Steve Balderson Talks With WWFF

(Roger Ebert called Steve Balderson’s Firecracker “Brilliant!”)

WWFF:
In your bio it states that you went to CalArts. After CalArts you returned to Kansas to make your first feature film. What made you decide to return to Kansas instead of staying in California?

SB:
I hated that there were no seasons and it took nearly as long to drive across town as it did for me to fly there from Kansas. And I can’t afford to live there as well as I can here.

WWFF:
How did Cal Arts Film School help you as a filmmaker?

SB:
It taught me how to have respect for the craft and have confidence in myself as a filmmaker and never second guess my vision.

WWFF:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of working on film in Wamego Kansas?

SB:
The only disadvantages are the cruel or jealous people who want to put you down for having any sort of success so they feel better about themselves. There are other filmmakers here in Kansas and Missouri who say unless you move to a big city and make a multi-million-dollar film you are an amateur. Well, I’d rather be an amateur in their eyes and continue making the films I want to make on my terms. I just hope all filmmakers aren’t discouraged by those people and will continue to do it!

The advantages are endless: you get more for your money, no permits, free labor, amazing scenery, real seasons, no traffic, clean air, friendly people… I could go on and on.

WWFF:
What do people in Wamego think of you and your films?

SB:
They’re excited and very supportive. Naturally there are the few bad apples who are hyper religious and get freaked out when I show physical or emotional abuse, things like rape, incest, explicit sexuality, kids shooting each other, and all that. But overall it’s an amazing place to live and work. No distractions.

WWFF:
Your first feature film was entitled Pep Squad. You mention that it predicted the outbreak of school violence and it wasn’t allowed to be distributed in the United States. Could you tell us about what inspired you to create this film? How hard was it for you to create a film only to have it shelved because of a fear of controversy?

SB:
It was amazingly discouraging. But any time an artist is being provocative that’s what happens. So now I’m used to it. I was also very young when I made that movie so I still had a lot of growing up to do. Now I’m more used to controversy and I’ve learned how to take advantage of it.

WWFF:
I’ve noticed that the cast of Pep Squad includes your sister and father as cast members. Could you talk a little about working with your family and community in the making of your films. How important is it to you?

SB:
No, my dad wasn’t in it. But my sister was one of the main villains. She won the Best Supporting Actress award at the Killer B Movie Film Festival in New York for it. It’s great working with them because very little communication is needed to convey exactly what I want. In metaphor, my sister was playing Me in the movie. So I knew she’d be the best at it. Working with my dad is great – he has an amazing sense of business management and can advise me through any negotiation.

WWFF:
Johnette Napolitano scored the soundtrack for Pep Squad. She is known to most as the lead singer for the band Concrete Blonde. How were you able to get her to score your film? Did she travel to Wamego and work on the score with you?

SB:
No, I went to LA to work with her at her house. I can’t remember how I got her. I think I just sent her a letter or called her manager. Back then there was no internet – no one had emails. So it was much more difficult to communicate with celebrities or other artists around the world. Now, however, that’s changed.

WWFF:
What was the most difficult thing you encountered as a new young filmmaker creating his first feature film?

SB:
The first film went off relatively smoothly. I think it was because I hired an experienced film consultant to co-produce the film with me and walk me through the process. Eric Sherman is his name (he also ended up playing the principal in the movie). Anytime any first-time filmmakers ask me for advice, I always advise them to hire someone like Eric.

WWFF:
Your second film Firecracker was released in 2004 to rave reviews. Tell us about the story and where the idea came from?

SB:
Actually, it was released in 2005. There are people who work at the imdb who dislike me and refuse to change the release year. The film was finished in February of 2005 and out in theatres in the fall of ’05.
Firecracker is based on actual events that happened in Wamego many moons ago. I got the idea for it because my aunt was actually there on the alley when they were digging up the body! So I’ve always been obsessed with the story because it hit so close to home.

WWFF:
Your film includes many recognizable actors including Mike Patton from “Faith No More”, Karen Black, Kathleen Wilhoite as well as Enigma and Katzen from “The Jim Rose Circus”. Tell us a little about the casting process for your film.

SB:
Casting the movie was an interesting experience because I did it all without using agents or managers. I even had to fire Dennis Hopper at one point and replace him with Mike Patton. All of this is captured in the “Wamego” documentary (about making the film) which I send people FREE from my website (www.DIKENGA.com).

