DarkVeins interviews Alberto Bogo, the debut director of Extreme Jukebox, an Italian film focused on the world of rock and metal music, with hints of horror, slasher, and zany comedy. A great mix of genres and subgenres from the world of cinema makes this film interesting from all points of view, so much so that it caught the attention of Troma Entertainment, which purchased the rights.
Let's learn more about this film through the director's answers...
A: Describe Alberto Bogo
B: I am a former educator who graduated with a thesis on horror cinema. From the age of 16 to 33, I pursued my dream of rock music, playing in various bands and performing dozens of concerts. I have loved cinema since I was a child, and I have to thank my mother for taking me to see films such as Rambo 2 and Robocop (often after the film had already started or even at the beginning of the second half!). Apart from my ideas, I don't think I have any particular qualities, except for one that is fundamental for a director: knowing how to bring out the best in others. I'm very good at that. I am a practicing Buddhist, and that influences my life, naturally for the better.
A: What or who got you into acting?
B: The good fortune of finding myself without a job for months (and therefore with a lot of free time on my hands), a job that I then found again to finance the film, making enormous sacrifices. Being down and out makes you more creative...
A: How did the idea for Extreme Jukebox come about, and above all, why the combination of horror and metal?
B: As I mentioned earlier, rock/metal is the world I come from and know very well. I consider Extreme Jukebox to be “my last concert” rather than “my first film.” It was my way of ’mourning“ after abandoning my failed music career.
A: What made you decide to cast Pino Scotto as the priest? And why did you choose Trevor from Sadist to play the “rural” killer?
B: While we were writing the character of Pino Scotto with Andrea Lionetti, I told him, “It's Pino or nothing!” He was the only one I wanted for that role, and luckily he accepted... I've known Trevor for some time and I knew that with his physique du role he could be useful to us. We talked about it with him for hours until Andrea created this parallel story of the killer in the woods out of thin air, which immediately excited me. The pre-production of Extreme was a unique and absurd process of casting, character writing, second casting, and more character rewriting... In short, a mess!
A: The film is a melting pot of different genres, with slasher standing out. Why include so many and accompany it all with a touch of comedy?
B: Comedy is a way of interpreting reality that both Andrea and I have deeply ingrained in us. Excess is something that has characterized me, especially in the past. Otherwise, when you make your first film, you know it could also be your last, so the temptation and desire to put “as much as possible” into it is difficult to contain...
A: Why make the killer Naughty Rocky Boy wear masks with huge tongues?
B: That was Andrea's idea, who also designed the other masks. We wanted it to be reminiscent of Gene Simmons’ “hyper-hypertrophic tongue” from Kiss and also the famous Rolling Stones logo. It's a reference, the film is full of them. In terms of set design, it's a very sophisticated film. If you happen to see it more than once, each time you'll find clues and references scattered here and there, not only to music but also to cinema. [wrap=left][ATTACH=CONFIG]35868[/ATTACH][/wrap]
A: Extreme Jukebox will be distributed in the United States and Canada. Troma Entertainment acquired the rights. What does it mean to you to see your work distributed abroad? What do you expect from this move?
B: For us, this will above all be a huge showcase. Troma has fans all over the world, and since we made the announcement, a few small doors have opened for us... The people who work there are very serious, they follow you step by step and they really wanted our film. We are obviously honored.
A: Can we hope for an Italian release of the film?
B: We are confident that something will happen, even though, paradoxically, we continue to receive other interesting proposals from abroad, while in Italy, well, the things that have been proposed to us so far are rather... Oh well, you get the picture...
A: Andrea Lionetti is the film's co-producer and co-writer of the screenplay. How did your collaboration come about?
B: I have known Andrea for about 15 years, and he is like a brother to me. Since we share a great passion for cinema and music, I was sure he was the best person to propose this adventure to. He is also a brilliant writer, who has shown only a glimpse of his talent with Extreme Jukebox. He is proving this to me in the latest projects I have involved him in.
A: Speaking of Troma, which titles from this independent film production company have impressed you the most and why?
B: To put it simply, I can tell you that classic titles from their production such as “The Toxic Avenger,” “Class of Nuke ”em High,“ and ”Tromeo and Juliet" contributed significantly to my cinematic education, but there is one film that they only distributed that I consider an absolute masterpiece. I'm talking about Buddy Giovinazzo's Combat Shock, an incredible film.
A: Are there any films that inspired you in making your film?
B: Like all directors, I think I have many, but I believe Extreme Jukebox is primarily influenced by the type of cinema that tended to effortlessly ’crossover“ various genres in the 1980s. For me, John Landis was a true master of this approach, with The Blues Brothers, his ”The Wolf Man,“ and films such as ”One Night Stand.“.
A: Give us your opinion on the rich Italian independent scene, obviously linked to the genre.
B: I have a good feeling about it. There are lots of people who want to get things done, and we must never forget that we Italians are great craftsmen and have the background to pull ourselves up. Yes, I am positive about the future of our genre cinema, provided that it opens up to foreign markets and concludes a long and controversial process of de-provincialization!
A: I know you're a music fan. Can you tell us about your musical tastes? Which bands and albums do you like best?
B: My tastes, even in music, are pretty schizophrenic: Alice Cooper, The Doors, Madonna, Type O Negative, The Cure, Kiss, Umberto Tozzi, London After Midnight, The Sisters of Mercy, Depeche Mode, Goldfrapp, Elisa, Anima Morte, Burzum, Ladyhawke, Neil Young, all 80s music, even the worst of it...
A: Are there already plans for a new horror film in the near future?
B: I can give you a sneak preview that I have a project in an advanced stage of writing with Andrea Lionetti, not too far from the style of Extreme Jukebox. Some producers are starting to take an interest in it, but as usual, things are progressing slowly... I'm also writing an adult horror story with another talented screenwriter, but we still have a lot of work to do. Then I'm working on other projects, but not related to the world of horror...
A: What do you think about this interview?
B: I love both writing and answering questions. In fact, when I was little, I wanted to be a sports commentator, and for many years I was an amateur journalist. I'm also obsessed with people's biographies...
A: Say hello to our friends at DarkVeins and to everyone who will be reading this interview!
B: Guys, keep supporting Italian genre cinema. There are lots of ways to do it, and not all of them are expensive... Talk about the films, good or bad, however you like, but never forget the “context” from which these films emerged... Because “doing is always harder than talking”... For the rest, long live horror, which is our great love and is currently enjoying a wonderful renaissance! But do you remember the 90s? A horror film came out once in a blue moon...
A: Thank you, Alberto!
