d3rang3d Speaks to John Lechago

His latest film, Magus - check out the official site/trailer at http://www.magusthemovie.com/ - just made it's premiere to an excellent reception, and is due to be screened at Fangorias Weekend of Horrors - and in between his busy schedule, John Lechago kindly took time out to share his thoughts and ideas with d3rang3d.

Not only is John a great director, he's also a great guy - he put up with a lot of problems from d3rang3ds end, including me losing my net connection for a month, and showed nothing but understanding for the hassles. So, thanks from me John, and thanks from all of our readers for taking the time to speak with us. Much appreciated.

As John will tell you himself, - and as you are about to see - I'm not the greatest of interviewers, but we had a really good talk that went in all directions and covered a lot of bases. I'll apologize in advance if it seems a bit chaotic - all my fault, the rest of the staff at d3rang3d have confiscated my keys to the beer cupboard for a month.

But, enough preamble, without further ado I give you John Lechago, director of Magus and Blood Gnome.....

John Lechago: Hello, I'm back!

d3rang3d: hello John and welcome back

John Lechago: So, how shall we begin?

John Lechago: First time I have done an interview over IM

d3rang3d: hmmm, good question - and we are in same position there - first time for me as well

d3rang3d: I too am new to interviews here - all I have done over IM are a couple of poker players when I used to play that semi pro - so guess the best way is just to chat and see where it goes

d3rang3d: we can edit it down after and get something we are both happy with

John Lechago: Yes, your poker face reveals nothing!

d3rang3d: hehe, I lost my poker face - quit the game - was one of those games that eats your entire life

John Lechago: I can imagine,

John Lechago: After watching "Rounders" I thought "what's the point?"

d3rang3d: Rounders was a poker legend movie - though I hated it myself

John Lechago: Why'd you hate it?

d3rang3d: hmm, i just didn't engage with the characters and the poker angle felt like it was added as a secondary concern - i guess that, playing poker myself, it was all so unreal to me, the real world was nothing like that

John Lechago: I understand. it is difficult to accurately portray certain worlds that are based in reality

John Lechago: Their esthetic really is not as romantic as the movie portrays. The esthetic is in the game itself

John Lechago: Thou, Casino Royale is allowed some concessions.

d3rang3d: yep - that is exactly it. It is one of the reasons I guess that the horror genre so appeals to me - that in many cases it takes reality, but the addition of that 'unreal' element of horror gives scope to bend the rules

d3rang3d: hehe, Casino Royale - great bond i think, but bad story to launch him

John Lechago: The suspension of disbelief. Very important. But when you state your rules, as unreal as they start out, you must follow them for the rest of the film

John Lechago: That is a major sticking point with me.

d3rang3d: yep, that is true - a film, like a novel etc, has to exist within its own stated rules

John Lechago: "Horror" as a genre is not an excuse to get lazy.

d3rang3d: I agree, though it is too often used as such

John Lechago: Yes, we want the frights, the gore, the action, but it needs to have a compelling story. Budget can limit you in that department as well

John Lechago: Budget limits story because it takes time to work on it. Story is revised three times. On the shooting script, the actual movie shoot, and in the editing room. But when you work with a micro budget and the distributors really don't care, you are rushed.

d3rang3d: yes, i can imagine - and probably made even worse when a great deal of viewers are more used to the Hollywood touch - you know, throw $100s of thousands into a single scene - the films might not have the story or plot, but mainstream people demand that seamless look to a film

d3rang3d: distribution yep - I'd imagine that is very awkward in the US - seems from most people I have spoken to that it is very difficult for anyone outside of the mainstream to get cinema time/shelf space

John Lechago: I agree (I'm laughing right now). There are so many "Hollywood" films that have atrocious stories, plots, and dialog, but they invest millions on the "look". The expectations on a micro budget are the same. Weird. I have seen small films that easily have top notch scripts and direction,. Yet we are treated to scripts that spawned Stealth, Van Helsing, Revenge of the Sith, and the list goes on...

