Screamboat director breaks the entrances and horrors of public access

Winnie the PoohS PaceS Steamboat WillieS Nowadays, it seems that instant recognizable character becomes public domain, someone immediately turns them into a horror movieS Why is this and what is behind the scenes?

To get these answers, IO9 talks to Stephen Lamorte. He is a co -author and director of Screaming boatThe Willie Slasher Palace, which is in the theaters on April 2. As we looked at the first half of our interview, This is a movie that may be a love letter to Disney, but it doesn’t come without some railings. In order not to be tried, movies such as Screaming boat You need to stick to some simple but important guidelines, which makes a very interesting exercise to tell stories.

So Average In 2022 – we talked to him about all this and more. You can see the line between the legal and the “Disney attorneys are very crazy” in full effect when you watch Screaming boat April 2. See the interview below.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.

Germain Lussier, IO9: So when you made a Grinch movie, you were somehow familiar with public films. When did you hear this Steamboat Willie Did it come and how did it happen that you got involved with him?

Stephen Lamorte: So after the viral feeling that was AverageWe knew we had to make a tracking. I don’t know what it would be, but we knew we would do something. And I was really trying to find out what this project would be like. My wife said, “Well, don’t worry about characters or IP or something of these things. What is the story you always wanted to tell?” And I said, “Well, I always wanted to do either a sloping trait or a mystery to murder, or some great adventure story that is a little scary on Staton Island’s ferry.” So I said, “Let’s smoke this concept and see if there is anything there.”

I’m from New York. I have ridden the Staton Island ferry thousands of times, walking back -back all the hours of the night, traveling to the college where I went to school for movies. And so I did a little research and said, “Well, which characters enter the public space that can fit with that?” And then it became clear that Steamboat Willie Then it was. So there is no way to put it in the public domain. But let’s take this idea, we will eat on the shelf, let it Marinova and see what will happen. And then, as we approached, it became more and more clear that the killer could really be Willie’s steamer. And by doing my research on ferry history, Staton Island’s ferry has ever fed on Steam. It’s like a perfect mix. And you put it against the background of the largest city in the world, New York. What can be better?

IO9: Yes, exactly. That’s great. So you have this idea, it gathers but with something like IP on Disney as Steamboat WillieObviously you are not the only one who sees this and notices it. And we know there is at least one more movie like this. Is it a race at that moment? Do you follow these other movies and does it matter if you are the first? I am curious if this is a consideration when you are looking for funding and all such things.

Pelm: I don’t know if it’s a race in itself. I think this is a race if you are trying to pick up clicks or titles or just attract attention, for sure. I want to say that our goal when we were striving to make this movie was to do something fun and fun. Something that really honors the character and made him fair. Because we didn’t want to do Steamboat Willie-In an incidental film that freely follows the design. We wanted to do something that was created where he was naughty, where he was little, so we realized that it would take time to do it really and to fulfill himself. Not only from the point of view of what we wanted to wait until it was completely in the public space before we started shooting, but also to know that the effects take time by shooting Gore Gags the way we do, it takes time.

I mean if you’ve ever seen a Horrible A movie, they will spend a whole week for murder just to fix it. And knowing that it is important to us that we are not only fulfilled, but we have fulfilled it at a level that made the justice of the IP, it will really be a fun theatrical experience, meant it would take a little time. So it was not critical for us that it came out first. The important thing was that we did it right and that we were really proud of the movie we made.

IO9: So what is the line? Is there anything you can’t do legally? And how closely and in what steps do lawyers participate in the process? Is there also anything you tried to do, but maybe it can’t?

Lamorte: Well, I want to say that I don’t want to go into something we couldn’t do. Because some of them will surprise you. And if we spend more money on legal, maybe we can do it in the future. So I won’t get into it. But there are definitely certain guidelines that we gave up in front, insofar as “What is the difference between the Willy and Mickey Mouse steamer?” “What will be in the public space at the time when the movie came up with what entered the public space in 2024?” This is appropriate. And then I really just look at it and make sure we follow the letter of the law. That we do not violate the trademark or try to create confusion on the market.

