Matt Orlando: I may not have admitted it, at first, but I think I always did. It got to the point where I was thinking that if I was going to be working as hard as you do as an actor or producer that I wanted it to be my own thing.
Shock: You hadnt really been involved with genre filmmaking, prior to A Resurrection. What made you want to direct a horror film?
Orlando: I was always terrified by horror, but I liked it. When I was younger, movies like The Exorcist and Salems Lot terrified me. I would be so scared that I would have to jump on my bed from practically all the way out in the hall, because I was afraid that something was going to reach out from underneath and grab me from under the bed. I loved being scared, though. I like the tension that horror movies provide. I think its a very important genre and its a fun way to escape. When youre writing the script for a horror film, you find yourself going through the emotions that the characters do, as you are writing the script.
Shock: Where did the original idea for the script come from?
Orlando: As a writer, you have a bunch of ideas just swimming around in your head. One of the ideas was to have a lead character. But, it just didnt make sense. There was no heart. There was no learning or discovery for that character. Then, it just kind of changed in to what it is. I normally have like ten ideas swimming around in my head and the whole thing just kind of took form; I started playing with it and pretty soon, it was the one.
Shock: You have worked as a producer in the past. Did you consider taking on a producing role in A Resurrection?
Shock: At what point in the process did Mischa Barton and Devon Sawa become attached to the film?
Orlando: I didnt have such an ambitious cast in mind. I dont know how we ended up with such a great cast. I never thought I would be working with Mischa Barton, or Michael Clarke Duncan, or Devon Sawa. When I wrote it, we didnt have a very big budget. So, I didnt think we would attract talent like that. When our cast agreed to do the film, I was like, Youve got to be kidding me. So, I was really shocked that we got the cast that we did.
Shock: You did get a great cast. And A Resurrection doesnt feel like a first film. I was impressed with what you were able to do as a first time director.
Orlando: Thank you. Im as flabbergasted as anybody else. I think I just got lucky in that I was hooked up with the right producers and the right crew. I really auditioned everybody, even extras, to make sure that they were right. We got really lucky. J. Michael Trautman did a fantastic job. We also auditioned some Pittsburg talent and they turned out to be great, as well. We just kept wondering how we ended up with such great people. Everyone was great.
Orlando: I should never act again. There are so many people that love it, but its just not my thing. [Laughs] I like writing. I write every day. I love directing. So, doing both of those things would be great. Writing and directing will be my focus, from now on.
Shock: Do you have anything in development, right now?
Orlando: There are two projects that we are actively looking at. One is a surf horror film and one is a suspense thriller.
Shock: Awesome! Sounds fun. Thanks a lot for talking with us.
Orlando: Thank you!
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