There's a baaaaaad moon on the rise
New Zealand horror comdy Black Sheep has been a big hit on the cult circuit this year. And with the film flocking into UK cinemas this week, Screenjabber emailed some vital questions off to writer/director Jonathan King. So here is the lowdown on the former commercial and music video director's first full-length feature film.
First question: why sheep? Is it because, if you push aside that cute woolliness, you've actually got quite an evil looking creature? Or is it just because there are so damned many of them in New Zealand, in much the same way that Britain would be in trouble if teabags turned killer?
Yes and yes. The former is probably what my first thought was, wow, you might think these are cute little balls of wool, but these are big, strong and scary looking creatures. My next thought was that sheep are synonymous with New Zealand — and I could turn the combination of the idea and where I lived into a plus for the film.
If you'd had a bigger budget what would you have added or changed?
More shooting time — to wait for the fucking sheep to do what they were told — would have been the main thing! I would have also used that for more time on effects.
Do you think the film is as gory as it could have been, or would you have liked to have gone even further?
Well, another few days, another million dollars I might have come up with some grislier ways of having sheep eat people ... I had planned that my cameo would end with a particularly graphic brain-eating set up ... but I did have to scrub that for money reasons. But I'm very happy with the level of sheep-on-human carnage in the film.
You used a combination of animatronic and real sheep. Which were the more difficult to work with?
The sheep were, without a doubt, the more difficult to get to do what you want and to look dangerous. But, on the plus-side, they did look like real sheep! The animatronics were more cooperative ... but had to be performed, shot and cut carefully for the viewer to really buy that they're watching a living creature.
What are your thoughts on the New Zealand film industry?
Well, it's still a kind of cottage industry ... with one megastar director doing his own brilliant thing. His success has certainly helped the rest of us get films made — and have facilities and skill base here when we do. But our own population can't fund NZ films on its own ... and international investors need to get something that will work for them too. The New Zealand Film Commission are an essential part of most of what does get made ... but it would be great for filmmakers of there were other avenues here to pursue.
Do you think Black Sheep could become a franchise? Are there any plans for a sequel, or even a spin-off videogame?
Actually, I always saw it as a trilogy. Or, if it does incredibly well, I always saw it as a sextology. If I did go back, it would be like Romero revisiting his zombie world — part II would come back years later after the ovine apocalypse has devastated most of the country.
Speaking of Romero and his zombie classics, they were the the obvious influence for Black Sheep. What other films influenced you?
Evil Dead, Braindead, American Werewolf in London, Shaun of the Dead,
Jaws, The Birds, Jurassic Park ...
What do you think of the current crop of "splat pack" flicks — particularly the "gornography" (aka "torture porn") of movies like Hostel (1 & 2) and Saw (1-4)?
I saw the first Hostel and I think I made it to Saw II ... but I find their mean-spiritedness tiresome and depressing, and churning out endless sequels is the best way to burn out your audience on horror movies in general.
What's next for you?
I'm making a scary, dark fantasy-horror kind of thing called Under the Mountain.
Has the success of Black Sheep made it easier for you to get other projects off the ground?
It's certainly made it possible to meet people and tell them about new things. At the end of the day, no-one's going to invest in a new project unless they love it ... but having made a film gives people confidence you can realise the best things about the next one.
Is there a pet project you'd really love to make — or would it be tempting fate to discuss?
Yes and yes!
Are comedy / horror the areas you're planning to specialise in or would you like to move around the genres?
I think I will always make fantastic films of one kind or another ... but I wouldn't want to remain stuck in one little box.
Who would you cast in the inevitable Hollywood remake of Black Sheep? And who, apart from yourself, would you like to direct it?
Jake Gyllenhall and Heath Ledger, directed by Ang Lee ... no, wait, hang on ...
• Black Sheep is now showing across the UK. Read our review ...
• Jonathan King just loves his laptop — see Celebrity Squares at The Guardian