An Interview with Burn In Hell Director, Joshua Bruce

Thursday, August 21, 2014

An Interview with Burn In Hell Director, Joshua Bruce
By Pathetic Waste

Joshua Bruce is a young film maker from Red Bank, New Jersey. He has been a part of numerous productions and runs the company Blood Flood Productions. He is putting the finishing touch on his directorial debut, Burn in Hell. We go into the mind of Joshua Bruce to see what lurks in the brain of a low-budget splatter director.

PW: What motivated you to begin making films at such a young age? Is this your own intimate film school? Where
does your aspiration for film making stem?

JB: I started making short films at the age of 7, with a camcorder my dad purchased from a yard sale. Yes, I’ve learned a lot so far since becoming involved in film making, but I still have a long ways to go. I have always been intrigued by the process of film making, so I naturally engage in it.

PW: You worked on the motion picture Creeps: A Tale of Murder and Mayhem as a special effects technician. You also have a fairly sizable role in the film. How did you get involved as part of the crew? What was it like working with Johnny Dickie and Company?

JB: Special effects technician? I think the closest thing to a special effect I provided for that film was fake blood. But I did light one scene, alongside acting in it. I reached out to the film’s director, Jack, through YouTube, eventually onto Facebook, where we talked for some time. Once he reached the halfway point on filming Creeps, I jumped aboard. Working with Jack, Johnny, and their crew was an absolute blast, although their fake blood recipe left my face stained red for a few days.

PW: Furthermore, you have a role in Johnny Dickie’s latest film City of the Dream Demons. What was it like to work with Johnny Dickie as a director?

JB: City of the Dream Demons was the first time I ever worked with Johnny. He’s quite the FX guru, and he knows how to whip up something on the spot.

PW: Currently, you are finishing production on your directorial inauguration, a horror-comedy entitled Burn in Hell. You originally intended to make this as a short. What sparked the decision to go into a full blown feature film?

JB: Burn In Hell was originally set to be a 5 minute short. The running time expanded as we went along, so I decided to commit and make a full-fledged feature (which may have not been a very smart decision haha).

PW: Can you describe the production of Burn In Hell for us? Was it literally hell?

JB: It wasn’t hell at first. But gradually over time, it deteriorated into what is now a very hellish film making experience. Crew became unreliable, cast members began to show signs of decreasing enthusiasm. So yes, it literally has been hell.

PW: Seeing as you are a splatter aficionado and have worked in the special effects field, can we expect Burn in Hell to feature copious amounts of the red stuff?

JB: This film is drenched in blood and gore effects. No gallon was wasted.

PW: When can we expect Burn in Hell to be released? Is there a VHS collector’s edition in order?

JB: I can’t promise a release just yet, but I can assure you there will be a limited VHS run following its premiere and DVD release.

PW: What are your favorite splatter films/directors?

JB: My favorite splatter films are Evil Dead, Bad Taste, and Suspiria. My favorite directors are Sam Raimi, Dario Argento, and Astron-6.

PW: You are an avid VHS collector. What are your favorite tapes in your collection?

JB: Silver Bullet (1985), RoboCop 2, and Basket Case.

PW: The company, which you produce your films under, is called Blood Flood Productions. Where did you come up with the name? Do you plan on releasing films outside of your own?

JB: The name “Blood Flood Productions” was derived from the designated name for an effect in Evil Dead 2, where the walls spew out geysers of red and black bile upon Bruce Campbell.

PW: You coin your films as Neo-Grindhouse/Exploitation. Can you explain exactly what this genre is, for the fans?

JB: Such films are throwbacks to that sort of cinema in the late 70s and 80s. They either embody the time period or are set within it.

PW: What was your budget on your first feature, Burn in Hell? Did it cause any bumps in the road?

JB: $500 as of now. Working on such a tight budget forced me to be more creative when it came to filming certain scenes.

PW: You were second unit director on the upcoming Chris Eilenstine picture The Soulless. How did you get involved with the production? Can you tell us a little about the film? When will we see it released?

JB: Chris asked me to help out during filming. Being a fan of zombie films, I was more than eager to join his crew. It’s not a straight-forward zombie film, rather a drama with zombies and twists. Part 1 will soon see an official release, and will be followed by Parts 2 and 3.

PW: What guidance can you give to young, aspiring film makers?

JB: Commit to making your film, no matter what happens along the way. In the end, it’s worth the hard work.

PW: Anything you’d like to share with gorehounds anticipating the release of Burn in Hell?

JB: For those interested in the production/FX work on Burn In Hell, feel free to contact the official Burn In Hell Facebook page with questions.