|
-
News
- Features
- Events
Calendar
- Editorials
- Monthly
Zine
- Offworld
Report
- Our Daily
RSS Feed
- Movie/TV
Reviews
> Recent movies
> Movies by year
> Movies by title
- Book
Reviews
> Recent books
> Books by year
> Books by title
- Home
- Worlds
- Biography
- Bibliography
- Appearances
- Reviews
- Blog
- Community
- Press
- Links
Become
an Advertiser
- Web
Site Directory
- Search
the Net
- StephenHunt.net
- WoodenRocket.com
- Check
your E-mail
- Non Sci-Fi
News
|
Click here for printer friendly page
Interview with Dan Christopher
01/06/2007. Source: Nest Contributor. Michael Driscoll
Never let go of your dreams. Some day, you might have the chance to make them happen. Just ask Daniel R. Christopher of Lebanon, Maine. He finally finished his own movie, 'Saga Of A Crew' in 2006 that he had been forced to abandon in 1984 when time and money ran out. Michael Driscoll interviews Dan Christopher about the making of Saga Of A Crew. Buy Saga Of A Crew in the USA - or Buy Saga Of A Crew in the UK  Of course it went straight to video, which is a bit of a red flag, but you have to give him his props for having the guts to finally get it done.
The movie tells what happens when three men leave their space fleet to check out an unknown planet as a potential source of a rare material. Naturally, wackiness ensues but not in a good way.
I wanted to know how it felt to revive such a personal project and obvious labour of love. Owing to time and distance, meeting in person or by phone didn't work out, so we did the interview by email.
SFCrowsnest: Do you have a long time interest in movies and Science Fiction?
Dan Christopher: Yes I certainly do and Science Fiction is a particular favourite, particularly 1960s era films. I also enjoy a good war film especially if it looks and sounds historically accurate.
SFC: What was your inspiration for the project in the first place?
DC: Regarding the plot, I believe that after depleting this planet, the search for new resources or living space would be what propels mankind beyond Earth. As for the movie itself, I just had a long history of shooting one reelers when I was growing up and 'Saga Of A Crew' was a natural development of two earlier films I shot. Some of the miniatures in 'Saga' were constructed for those earlier films.
SFC: Did you have any particular influences?
DC: I would say the work of Gerry Anderson's effects team inspired me at an early age to build models and film them.
SFC: What inspired you to come back to the movie after so long?
DC: After seeing so many of the old cheesy Science Fiction films I grew up with coming out on DVD, I thought it might be a good time. I had always wanted to create a finished piece but never had the time, until 2004.
SFC: Why did you stop doing the movie so near the end?
DC: The lower budget video transfer I tried in the early 80s seemed insufficient and most of the space sequences appeared grossly underexposed on video, while the original projected films showed nice detail and nice soft lighting.
SFC: What did it cost to get the project so far and then walk away?
DC: About six thousand dollars.
SFC: How much did it cost to start up again?
DC: Around five thousand dollars.
SFC: What was it like to have so much to do, both before and behind the camera?
DC: Well I'm only in a couple of scenes as 'Captain Doppler' and a few no name crewman type shots. But the Bridge (Captain Doppler) scenes were confusing because I was trying to direct and act and sure I made mistakes and there were quite a few takes for example. I forgot my helmet. I forgot to remove my glasses. The script was in my hands, etc, etc.
SFC: Who replaced who and why?
DC: My wife Judith assumed the role of Nancy Becker and her footage replaced footage of the actress to originally play that part. Basically, the original actress, after filming some of her scenes later declined to participate further. This created a continuity problem and improvising was necessary. For example, the passing of the 'good luck charm' in the hanger was improvised because the Nancy character was supposed to be there to see off her father. Another not too logical improvised scene (now eliminated) was a double for Nancy stunning a guard in the hanger and commandeering a ship for the rescue attempt because the scene in which Nancy 'negotiates' use of a ship was never shot neither. So the substitution allowed me to correct some of that and expand the character.
SFC: Was everyone amateur?
DC: Mostly, though I do recall the lead Douglas Cranford did some acting with a local stage group.
SFC: The carrier hanger looks like a basketball court. Where was this scene?
DC: This was a former National Guard facility used as a civic centre in Wakefield, Massachusetts. We tried with angle and lighting to disguise the wooden floor and the centre court, not entirely successfully. [I] imagine wooden flooring would be in short supply by the year 2187!
