What's on the minds of today's serious, young filmmakers? Find out in this interview of indie filmmaking team "Seven Oh Five."

Roman Cortez
Chito Arrellano
Tracy Tubera
Photos courtesy of SevenOhFive.com

StrangeStuff: Do you have any new short films coming out in 2005? If so, can you tell us about them?

Roman: Yes, we have a couple of new films we're currently working on and I actually just finished a new 4 minute piece entitled, SLAP. It was a solo project and is currently being submitted to film. I’d show it to you, but I’d have to stab you in the eyes with a fork afterwards.

Chito: We just had a meeting recently and agreed that Roman should start wearing underpants when wearing shorty-shorts. I was for no undergarments. I was out voted. Then we discussed which project we would begin working on. We decided on a short than had been shelved for a while but should make for a good high action, comedic extravaganza. I would go into more detail but it's still in the early stages. Were hoping to start shooting mid to late summer 2005...thousand (add echo)! Sorry just wanted to say THOUSAND (add echo).

Tracy: SEVEN OH FIVE is constantly working hard to push the limits of independent film-making. Fueled by the love for film, and the desire to become something great, SEVEN OH FIVE ALWAYS has something in the works!.....But for 2005 we ain't got jack!...We're all kind of busy...and junk…So, basically I have nothing to talk about....sorry.

StrangeStuff: When did your obsession with chimpanzees begin?

Roman: My fascination with chimpanzees started when I fell over the railing one year while visiting the chimpanzee exhibit at the zoo. Luckily, the chimps didn't make me eat ants with them, but they did throw their feces on me.

Chito: Actually, it's for any monkey or simian. I guess it started when I pushed Roman over a railing into the chimpanzee enclosure at the zoo. But they didn't beat him senseless like I thought they would. Instead, they took him in and taught him the finer points of feces throwing. Roman taught them how to smoke. That was cool.

Tracy: It all started for me when I was introduced to my first chimp. I was minding my own business, when he literally fell into my lap... after falling over a railing. He even taught me how to smoke! That was cool.

StrangeStuff: Has Seven Oh Five expanded beyond the Roman, Chito, Tracy triumvirate?

Roman: Seven Oh Five has slightly expanded but we still do majority of the work and we make sure we receive all the attention and all the women.

Chito: Dude! We have like an army of like...thousands (add echo). Okay when I say thousands (add echo), I mean I like to lie. So that way I look way cool... DAMN IT! I should've stopped typing after "Army of thousands (add echo)!

Tracy: SEVEN OH FIVE is such a tight unit. We will always try to work with new and interesting people, but the core unit will always stay the same. FRIENDS FOREVER!!!!....But the guys did mention to me that they wanted a new guy in the group who acted like me, looked like me, but didn't have free-will like me....I wonder what that was all about...DUDE CHITO! What’s with the all the damn (echos).....(echo)

StrangeStuff: If you were the Three Stooges (Larry, Moe, and Curly), what stooge would you be and why?

Roman: I'd be Moe - the straight man.

Chito: I'd be Moe - the straight... DAMN! F'in Roman always takes the good ones! Who's left? Who's the guy who always eats paintbrushes and coasters? Yeah, that guy. I'd be him.

Tracy: I would be the taller better-looking one. HAHAHA!! FACE!!

StrangeStuff: When are you going to do a feature film?

Roman: If all goes well, I'm planning on doing a feature film possibly at the end of 2005.

Chito: Once we get the money to do so we'll start. We promise. But not before we get liquor and prostitutes.

Tracy: WHOA ROMAN!! Relax on the 'I'! There ain't no 'I' in TEAM my friend...Did I mention that I got a solo album dropping this summer?

StrangeStuff: If you're not going to do a feature film, what's stopping you from making one?

Roman: As a group, we have a feature length film we'd really want to do. We would have made it already, but there are two important factors that are stopping us - money and time, but mainly money.

Chito: (see above answer)

Tracy: Roman and Chito. And certain laws against necrophilia. DAMN THE MAN!!!

