- Jim Hollenbaugh is the Assistant Director in "The Creek". Anyone looking for more info on Jim or his films, can visit him at his IMDB page.
Q: Jim Hollenbaugh, can you explain how you first got into the movie business?
A: I was studying Sociology in college and decided that I was sick of paying a lot of money to learn something I already knew a lot about, so I decided to study film and video as I knew nothing about it, yet it interested me. I started out as a PA on feature films and working as the low man on the totem pole at a production company here in Central Pennsylvania. Since then I've worked my way up through the ranks.
Q: Would you please explain your role in "The Creek"?
A: I was the Assistant Director on the “The Creek”. A job I do infrequently but I do enjoy. I had previously been the AD on Doris Wishman's final film opus, “Each Time I Kill”, as well as Joe Sarno's “Suburban Secrets”. So, I had a little experience and Erik hired me on as the AD to “The Creek”. I did the usual AD duties, as well as being Erik's eyes behind the camera when he was acting in a scene.
Q: Knowing how movie reviews may skew the perception of one's product, give us in your own words what you want people to know about the film.
A: I want people to know that “The Creek” is not going to win an Academy Award anytime soon but that it is a damn good little Independent Thriller! It may not satisfy the gore hounds but it will satisfy those that seek more of a dramatic scary movie with a good story, rather than an all out Boobs and Blood gorefest. Not that anything is wrong with those either. As well the film looks really sharp. It was an all pro crew shot with pro equipment. It's not some backyard student film. It's a nice first feature from Erik and I think we will see some even greater achievements from him in the future.
Q: Now to the good stuff. Tell everyone what you do and how your behind the camera portion of your career started.
A:
Normally I am in the Camera or Lighting department and not an AD. I like to AD like I did on “The Creek” but I find myself getting hired more on the technical end of things usually. So, normally my day job is as the Director of Photography and as an Avid Editor at SR Productions in Lancaster, PA. As well I freelance all around Pennsylvania. I also shoot a lot and work for Pop Cinema in Butler, NJ.
My career started as I was a production assistant on a feature film called “Hollywood, PA”. A feature film with Amber Benson from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”. I wrangled cables, fetched coffee, hauled gear all over the place, etc. A fun time but a lot of work. I got the bug, and started making my own short films and getting on any set I could get on in the Pennsylvania area.
Q: Can you name some of the projects you’ve worked on what those have been like?
A: I've worked on a ton of low budget to moderate budget Indie features, small to big budget commericals, TV for History Channel, Discovery Channel, etc, tons of industrials, corporate videos, music videos, the whole gamet. A feature film I shot called “ROUGH CUT” hits DVD stores this week. It is a documentary on a local murder case that caught worldwide attention. I like documentary work a lot the best but really am excited to dive into anything.
Q: What's next for you? What else does 2009 hold for you?
A: Well, I just finished a short film of my own that I did with fellow filmmaker Derek Roden called “Dec. 2666” that is hitting the festival circuit. As well the “Rough Cut” release. I am continuing to work on a feature film about adult film star / broadway star Zebedy Colt, whom I also do research and writing on. A couple corporate videos and industrials are in the pipeline and some documentary stuff for some upcoming Pop Cinema DVDs. I'm also editing a horror feature on a final cut pro suite at my house called FLESH CRAWL. Good Zombie film with tons of gore. VERY low budget stuff. So, we'll see, lots of fun stuff is ahead I am sure.
Q: If you and I were to talk 1 year from today, what do you think would be on your plate at that time?
A: Who knows. A lot of the same probably. Shooting some new music videos, hopefully finishing up my Zebedy Colt documetnary. Maybe some interesting features. Hopefully working on Erik Soulliard's new movie “12 Bells” which we recently shot a trailer for on the RED camera, and looks amazing so far. Really killer stuff.
Q: Anything you wish to add for my readers and visitors? Something special about you that they probably do not know?
A: Well, I am one of 5 people known in Harrisburg as MOVIATE (www.moviate.org). We are a non profit film co-op and collective. We put on monthly screenings, mostly with in person experimental filmmakers. We do the annual Harrisburg Artsfest Film Festival, which is on Memorial Day weekend. We do a lot of fun events and I program for them monthly. At this year's festival I secured a 35mm print of David Lynch's Eraserhead, as well as several 16mm screenings of some very rare Andy Warhol films. I am also bringing Taylor Mead to town to do his song and dance and dirty poetry reading. So, it should be a good year. As well many dont know that I am an expert on film / stage actor Zebedy Colt and research his life constantly and have been compiling an archive on him for years and years. As well I am an avid researcher of sexploitation and adult films mainly from the late 1960's to the late 1970's.
Q: Finally...this is an "Obscure Horror Movie" website. Can you name the last horror movie you watched either at the theatres or on dvd, etc? How about name a favorite horror film that you have seen that most people probably haven't seen?
A: Well, the last horror one I remember watching was an old VHS of “Daddy's Deadly Darling” aka PIGS that I picked up. A pretty good one. Also saw “Curse of the Queerwolf” which I had never seen before. I guess those are kind of obscure. Saw another really good one called “TerrorVision” that was interesting. I'd have to say my favorite is the original Wes Craven directed “Last House on the Left”. Really a classic and a terrifying picture in my book. I also like the original Craven film “The Hills Have Eyes”. The new ones are garbage in my book. I like all the Christmas related horror films too like “Christmas Evil”, and I love Bigfoot films of all kinds new and old. “The Legend of Boggy Creek” is top of the list in my opinion.
Q: Thank you very much for doing this.
A: You are very welcome!
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