John Lechago: Seamless looks are a big deal to distributors. Seamless is a product of re-shoots. A luxury that many low budget films do not have.

d3rang3d: oh, I agree completely - I laughed as i typed the original comment about huge budgets - as a horror fan, I know that it is usually the smaller budget productions that manage to pull out the top notch scripts/direction and are what the genre is all about - Hollywood just throws cash at things, and can shoot time and time against till they get that perfect (but soulless look)

John Lechago: With my movie "Blood Gnome" I tried to make something that would be easy to market.

John Lechago: Since I was not known at all, I said to myself "I will have to make an exploitation horror film that has everything I would want to see, in place of production value"

John Lechago: Throwing cash at something does not give it a soul. Your are correct

d3rang3d: Blood Gnome I thought was a great idea that really worked well on screen - mix in the bondage element which adds to the appeal, and the main character who had elements of Bruce Campbell about him (loved the facial expressions as he got attacked by invisible gnomes) and that was a winner in my book

John Lechago: A soul in a movie is whether you like the characters or not. Thank you for that compliment. Yes, Vinnie Bilancio is a micro budget actor who has quite a bit of charisma. I wrote the movie with him in mind, then added, blood, nudity, monsters, and violence.

John Lechago: The comparison with Bruce Campbell is accurate. The circumstances are not merely coincidental

d3rang3d: the scene i am thinking of did have me thinking of evil dead yep

John Lechago: They both played characters who we could empathize with. Who weren't too cool, but very emotive and Human.

John Lechago: They explore insanity for us (the viewer)

d3rang3d: agreed yes - they are characters we could all empathize with, with motivations that make sense to us - not the cold, 2d representations we so often get in films

d3rang3d: i think that's what the horror fan really wants - characters we can care about, that are real to us

John Lechago: The main problem with Blood Gnome was shooting it with a 5000 dollar budget, about 2500 pounds (I think)

John Lechago: Answering your previous post: Yes, I didn't like Vin Diesel's character in the Chronicles of Riddick. He was way too cool. Obviously he was never in danger. I ended up not caring because I knew his enemies never had a chance

d3rang3d: yep, that's about £2500 - which is very low I agree. Although Blood Gnome really worked on screen (you worked miracles with that budget) - it's very low and is bound to limit putting the vision of a movie into effect in screen

John Lechago: After we shot it, I got more money for post production

d3rang3d: heh, Vin diesel is one of my big Hollywood hates - like nick cage, he plays the same guy everywhere he goes

John Lechago: That's where the budget went crazy (relatively speaking). We found about 30 thousand dollars more for post. But we didn't re-shoot anything.

John Lechago: I liked Nick Cage in "Birdy". But he hasn't had a truly challenging character in a while. Still he has my sympathy. I wouldn't mind working with him someday

d3rang3d: I am still down on Nick for agreeing to be in the Wicker Man remake - classic example of how a huge budget can butcher a brilliant movie

John Lechago: Vin Diesel still has to prove himself in a dramatic role. I will say that he is trying. But for 20 million dollars every film, he can stand criticism

John Lechago: I haven't even seen the Wickerman. I will avoid!

d3rang3d: hehe, yep - for $20m I will show the world my bad acting skills...once

d3rang3d: original wicker man i thought a classic, but remake was awful - that should be shown in film school - how not to make a movie

John Lechago: Showing it in film school would be depressing

John Lechago: Anyway, I digress

John Lechago: What made Blood Gnome possible was that we (the film makers) had no inhibitions, no one looking over our shoulders. We also knew exactly what we were out to make, and did not try to shoot something unrealistic

John Lechago: At the same time we really did try our best, and within the boundaries we worked passionately, with a love for film

John Lechago: There are many reviews that stomp on the film, but other films made under the same circumstances have not had the international distribution that we did.

