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Who is John Fallon? Well, if
you peruse the net in search of information on horror
movies, you're likely to come across John who runs one
of the most popular horror sites on the net entitled
Arrow in the Head. He's also one of the bigger
names at Joblo.com and has appeared in numerous
documentaries and notable genre films over the years.
You literally can't go an inch on movie websites without
hearing about Fallon, and the credit is much deserved as
Fallon works for his respect, is a self made man, and is one of the most
lauded figures in film journalism. But did you also know
he's an indie director too? Sure you did, Arrow in the
Head has a large following!
You should know by now. In
either case, Fallon is an indie director when he's not
traveling or covering films, and he has made "Deaden" a
throwback to the classic revenge films of the eighties,
and "Red Hours" an experimental short film just released
that has garnered some controversy. Not to mention he
has his
own official website. In either case, Fallon is a
heavyweight in the film journalism world and he was
gracious and kind enough to take time out of his hectic
schedule and take part in an interview with us to
explore his filmmaking techniques, his thoughts about
indie film, and his experiences in the business. Throw
back that last whiskey and have a read while we delve in
to the thoughts of the action and horror buff.
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John Fallon
Actor,
Director, Writer, Journalist
Director of:
The Red
Hours, Deaden |
Hello Mr. Fallon, thanks for your time!
How has your career been?
No prob man! Thanks for having me. The film
industry is a constant roller-coaster ride,
maximum work doesn't always mean maximum
result, you always have to adapt, take the
hits and keep on slugging while always being
prepared to re-invent yourself. That's where
I'm at right now.
When did you begin directing films, do
you have film school experience?
Outside of two years of film school, a music
video ("Gasolina" by Daddy Yankee) and a
couple of short films (like THE RED HOURS);
directing is fairly new to me. But I got the
filmmaking bug and am working on getting my
first feature (yes, horror) off the ground
as we speak.
When did you begin acting in films?
I started acting Eleven years ago; I first
worked in French (under another name) within
the local scene in my home town of Montreal,
Canada and then graduated to English via the
Indie scene and some Hollywood stuff.
What film role was your favourite so far?
Rane in "DEADEN" is one of them. Being that
I wrote the script; I gave myself a well
rounded part. Got to hit varied emotional
levels, got to fight, shoot guns, kiss the
girl, and blow up a car with a rocket
launcher. Fun times! I also loved playing
Jimmy in "100 FEET." I got to act with Famke
Janssen and more importantly got to be
directed by the man who inspired me to start
writing screenplays in the first place when
I was a teenager; Eric Red. |
Do
you prefer to direct films or act in films? And how do
they differ creatively?
I like them both for different reasons. When acting
you're a sailor on a ship, taking orders from the
captain and working with others to have the ship sail
smoothly and to achieve a collective goal. When
directing; you are the captain of that said ship; an all
new ball game. I have way more acting experience than I
do directing at the moment but with that; directing is
what presently excites me the most. So I am focusing
more on that. Getting my feature done at all costs ASAP
is my main goal. Thou shall be done.
Who have been some of your more notable film
influences in directing and acting over the years?
Acting wise I'd say: Sylvester Stallone, James Dean,
Marlon Brando, Clint Eastwood, and Mickey Rourke. On the
directing front; David Lynch, Darren Aronofsky, Clint
Eastwood, Sylvester Stallone, John Carpenter and old
school Dario Argento.
As many
people know you run Arrow in the Head, what
horror films in your life have stuck with
you and changed you?
The Evil Dead, The Hitcher (original), and
Nightmare on Elm Street (original) are the
three films that started my love affair with
the genre. So I guess those three.
What, in your
opinion, is the biggest downfall to modern
horror today?
In terms of the US studio system; its too
much of a business now and not enough of an
art form. At least we got foreign genre
films to fill that void.
How has the festival scene been for "Red
Hours"?
The Spanish Press at Sitges booed THE
RED HOURS (watch
it here),
then the Sitges audience dug it, then the
film won an Award at the A Night of Horror
Film Fest... it then played in like 3 more
Fests to positive responses... you got to
take the good with the bad in this game; its
all part of the experience. So it went all
good for me! |
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You
explained in your website for "Red Hours" that some
people walked out of it. As a filmmaker is it tough
to see people walk out of your movie?
I didn't give a sprinkle of a shit to be honest.
When you create something and put it out there you
have to be ready to take the negative as much as the
positive. I expect and accept both. It should be
said that all these years of auditioning and not
getting roles have definitely resulted in the shell
I have today. If you're gonna get “hurt” every time
you get a negative response – then its gonna be a
long and painful ride or you won't last very long in
the biz. I am totally numb to destructive negative
feedback now, I accept rejection very well at this
point and am always open in hearing “constructive”
negative feedback.
Can you tell us where the idea for "Deaden" come
from?
It was actually sparked by the letdown that was the
2004 Punisher movie. Director Christian Viel and I
(as huge Garth Ennis Punisher fans) were so
disappointed by that film that we started to talk
about doing our own vigilante film. After many beers
and lots of bouncing; the idea eventually morphed
into DEADEN.
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How has the reaction been to
"Deaden"?
Very good! Deaden has kind of become what
director Christian Viel and I thought it
would become when we made it; a micro cult
film. The movie was released in 2007 and I
still get e-mails about it to this day. We
had no money and little time to make it, but
we put everything we had into it, so I am
happy that it found its audience and has
stayed with some people.
Do you find independent horror films have
a harder time getting funding than films of
another genre?
Depends where you look for your funding. If
we're talking government subventions; yes;
well here in Canada anyways. If you're
talking private investors; it depends on who
you know. Getting any film financed is
hard... period.
Is it tougher to make a short film or a
feature length film?
Obviously its easier to finance and
shoot a short than a feature. The budget and
production time are usually lower on a
short.
If you could work with anyone in
Hollywood, who would it be and why?
Sylvester Stallone. The man and his films
helped shape who I am today as a person and
as an artist. It would be an honour to work
with him and a dream come true. |
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Do
you think with the increasing affordability of
technology and hardware for filmmaking that we'll
see more potential masterpieces or much less
quality?
The increasing affordability of technology may
result in more Indie films being made; doesn't mean
they will be good though. Depends on the scripts and
the creative forces behind them.
Have you learned to better hone your craft in
filmmaking through your time on Arrow in the Head?
Good question. Not sure. I assume that
deconstructing other people films for ten years has
given me some further insight, maybe, maybe not. Not
something I ever thought about to be honest.
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Fallon directing "The Red Hours" |
What's
the most important thing you've learned
directing films?
Be ready to throw
your shot list out the window and think on
your toes everyday, bag your day of shooting
no matter the cost and when you have ZERO
idea as to how to solve a problem don't let
your cast and crew see it; just think fast,
make a freaking decision and roll with it.
What advice do you have for aspiring
filmmakers anxiously trying to get their own
films off the ground?
If you're in this first and foremost for
fame and fortune; don't do it. If you're in
it Because you HAVE TO make a movie, its who
you are; then keep forging forward and keep
taking the hits till its fUcking done. Do or
die trying. |
Where can Film Loves Look
For You Next?
You can see me right now as
an actor (I play psycho boy Black Terror) in the popular
web series
Heroes of the North. I also have a couple of
acting gigs up in the air; mums the word till shit gets
locked.
Finally,
what did you think of "Eat, Pray, Love"?
Is that a movie?
Sounds like my usual weekends. Although it would be
called Eat, Pray, F*ck and Play Hockey.
Thanks for your time, Mr.
Fallon!
Thank you brother!
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