We don’t want the kids to watch the movie. We don’t want people to think it’s Mickey Mouse. We do not want people to think that this is officially sanctioned by any major corporation. So many of it just remain hyper focused on what is cleared and then stays away from the rest. Something else you pull the line is more: “Is it a love homage? Have we changed it slightly? Is it parody?” And there … A woman named Cindy in a blue dress, no one can own this, right?

IO9: (laughs) correctly.

Lamorte: That’s a lot of such things. And in fact, it was really easy to follow after we have gained the idea that Disney as a concept does not exist in the world of the movie. So at this point it allows you to introduce tribute because no one has ever heard of this character or this movie or this reference. And then, if you are inside and watching something outside the context, the reference may make no sense. But in the context of this world, we are like “A, yes, Disney does not exist.” Therefore, everything is a honest game.

IO9: Oh, cool. So, you have a legitimate viewing of every step, just to be sure, but there were strong guidelines that were the basis.

Lamorte: That’s right. Yes. And it was important, especially after The average, Many people said Average cannot be done. I have been in this movie for 10 years. And when it came time to do this, it was the same when the professionals in the industry and many qualified persons are like “Don’t do it. You shouldn’t do it.” But I didn’t get anywhere in my life, playing it safely, did I? So, we said, “What would it take to understand how it would work and how we could do it right and make it fair?” And we are ready to invest this job. And in the end, we forced us to stick to the source material, which went with our purpose to honor the character anyway. So the instructions are not, in the end, not as much as a reminder to stick to the script.

IO9: Gotcha. Now this may be obvious, but I still find it curious what your point of view is. When a character like this enters the public space, why will the instinct immediately make a Gory Slasher horror movie? Is it just because it is so 180 degrees from what we know? Tell me a little about why you think this is what we see so much of it today.

Lamorte: Well, I think there are many reasons why independent manufacturers gravitate to these rethinks of these characters. You could say, from a business point of view, you always have to make money in horror, right? And if you are an independent movie, you could make two boys in the woods be attacked by a snake monster or you could make two boys in the forest being attacked by something that people have heard. This is a brand recognition, right? Many people say they want original stories, but when they know a hero, it creates a factor of curiosity. It helps the independent movie to stand out because we don’t have the marketing budget to teach you who Mike Jones is, the adventurer is. But if it’s Indiana Jones, someone is likely to have heard of that person and maybe it helps you sell your movie.

But from my point of view, where I come, Steamboat Willie, Mickey Mouse, Middle, Similar Heroes, we have this nostalgia. We have this connection. This early love. But there is not much content of a steamer that is aimed at an older audience. And I no longer watch cartoons … I think there really is this thing I love now, which is horror movies and scary, exciting, surprisingly, maybe sometimes a little shocking, maybe a little risky, where I can now get this new way to connect with the hero I love again, “Oh,” Oh. Nostalgia woke up in me.

And I don’t think there are adults who see Mickey Mouse or Steamboat Willie in a themed park who don’t want to hug him. And I have to tell you that the first time David Howard Thornton went out into the suit – he has nails, he has teeth, he is covered with blood, he is like six legs four with the hat and the giant ears. And he’s like, “Okay, what do you want me to do first?” I am like, “You will hug me, you are a great fluffy fluffy, as if I just want to squeeze you!” He is so cute. His teeth and nails, his eyes are black.

And I want to say, David is super nice. But when he entered the door, the sun was shining behind him, you are like, “Oh my God, it’s six feet-five rats monster.” And he is just fluffy and fluffy and executed so beautifully that the crew started to arrange. I’m like, “Guys, I’ll have to start charge for these photos. We have to shoot the movie as if we were burning in time.” So I think the tendency to horror is certainly a financial side to it. But I also think we love horror, we love these characters and the nostalgia hits differently. Horror is such a fun way to connect again with something you loved.

Contact Steamboat WillieIf you dare when Screaming boat Hit the theaters on April 2. Learn more here.

Want more IO9 news? See when to expect the most native Marvel., Interstellarand Star Trek versions, what’s next for DC Universe on Film and TVand all you need to know about the future of Doctor whoS