Strange Stuff - Old School Sinema Interview

Plus with Old School Sinema, we have the freedom to make films on a shoe-string budget. There's no corporate pressure, or even pressure to make a film for the mainstream masses. These movies are geared to a specific niche audience, and a very faithful one at that.

StrangeStuff: Is the horror anthology still the next project for you? If so, when do you plan on starting production?

Ostrica: We have an anthology in the works that is in the tradition of "Tales from the Crypt" and "Creepshow." It's a series of short films that will probably be approximately 22 minutes apiece and feature different characters and plot lines in every episode. We will have a horror hostess introduce each episode. Not campy like Elvira, but definitely sexy. We expect to have the first few episodes completed by the end of the year. We'll either air it on television or package a few together on a feature length DVD.

Old School Sinema president, Joe Ostrica, directs actress
Anne Rinehart in a scene from the comedy "GUYS."

StrangeStuff: What other projects are you working on and when do you plan on starting production?

Ostrica: We have three feature films that we hope to shoot in 2006. The first one is "Bad Connection"
I guess it's kind of like a "Fatal Attraction" for the 21st Century. It's about a man who meets women over the internet and one day he picks the wrong woman to mess with. I expect it to raise a lot of discussion and creep people out.

"Unchained" is sort of my homage to the early 80's works of one of my favorite filmmakers, Brian De Palma.
You know, those erotic thrillers like "Dressed to Kill" and "Body Double." The story follows an average guy whose life gets turned upside down. He becomes seduced by an underground society that is completely new to him. It's a peek inside the life of a dominatrix and our main character thinks he can get his life back on track with this woman and in this world.

Another movie we're producing is called "Suicide Squad." I'm really excited about this one. With this film we're bringing back the chicks that kick-ass genre, which Russ Meyer helped create with his classic "Faster, Pussycat. Kill! Kill!" This project is fun to write. It's going to be a blast to make it and I can't wait to see audiences react to the final project. We hope this will become a franchise for Old School Sinema.

StrangeStuff: Will you be writing and directing the projects?

Ostrica: I am writing the feature films and will probably direct all of them too. If I'm doing both duties, I'll definitely have a producing partner helping out. I'm also open to working with a writing partner on projects. I think it would be fun to collaborate with someone on a script from the beginning of the process.

As far as the anthology goes, I'm primarily serving as executive producer for the series. I may write and/or direct a couple of shows, but it's primarily a vehicle to help develop young, fresh talent. I love working with energetic writers and directors who are just getting their careers started.

StrangeStuff: Will you be shooting on digital or film?

Ostrica: Because we expect most of our projects to go straight to DVD, and due to the low budget nature of the Old School Sinema productions, everything will definitely be shot digitally at this time. With the amazing 24p cameras out on the market today, audiences don't seem to really care. If you tell them a good story and the production is done well, they don't care what kind of film stock you're using.

StrangeStuff: Are you still looking for actors and crew?

Ostrica: We're always looking for actors and crew members because we have so many projects in development simultaneously. They can check us out on the internet at www.oldschoolsinema.com and if anyone wants to get involved, send me an e-mail to projects@oldschoolsinema.com

StrangeStuff: Who/what are your influences in film?

Ostrica: I could spend half a day answering that question (laughs). I love a variety of filmmakers and genres, so my tastes is all over the map. Here are the directors whose movies I would go see on opening day in no particular order: Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, Wes Anderson, David Lynch, Ridley Scott, Brian De Palma, Oliver Stone, the Coen brothers, Danny Boyle, Darren Aronofsky and countless others. Kubrick and Welles are of course geniuses whose work I greatly admire. I like a lot of indie directors too. Roger Avery, Terry Zwigoff and Vincent Gallo come to mind at the moment. There are a lot I like.

Some of my favorite genre filmmakers are John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Don Coscarelli, Tobe Hooper and Sam Raimi. I think Rob Zombie is a true artist and with "Devil's Rejects," we may have just gotten a glimpse of the next great filmmaker. Not just horror but a true talent, like a Tarantino. I really liked what Eli Roth did with "Cabin Fever" and can't wait to see what he does next. I also loved "Saw" a lot and look forward to the next movie from those guys.

I also love comedies. Big mainstream ones with Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Jack Black and a ton of others. I love quirky comedies like "Ghost World" and I love raunchy comedies like "Bad Santa." Anything by Kevin Smith, ZAZ, the Farrelly brothers, the early films of John Landis and I am there. I told you, I'm all over the map and I plan on reflecting my taste through the projects I produce.

StrangeStuff: Will you be at Cinema Wasteland this year?

Ostrica: Yes I will be attending. I won't have a table this time. I going as a straight-up fan. The big geek that I am (laughs). I can't wait. You'll probably also catch me at several more of these conventions around the midwest, particularly the ones in northeastern Ohio. And you just might get to see some of our lovely Sinema Siren models in person at these events too. Check them out on the web site and keep checking it for more updates.

Thanks to Joe Ostrica for taking the time out of his busy schedule to talk to us about Old School Sinema. For a special treat, check out the Sinema Sirens.

[Ground Zero] [Experiments] [Stuff u Want] [Evidence] [FAQ's] [Make Contact]