SFC: You wrote that the planet scenes were shot near an airport?
DC: Right, just a couple of miles from a small public airfield. We were at an isolated spot near the sea shore, but not within view of the airfield.
SFC: How big was the place and did the filming affect operations?
DC: It was a small airstrip and I don't believe it affected their operations but one small plane buzzed us at low altitude to check out what must have appeared to them to be a downed advanced aircraft of some kind.
SFC: What was the local reaction to the project?
DC: We drew as little attention as possible because this was one of the stipulations of the agency granting us permission to use the site. Though isolated, it was nevertheless a public area so we had occasional onlookers. It was a great pleasure explaining the project to them.
SFC: Why didn't you make the look of the film more consistent between the old and the new sequences?
DC: If you mean the 'look' of the old versus the new footage, the set designs and costumes were consistent, but as to graininess and colour depth of the old I suppose some software can replicate the look but it was not at my disposal.
SFC: Why not do a new movie about something else?
DC: I would like to pursue further film making ventures in the future, but my budget does not allow for it at this stage.
SFC: Why not start the movie over with a total re-shoot, giving the better price of digital movie technologies these days?
DC: I actually thought of it, just too much work and expense. I was single back then. Also the 1980s footage is somewhat of a novelty, a sort of time capsule of what film-makers were trying to do back then. Hope that the novelty factor may draw some interest.
SFC: You said that once the viewer looks beyond the technical aspects they shall have a ball with 'Saga Of A Crew'. Why should we do this? Isn't it your responsibility to do as good a job as possible?
DC: If lost footage from some famous film or iconic television series were found in a dampened basement somewhere in an imperfect state of preservation wouldn't the fan base eagerly cry out to see it? Special editions often contain sub-standard footage as bonus features. 'Saga Of A Crew' contains footage from the 1980s presented which is digitally re-mastered but has NOT been restored. That is an important distinction to make. budget restraints prevented the restoration. If you want to see a digitally re-mastered and restored epic with pristine picture and sound THIS IS NOT YOUR FILM! But if you want to see a film consisting of never before seen material, new to the world, just released from its archive as is, with all its anomalies and featuring interesting Science Fiction concepts, then 'Saga Of A Crew' might be of interest to you.
SFC: Why did you take so long to finally release the movie? Why straight to DVD? Why no attempt to go independent?
DC: Perhaps it's a mid-life crisis. Also, locating and contacting persons some 22 years after having worked with them was a bit delicate and time consuming.
SFC: What sort of technology and software did you use to complete the project?
DC: Desk top, mini-DVD camera for transfer and ordinary editing software. It was necessary to use the old projection equipment of course to re-film the old footage digitally. I had to do research and ask a lot of questions. Special credit goes to cast member and friend Andrew Massey who showed this dog new tricks. He was instrumental in optimising my computer and troubleshooting many problems for me.
SFC: Did the cast and crew contribute their time during both parts of the project?
DC: The actors from the 1980s footage did not need to re-appear. Besides, they would have suddenly looked 22 years older in scenes if I tried to re-employ them.
SFC: What has been the audience reaction to date? Any feedback?
DC: Word is slow to travel for a project like this. Many people will not want to see something from the past that they have never heard of.
SFC: You seem almost apologetically ready for an adverse reaction to the movie. Don't you have any confidence in your work?
DC: Back in 1982-1984, when I shot most of 'Saga', I was young and naive and thought I had a great film and a great story to tell. Certainly the film has some redeeming qualities and concepts. I think, for example, the spacecraft designs were quite logical and convincing and the effects are OK.
SFC: How would you sum up the experience of making this movie?
DC: I appreciate the efforts of all involved. I am proud of the film but I am also realistic about the low budget aspects. Amateur acting or low budget production values can be hilarious to some and quite enjoyable. To others, a total waste of time. Serious Science Fiction fans will find something to enjoy here no doubt. I want that select group that enjoy such films to realise this may appeal to them.
SFC: Do you plan to make any more movies?
DC: I have some ideas but need to save my pennies for now.
SFC: Thank you for your time.
(c) Daniel Christopher, Michael Driscoll and SFCrowsnest 2007 - all rights reserved. Don't borrow without asking.
ORDER INFO: 'Saga Of A Crew': Region 1 DVD available. Visit the film's official website www.sagaofacrew.com to order. Some restrictions apply. Copyright restrictions related to soundtrack means its unavailable in Great Britain and region 2 countries.
|
|
