Todd Sheets, The Prince of Gore, owns Extreme Entertainment.Which is a production company owned and operated by Sheets. Since it began in 1990, Extreme Entertainment has had one true goal: To entertain the audience. The company was created to basically produce Horror and Sci-Fi movies for the video market and it has done so, and continued to grow and prosper. There are a few simple rules with Extreme Entertainment: To treat all people with integrity, honesty and honor… to always complete a film on time and under budget… to NEVER bore an audience but to ALWAYS entertain them above all else… to ALWAYS give 100% for each and every production. And although EVERY film company has a few misfires in their catalogue, for the most part, Extreme Entertainment has been successful in following and staying true to these rules. These are genre films made BY the fans, FOR the fans. Hard work, dedication and commitment – along with buckets of sweat (and blood) and lots of heart and soul have been poured into each production and this trend continues to this day.
http://www.zombiebloodbath.com/
http://www.facebook.com/jackaloperadio
http://www.jackaloperadio.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nightwatch-Radio/209397972457267
http://www.nightwatchradio.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/jedisuperstar
1. Having come from the golden age of the video market, and mom and pop video stores, do you think it's easier for a filmmaker now to self distribute using the internet through sites like Amazon and the aid of social media websites such as Facebook for promotion?
I think it's actually harder in some ways. SO many camcorder Coppollas send out thousands of DVDs a week, that getting distributors to even look at your work is tougher than ever. The web helps in a small way, but if I had not already had my films distributed and had my foot in the door and made a name for myself in foreign markets, I would be in trouble. As far as online distribution, I am not convinced that watching a film on a laptop, a PC or a phone is any good. Sure, some people seem to be OK with it, but I'm not. I need quality. (laughs)
As far as Facebook, it is a good tool but also a pain in the butt because suddenly everyone has become so self-centered and their egos have inflated to epic proportions. We get people tweeting and Facebooking about everything they do, from stubbing a toe to clipping a nose hair. But it is also awesome because we can meet awesome new people, connect with old friends again and have reunions and really promote and connect with your work. It has made putting projects together easier and it has really made communication easier. Like everything, if we use it for good and not evil, not abusing it, it's a great thing! (laughs)
2. Also, do you think with the transition to digital film making over the past few years that it has opened the door to aspiring filmmakers? Or made it too easy for anyone to get into film making?
A bit of both. I was shunned for years for using high-end video and film-looking it, and I was one of the first to use digital... On the plus side, technology is finally here to help us achieve our dreams. It is an amazing tool to try new things and it has given amazingly talented people the ability to get films made that I have loved. So many talented people don't have the financial backing to make a huge production, but the newer technology has given them the ability to get their movies made. At the same time, I am VERY tired of the whole "reality" digital movie thing. Everyone who can grab a camcorder is suddenly making a "movie" with people walking around trying to make the next Blair Witch when the original Blair Witch was a mess of nonsense. I hated it. And I have liked some of them, like REC and REC2 but enough with the walking around with a camcorder crap. Shaking a camera like a damned twitching freak IS NOT STYLE.
I learned the hard way, getting trashed for shooting on video and for allowing my early crappy work to get distribution... I learned how to make movies by making these mistakes in public... not a fun thing to do. Being told I "should be shot before being allowed to hold a camera" sucks. But I did learn. I bought every book on film, on directing, on producing, I did internships on big budget films and I got better. I started to win awards at film festivals around the world. And no, I am not bragging, I am not a fan of ego and it can make you a monster quickly, but I am making a point... If I had it to all do over again, I would not have allowed that early stuff to get distribution, I would have hid it away like all the other directors do. I would also have done more reading BEFORE I started. So, please, read some books and make TONS of short movies or even small videos and learn what to do and not to do before you release your first movie. Before you send the thing to every distributor in the country. I was told just last week that most DVDs coming in get thrown in a box and they may get watched or they may not, but probably not. No one has the time anymore. Too many grainy, unwatchable "reality" epics have made the buyers pretty tired.
3. What inspired you to dive into film originally? And were there any specific filmmakers or films that helped to aid you creatively?
I made my first Super 8 movies simply because I truly loved movies. I always have. I wanted to make movies. It was my dream. As a kid, sitting in that dark theater, these amazing directors would take me away for 90 minutes, make me forget any troubles for the week, and transports me to awesome places.... it was the best. And I kind of wanted to contribute to that, in the hopes that maybe my movie may one day do the same for someone.
