Remember the film Mainstream on the Fangoria Blood Drive 2 DVD? Well
this is the man who made that film. Adam Barnick is a director/writer and
editor from Hoboken, New Jersey who likes reading, traveling, photography
and you guessed it, HORROR MOVIES!
this is the man who made that film. Adam Barnick is a director/writer and
editor from Hoboken, New Jersey who likes reading, traveling, photography
and you guessed it, HORROR MOVIES!
HF: What's it like meeting with fans of the genre and being able to hear their thoughts
on your short?
Adam: Fans? I think you have me confused with Darren Lynn Bousman. (laughs)
Actually it’s been great to meet with people who’ve enjoyed or were slightly perplexed
by the short, at festivals and screenings. Feedback’s been probably 90% positive and
every once in a while someone will find me out of the blue on the internet to give their
thoughts on it. I didn’t expect any of this so I’m honored people would take the time
to talk about it.
HF: What questions do you get the most?
Adam: “When is Chinese Democracy gonna come out?” That or where I get my ideas
from. Most questions have been how-to regarding the lighting or the FX. Or if I’m
scared of needles. But I did get some regarding how people interpreted some of the
imagery in the film.
If people give me their interpretations of what the film’s about, as far as I’m
concerned it’s the right answer. Why should I deny someone the time they took to
think about it? I don’t want to override anyone’s thoughts, let ‘em think for
themselves. Part of the idea in Mainstream was originally that the people after the
operation DON’T think for themselves.
HF: What was the biggest challenge you had to face while working?
Adam: Do you mean on set? Probably trying to pull everything off in the time we had
with such a tiny crew. Just making the days. Which we did, I think I only cut or
combined two out of 60+ shots to make our schedule.
I know many more people now then I did then. There were days there just three of
us trying to get the complicated setups ready quickly. We had twice the crew for the
kitchen epilogue than the surgery scenes. That and some minor personality conflicts.
We had a crew member who complained and wanted to leave when he found out the
cameraman’s musical tastes. I’m not kidding. But just getting everything up and
running, the nuts and bolts of putting something complicated together was a lot more
difficult than the actual shoot.
HF: Are you planning to do any collaborations with others in the business?
Adam: I am. I’ve got some really good news coming up re: one but I can’t say
anything until the other people involved make an announcement. But there will be a
few collaborations coming up in the future. Though I’m still concentrating on
developing a body of work inside and outside the genre.
HF: Of all the recent horror films out right now which of those films do you currently
enjoy most?
Adam: Recent? Wolf Creek messed me up like you wouldn’t believe. I had the
reaction that people probably had in the theaters in the 70’s when Texas Chainsaw
came out. Shock, revulsion, depression.. that film really kicked me in the face more
than any other ‘brutal’ horror film to come out these past few years. The sheer
hopelessness of the situation, and that if Mick didn’t kill you, being lost and isolated in
the middle of nowhere would.
Slither is probably the most entertaining horror film I’ve seen in years. I don’t
understand why more people aren’t jumping on that. It’s an instant midnight movie.
HF: I’m sure you saw this one coming, what is your favorite horror film and why?
Adam: It changes, and it’s tough for a horror fan to pick just one. But I’ll pick
Phantasm, it always stays on the top 10 list. The entire series actually. There are
many reasons I love it:
It covers a lot of emotional territory; they’re scary, funny, heartfelt… I love it because
of the relationships, the bond between the brothers is something he really captured
and sustained in future films. You don’t see that kind of dynamic much in scare films.
The enigmatic mysteries which felt fully developed yet the answers were kept out of
reach…and the ability to actively engage the story and come up with your own
theories and debates as to what it all meant. The first one manages to hit all these
notes and still tell a compelling story in an abstract, non-traditional manner. The
second one’s more streamlined and “normal,” but there’s a lot of uncanny, unsettling
elements in it. Phantasm II, in my opinion, is one of the best-shot horror films of the
eighties. I’m going to work with Daryn Okada at least once before I’m dead. The
originality of that film lies in its compositions and its subtly offbeat logic. The third film’
s a great show-stealer for Reggie, while deepening the mythology and telling us
more. And the last film, while I wish they’d had more of a budget to play with, is a
downbeat, mysterious sendoff to these people we’ve lived with over many years in
those movies. The “2001” ending to Phantasm: Oblivion tells us everything and
nothing at the same time.
