"The Office" Meets Zombies, Werewolves and Vampires

A lot of people are guilty of saying this exact line, but just how many people actually attempt it?

Not many. It's usually those that have a love of film and respect the medium that go on to make successful films. The ones who grow up loving both the good films and the "bad." A guy like Patrick Prejusa.

When I first "met" Patrick online a few years back, he was still working on his film, "The Midnight Special." Day after day he juggled filming his masterpiece with a real life job, his marriage and life's own nasty setbacks. Today, however, he finally has something to show for it all: a finished film.

Already receiving rave reviews from fans of underground horror and comedy, Patrick is just beginning to reap the rewards of all his hard work. As a result, it wasn't long until I nudged my nose into his business in order to find out just what it takes to persevere through life's hardships and a few camera malfunctions in order to realize one's filmmaking dreams.

So, first of all: When did you decide you wanted to make films? And better yet, why?

I was very young. I'm pretty sure it was around the time I had seen "Superman The Movie." It really made an impression on me. It made me want to fly and later made me want to make other people want to fly as well. I was hooked on all those movies around that time: "E.T.," "Star Wars," "Raiders," etc. It kind of became a joke in my family that little Patrick would be a filmmaker, then it just stuck through school until it was time to decide on a career. By that time, there wasn't anything else I was as passionate about.

Your first film, "The Midnight Special," is billed as the "ultimate no-budget, independent, horror, action, sci-fi, cult, b-movie, comedy." If you had to boil it down to one primary genre, what would you consider "The Midnight Special?"

Actually this would be my second film. My first film was called "Vampire Killer" which was a murder mystery/drama. It took 7 years to make and if you've seen it, then I apologize. But "The Midnight Special" is my first film in the sense (that) it's the first one I'm actually proud of and the one I actually like watching. As far as boiling it down to one primary genre, I'd have to say that it is pretty much a comedy. All the other aspects are really just background and dressing, but that's something I plan to remedy with the next "Monster Cops" movie. It'll still be funny, but it'll have much more horror and action. But this one will make you laugh.

Following movies like "Shaun of the Dead" and "Planet Terror," do you think that people are tired of the seriousness that seems to invade 98% of the horror films released out there like "Saw" and "Hostel?" In other words, do you think that "camp" has stopped being such a bad thing and is being more embraced by mainstream audiences?

To an extent. I think the camp aspect is now recognized by many as "fun." And I don't know if it's so much that the mainstream audience is embracing it as much as the closet camp and B-movie lovers are coming out of hiding. Also I think camp is just the lure. In the end it's going to be about the story and the characters. Both "Shaun" and "Planet" lure you in with the campy premise but if you look closely, there's some real character arcs there inside of well written material. Especially in "Shaun," there's a bit of drama that really pulls you in. Something I do as well in "The Midnight Special." There's a ton of comedy, but we sneak in a bit of drama.

Speaking of "Saw" and "Hostel," what do you think of the torture-film popularity that has shot films like "Saw" into the stratosphere? Do you think there's a point when it becomes too serious and, as such, does it cross some unspoken line?

I think there's a point where it becomes too campy. If there is a line to cross, it's one of believability as opposed to morality. Too much torture gets to feeling like they're jumping the shark. It's already getting to the point where now I'm just rolling my eyes. I will say that "Hostel" turned out to be a fairly good movie. In the end, it was a little campy and there were some moments of levity that made it a bit more "fun." I think the "torture" genre is a good one for the scares and for the fear, but as with everything, too much of anything is bad. Bad as in it just gets old.

Don't think! First answer that comes to mind. Your favorite movie?

"Back To The Future."

Your favorite horror movie?

"A Nightmare On Elm Street."

Your favorite movie in recent years?

"Apocalypto."

Tell me about the charity drive behind your DVD sales. You're giving $1 from each DVD sale to the American Cancer Society among other cancer charities. How did you come to the decision to do this?