As for influences, I was raised in the Drive In Theater and the local trashy multiplex "Grindhouse" style theater, so I loved everything from Lucio Fulci to Russ Meyer. I truly loved Fulci. Finally got to meet him and it was a highlight. I was inspired by Universal Horror, HG Lewis, Argento and pretty much ALL Italian genre films... Roger Corman, Fred Olen Ray, Ji, Wynorski and the man who gave me my actual start David DeCoteau - it was mind-blowing to have an idol distribute your work. That is why I allowed that early crap to get released - Dave was just awesome. I had some guidance from JR Bookwalter as well. The guy has agreat heart and taught me a bunch. It was tough love sometimes too. (laughs) JR would kick me down, but still teach me how to brush off and get up stronger.
4. You are truly a multi-talented man. You've played director, producer, writer, actor, cinematographer, musician, and in the past few years radio personality with Jackalope Radio. How did Jackalope and your paranormal show Nightwatch (the Largest independent Paranormal Radio show in the world) come about?
I was basically asked to be a part of a small local radio station, I was well known in the area fro making Horror films and they called me the "Horror Guy" around town forever. SO I turned it down about 5 times, then Art Bell, who I consider one of the greatest radio hosts of all time, told me to GO FOR IT. SO I finally decided to give it a shot. The show took off that first few months and it started getting syndicated - now it's on over 400 stations worldwide, number one overnights in Australia (Sydney and Melbourne) and it's even on the BBC. I'm in shock! I am so damned thankful that people like the show and that other stations took it. I think it was perfect timing. A rt was pretty much retired, George Noory was still doing Coast to Coast and I love George, but he didn't do the crazy things that Art did - and Nightwatch hit before the popularity of Paranormal shows... I was one of the few shows in the country covering these subjects and topics and interviewing Horror icons and such. Now the show gets around 2.7 million listeners a week... pretty damned amazing. I still cannot believe it and I am so thankful for this.
As for Jackalope Radio, the old station I was at was basically closing down the production side, the producer Juke wanted out so he could give more time to his band and music... so I had to start doing it all myself. I decided to basically start the network with some awesome friends because I had to pay for the streams and such anyway. It grew within 5 months into this huge thing - one of the biggest online stations around. Now we have applied for our FCC license and are going to broadcast FM as well. We are also simulcast on 2 FM stations in ST Louis and Oklahoma City. Blows my mind - so many great shows - we have amazing music and original ideas... about 40 shows now air on Jackalope Radio. And it takes every second of my time!
5. Over the years, like many Indie film makers, I'm sure you've had to overcome hurdle after hurdle with your films due to budget constraints, weather, time, editing, lack of crew, distribution, etc... For aspiring directors out there, what would you say has been the hardest battle you've faced, and do you have any tips that might help others who may find their selves in the same situation?
I think I kind of answered this one above. Learn you craft, read and practice all the time. Learn about framing and the "line of action" and how to conduct filming. The script is very important - trim it down... make it fast and try not to have people sit around and talk for what seems like days. I hate that. Entertain an audience. NO matter how low budget, find a way to keep things MOVING. Take it seriously, but have fun. When it stops being fun. QUIT. If you want to get rich, go into Insurance or being a Doctor. Be ready to face every nightmare you can think of and don't let it stop you. Be able to think fast on your feet because there will be some situations where you have to make fast decisions and get things done NOW. Never follow the example of so many film guys who develop ego before talent. I say - throw away your ego - toss it aside. A s a director it does you no damned good. Most of all I want to wish everyone massive luck and love on their projects... I am ready to watch some great new Horror flicks - as Tom Atkins says "Thrill Me."
6. What scares Todd Sheets the most?
That reality TV will take over everything. That Rob Schneider will make more movies. That the crummy, insulting and intrusive Patriot Act stay in effect forever. Baptists take over our movie choices. (wait, that is already happening now where I live)
Not much scares me really....(laughs)
7. If you had to pick your top 5 horror films of all time, what would they be?
1. Evil Dead / Texas Chainsaw Massacre (tie)
2. The Howling / The Beyond (tie)
3. An American Werewolf In London
4. The Thing
5. Gates Of Hell (City of the Living Dead)
Runners up: Terror At The Opera, Ju-On, Suspiria, The Fog, Bad Taste, Dr Butcher MD, Halloween
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