StrangeStuff: If you are doing a feature film, what is it about and when will it be finished?

Roman: Can't say... It's a secret.... Sshhhh.... But it has to do with light sabers and hobbits and it's a trilogy.

Chito: Have you ever seen that movie "Steel Magnolias"? Yeah, it's nothing like that.

Tracy:: It's like STAR WARS and LORD of the RINGS smashed togeth....DAMMIT!! I just read Roman's answer...OK,...It's like Dragonslayer mixed together with Ice Pirates, and has three parts! That's a TOTALLY different answer than Roman's stoopid one!

StrangeStuff: How has filmmaking changed your lives?

Roman: Most people work from 8-5 Monday through Friday. Filmmaking, and all that is related to it, is a full-time 24/7 thing. And when you're not getting paid for it and you have a full-time job already, you can imagine the difficulty and the lack of sleep that it incurs.

Chito: I've always enjoyed making and appreciating art in all forms. Be it visual or auditory. Filmmaking is both. It's given me yet another outlet to be creative. It's also given me the opportunity to work and meet people who share the same passions as I do... share that is... passions... liquor and prostitutes.

Tracy: Film-making has allowed me many opportunities to...SCORE WITH HOT CHICKS!!!!...And soon, I hope.

StrangeStuff: Has filmmaking helped you meet women (or significant others)?

Roman: Women, yes. Significant others, no. But it has helped us land a lot of connections in the industry. People we would have never have met if it hadn't been for the films/film festivals.

Chito: OH, GOD YES! Dude, we get so many... um chicks... that, uh... Dude! Oh! Meeeeet women. Does it count if there's no actual physical contact or exchange of playful banter and you just look at their picture on the internet and your pants are around your ankles and... and I should really stop typing now.

Tracy:DUDE!! What did I just say as my answer to the previous question!? THERE ARE CHICKS O' PLENTY around the SEVEN OH FIVE PLAYAS!!..It's like BREAST FEST 2005 up in here!...they just haven't arrived yet.... God I hate my life.

StrangeStuff: What do you like the most about being an independent filmmaker?

Roman: The freedom to do whatever we want. BUT the thing I dislike the most is not seeing a paycheck from any of it... yet.

Chito: I really wouldn't be able to tell you. I wish I could but I haven't had the experience on working on a corporate film. I'll let you know once I do that. But for now I'll go the same route as Roman and say creative freedom.

Tracy:The making of films.... independently.

StrangeStuff: Do you believe the freedom of expression is being eroded in this country? If so, how and why?

Roman: Absolutely not. We are able to say and do more than say 20 years ago. I definitely don’t remember hearing the word “bitch” on TV when growing up. It's only been recently with the whole "Janet Jackson" and "Howard Stern" incidents that the media's made such a big deal over everything and making it seem that we're slowly losing our freedoms of speech and that's bullshit. Maybe people are pushing the envelope more now, but as long as there's cable tv, satellite radio, the internet, etc., people will be able to express themselves freely regardless of it's content.

Chito: "Freedom of expression" has always been a pipe dream. There are limits to what you can express publicly. You can express yourself just as long as you’re not dejecting the next person. I believe the state of "Freedom of Expression" is the same as it always been... MOB RULES!

Tracy: I hate two part questions...Yes, because the MAN sucks! I bet he will even _____ ______ my answer to this _______ question....SEE!!! ______YOU, CENSORSHIP!!!

StrangeStuff: What is your favorite movie (other than your own)?

Roman: My all-time favorite movies are Kentucky Fried Movie, Trading Places, Space Balls and Coming to America. I could watch each of those a million times and never get sick of them.

Chito: It would be, in no particular order, Star Wars(IV, V, VI and now III), Back to the Future Trilogy, Space Balls, Brain Candy, Raiders of the Lost Arc and a Japanese flick called Water Boys.

TRACY: The BACK TO THE FUTURE TRILOGY, and anything by Journey!

