Interview: Thomas Churchill

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Created on Friday, 01 October 2010 07:49
Last Updated on Saturday, 03 March 2012 21:51
Written by Mr. Chainsaw
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Encyclopedia Psychotika's own Malice Psychotik sits down with Emerging Past director, Thomas Churchill to get the dish on projects past, present, and future!
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Interview by: Malice Psycotik

The last few months have ben a real trip with the celebrity interviews I’ve had the pleasure of doing. In doing these interviews, it has started a cascade effect of leading me to movies and up and coming directors that otherwise I might not have been exposed to. Great Directors! I mean, talent that should really be in the mainstream! I hope one day, these directors will be amongst the likes of Clive Barker, George Romero, John Carpenter, Wes Craven, and Quintin Tarantino! This will mark the third director I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know. My Freaky Darlings, allow me to present a man of vision. A man who understands where horror has been and where it needs to go. Move over Rob Zombie, get out of the way Michael Bay….

Here Comes Thomas Churchill!


Malice: Hey there guys and ghouls, I have a real treat for you today. Writer, Director, and Producer of Emerging Past Thomas Churchill! Let’s start with Emerging Past. The trailer for this movie makes it look very impressive. Can you tell us a little about it?

Thomas Churchill: Nope..top secret! Just kidding. OK just a little synopsis of Emerging Past

Pamela Garret (played by Krista Grotte of Hershel Gordan Lewis’ The Uh-Oh Show and Brainjacked), a photographer for a busy newspaper company has just taken a life altering photograph.. After her boss, Cameron (Stephen Geoffreys of Fright Night, 976-Evil) hands her an easy assignment, she takes a photograph that will have her emerged into chaos. As she searches for help within her friend Dylan (Brooke McCarter from The Lost Boys) in a lost city filled with a dark mystery, in this insane situation she soon realizes that no one can help her. When trusting people around you is not an option, it’s her past that can bring her down. ..OK I said too much. Tony Moran (Carpenters Halloween 1 & 2)
, Edward X Young (The Green Monster, Mr Hush) and Mike Marino all have roles in the film.  The film was a great project to work on…Paul and Lorie Weinroth of  Chocolate Bunny Productions gave me total creative control in allowing me to bring what I wrote to life.
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Malice: It looks like there are going to be a few hidden “Easter Eggs” (Example Steve Dash’s Character being named Det. Voorhees) Am I correct in assuming there are more?

Thomas: Yes…Emerging Past is more than just film…it has many hidden easter eggs within the story line. It will be a film that you will want watch over and over. Well, I hope my audience will want to watch it over and over.
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Malice: As a writer I love finding out the little ideas that spark a story. What got you started on the idea for the movie?

Thomas: Well…the concept came from a road trip my cousin and I did back in 1990. We took a trip to Washington DC to visit his sister. I am a super fan of The Exorcist, I had to see the locations within the Georgetown surroundings. The storyline was thought out within the five-hour trip from New York to DC. I shot a very low-budget version of the film at the same time. Kind of like a treatment. Than worked on the storyline for sometime until what we have today. A good solid Psychological horror. Somewhere between The Exorcist and The Omen is where Emerging Past will sit.
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Malice: This film won Best Horror Feature at the New York City International Film Festival for 2010. How did it feel winning such an award?

Thomas: Oh My God…like biting into a York Peppermint Patty…Just kidding. It was amazing! It was a good shot in the arm validating what the crew and cast already feel, that we have a good film. Hopefully, it will not be the last award for this film.

Malice: You even directed a music video for Emerging Past (Soul I Bare- G Tom Mac).  How cool is it having a G Tom Mac song attached to your film? (He wrote “Cry Little Sister” for Gods sake!!)

Thomas: Funny I have 6 G Tom Mac songs in the film. As well as he has written and performed the score…Wow…G Tom is a Legend in the music business! Not only did he is known for Cry Little Sister, but he has written for Kiss, The Who…the list goes on. Most music you hear on The CW network is his. Shooting that video for “Soul I Bare” was a treat. The fans really love it. I am happy I didn’t let his fans down. One of those songs in the film is a song written by G and Cory Haim called “Mend Me”. It is the only recorded song from Cory. I am very honored and proud to have it in the film. A sidebar note Cory was approached to play a role in the film…but fate took its toll… So having the song in the film, it fills that void where Cory should have been in Emerging Past.  We also did another video that will be released shortly is called “Mud” and it’s performed by Katie DiCiccio. G Tom brought her to the Emerging Past table. The song is amazing. Complete opposite of G Tom’s “Soul I Bare”



Malice: I know it’s not out on DVD yet, but do you have any showings coming up on the Film Festival circuit?

Thomas: Yes…we will be showing it at Spooky Empire’s Ultimate Horror Weekend in Orlando, FL October 8-10. We are showing it on Oct 9th at 3:30pm and we will be showing it at the end of Oct at The Mr Hush’s Weekend of Fear Oct 22-24 2010 in PA. In early November we maybe doing another convention. I can not release the name yet…
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Malice: Is there any date set for a DVD release?