John Lechago: Funny thing is that I get a lot of good reviews from girls. They like the love story!

d3rang3d: I've read the reviews - e.g. IMDB - that really stamp on Blood Gnome yep - but I've found them unjustified - it beats a lot of higher budget movies on plot, appearance, characters etc. But, is there anything you would go back and change now if you could?

John Lechago: And, of course we have gotten some very good reviews, mostly from people who really understood micro budget filmmaking

John Lechago: Anything I would change?

d3rang3d: hehe, I first viewed it with my wife and her friend - they both loved it - I think you are right, both commented on the love story angle

John Lechago: No

John Lechago: I was amazed that we got what we got. Really, for the budget I think that we were lucky. I am very happy with the result and plan to move on.

John Lechago: I can never make a movie like this again. I really suffered mentally and physically. You have to sacrifice a great deal when you also have to do most everything.

John Lechago: I wouldn't change anything, because I feel we did more than we expected, and am thankful for that. I am now trying to put the finishing touches on my last film, and will go on to try and raise more money for the next one.

d3rang3d: ahh - that brings us nicely to Magus - which is looking hugely impressive from the trailer

John Lechago: On your previous post: I am glad your wife and friend liked it.

d3rang3d: ty - hard to find a horror that the wife likes, she usually hates them

John Lechago: I am especially happy that, considering its' exploitative visuals I have not gotten one complaint from feminists. I have actually gotten a couple of compliments. I consider myself lucky, because although I proceeded with respect, the subject matter was risky

John Lechago: Thank you about MAGUS

John Lechago: We had a much larger shooting budget. It is still considered micro budget

John Lechago: We were able to shoot it on HD digital video, and had a dedicated cinematographer, among other things.

d3rang3d: It really does show - the trailer alone should be enough to sell the film. Where did the story idea come from? The idea of secret chiefs, the Magus himself etc made me think of Crowley

John Lechago: The story was still rushed, but the main requirements of having sympathetic characters are still there. I do not know if it will be as kinetic as Blood Gnome. That is one of the drawbacks of even a slightly larger budget. We had expectations.

John Lechago: I did study general Magick, occult societies, alchemy, etc..

John Lechago: It boiled down to the idea of a duel using magical energy. This is not a new idea. I will say that I was inspired by Roger Corman's "the Raven". Also, Highlander contributed some elements.

d3rang3d: myself also - that's why the Crowley angle sprang to mind immediately for me - i used to be somewhat involved in those areas myself

John Lechago: Fun stuff!

d3rang3d: ahh, both excellent films - I greatly enjoyed the Raven

d3rang3d: I'm a Brit - did the whole tour - down to Boleskine house where Crowley did his Abramelin stuff etc

John Lechago: It has more cultural significance in Europe, I think. Here in the Unites States, Magic is considered fantasy, but it really was a part of history. I don't mean the "magical" part, but the political part.

John Lechago: And cultural esthetic

John Lechago: Most magic is taken from religions that have been displaced by the Church.

d3rang3d: That's true yep, here Magick played a big part in our politics and culture etc - less so in USA, other than for things like the Salem witchcraft hysteria etc

d3rang3d: ohh, agreed definitely - most magical practices were displaced by the church, and adopted into part of mainstream Christianity

John Lechago: Still it is great for fantasy, and important in that respect. Harry Potter comes to mind

John Lechago: what a phenomenon!

d3rang3d: Harry over here caused controversy - we had the church saying it would turn kids to Satan lol

John Lechago: Rubbish

John Lechago: Old Rolling Stones records played backwards does that!

John Lechago: Everyone knows that

John Lechago: Ha ha

d3rang3d: lol - yep - did the subliminal message bit on records - I am still relatively well adjusted (I think lol)

John Lechago: Anyway, the main focus with MAGUS was the special FX

John Lechago: As it was blood, gore, and nudity with Blood Gnome, I knew that I needed something to excite the audience with

John Lechago: It would also be what I used to sell the film. The visual effects have taken me over a year to create.