You’ll see a bit of visual influence in Mainstream, with the man strapped to the metal
gurney, I wanted to use one that reminded me of those films. But it served what I
was going for, I’m going to do my best NOT to pepper my films with tons of
conscious references and in-jokes to other films. No “paging Dr. Cronenberg” over
the PA system for me, if I can help it.
HF: Why do you like horror movies?
Adam: Wow. You need ten pages to fully explain it! Some reasons might be the
obvious- it’s fun to be temporarily scared, as opposed to being in ‘a state of fear’
from reading the newspapers every day. It’s the most creative, exciting, limitless
genre we have. You can explore a lot of ideas in horror and sci-fi that would be harder
to get released in dramas or sitcoms. Look at the social commentary snuck into The
Twilight Zone or sticking right out there in George Romero’s movies. I’m more
comfortable in those darker worlds.
HF: I don't think I've ever asked this question to a film maker before but I'm just very
curious and I think I'll be using this same question in future interviews. What is your
take on remakes? I know we've had plenty in the past but today it's a really popular
topic. What do you think?
Adam: I’m tired of them. You get tired of anything when you get it every single
week. I’m not against the principle of remakes. How many times has a great play
been taken on by a new generation of artists? There’s been a few brilliant horror
remakes, but have you ever noticed that whenever anyone says that they only name
the same two movies (The Fly and The Thing)? It’s tough. And those two films took
the spark of the initial concepts and went off in their own directions. Often they play it
too safe by sticking with the exact original idea and just throwing more digital at it. I’d
probably feel differently if we were getting more original films to balance out the
remake flood.
Sometimes the time factor is just silly. Remaking Mute Witness 8 years after it came
out is absurd. Having said that I have a huge list of bad films with a few good ideas in
them that could stand a remake..
HF: It's was a great pleasure having to talk with you Adam, I’m sure you've been
pretty busy and I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to do this interview.
You're a fun person to talk to and we wish you nothing but the best for you and your
work.
Adam: Thank you! I hope to have more, and better, films to share with you in the
future.
HF: Before we head out, do you have anything to say to all the horror fanatics out
there?
Adam: Don’t settle for less when it comes to what you love in the genre. And
support a film in the theater when it should be supported.
on your short?
Adam: Fans? I think you have me confused with Darren Lynn Bousman. (laughs)
Actually it’s been great to meet with people who’ve enjoyed or were slightly perplexed
by the short, at festivals and screenings. Feedback’s been probably 90% positive and
every once in a while someone will find me out of the blue on the internet to give their
thoughts on it. I didn’t expect any of this so I’m honored people would take the time
to talk about it.
HF: What questions do you get the most?
Adam: “When is Chinese Democracy gonna come out?” That or where I get my ideas
from. Most questions have been how-to regarding the lighting or the FX. Or if I’m
scared of needles. But I did get some regarding how people interpreted some of the
imagery in the film.
If people give me their interpretations of what the film’s about, as far as I’m
concerned it’s the right answer. Why should I deny someone the time they took to
think about it? I don’t want to override anyone’s thoughts, let ‘em think for
themselves. Part of the idea in Mainstream was originally that the people after the
operation DON’T think for themselves.
HF: What was the biggest challenge you had to face while working?
Adam: Do you mean on set? Probably trying to pull everything off in the time we had
with such a tiny crew. Just making the days. Which we did, I think I only cut or
combined two out of 60+ shots to make our schedule.
I know many more people now then I did then. There were days there just three of
us trying to get the complicated setups ready quickly. We had twice the crew for the
kitchen epilogue than the surgery scenes. That and some minor personality conflicts.
We had a crew member who complained and wanted to leave when he found out the
cameraman’s musical tastes. I’m not kidding. But just getting everything up and
running, the nuts and bolts of putting something complicated together was a lot more
difficult than the actual shoot.
HF: Are you planning to do any collaborations with others in the business?
Adam: I am. I’ve got some really good news coming up re: one but I can’t say
anything until the other people involved make an announcement. But there will be a
few collaborations coming up in the future. Though I’m still concentrating on
developing a body of work inside and outside the genre.