WWFF:
How long was Firecracker in production? Was it shot entirely in Wamego?

SB:
Yes, entirely in and around Wamego – in the actual locations where the real crime took place. Production was a total of 6-day weeks for 8 weeks.

WWFF:
I was just thinking that the story of your film company might make a good movie concept. Here’s the pitch “A feature film company opens up in a small town drawing in famous hollywood actors. The towns folk and actors must coexist amidst a cultural clash.” -actually I think David Mamet already did this one. Anyway….. What was it like bringing these folks into Wamego and how did the community respond? Any good stories?

SB:
The most hilarious was when The Enigma and Pleasant walked down the main street and no one seemed to care or notice. And Pleasant had 3 boobs for the movie! And they were exposed! Actually “Wamego” is insane and really great. We had our first transvestite a few years back, and no one seemed to care except that he was wearing totally inappropriate clothing to work. So the city officials called up my dad and asked if my sister could take him to buy some women’s suits or something decent. Because wearing Tina Turner wigs and satin teddy’s to work was their only beef. Isn’t that a riot! But the fact that no one seemed to mind he was a transvestite was amazing. It was just that he went too far with his wardrobe! HA!

WWFF:
How were you able to raise the money to fund your production?

SB:
Up until now I’ve relied on investors. I made business plans and approached people. It’s really that simple. However, that takes FOREVER to accomplish because dozens of potential investors say NO and you just have to keep trekking. I’ve decided now that I’m no longer going to rely on investors and I’m just going to finance my movies on my own. It took me nearly six years to find the $300,000 needed to make “Firecracker” so I have to assume it’ll take another six to find another $300,000. So I say it isn’t worth it to make films for that much anymore – especially when distribution companies are screwing you out of money in the end. I’ve made a new documentary about this and will have it out mid next year I think.

WWFF:
Any advice to future filmmakers in the midwest?

SB:
Never give in to the myth and the bullies in the big cities who will try everything in their power to make sure you never succeed. Just ignore them and focus on making movies for the right reasons. You can do anything as long as you believe it.

WWFF:
When Firecracker was screened at the Chicago Underground Film Festival in August of 2005, Roger Ebert gave your film 3 and a half stars. He commented “I praise ‘Firecracker’ because it is original and peculiar, but also because it is haunted; there is an uneasy spirit living within this film that stirs and regards us with cold, unblinking eyes.” What did this review mean to the success of your film and how has it affected your success as a filmmaker since?

SB:
It’s opened a lot of doors. The people who measure their success in superficial terms suddenly take me seriously. It also allowed me the freedom to know I never again had to read another review. Shortly thereafter the film was out in theatres in an exclusive deal with Landmark Cinemas, and then out on dvd. I saw The Fountainhead recently with Gary Cooper. And I vowed to never again be bothered by reviews or what other people think of what I’m doing. That’s an incredibly difficult thing to do but extremely rewarding psychologically.

WWFF:
Where was your film posted?

SB:
We did post both in Wamego and LA. We found it was cheaper to go to LA and do it than it was to do it in Kansas City. The people in LA seem to want to work with you and give you deals, whereas there isn’t any competition in KC so their prices are higher. In the future, now that technology allows, we’re doing it all ourselves. My new film “Phone Sex” with Ron Jeremy and Margaret Cho, was posted entirely in Wamego.

WWFF:
What do you like about Kansas and being a Kansas Filmmaker? How has growing up here affected you as an artist?

SB:
Kansas is beautiful. And for the most part the people are really great. I think as I’ve gotten older and more mature, I respect a lot about life that I didn’t before. And I realize the parts of myself I need to work on and grow so that I can continue toward some kind of enlightenment. Growing up here made me – and I know how cheesy this is – realize that if I wasn’t going to find it in my own back yard, I wasn’t going to find it anywhere at all.

WWFF:
What is next for you?

SB:
After I finish promotion for “Phone Sex” I’m back to the next feature. I kind of like not telling anyone what I’m up to until I finish it. I have no respect for people who “talk” but don’t “do” – so I’d rather just do and not talk. You know?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 11th, 2007 at 11:29 am and is filed under Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.