I really came up with this around the time my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer years back. She is a survivor, thank God, but at the time you feel helpless. You wish there was a way you could speed through medical school and do a ton of research and cure the disease yourself. But since that's not my calling, then you really have to come up with some way to help using what you know, and for me that's making movies. I always hear of how this movie and that movie made millions and billions, and I always thought that it would be great if even a portion of that would go to a charity, we'd be getting so much more done. It would be great to hear something to the affect of "Spider-Man 3" pulled in 123 million dollars over the weekend, and raised 13 million for Cancer Research or AIDS or Diabetes. I figured I'd start with my own movies. I know it's going to be small at first, but that's how it always starts. So the more successful we get with our movies, the more we can help out the causes that need it the most. I'll do this with everything I make from here out. This is also fueled by everything my wife and I have been through for the past few years and especially in the past year. Her mother passed away October of last year from Cancer. It's been a heartbreaking past couple of years, and it's only fueled me even more so to do this.

What do you think the biggest challenge is facing filmmakers who are bucking the system and going the full-on renegade, truly independent route?

Now more than ever, the only thing standing in anyone's way is themselves. Technology and especially the internet has given us so many options and has really opened up doors in marketing and distribution and even in communicating with other filmmakers to make the movie. The cameras and the computers are getting cheaper. More people are looking for independent content. The time is ripe for an indie moviemaker, all you need is a good story to tell and the passion to tell it.

Tell me what YOUR biggest challenge was while making "The Midnight Special?"

It was the lack of a budget. If we only had the money. And I'm not talking about Special FX or CGI here, I'm talking about the money to pay the cast and crew. I worked with a talented group of people who worked for free, but juggling their schedules, as well as mine, was a nightmare. When you're not paying them, then you're at the mercy of their work schedules.

Was there ever a point where you felt like quitting?

No.

Are you a perfectionist? In other words, do you watch your films and find yourself kicking yourself for not doing something differently? How bothersome is this for you?

Oh yeah. Right now it's bothersome because I see all of the things I didn't get to do with this first "Monster Cops" movie. But it just fuels me even further to get the budget I need for the next one.

What has been your biggest success so far?

Getting married.

Fast forward five years from now. Where are you with your films?

I'd like to think that I'd be on my 3rd or 4th one and with the proper budgets to pay everyone and pay for proper marketing.

Tell me about your dream film. Who would you cast? What genre would it be?

There is one script I've been refining for years. I don't want to go into too much detail, but it's a detective story. A murder mystery filled with tons of action and adventure and plot twists and a comedic wise cracking detective. Every time I think of the detective, I see Bruce Campbell.

If you had to pick one director who you'd say has most influenced you, who would it be?

I know this is a clichéd answer, but it's got to be Spielberg.

What makes "The Midnight Special" stand out among other similar films?

Well, it's basically "Reno 911" meets "Ghostbusters," but I really make it a point to make sure the comedy is separate from the horror themes. You'll never see a tap dancing werewolf or singing zombie. Also, I'd like to think that the writing and the performances outshine any no budget/low budget flaws. I've gotten emails from people saying how surprised they were at what they got when they finally got to the end credits. Which makes me happy. It's a B-Movie and it's a little campy, but really the comedy is more akin to Christopher Guest ("This Is Spinal Tap" and "Best In Show"), but I try to tie in some dramatic elements with the comedy. I really took inspiration from shows like "MASH" and "The West Wing."

What's next for you?

Well, for the rest of this year, for sure, I'll be marketing the heck out of "The Midnight Special" AKA "MONSTER COPS: The Midnight Special." I'm really in love with "Monster Cops" as a franchise. There's going to be another "Monster Cops" movie for sure, but I really see this as a TV series. I've actually got about 6 episodes written. Right now, it's really up in the air about whether the series or the movie will come next. The series has been in and out of development with a couple of big companies. Right now, it looks like we may be working on a web series and then we'll go into the movie next year.

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"The Midnight Special" is available on DVD. You can visit Patrick's page and keep up with his latest projects at monstercops.com.