HF: Of all the recent horror films out right now which of those films do you currently
enjoy most?
Adam: Recent? Wolf Creek messed me up like you wouldn’t believe. I had the
reaction that people probably had in the theaters in the 70’s when Texas Chainsaw
came out. Shock, revulsion, depression.. that film really kicked me in the face more
than any other ‘brutal’ horror film to come out these past few years. The sheer
hopelessness of the situation, and that if Mick didn’t kill you, being lost and isolated in
the middle of nowhere would.
Slither is probably the most entertaining horror film I’ve seen in years. I don’t
understand why more people aren’t jumping on that. It’s an instant midnight movie.
HF: I’m sure you saw this one coming, what is your favorite horror film and why?
Adam: It changes, and it’s tough for a horror fan to pick just one. But I’ll pick
Phantasm, it always stays on the top 10 list. The entire series actually. There are
many reasons I love it:
It covers a lot of emotional territory; they’re scary, funny, heartfelt… I love it because
of the relationships, the bond between the brothers is something he really captured
and sustained in future films. You don’t see that kind of dynamic much in scare films.
The enigmatic mysteries which felt fully developed yet the answers were kept out of
reach…and the ability to actively engage the story and come up with your own
theories and debates as to what it all meant. The first one manages to hit all these
notes and still tell a compelling story in an abstract, non-traditional manner. The
second one’s more streamlined and “normal,” but there’s a lot of uncanny, unsettling
elements in it. Phantasm II, in my opinion, is one of the best-shot horror films of the
eighties. I’m going to work with Daryn Okada at least once before I’m dead. The
originality of that film lies in its compositions and its subtly offbeat logic. The third film’
s a great show-stealer for Reggie, while deepening the mythology and telling us
more. And the last film, while I wish they’d had more of a budget to play with, is a
downbeat, mysterious sendoff to these people we’ve lived with over many years in
those movies. The “2001” ending to Phantasm: Oblivion tells us everything and
nothing at the same time.
You’ll see a bit of visual influence in Mainstream, with the man strapped to the metal
gurney, I wanted to use one that reminded me of those films. But it served what I
was going for, I’m going to do my best NOT to pepper my films with tons of
conscious references and in-jokes to other films. No “paging Dr. Cronenberg” over
the PA system for me, if I can help it.
HF: Why do you like horror movies?
Adam: Wow. You need ten pages to fully explain it! Some reasons might be the
obvious- it’s fun to be temporarily scared, as opposed to being in ‘a state of fear’
from reading the newspapers every day. It’s the most creative, exciting, limitless
genre we have. You can explore a lot of ideas in horror and sci-fi that would be harder
to get released in dramas or sitcoms. Look at the social commentary snuck into The
Twilight Zone or sticking right out there in George Romero’s movies. I’m more
comfortable in those darker worlds.
HF: I don't think I've ever asked this question to a film maker before but I'm just very
curious and I think I'll be using this same question in future interviews. What is your
take on remakes? I know we've had plenty in the past but today it's a really popular
topic. What do you think?
Adam: I’m tired of them. You get tired of anything when you get it every single
week. I’m not against the principle of remakes. How many times has a great play
been taken on by a new generation of artists? There’s been a few brilliant horror
remakes, but have you ever noticed that whenever anyone says that they only name
the same two movies (The Fly and The Thing)? It’s tough. And those two films took
the spark of the initial concepts and went off in their own directions. Often they play it
too safe by sticking with the exact original idea and just throwing more digital at it. I’d
probably feel differently if we were getting more original films to balance out the
remake flood.
Sometimes the time factor is just silly. Remaking Mute Witness 8 years after it came
out is absurd. Having said that I have a huge list of bad films with a few good ideas in
them that could stand a remake..
HF: It's was a great pleasure having to talk with you Adam, I’m sure you've been
pretty busy and I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to do this interview.
You're a fun person to talk to and we wish you nothing but the best for you and your
work.
Adam: Thank you! I hope to have more, and better, films to share with you in the
future.
HF: Before we head out, do you have anything to say to all the horror fanatics out
there?
Adam: Don’t settle for less when it comes to what you love in the genre. And
support a film in the theater when it should be supported.
The End!
Interview done by:
Danny W.
Danny W.