Interview:
Paul Hough, Director, The Backyard - 21st
November 2003
What
makes a good promoter?
A
good promoter makes you excited about something. Be
it boxing, wrestling, an event, a movie etc. They
get you so excited that there's a great sense of anticipation
about what you're going to see. Ditto documentary
maker!
The
ability to show something in a compelling way. No
matter what the subject a good doc has to grip the
audience. Doc makers need to be aware of this when
shooting their subjects or material and shoot it the
most exciting way possible.
Who
have been your biggest supporters?
Film
critics have been really supportive. Like The New
York Times, Chicago Tribune etc. Barry Blaustein,
who made Beyond The Mat, also really helped with his
support. He gave me a quote to use on the poster,
and because of Beyond The Mat a lot of wrestling fans
trust him - and thus have now heard of the film. Rob
Van Dam was also tremendous in appearing in the film.
Without everyone's help the film would not have got
out there like it has.
What's
the biggest misconception about making a documentary?
The
biggest misconception about docs in general is that
they're boring.
I
certainly have seen a ton of boring documentaries
- but that really applies to anything. There are a
ton of boring films out there.
Luckily
people have really embraced The Backyard and as a
result the audience reaction is a mix of humor and
shock.
What's
the biggest misconception about backyard wrestling?
The
biggest misconception is that backyard wrestling can
directly lead to professional wrestling.
Ultimately to become a pro you need to go to a wrestling
school. Most people think that backyard
wrestling is a pure white trash thing...but that's
something THE BACKYARD examines too.
What
other projects do you have in the works?
I'm
currently working on my next project which is a horror/thriller.
What
inspires and motivates you?
When
I was young I saw a lot of TV. There was one program
that forever shaped the way I look at things.
It
was like a Star Trek - but on the very last episode
EVERYONE died. All the good guys died!
As
a young kid it traumatized me - but in a great way!
I realized that it was unique and memorable. Its those
moments in life that are the most exciting, and its
those moments I want to create in my film making career.
...end.
Editors
note: Paul Hough is passionate about his work, is
unique and edgy. Paul is not afraid to push the boundaries,
and we will be hearing more from this exciting, talented
director.
Links:
The
Backyard official website
Australian
Sports and Entertainment Portal: Backyard Wrestling
The
Backyard: Film Review by Garth Franklin, Dark Horizons
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