HORROR TATTOOS: Part 2. Interview with director JOE BEGOS

In part 2 of our investigation of the link between horror and ink, we chat with Joe Begos, director of Almost Human. (Read part 1 here).

Midnight Madness Blog: I can see elements from Zombi, Dawn of the Dead and Videodrome going on here. What made you choose these films and what (if anything) ties them together for you?

Joe Begos: The thing that ties them together for me is that not only are they some of my favorite films, the art in question from those films is just so awesome to me. My only regret is not getting the VIDEODROME piece WAY BIGGER. I eventually want a full sleeve collage that is blended together much better, but tattoos are quite expensive! Very soon though, very soon.

MMB: Your editor/lead actorJosh also plays Mark in the film, and I noticed his tattoos are covered up in the film (except for a glimpse of his shoulder). Was the decision to obscure his tattoo sleeve deliberate, and why?

JB: It was, because not only does the movie take place in the 1980's were people with sleeves were much less commonplace, but I thought it could also look weird if the lead in the movie also has a giant FRIGHT NIGHT and PHANTASM tattoo. We did leave a few visible, but nothing from any films.

MMB: Have you ever experienced any kind of discrimination in the film industry because of your body art?

JB: None yet. Filmmaking is such a stressful ordeal as it is, I really try hard to surround myself with like minded people. Thankfully most of those likeminded people are all horror obsessed nerds like myself, and to be honest, the more excited that somebody gets that I have a VIDEODROME tattoo, the more I want to work with them!

 

James Woods actually lives in the town that Josh and I grew up in, and one day we were out grabbing some food. I hear a familiar voice behind me, and I turn, and its JAMES FUCKING WOODS eating with his mother. I go pale. I stop talking. I don't know what to do. So on the way out, we stop, and tell him what big fans we are. He seems to give the normal "Thanks" wave brush off (let's be honest, the man was out to dinner), but I just HAD to show him the VIDEODROME tattoo. I pull it out, and his mouth drops as he lets out a belly laugh. He grabs my wrist and pulls me in, and goes "LOOK MA! THAT'S MY HAND!!" He then gave us some AWESOME Carpenter and Cronenberg stories. Unbelievable.

Almost Human premieres Tuesday at Midnight Madness!

ALMOST HUMAN Screening Times:
Tuesday, Sept 10th, 11:59 PM RYERSON
Wednesday, Sept 11th, 7:15 PM SCOTIABANK 3
Friday, Sept 13th, 2:30 PM SCOTIABANK 9

HORROR TATTOOS: Part 1. Interview with actor ALMOST HUMAN's Josh Ethier

Horror fans tend to wear their love on the genre on their sleeves; quite literally, in the case of Joe Begos and Josh Ethier, the creative pair behind Midnight Madness' Almost Human. We caught up Josh for a little bit of show and tell about his impressive horror-themed tattoo sleeve.

Midnight Madness Blog: From what I can tell from these photos, you've got a sleeve combining iconic elements from The Thing, Fright Night, Halloween, Evil Dead and Cronenberg's version of The Fly going on. Is there a common thread between these films that made you choose them for your arm?

Josh Ethier: The common thread is that these were films that grabbed me on a first viewing, and still haven't let go. Films that when I first saw them, I had to watch 4 times that week, because I couldn't believe what I was seeing. And aside from STREET TRASH, each film on my arm was released before I was born. But we'll give STREET TRASH a pass, I was six months old when it was released!

MMB: I notice that you've combined poster art/imagery (The Thing, Halloween, Fright Night) as well as actual scenes from the movies (The Fly, Evil Dead). Was this decision purely esthetic?

JE: I started with the poster for THE THING on the back of the arm, followed by a prominent FRIGHT NIGHT placement right next to it. But I quickly realized I was going to need some smaller pieces to start piecing the puzzle together, and make it work better as a sleeve. Plus, as much as I like the poster for AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, it nowhere near as cool as Rick Baker's final creature design growling out of my t-shirt every time I reach for something.

MMB: As popular as tattoos have become, why do you suppose we still don't see a whole lot of them on actors in films?

JE: I think the main reason is because they need to be covered up. I had to get my entire left arm and chest covered for Almost Human. The only ones we left were the smaller, nondescript pieces on my right arm that the character could've possibly had. I'm not sure that Mark Fisher would've had a HALLOWEEN, PHANTASM or TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE tattoo.

MMB:  Would you like to plug your artist?

JE: Absolutely! All the work on the horror arm was done by Mr. Monster, who currently works out of The Electric Pen in North Hollywood, California. We've been working on it in between jobs, and I'm anxious to get rid of the rest of the blank space! Hopefully be back for TIFF '14 with some new pieces!

Read part 2 here. Check out Almost Human, premiering Tuesday night at Midnight Madness!

ALMOST HUMAN Screening Times:

Tuesday, Sept 10th, 11:59 PM RYERSON

Wednesday, Sept 11th, 7:15 PM SCOTIABANK 3

Friday, Sept 13th, 2:30 PM SCOTIABANK 9