer” Blu de Golyer gets his dues though – it’s his name above and below the titles he helped create.
The Virginian (hey! that’d be a good name for a movie!) is currently promoting two new ventures, a fun new webseries called The Hillbilly Horrror Show and a fun -style horror called House of Good and Evil, out in April.
It’s an exciting month for you; you have a new TV show about to hit the air, and a new movie coming out. Is this the high point of your career so far?
Firstly, thank you for taking the time to interview me. Yes, it has been quite the experience. I’ve been in the industry, specifically a screenwriter and ghostwriter for some big name writers for nearly twelve years, but I have to say the last 2 years have been the most rewarding with projects I had the pleasure of having more active roles in.
There’s obviously an interest in horror there. Where does that stem from?
Ironically, I wouldn’t consider myself a hardcore horror fan, although my favorite “Horror films are from the 1970’s and before. The Shining and the original Amityville Horror are prime examples of the human condition going apeshit and that to me is more frightening than a masked killer ripping some chick’s guts out. I feel “Horror” films of today focus more on the shock and gore and less on the story. Alfred Hitchcock, who my grandparents knew very well, was filmmaker I could easily say, I’ve admired and the way he told a story, with the disturbing characters always stuck with me. Funny thing is, Tippi Hedren was actually attached to play Mrs. Anderson for several years and only dropped out three days before she was to be on set, due to a health issue. Fortunately, Marietta Marich (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) stepped in and rocked it, with only 3 days notice. Essentially, horror is how it’s played and it’s subjective. We took an old school story-line, with old school acting and applied it into a modern dark thriller.
What film were you influenced by on House of Good and Evil? it looks a little like Amityville Horror.
Yes, we get that response from time to time. Our film is NOT a haunted house story, but more of a haunted human story. You have a young woman coping with several tragedies, including a miscarriage caused by her abusive husband and that’s just in the first two minutes of the film. People grieve in different ways and Rachel Marie Lewis (Maggie) performed this grief in such a believable way. You find yourself feeling her pain.
How long has the journey from script to screen been for for the movie?
Wow, I wrote the script ten years ago, so a decade of struggling to get it made. It went through over twenty rewrites and four directors. The lesson for ANY filmmaker, is do NOT quit…. EVER! It WILL happen, if you don’t quit and it WON’T happen if you throw in the towel and believe me, there were times I contemplated the latter.
The writer of a project generally clashes with the film’s director; how was your experience?
That’s another long conversation, but as I said there have been several director’s attached, including Clint Howard, yes that Clint Howard. The one guy who kept a shot list in his back pocket for a good portion of that decade struggle was David Mun. He is a great cinematographer, having worked and continuing to work on major studio films, but always having the indie spirit. Like any relationship worth having, whether it be a lover, friend or business partner, it takes timing and in those ten years we both grew in our fields and matured. The time was right and the partnership was right. We made a pact, that only what’s on the page gets shot, so we collaborated very closely, but ultimately I had to trust his decisions as the director and it worked.
It’d be remiss of us to ask about “The Hillbilly Horror Show”. The title alone has us curious!
First and foremost I am an indie filmmaker. I always will be and there are so many talented indie filmmakers out there who struggle for the opportunity to make a feature film. Part of that is making a short film to garner attention to be able to get the funding for that feature. I figured, let’s give these filmmakers a chance to showcase their work, while profit sharing from that work. I gathered the same team from House Of Good And Evil and partnered up with veteran actor and producer Bo Keister to put together something fun. I think we pulled it off with Hillbilly Horror Show. The one hour show features top notch and award winning horror shorts from up and coming filmmakers. Each episode is hosted by three lovable, beer guzzling and funny hillbillies, Bo, Cephus and their “Smo-Kin” kissing cousin Lulu, played by international model Rachel Faulkner. Picture a baby with Hee Haw and Tales From The Crypt as parents. That’s our show. We launch March 1st and fans can check us out at either or the show’s website www.hillbillyhorrorshow.com Thank you so very much for having me chat with you. Keep up the great work supporting indie film.
One Comment »