Meet Richard Elfman in Person
Meet Richard Elfman in Person
Exclusive Q&A Interview with the director of Forbidden Zone, Modern Vampires, and Shrunken Heads.
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Horror.com caught up with director, actor, musician, entrepreneur, publisher, bongo-man, and all around man-about-town Richard Elfman to ask him about his big weekend at Hollywood's Egyptian Theater on July 17 and 18. On Friday, they'll be playing a Euro-version of Modern Vampires [click the image above to enlarge it) and also Shrunken Heads; then on Saturday, the newly colorized version of his neo-whack-classic musical sci-fi shocker, Forbidden Zone.
Check out all the details and watch the trailers AFTER reading our exclusive multiple-choice riff-bash with Mr. Elfman.
Interview by Staci Layne Wilson
1. Why is the zone forbidden?
a) Because Mom said it would make me go blind
b) Something to do with a woman named Eve and an apple
c) It's more like "not allowed" - forbidden is such a harsh word
d) Other
Elfman: I'm going with a., b., and c.! a) Masturbation is forbidden -- if it wasn't, people would be watching Internet porn all day! b) Adam thought Eve was hot shit. She usually fed him watermelon, but they ran out that day. We all know what happened then. c) Jay walking is "not allowed," but all the really enticing stuff, like sex and intoxicants, are "forbidden!"
2. If you had to get your own head shrunk, would you do it:
a) Via licensed psychiatrist
b) Beetlejuice-style
c) Boiling pots and hot stones, just like the Amazonians did it
d) Other
Elfman: a) Definitely a psychiatrist! I'd want a full cocktail of the latest drugs. If one didn't work, I'd want my "head doctor" to keep feeding me pills until I was utterly oblivious to anything negative in life. And I'd want a constant erection as well -- I know they have pills for that too!
3. How do vampires from 1998 stay modern?
a) I've digitized BlackBerrys and iPhones into their hands
b) They bone up by watching True Blood every week
c) They're vampires - come to the screening and you will see Casper Van Dien hasn't aged a day
d) Other
Elfman: d) For a vampire to stay "modern," they must, first of all, have their coffins wired so they can Twitter. And I think there's a new product called "Sunscreen 1000" which allows vampires to live and move among us. Have you ever noticed that many Hollywood agents have shockingly large incisors? And it's true… Casper hasn't aged a day!
4. If you could re-colorize Forbidden Zone, what would you do differently?
a) I'd make Hervé Villechaize's face Oompa-Loompa orange
b) My brother Danny, who plays Satan, would have a coat of many colors just like Dolly Parton
c) I'd paint Max Fleischer in, and he'd be hospital-wall green
d) Other
Elfman: d) That's a tricky one! Maybe have Danny's hair white and his face totally red. And the film is filled with invisible phantoms, played by the cast of The Brady Bunch -- doing really bizarre, nasty stuff. I think I'd color them in... if people don't get too shocked.
5. What can fans expect if they show up at The Egyptian Theater on the weekend of the 17th & 18th?
a) Steve Martin will do a rendition of that "funky Tut" song hit he had back in the 70s
b) An uncut, unrated Euro-version of Modern Vampires on Friday night
c) If you come for Forbidden Zone on Saturday, I will personally colorize you and your family
Elfman: d) Other / all Well, on Friday, definitely the uncut version of Modern Vampires! On Saturday, at the Forbidden Zone screening, you never know the hell to expect. In San Francisco, someone asked me why so much nudity in the film. I turned around and mooned the audience. In Louisville some rednecks heckled me. I slugged one of them -- I think the people running the little film festival had fed me too much of that high-proof Kentucky bourbon.
In the meantime, to publicize the Egyptian screenings, I'm going to march up down Hollywood Blvd. this Saturday (July 11) night, wearing a clown suit, a poster on my back, beating a big bass drum. I'll show those big studios how to publicize a movie! (Watch for the YouTube video of the event) I'm getting a special clown haircut tomorrow…
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Friday, July 17 – 7:30 PM
Richard Elfman In-Person Double Feature:
Uncut, Unrated Euro Version! MODERN VAMPIRES, 1998, ContentFilm, 95 min. Director Richard Elfman and writer Matthew Bright return with this gory comedy vampire opus set in the uncharted wilds of Los Angeles. Dracula (Robert Pastorelli) orders maverick vampire Dallas (Casper Van Dien) to get out of town because Dallas’ street vampire girlfriend (Natasha Gregson Wagner) has been indiscriminately attacking too many victims. Simultaneously, an elderly Dr. Van Helsing (Rod Steiger) arrives from Europe, on the trail of the bloodsuckers. With a great supporting cast including Kim Cattrall (SEX IN THE CITY), Natasha Lyonne (SLUMS OF BEVERLY HILLS), Udo Kier (FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN, SUSPIRIA) and last but not least, Craig Ferguson (from "Late, Late Night With…"). "The scene-stealer of this movie is Richard as played by Craig Ferguson…He dives in feet first to every scene, ravaging mortals at a dizzying and comic speed. Simultaneously, it is hilarious and sickening to see him go." – Mike DeWolfe, Apollo Movie GuideTrailer
SHRUNKEN HEADS, 1994, Full Moon, 86 min. Richard Elfman directs from a screenplay by the notorious Matthew Bright (FREEWAY). Tommy and his pals Bill and Freddie videotape local gangbangers The Vipers stripping a car, something the delinquents don’t take kindly to, especially after the tape is turned in to the cops. The three kids are captured and brought before the boss, Big Moe (Meg Foster). Escaping with Moe’s gambling receipts, they’re subsequently murdered. Then kindly Haitian comic book salesman (and voodoo priest) Julius Harris comes on the scene and takes matters into his own hands. "What would happen if three kids in the neighborhood got blown away by thugs working for a lesbian gangster, but then they had their heads cut off and boiled in a vat by the friendly neighborhood comic book salesman and Haitian voodoo police officer, and then they came back to life and flew around with knives between their teeth, getting revenge by slicing up criminals and turning em into friendly zombies who go around cleaning off graffiti and replacing the trash in upturned dumpsters…* * * ½" – Joe Bob’s Drive-In Movie Review Discussion between films with director Richard Elfman, Screenwriter Matthew Bright (also the director of FREEWAY) and other guests.Trailer
Saturday, July 18 – 8:00 PM
Richard Elfman In-Person
Digitally Restored! FORBIDDEN ZONE, 1982, Legend Films, 74 min. Dir. Richard Elfman. A mysterious door leads to the Sixth Dimension -- get ready for a wild ride – in one of the greatest cult classics of all time. Beautiful young Frenchy (Marie-Pascale Elfman) slides through cosmic intestines into a subterranean world ruled by horny midget King Fausto (Herve Villechaize) and his jealous Queen Doris (Susan Tyrrell). Chicken-boy (Matthew Bright, director of FREEWAY) comes to the rescue, only to have his head cut off by the soul-singing Devil himself -- played by Danny Elfman and the original Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. Frog butlers, topless princesses and rioting school kids sing and dance in unforgettable musical numbers by Danny Elfman, Cab Calloway, Josephine Baker and others. An experience guaranteed you will never forget! Now in mind-boggling color! Newly remixed Dolby Digital 6 track stereo. Discussion following with director Richard Elfman, Screenwriter Matthew Bright (also the director of FREEWAY) and other guests. Trailer
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