Melantha Blackthorne and Jason Cavalier Interview
By EMVG

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How did your company Robomonkey get started and how did you invent the interesting name for it?

Melantha: Jason Cavalier and I met on the set of another independent shoot. We were hired as lead actors and the director’s goal was to sell the film to my legion of fans. However, the outcome was somewhat disappointing, as the film contained no "genre elements", was long and overly "verbose". We both felt that the fans would be terribly unsatisfied and knew that we could do a much better job, and that is what we set out to do!

Jason: I can’t remember exactly how we came up with the name, we just wanted something that would evoke an image from exploitation cinema [i.e. King Kong] but that would still have a "sci-fi' feel to it, so a "robot-monkey" was born.

You co-directed Sinners & Saints - Jason directed the top-notch action and Melantha was responsible for else. Was this easy decision or where there conflicts ie. "artistic indifferences"?

There were a few differences of opinion, things like certain camera angles or how a sequence should be shot, but surprisingly we never fought on the extremes that a sequence could be taken - we both love exploitation cinema and think that it shows in the final result. With that said…our next project is going to be an anthology style film in which we will each direct our own segments.

What was the most difficult part of making Sinners and Saints?

Jason: The lack of money and erratic schedule, but more the erratic schedule, no money is something I'm used to, having grown up shooting super 8 films on weekends with my friends.

Melantha: Lack of money and an erratic schedule were indeed a task but my greatest challenge to date was gaining the respect and trust of the cast and crew (you would think it the cast would want to gain the directors respect). In the film industry men and even women, tend to have less confidence in female directors. During the shooting of Sinners and Saints, I had to prove my abilities three times as much as my partner Jason before the cast and crew finally accepted my authority. Let’s face it…we are working in a male-dominated industry.

I can't really name any particular film, that resembles me of Sinners and Saints but for example the characters Divoqusuera, Salacicia and Desderexx reminded me of Hellraiser's Cenobites. Am I right or am I "on the wrong track" here?

Jason: Hmm, good comparison. That wasn't the original intention but I can see the similarities. Cenobites have much better make-up, but ours are naked.

Melantha: Although I am a Clive Barker fan it wasn’t my intention nor did I see the similarities until you mentioned it. I do thrive on being original and make a conscious effort not to be overly influenced by other filmmakers. I prefer to use the powers of my unhinged mind allowing my own fears, fantasies and sexual desires to be the main source of influence.

Did you ever question yourself whether gore & sex scenes went too extreme? My jaw dropped off few times, but I was having fun (It was like seeing the best and most infamous CAT III films of Hong Kong first time years ago - so politically incorrect that you have to make sure your wife wasn't around to question your sanity..

Jason: No. I've seen worse, plus it’s taken with a sense of humor.

Melantha: I am completely desensitized when it comes to sex and death so my answer would have to be no. If you think Sinners and Saints was extreme then strap yourself to your seat for my next film Inbred and Undead.

Who do you consider as biggest influence in action scenes you directed - or then again, is there particular genre you would like to name as influence.

Jason: So many. Sam Raimi to Ryuhei Kitamura, Sergio Leone to more recently, Darren Aronofsky. We reshot some scenes in sinners after having watched Requiem for a Dream- we were blown away by the p.o.v. shots. This admiration has paid off recently because I just completed a contract choreographing fights for Aronofsky's latest film "The Fountain".

Melantha: Having to shoot most of the action scenes in Sinners and Saints my biggest influence for composition and movement would have to be Ryuhei Kitamura’s Versus. This film is an absolute piece of art!!! My other influences include José Mojica Marins, Sam Raimi, Peter Jackson and Takashi Miike.

Melantha, how did you came up with Countess Bathoria thing? If I did understand correctly, you are a model orientated into gothic, horror and dark erotica. Is that your day job, so to say?

Bathoria is very much a part of who I am…. perhaps the darkness that lies within my soul.

My day job includes many things…all of which are artistic outlets in which I can channel my creative energies. I’ve been fortunate enough to make a living doing what I love.

Jason, you have been acting in genre films like Screamers, Battlefield Earth, Highlander III, Scanners II & III and Gothika. How do you see the whole microcinema scene compared to Hollywood productions? Do you think that microcinema helps aspiring directors to get into the "real" movie business.

I believe it can, but for me it’s more about freedom. In the "real" business it’s difficult to express yourself the way you want. These films have to make money, and they have to appeal to the largest common denominator in order to do that-its rare that an arthouse or exploitation style director will get the chance to shine unless he also proves that his work is bankable. Look what happened to John Woo after coming stateside. His work was bankable but studios still felt the need to "temper" him for north american audiences. Hopefully, microcinema WILL be a "real" business in its own right, and give the chance to people everywhere to get in on the game. Then we will see unique visions from all over the world. Currently, I'm trying to track down films made by Phanna Rittikrai, he was kind of a Thai version of Jackie Chan, and he was responsible for the action direction in Ong-Bak, a thai martial arts film that is amazing. Pannas early films were made with no budget, and were projected on white sheets at local village film festivals. If anyone out there has a way to find these gems, let me know!

I presume you both are Canadian (though Robomonkey's address says New York) - does it show in Sinners and Saints in any way? There are some similarities (mostly in style) to SV Bell's films (besides Melantha acting in The Night They Returned).

We are not aware of any overt Canadianisms, other than the fact that it was filmed on Canadian soil. As for SV Bell’s films we believe the only similarities are the exploitational content and the fact that we shot on digital video.

And Robomonkey's next production is...?

Jason and I are currently in pre production with a project entitled "Countess Bathoria’s Graveyard Picture Show". It will include six twisted tales of the undead in an anthology-style film that revolve around one fateful accident in the same small town. These flesh-munching shorts are sure to provide titillating "deadtime" thrills…stay tuned!!!