INT: Craig Singer

Last Updated on July 26, 2021

CRAIG SINGER’S PERKINS 14 is presently slaying
the big screen via AFTER DARK’S HORRORFEST III. The flick is about 14 folks
brainwashed by some nut-job, who go on a rampage in a small town. Craig recently
dropped by the site for some fish and chips and here’s what he had to say about
PERKINS 14, a potential DARK RIDE sequel and more!

CRAIG SINGER

Who
would say were your major horror influences while growing up?

Loved the
original Night of the Living Dead. My folks took me to a Drive In when I was a
kid and I had re occurring nightmares for about fifteen years. It was a clear
indication from early on of the power and influence the cinema could have. Also
films like “Deep Red” and “The Bird with the Crystal Plumage”

What was
it about Lane Shadgett’s PERKINS’ 14 screenplay that made you say “I want to do
this”?

That’s not
exactly how it worked. I had been working for many years along with my partner
Chris Williams on a “Fan involved” feature Horror Film. As you know I directed
and Chris Produced “Dark Ride” as part of year one’s Horrorfest. Dark Ride did
extremely well and Courtney Solomon asked if I would direct another film for
Afterdark. At the same time Chris & myself had developed a business relationship
with a NY based company called Massify. We were working together on our “Fan
Crafted” Horror Project when After dark came knocking so the moons sort of
aligned and all parties teamed up. After hundreds of fans submitted “Pitches”
for the Massify contest – a concept was chosen and only after the winner was
selected did Afterdark hire a professional writer to complete the script.

PERKINS 14 TRAILER

Did the
story change much if at all from script to screen?

Certain
things did change. I fought like hell to shoot the film in Philly but Courtney
was very persistent about Romania – he asked me to keep an open mind and then
offered me a 2 picture deal if I would consider shooting in Romania J We had a
limited budget and time so the script needed to evolve and at time accommodate
production limitations – welcome to the glamorous world of filmmaking!

Now you’re no stranger to horror, you also helmed DARK RIDE. How
different is PERKINS 14’ from the latter in terms of tone and visual approach?

Very
different indeed. Dark Ride had a camp and fun factor with a good deal of humor
that Perkins doesn’t. At the core Perkins is about loss and a deep tragedy that
surrounds a series of relationships. I wanted the film to have a gritty almost
Grind house vibe. I have worked with my wonderfully talented DP John Sosenko for
many years. He came out from LA and we enjoy that special “short hand” many
Directors & DP’s often talk about. We shot the film super 16 mm many shots were
handheld and while Romania provided an interesting backdrop – I am a firm
believer in storyboarding even if you don’t end up using the boards – the
confidence of having them helps me prepare for the numerous things that go wrong
on set. The film is also completely scored – musically, I felt that source would
detract from the emotional thread that a great score can provide an audience.

You shot
the film in Romania; for budget purposes I assume, how challenging was it to
have to deal with a foreign crew?

The crew
was wonderful. One of the hardest group of working individuals I have ever had
the pleasure of filming with. There was a language issue at time but nothing we
couldn’t get past.

What would
you say was the most arduous obstacle you had to surmount during production?

The
food was atrocious and they don’t really obey traffic laws in the area we were
in. Additionally everything at the Studio tends to be “No problem” and I learned
that when you hear that – it usually meant “Problem” but to be honest the folks
at Media Pro Studio were extremely professional and very pleasant to deal with.
Plus we shot nights and the studio owner had a swimming pool. Some of our small
American contingency would go for a swim at 2-3 in the morning and used the
late night swims as a sort of therapy.

PERKINS’
14 is premiering this month via After Dark Horrorfest; what are we in for?
Titties and gore? More suspense oriented? All of the above?

I am
particularly proud of the performances and yes we deliver relentless gore and
some sex but when the day is done – P14 delivers a very Grimm but entertaining
tale of mayhem – murder & madness.

When can
we expect the film to hit DVD? Is there an uncut version or a director’s cut to
look forward to?

I believe
the DVD id due out the end of March and as of now there is no plans for a
directors cut. After dark was very respectful with the cut and only gave me a
few well received notes.

What’s your
favorite KILL from PERKINS’ 14? Is there one you’re particularly proud of?

The Motel
sequence and nastiness is something that stands out – There is always a point in
a film for a director where after studying every single frame for weeks and
weeks – you lose a bit of perspective. My long time collaborator Cass Vanini (a
super talented editor) was working very hard on this scene – after we placed my
composer Costas Kristides’s chilling score against picture – I literally got
this warm tingly feeling throughout my body (not the same tingly feeling you got
in a seedy 42^nd street in the late 70’s J – but a Tingly feeling none
the less. – A kind of “OK, things are really coming together” “That really
works quite well” vibe and all the perspective came back and I knew we were on
the right track.

A
PERKINS’ 14 or a DARK RIDE sequel. Feasible?

YES IT IS!
My brilliant writing partner Robert Dean Klein actually has a fantastic idea for
a Dark Ride 2 in 3D sequel – makes me smile just thinking about it! Jonah will
be back one day J

What’s
next up for ya? Any other genre films in the works?

Chris
Williams and I have started working with Warner Brothers on a film tentatively
titled “Fear 101” Chris is really more like a brother and we have worked
together for many years. We keep each other in check at times and it’s not easy
– we both are extremely passionate about what we do but in the end we know
secretly it’s nice to have an honest sounding board. We have always been
creatively in sync and the Warner films amounts to years of work and will take
Fan participation to the next level. Much more than even Perkins 14. We are
going to put the “Blood in the Fans Hands”!

What was
the first drink you guzzled down at the PERKINS’ 14 wrap party?

Chivas – it
was a present from one of the crew members.