StrangeStuff: Who is your favorite director?

Roman: I have many... George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, David Fincher, Spike Lee, Kevin Smith, Guy Ritchie, John Landis, Richard Donner, John Woo, Tim Burton, Ron Howard, Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the Zucker Bros., the Hughes Bros., the Wachowski Bros. and lastly (even though everyone hates him) Michael Bay.

Chito: Roman's covered most of the directors I like with the exception of Wes Anderson, Quentin Tarantino and Roman Cortez. Yes, yes, I hear you guys saying, "Roman?" But yes, every time I've read and seen one of Roman's Solo projects it's inspired me to do something just as good. Most of the things I've learned about film making I learned from working and having discussions with Roman. But the dude's still gay.

Tracy: The two directors who believed in me and gave me my first acting gig....I'm talking about my PARENTS!...Roman and Chito who? Who are they?...oooohhhhh!! Yeh, them too!

StrangeStuff: What actor, or actors, would you most like to cast in one of your films?

Roman: That's easy... Kobe Tai.

Chito: Scott Baio and all of the hot chicks that dude's been with. I'll take Mr. Baio's seconds any day!

Tracy: Jesus! He RULEZ!

StrangeStuff: What part would they play?

Roman: Oh, Kobe would know exactly which part to “play."

Chito: It'll be just like "Zapped", except I'll be Buddy Lembeck this time and I'll say, "but Charles they're stewardessessess!" Then I'd get to nail 'em! The stewardessessess I mean, not Scott. Maybe.

Tracy: BATMAN, 'cuz Jesus can do anything...Like beat down some street thugs!

StrangeStuff: What is the strangest thing you've done in your filmmaking career?

Roman: That'd probably be answering questions and sharing my personal thoughts and insights on filmmaking, via email, to a complete stranger for their website.

Chito: Taking the title of Ms. Drill Team California in two consecutive years, back in '99 then again in '98. Good times.

Tracy: Making out with Ms. Drill Team California 99'-98'...OH GAWD!!! NOOOOO!!!!

StrangeStuff: Is there anything you won't do in your films?

Roman: I'd never film or make love to a gay hippy monkey whore.

Chito: Have some self respect. Ooh, or have someone vomit on me... okay... maybe I would. But it would be all CGI vomit... maybe.

Tracy: No.....Other directors/studios please call me!

StrangeStuff: What's the funniest practical joke or prank that you've played on each other? Who is your favorite target and why?

Roman: I slept with Chito and Tracy then openly admitted to them that I WASN'T gay. It was a laugh riot for me, but in the end, I broke their hearts.

Chito: I introduced Roman to his girlfriend. What he didn't know at the time was that she used to be 25 year old Mongolian man named Amnguchacacala. What's even crazier is she/he had both sets of tools, if yous gets whats I means(nudge-nudge)? After a year or so he figured it out and we all just laughed. He is still currently dating shim and is planning to marry herm in the near future. I'm doing the same joke to Tracy but this time I'm gonna use some sort of farm animal, maybe a llama.

Tracy: For the past 8-9 years I've been pretending like our movies were the ISH!! Whenever Roman and Chito would be all proud about our films I would just play along and be like, "YEH!! OUR MOVIES RULE!!!" When in fact, they suck the big DONKEY DONG! HAHAHAHAHA!!!! THOSE MORONS!!!!...They aren't going to read my answers are they?..SWEET!!! I wanna try to keep this joke going for a few more years! HAHAHA!!

StrangeStuff: Is there anything else you would like us to know about 705?

Roman: We've come this far already, so there's no turning back now. You'll see us on the big screen or little screen no later than 2006 "...and that's when the big bucks start rolling in."

Chito: We might be shallow on the surface when you first meet us but we do love going BALLZ DEEP once you get to know us. (note to self: erase last sentence and come up with something more witty before sending off.)

Tracy: For three guys who never went to school for film-making, we're doing AIGHT! "CAN'T STOP THE HUSTLE!!"

 

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