With the imminent release on UK R2 DVD of The Collingswood Story, from those fine folk at Anchor Bay UK, it seemed only right and fitting that Digital Retribution meet the man behind the movie.

My thanks go out to Calum Waddell (Fangoria, Shivers and author of Minds of Fear – more on that soon!), who made this interview possible and, of course, to the ever friendly Michael Costanza, who so kindly agreed to give of his time to participate in this interview.

And so…on to the interview….

Digital Retribution: The Collingswood Story has been very well-received by the horror community. Were you ever apprehensive about the reception it would get, as the horror community (especially online) can be very damning if they take a dislike to something?

Michael Costanza: One never knows the type of response one will get, certainly with a micro budget film the odds are already against you. I am totally in awe over the response COLLINGSWOOD has received. The horror community has been awesome to me and to the 'wood flicker.

DR: How did you first hit upon the idea of telling the story via webcam link-ups?

MC: I was bored with what was going on in the genre. This was before Rob Zombie and Eli Roth had sucked new blood into it. However they had budgets and a full crew on their films! I had one sound guy. That was my crew on COLLINGSWOOD STORY. With literally no budget I had to think of a premise that would be hyper cost effective, but more importantly I wanted to create a concept that hadn't been done before.

DR: What made you choose Collingswood, as opposed to creating a fictional location?

MC: Actually Collingswood, NJ, is believed to have had a sorted past. It's where the "Jersey Devil" was born and is adjacent to a quiet town called Haddonfield, where Debra "HALLOWEEN" Hill was from. While doing research inside the Collingswood library I discovered that in the mid 1800's there was a house on Lees Lane that was the site of some nasty and sadistic murders. Believe it or not, the story is based on events that did happen.

DR: Was the movie actually shot in Collingswood? If not, where was it shot?

MC: Inside my apartment, garage, basement and in an old house in Los Angeles. The exteriors were all shot in Collingswood.

DR: Have you had any response to the movie from the people of the real Collingswood?

MC: So far so good. Most are curious as to why I chose their town.

DR: As the story is pretty much told entirely via the webcam links, did you find it hard, as a director, to film something that is so static?

MC: I tried to have as much movement in the frame as possible. That's why you'd see Stephanie and Johnny play show and tell with each other, bring something up close to the camera, or you'd see them periodically getting up and walking out of the frame to grab say the phone, etc. But in watching a film that's static, the experience becomes very claustrophobic. I wanted the audience to feel exactly what Rebecca and John were starting to feel; boxed in with no escape.

DR: Did the actors find it a challenge to do their scenes without actually interacting onscreen together?

MC: The trouble was convincing them that the "webcam" concept would work. I believe in rehearsals and like everything planned out before I shoot. This was essential for a project like COLLINGSWOOD. My actors knew exactly what they were doing and how to react even if there was no one else there for them to play off of.

DR: The acting in the movie is very natural - was each scene delivered as scripted, or were the actors allowed to improvise to some degree?

MC: Every word was scripted. Since each actor was photographed separately on different days their dialogue couldn't be improvised otherwise their responses wouldn't match up in the editing. Had I allowed them to improvise it would have gone something like this:

Johnny: Show me your tits?
Rebecca: Didn't they find one of those in that house on Lee's Lane?

DR: Both Stephanie Dees and Johnny Burton give first rate performances have they continued to pursue careers in acting?

MC: Yes both have, they are extremely talented performers. Love 'em both.

DR: Given the budgetary restrictions, is there anything you would have done differently had the finances and resources been available to you?

MC: I set out very determined to make a film with what I had. That's why it's so rewarding to have received the response COLLINGSWOOD STORY has. Having a budget would have been nice but it would have been a different film with a different feel altogether, not the'wood flicker we have today.

DR: Thinking back on your career, can you remember what first inspired you to become a filmmaker?

MC: My obsession with film. Special effects, sound effects, editing, always loved it from a very early age.

DR: What movies would you say have had a major influence on you?

MC: PSYCHO, HALLOWEEN, THE EYE, PERSONA, ROSEMARY'S BABY, REPULSION, ROPE, CRIES & WHISPERS, BREATHLESS, GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER, THE SHINING, BLUE VELVET, DRESSED TO KILL, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, MULHOLLAND DRIVE

DR: For anyone thinking of making a low budget movie - what advice would you give from your own experience?

MC: Just be prepared for a long, intense, insane, road ahead of you. However never lose faith. Always stay focused and remain true to your vision. Determination, patience, good friends, and lots of caffeine have worked for me.

DR: Now that The Collingswood Story is being widely distributed, do you have any future projects lined up?

MC: I'm pitching my new horror script entitled LIMBS to a couple producers as well as a new supernatural television series to the major networks here in the States.

DR: Do you foresee a career of making horror movies - as filmmakers like Wes Craven and John Carpenter have pretty much done - or would you like to explore other genres?

MC: I'm definitely interested in shaking up other genres and believe me I will, but I'm still quite dedicated to making horror films.

DR: With Hollywood currently remaking anything and everything do you think there is even the remotest possibility that there will be a big budget remake of The Collingswood Story? And if so, would you be agreeable to it?

MC: I've actually met with a couple studios regarding a remake, and am beyond tickled to be meeting with a few more in the next coming weeks…

DR: Finally, all that remains is for us to thank you for participating in this interview, and we wish you every success with both this and future projects.

MC: Thanks mate! And thanks to your readers for their awesome support of the horror genre.

www.collingswoodstory.com

www.myspace.com/collingswoodstory