Interview with David Decoteau

Hello David, and thanks for this chance. You live in Canada, but I have an impression that you are originally from the States ?

I was born in Portland, Oregon and moved to Los Angeles when I was 18 years old. Around 1994 I realized that work was drying up in L.A. as most production was moving out of Hollywood to countries like Canada, South Africa and Australia. I had been to Canada a few times and loved it so I immigrated. I'm a dual citizen of Canada and the USA. I love Canada. This country has been very good to me.

You started directing movies in half 80's but went working for Roger Corman in beginning of 1980's. You have made a respected career so far, and I have had an impression that you are going to continue as actively as before. Am I right?

Thanks. I won't be directing eight movies a year anymore - more like four. I love this business and feel lucky to be a working director since my 24th birthday. I try to focus on projects that are of interest to me. I just can't take the next job that comes along anymore. I want to work but there is no need to be as prolific as I once was.

You once owned a company called Cinema Home Video, which released films like Robot Ninja and Skinned Alive. How does Rapid Heart differ from it - or possible other companies you've owned?

Cinema Home Video Productions, Inc. was a company I started in 1986 to function as a production service company for other companies such as Empire Pictures. I would direct and produce movies under the CHV label and deliver them to Empire Pictures. Over the years, CHV became very prolific and we branched out into distribution. Running a production and distribution company can be a grind so I closed up shop. Sold the assets to my partner at the time, John Schouweiler, and took some time off. I moved to Romania for a year and directed about seven movies. Rapid Heart Pictures was launched in late 1999 to make movies directed and produced by me and to be a closer representation of my taste in genre movie making.

From rapidheart.com : "you must hold a current Canadian or E.U. passport" if you want to be an actor/actress in Dave Decoteau film. Why is that?

Because most of the independent money in the USA has dried up - with the exception of a handful of independents - I now maximize labor tax credits and subsidies from both Canada and EU countries via treaty co-productions, etc. I don't want to bore you with the details of film financing mechanisms but this is the only way I can get movies made for a price. I must hire the appropriate number of Canadians or Europeans (usual 100%) to participate in the programs.There is a cash component that comes from the states but not as much anymore.

In the filmmaking, what are the elements that have changed most dramatically in 25 years?

Delivery has changed. From VHS to DVD. From Cable to Satellite and the internet. The content has evolved according to the market as it always has. I may be a little stuck in the past because I still shoot the majority of my movies on film.

Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama is a perfect party flick (featuring three great scream queens: Michelle Bauer, Brinke Stevens and Linnea Quigley) and one must love that title. How in the world the title came up, and what do you remember the days of shooting it?

The title was an entry in a title contest Charlie Band held at Empire Pictures. I'm not sure who won but that is the most notorious title of them all. I don't remember much about that shoot other than we were working nights and the young people love to party!

Linnea Quigley said in old interview that gratuitous nudity is "a bad thing because it cheapens the movie" (at the time Girl I Want was just getting released, Linnea called it Teen Bimbos in the same interview). What is your opinion of gratuitous nudity - and what do you think of Linnea's statement?

Nudity is SO last century. If you want to see nudity there are a million places to find it other than a mainstream movie. Its so cheap and overdone. I agree with Linnea although I didn't always feel that way. I had nudity in my earlier movies and I have always felt uncomfortable shooting it. Nowadays who needs T&A in mainstream? There is another section of the DVD store for that - not to mention the internet. I'm not a prude just so bored with the same old routine.

It came to me (and maybe for many others) as a surprise few years ago, that the notorious "babes & boobs" -director DeCoteau is gay. Of course, in your latest movies there's a good amount of male skin involved. Did you ever gave a thought about your sexuality in first years of your directorial work?

Yes. My first film Dreamaniac has homoerotic elements as do most of my films since then. You just have to watch them now with a different point of view. Even movies like Prison of the Dead have openly bi sexual characters that somehow slipped through. I felt I was pretty obvious since the beginning.

Most of your films belong to the horror genre. Are there any genre left you would like to give a shot someday?

Musical! I just did a boy band horror movie called Ring of Darkness that has a dance number in it. I loved it! Musicals!

What do you consider the most important part of film making, excluding the director's work?

The director is the filter that all creative suggestions go through so I'd have to say the director. But in reality its all about the script. Period.

Which present (alive and well) filmmakers you admire most - and why?

John Waters - for making the most entertaining films EVER made. Irwin Allen - for spectacle and camp disaster movies that made an impression on me as a kid. Roger Corman - for being the inspiration that started it all.

You worked in Ken Russell's Crimes of Passion and years later you replaced him as a director for Skeletons. What happened there?

Long story. The less said about it the better. Sad story. He was let go and I stepped in. Just like Eve Harrington in All About Eve. The only advice I could give to any aspiring filmmaker is don't be mean to the production assistants because in Hollywood they may be your boss the following week.

I asked this same question from Jim Wynorski: What do you do in everyday life, when you are not working in film business?

Nowadays I relax. I've stopped to smell the roses. Los Angeles can be so isolating and desperate. I needed some time off so the move to Canada was perfect timing for me. I'm enjoying my life more now than ever.

A Finnish fan of your films told me that I have to ask, is there ever going to be "Creepozoids 2"?

Maybe. You'd have to ask Charlie Band about that. I'd love to do it!

Looking back to 25 years (if I'm right, you started working in movie productions in early 1980's), what is the most memorable and heart-warming moment for you, in the movie business?

Memorable was my 10 picture deal with Empire announced on the front page of Daily Variety. Heart warming was working with the incomparable Mr. Christopher Plummer on Skeletons. The sweetest and kindest man I have ever met.

As an opposite to previous question, have there been a situation that you wanted to throw someone from a cliff (and who, if I may ask...?)

You'll have to read my autobiography for that juicy answer. Let me put it this way. It would take a big dump truck to do what you are suggesting. There are quite a few clunkers.

Tell us something about your upcoming features.

I have four films going into release as we speak. The Sisterhood, The Brotherhood 4, Killer Bash, Witches of the Caribbean. You can find new announcements on my website rapidheart.com

If you can take a look at Elitisti website (an online magazine I contribute to) and the list of reviewed films what would be the film that deserves a remake by David DeCoteau. And of course: why?

ALEXANDER. I would make it a VERY shocking film. Its easier for audiences to see a man kill thousands of people but not kiss his male lover. It should be remade!