FrighT with Greg Stechman
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POSTED: 1/08/04

I got a chance to chat with Greg Stechman about various projects he's a part of. Anyway, this was my first actual interview, so bare with me. Here's what we went over...

FM: Tell me about yourself...

25; live in Sacramento; played guitar for 8 yrs; first job in TV was at Chan 58 in Sacramento with Joe Carnahan; just finished my first feature--a drama film called The Unfinished Manuscript that you can look up on www.imdb.com; love horror and gore flix; big PS2 fan (although I've only had one for a couple months); no kids; just got my production company started two years ago and we have six indie films in the pipeline, not including the two Harvest sequels.

FM: Here's a question that I'm sure has been asked before -- your fav horror flicks?

The Entity, The Shining, Audition, Cabin Fever, Evil Dead I and II, Dead Alive, Session 9, Alien, Man Bites Dog, Salo, The Seventh Seal

FM: Tell the viewers what Threading Over Dark is all about...

Threading Over Dark is partially based on a true story: in the late 1980's a serial killer stalked women in the metro Sacramento area. In my film, the lead Karen becomes pregnant as result of rape and the serial killer, known only by his first name William, begins to stalk her. After Karen loses the baby to a painkiller addiction, something besides William begins to visit her in the dead of night...

FM: Tell us more...

I want to bring back a level of intensity to horror that hasn't been there for awhile; there's no humor in it; the film is about loss and death and the basic fears that make us human; again, I think Eli did this is Cabin Fever and it really inspired me to go, wow, there's someone else who wants to make films like me, otherwise I would've tried to write some sellout piece of shit film like Final Destination II, but that's not what i'm about; I don't care if the studios don't like it, I'm making it for you guys and i garauntee i'm going to scare the shit of you.

FM: Are you are you funding the project yourself?

I buy lots of the "creature comforts" I like -- Arri lights, camera accessories you would normally have to rent and I spend a lot of money on my crew and cast, but overall our films are financed by investors who could include anyone from serious business people to friends of ours who love movies and want to be involved.

FM: It sounds like it's on the fast-track, when do you expect to go behind cameras?

The last week of May 2004.

FM: Now you've mentioned you loved gore flicks -- can we expect a lot of gore?

There are seven onscreen deaths within the first five script pages. There is one of the most brutal rape scenes of all time during the ending sequence. I have had to reconstruct three locations in order to douse them in corn syup and horseflesh. Yeah, I would say there's a little. It is a relentless film that does not let up -- the audience will not be able to breathe for 90 minutes.

FM: How long do you expect Threading Over Dark to film for?

Two weeks. It will be shot on High Definition Video (a la Session 9 and Star Wars Episode II). We hope to keep the running time at 90 minutes.

FM: What kind of release will this have?

It will be submitted to all the major festivals and it depends on the response. Regardless, it will get limited release then video. I'm hoping it is picked up by Lions Gate or Artisan (which is now part of Lions Gate). We will be distributing the film ourselves overseas as well, but the US will get it at the same time. We dont want to make anyone wait (can you say Dead End or 28 Days Later?).

FM: So is there anything else you'd like to share?

That's it for now. I am putting the finishing touches on Dark as we speak and the final draft will be ready by this weekend. We will begin casting/crew calls by next week. Financing is secured on both projects and it's time to rock and roll.

FM: Alright, it's painfully obvious that Hollywood is lacking a lot of originality now-a-days -- with all their remakes and stuff, but there also seems to be a lot of asian influence in their movies -- do you think any of your future projects will have an asian influence as well?

Threading Over Dark has a very asian influence, both Audition and Ju-On The Grudge. It also has an early 70's horror influence; by that I mean The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby. Fans should really dig it.

FM: What do you and Ryan have planned for The Harvest sequels?

Part II takes place on the same night as part I, a different story with different victims that stumble upon the house; part III wraps up the story of the Brotherton Farm, taking place while Thomas is in college in the city and a serial killer is killing victims much like the first film's resident bad boys, only this time he seems to be coming after Thomas's family as well.