John Lechago: No extra budget, just me my software and my apple computer.

d3rang3d: They do look amazing from the few clips that I have seen yep - how were they created? Hard work from you on the PC?

John Lechago: So far we are getting a very good response. We have our first screening here in Hollywood on Feb. the 8th.

d3rang3d: ahhh yes, you mentioned a screening - excellent to have a date for it now - Magus I am really looking forward to watching - so hopefully this will be the first of many?

John Lechago: They were created by many hours. The techniques are rather simple, but the layering and attention to detail was very complex and time consuming

John Lechago: I would invite you, but a plane ticket may be too expensive. What the hell, you're invited!

d3rang3d: the hard work that has gone into it has really shown - I've seen so many films that are just trotted out after a couple hours editing with adobe - looking hugely impressive

John Lechago: Our premiere to the general public will be at the Fangoria weekend of horrors in Chicago, at the end of Feb.

d3rang3d: that's one thing I see that sets you apart from a lot of other Indy film makers yes - that you do few films, but have really put the focus into getting the ones that you work on right

John Lechago: I am just recently getting some recognition. Since I did not know anyone in this town, and I have no family in the business, I have to prove myself first.

John Lechago: We'll see what happens in three weeks. There are a few industry people who are coming. They were convinced by the trailer.

d3rang3d: the trailer really is excellent - deserves all the spots online that the big budget remakes are getting at the mo

John Lechago: Proving oneself is not a bad thing. In fact it is the way it should be. What gets me is the people who don'

John Lechago: don't have to prove themselves but get millions of dollars to make poor films.

John Lechago: With a hundred million dollar budget, I expect a good story.

d3rang3d: i agree yep - something worth doing is worth fighting for - it is really annoying the people who get the huge $ unproven, and still turn out trash

John Lechago: Oh well. or at least some really good gore!

d3rang3d: hehe, gore can be done on a low budget - things like cannibal holocaust, original day of the dead etc managed it - Hollywood spends most of the budget on big name actors and CGI

John Lechago: Yes

John Lechago: I love CGI, but it is overused.

John Lechago: I think that many films are too dependent on it.

John Lechago: Funny, we have been having more of a conversation than an interview. Not that I mind.

d3rang3d: CGI has become one of those industry totems yep - every production feels it must use it. It has its place, and used right really adds to a film, but so many add it just because it is the done thing - like a sex scene lol, hate those tacked on

John Lechago: Did you have any specific questions?

d3rang3d: hehe, we have had a conversation and not really an interview yes - but we have covered a huge load, this will have more soul when edited up than one of those standard "I ask you something" type things

John Lechago: Just so we don't miss anything.

John Lechago: Try one just so you can say that you did!

d3rang3d: I do have a couple questions yep though - we've covered tones, but be good to add these - they are a lot more general though

John Lechago: Ask me anything

John Lechago: except...

d3rang3d: hehe, ask you anything....except.....?

d3rang3d: you know what you say I can't ask you is question 1?

John Lechago: Can't think of it just now...

d3rang3d: hehe

John Lechago: Next question!

d3rang3d: okies, next question then - have you any funny stories from the making of Magus you'd like to share with us?

John Lechago: Good question. Let me answer that in an email, as it will be a bit easier that way. I don't think I have any funny ones, but interesting yes!

d3rang3d: okies that works

John Lechago: I could, in more detail, tell you about when we were finishing our last day, someone dropped one of the master tapes down a sewer.

John Lechago: I have a good one about Blood Gnome.

d3rang3d: uh oh - that sounds a disaster - and something our readers would love to hear (sorry, they like drama lol)

d3rang3d: ahhh cool - please tell more....

John Lechago: I was the first victim in the movie. Of course that wasn't planned. Our bondage model showed up alone. I asked her "Where's your costar? Weren't you supposed to bring your guy?"

John Lechago: She said, "Oh he couldn't come". We were under a time constraint, so my producer and star (Vinnie Bilacio) said, "You're it!"