Thomas: We are discussing that as we speak with some distributors…I am really pushing for a theatrical release first..That’s the goal.
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Malice: Your also involved with a project I have been following lately, Mr. Hush. What is your take on the movie?

Thomas: Yes, I am. I am a producer and I play Sheriff Churchill in David Lee Madison’s film. I believe the film will be an instant classic. I can assure you it has been a very long time since an audience has seen a picture like this. We shot it North-East PA back in April. Good times…. What a great town Milford was to shoot a film in. Working with David Madison and the team was cool. David and I produced Emerging Past and Mr. Hush together…funny we never ever produced our homework together…we went to the same Junior High School in Queens, NY together…Now…thats an Easter egg, huh?
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Malice: How did you come across Mr. Hush?

Thomas: David had this concept…I was busting his chops for months to direct it…he tortured me until the end until he did it. He let me pop off some scenes, I was happy.  Kind of like how Tarantino and Rodriguez work together. Well, he has talked about it on the Emerging Past set and it was going to be the next film we will do. I love the story. The locations and all that were involved make up a great film. Completely different from Emerging Past. David has already  told me that if Mr. Hush is well received, I will direct the sequel.  So, I hope it is and I do. I believe it is a great story and would love to play on the Mr. Hush field.  The film is an homage to 80′s iconic horror films. The story is so fresh and new which most films are missing in todays recycled projects. We have Brad Loree (Halloween: Resurrection), Edward X Young (Emerging Past, The Green Monster) and Steve Dash  (Friday the 13th: Part 2) and Stephen Geoffreys (Fright Night, 976-EVIL) along with scream queen Jessica Cameron just to name a few.

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Malice: You have another film announced too, Cold Plastic. What is that about?

Thomas: Well, Cold Plastic is sooooo different from both Emerging Past and Mr. Hush. Think Boogie Nights meets The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Production begins early winter in this psychotic murder mystery.
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Malice: Now I want to talk more about you, what got you into film?

Thomas: Hmmmm, good question. Well, I started out as an actor. Started making films amongst my friends back in New York. I fell hard in love with the concept of creating a project. From writing, producing and directing my own films. Winning a Best Feature award at 18, helped as well. I was bit by the bug and wanted more.
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Malice: One can only assume, when looking at your film history, that you are a horror fan. How long have you been with the genre?

Thomas: Well, I love the genre. My father used to take me to the movies when I was a kid…mostly horror. Whenever a T&A scene will come up, my father’s hand will cover my eyes. He did this with a real violent scenes as well. The sound of horror was not shielded. I was intrigued of what I was hearing and it sounded worse than what I would have saw. My mind was racing with images I was creating in my head for what I was hearing.  Sound to me plays such a big role in film and to equally balance the visuals with Emerging Past, I went to my friends Matt and Mitch over at Soundz Mp3 Entertainment to recreate what scared me as a child. I wanted more…I love all sorts of genre films especially gangster/action films. But…Horror is like my oxygen..I need it to be alive.
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Malice: What has been the thrill of your career thus far?

Thomas: Meeting new people, meeting new fans at the conventions, working with friends I grew up with and creating stories that no one has scene before. I like twists. I like things that are not the norm.
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Malice: Now it’s a bit of a tradition for me to ask some “Out of Hat” questions. I think I Will change pace and make these either or questions. Shall we begin?

Thomas: Sure…
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Malice: Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger?

Thomas: Hmmm… Well being a friend of Steve Dash and knowing Kane, Richard, Dick, Ted, Ari , Tom and Ken I have to lean towards Jason. He is a lot like Michael Myers one of my favorite serial killer next to Norman Bates. But, Freddy what can I say Robert is brilliant! The serial killer and slasher films hit the next level with Wes Cravens’ Nightmare on Elm Street…No matter how many remakes are turned out…The originals are ICONIC!

 

Malice: The Crow or The Lost Boys?

Thomas: Wow…You know I will have to say The Lost Boys! Being I have Brooke McCarter (Paul in The Lost Boys) and G Tom Mac (The Lost Boys theme “Cry Little Sister”) are part of Emerging Past. So family stays with family…and Family is Forever.

 

Malice: “Family Guy” or “The Simpsons”?

Thomas: I love “The Family Guy”.



Malice: Alice Cooper or Marilyn Manson?

Thomas: Kenny G…just kidding…I like Gene Simmons!



Malice: Well that’s about all the time we have for today, Thom is there anything you would like to add before we finish?

Thomas: Yes…go to Emerging Past and Mr. Hush on Facebook, become a fan and suggest it to your friends as well. Go to my official website www.churchhillproductions.com, www.emergingpast.com, and www.mrhush.net for up to the minute news on our projects. Thank you very much.

 

 

I just want to say how awesome it has been getting to know everyone from these projects. You heard it here, make sure to check out Emerging Past at Spooky Empire’s Ultimate Horror Weekend in Orlando, Fl October 9th. If you’re not going to be there, hit it up at Mr. Hush: Weekend of Fear in Matamoras, Pa October 22nd-24th.Check out the Trailer below!

- Malice Psychotik

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