Uncovering the 'Buried'
Ever wonder what?s behind the sick minds of the people who brought you Buried Alive? Today, we picked the brain of producer John Norris to see what inspired the series and how he?ll use old Kung Fu episodes to help if he were Buried Alive. Watch the latest episodes of Buried Alive and see the victims Before The Abduction.
What was it like working on something like Buried Alive?
The challenges presented in telling a non-linear thriller were complicated. Each episode had to work on its own--with a beginning middle and end, and at the same time represent a piece of the greater puzzle. The greater issue is of course creating a bad-ass show that keeps your interest!
Was it difficult to be on set while virtually every cast member was screaming or crying?
Yes. Yes, it was for me. But as John Carpenter mentioned once--horror is often not scary when you film it. Many of the cast and crew were laughing as we shot some of the most gruesome stuff. It's so over the top that it's comedy. Only in postproduction when you edit and add sound and darkness do the scenes become scary.
What were the inspirations used when trying to achieve the specific look of the Buried Alive episodes?
Paul Etheredge (Director) and Carl Herse (DP) had serious limitation going into this project. Essentially, they had to tell a story about characters alone and trapped in boxes. Not a lot of built-in visual drama. They hired an amazing production designer, A.J. Lekowski, to help create the looks for the show, and then found the best way to create the drama through the tight and dark spaces. We were shooting thirteen pages a day so we were flying through the material. Carl was amazing, and so was Brian Sowell and second unit directors Padraig Reynolds and Brett Knott.
If you were buried alive what would you do?
There is an episode of Kung Fu that I loved when Carradine is locked in a hot prison for days--he meditated quietly conserving his strength until he got the chance to surprise his captors and kick butt. I like to think that's the route I'd take, but in reality, I'd probably pass out. Forever.
What is the one item you'd like to have with you?
A working cellphone!
How long could you stay buried alive?
As Leslie Nielsen says in Creepshow: "I can hold my breath a long, long time!!!"
What is your biggest fear?
Spiders. Spider freak me out, I don't know why. I think it has to do with being bitten in a very bad place once. I'd never heard my doctor gasp like that before.
What else are you working on that we can look out for?
Paul Etheredge is directing I Am Not Myself These Days, produced by Clive Barker, Joe Daley and myself. I'm also producing Rites of Spring with E. Thompson at Maverick/Starz--a slasher film like you've never seen!
