2001 MANIACS:FIELD OF SCREAMS Exclusive Interview: Director Tim Sullivan Vs. Brian S

Director Tim Sullivan has returned with his much anticipated sequel 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams to an astounding reception.  Certain films stick with you and have a special place in your heart, some fans have Star Wars, personally I have 2001 Maniacs.  With the combination of blood, guts, gore, boobs and insane comedy Sullivan has come up with the perfect equasion for the fans and it works to perfection!  I have followed the making of Field of Screams before it started filming in Iowa last summer, through the name change, petitioning to get a director's cut out in time for the sequels release, entering the world of Twitter, all the way to the film's release on July 20th to an astounding reception from the fans, how do I know this you might ask? Netflix rented the film out instantly and ordered more copies!  Many stores shelves sold out and also had to reorder!  This is the passion of the horror fan and it's being noticed and appreciated!  Take a look at the final interview I conducted with Tim Sullivan as he talks about the five year process gettng this film made,  the fun invloved to what he has coming up next to showing off a little of his comedic side.

Brian  S- Tim, why did it take you five years to get 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams made?

Tim Sullivan- I locked my keys inside my Mustang convertible, and being blonde, it took me that long to figure a way out of the car!  (lol) Actually the reason why there was so much time in between the first and the second was that it took Chris Tuffin, one of my original producers on the first, along with my new producer Mike Greene all that time wrangling the rights from the umpteen producers who made the original film so that we could make a  sequel (which was originally entitled BEVERLY HELLBILLYS) unencumbered by the committee of doubters and second guessers we suffered with previously. Yeah, miserable fucking situation there.



Brian  S- Ok, when you and Chris Kobin sat down to write this cool sequel how did some of these ideas happen? The ideas for some of the unique characters, the traps and the humor.

Tim Sullivan- Creating the kill scenes is one of my favorite things to do as a writer! I remember how Chris Kobin and I came up with all these creative deaths for the first MANIACS -- it was lots of fun then and still lots of fun now! Everything has to be a carnival game. Knifings and shootings are way too easy. And boring We just put ourselves in the mindset of the maniacs and think, What would Buckman do?  WWBD!  That’s the motto..  It was the same process for both films. The humor is just a natural outgrowth of my own sensibilities. I like to think the rather demented strain of comedy that runs through these films is one of their most distinctive hallmarks.

 

Brian  S- I'll miss Robert Englund but it seems Bill Moseley has fit right into the character of Mayor Buckman making the character his own!

Tim Sullivan- Yes, I agree. Around the same time the first MANIACS came out, my buddy Rob Zombie had put out DEVIL'S REJECTS.  Hitting all the conventions, I’d often have the MANIACS cast table next to the REJECTS cast table.  I became quite friendly with Bill Moseley, and Bill would always say to me, "I want to be a Maniac!" So together we created a character called Doc Tickles who, along with the Milk Maiden, performs the first big kill, buzz sawing Bristol Bush up through the lower extremities.  That scene still exists in the film, only now it's Harper Alexander who does the buzzing.  So when it became obvious that Robert's people weren't gonna let him do the movie, I literally hung up the phone and immediately called Rob Zombie, and I told him what happened and asked what he thought.  He goes, "Are you calling me to ask me if I think you should ask Bill?"  I said, "You read my mind."  He said, "Fuckin' A, man, that's the only other guy I can possibly think of to play that role."  So I hung up with Rob, and I called Bill and I said, "I've got good news and I've got bad news.  The bad news is you're not gonna be Doc Tickles.  The good news is, how would you like to be Mayor Buckman?"  And there was quiet and he was like, "Well, Robert did a really good job.  I don't want to imitate him, I’d need to do my own thing."  I said, "Absolutely," and then he said, "I'll do it."

 

Brian  S- I've let it be known on many of my articles following my "Road to the Maniacs" that this is the best looking cast probably ever assembled?  Anything to say on that, was it intentional?

Tim Sullivan- I like to think that no matter which way your sweet tooth swings, you'll find some eye candy to enjoy in this movie. Yes, that was most definitely intentional. And good business. Let’s face it- who wants to see ugly people get naked and covered in fake blood (lol)

 

Brian  S- What was your best experience in making this film?

Tim Sullivan- I really enjoyed directing the BROKEBACK FALCON scene. That was one of those “magic moments’ every director yearns for where every element of production from art design to costuming to cinematography to performances just comes together and takes on a life of its own. We had planned all these cuts- but once we started filming, we juts decided to let the scene play out straight through. Though I guess “straight” is the wrong word to use when describing that scene.

 

Brian  S- What can you tell me about 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams?

Tim Sullivan- The original concept for the project was: the Sheriff plows over the 'detour' road, and since the North's not coming to the South, the South has to go to the North.  We were gonna have the Maniacs land in L.A., hanging out on Rodeo Drive, Melrose Place, Hollywood High and all that fun stuff.  But there was just no fiscal way that that was gonna happen.  Mike Greene, my invaluable producer and partner in crime on this one, helms from Iowa, and told us about this amazing tax break for out of town film production.  It seemed like every horror movie was being made in Iowa, from THE CRAZIES to LUCKY.  So we went there and found this amazing spot of land alongside the Missouri River, and it all sort of came together.  When that happened, my approach to making this film became very similar to how it was when I first went to film school – You ask yourself, what are my resources? Who do I have to work with? What do you have to work with?  And then you write a script to fit those resources.  And that’s exactly what we did. The movie really rewrote itself based on the resources. So now, the storyline became the Maniacs getting in a bus and setting up a traveling road show in the middle of Iowa, and since they can't just come right out with knives and guns and kill people -- it goes against honor and tradition, and besides it just ain't fun -- they have to put on a show and seduce their new victims, and sing and dance and do all that kind of stuff.  As far as the title… Well, FIELD OF DREAMS was made in Iowa, and so FIELD OF SCREAMS became obvious. Ya know, if they kill ya, they will cum….  Ahem.

 

Brian  S- What about the 2002nd Maniac? There's a rumor floating around!

Tim Sullivan- Well, yes, Pleasant Valley does attain its 2002nd citizen at the end of FIELD OF SCREAMS. And it's a...ah, I won't spoil it. Juts make sure you don’t head for the bathroom halfway trough the end credits.

 

Brian  S- Sum up your 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams in one word!

Tim Sullivan- Exhilarating.

 

Brian  S- Will we have to wait five more years for part three? Please say no!

Tim Sullivan- Hopefully not but it's in hands other than mine. It’s up to the fans. If they want a third MANIACS, or any type of horror film made outside the studio sausage factory that offers something different then the same old shit, movies like HOUSE OF THE DEVIL and HATCHET and DEAD GIRL, then they need to make themselves heard- and the way to do that is to BUY THE FUCKING DVD and support the filmmakers who make these kind of films.

 

Brian  S- Would you like to say anything to the cool horror fans checking this out?

Tim Sullivan- Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars. Oops. Switched over into Casey Kasem mode for a minute. I just want to tell the fans to keep an eye out for my new TV series SCREAMS QUEEN which starts airing on VH1 starting August 2nd at 10 pm, as well as BLOODY BLOODY BIBLE CAMP in which I go in front of the camera to play transvestite killer nun Sister Mary Chopper. Don’t ask…

Brian  S- Thanks Tim!

Tim Sullivan- Thank YOU, sir. I deeply appreciate all the love and support you have shown me and my maniacs. It truly means a lot. Make sure to tell your readers they can keep up with me at www.facebook.com/NewRebellionEntertainment.