John Lechago: The actress and our BDSM consultant (also a naughty lady with a sense of humor) delighted in tying me up and gagging me.

John Lechago: Not a good position for a director (to be tied and gagged), but I kept on spitting out the gag between takes and yelling orders. Fun was had by most everyone else. In retrospect, I can laugh at it.

d3rang3d: lmao - that's a good tale - grnnnhhh hggggg "take 2" fhryrrygggh - sounds an amazing scene

John Lechago: It's funny. Also I am a terrible actor, so I was lucky that I only had to play blinded and gagged. I can play a corpse as well.

John Lechago: Other highlight of Blood Gnome include working with the wonderful Julie Strain.

d3rang3d: if you think you are a bad actor, wait till you see the launch of d3tv - I am terrible - I can write, but cameras kill me

d3rang3d: ahh yep, Julie - wow, what a list of movies she has behind her

John Lechago: I understand. I have a great respect for actors. Honestly, I don't know how they do it. All I know is that I don't have to know how to act, just direct.

d3rang3d: yep, me too - i tried acting under various guises - never tried directing, but all I know is that I can write, the rest is best left to someone else

John Lechago: Julie is great.

John Lechago: She is very sweet and friendly. Not a diva at all.

d3rang3d: she comes across that way in her films tbh - seems to have a very human side, not that horrid showbiz side that might be expected

John Lechago: Not shy either, and can curse like a sailor! She is so much fun on set. I think Julie is the anti diva.

d3rang3d: hehe, sounds really cool - divas are to me all that is bad in showbiz - so anti diva has to be good

John Lechago: I have been lucky so far. I have not worked with any serious divas, whether they're female or male.

John Lechago: But divas exist for a reason. They can perform, and are ultimately worth it.

John Lechago: I imagine that someday I will have to deal with diva actors. But so far so good. For the most part, I loved the experiences I've had with my actors.

d3rang3d: No bad experiences with actors at all?

John Lechago: Cinematographers are a different story.

d3rang3d: hehe, then bad experiences with cinematographers?

John Lechago: No bad experiences worth mentioning

John Lechago: Well, only one cinematographer. His name will not be mentioned.

d3rang3d: okies, we'll call him "Mr. X"

John Lechago: Magus was my first film that I did not shoot myself. I hired someone who was supposed to help me. Mr. X

John Lechago: He is older, so he thought he knew a lot better than me. Whatever the case is, he only needed to do his job without complaint.

John Lechago: Funny, he was aware that this was my second feature, and the first with a cinematographer. Instead of being a source of guidance, he proceeded to my the experience intolerable.

John Lechago: Because of my relative inexperience I felt that I had to endure, and continue shooting under these circumstances.

John Lechago: I now know that I did not have to do that. I regret not taking action because I feel that the movie could be a bit different. It still turned out well. In fact Mr. X was very impressed with the result of the first trailer. So much so that all of a sudden he is very nice.

John Lechago: But all of the pickup shoots were shot by me. Much to my enjoyment.

d3rang3d: ahh, i can understand that - it's sometimes so hard to take action at the time, although you look back and think "i should have" - and all the better that he is impressed

John Lechago: A collaborative project such as a film or website is not a place for huge egos.

John Lechago: Talent alone is not the answer.

John Lechago: Working well with others is the key

John Lechago: I have to say to beginning filmmakers in any genre, that determining between assets and liabilities is a good skill to have.

John Lechago: It's been good chatting with you, but I'm afraid that I have to wrap this up.

d3rang3d: That's no worries. It's been excellent speaking to you - my pleasure - I really appreciate you taking the time out to chat, and got my fingers crossed for you that the premiere goes well and Magus gets the success it deserves/

John Lechago: Thank you very much, take care and have a good night

d3rang3d: Thank you John, have an excellent night and take care - and thank you from everyone at d3rang3d. It's been a pleasure speaking to you.

Official Movie Site : http://www.magusthemovie.com/