Horror movies &stuff Interviews:Director Ethan Dettenmaier Director Ethan Dettenmaier is currently hard at work on an upcoming horror film entitled "SIN-JIN SMYTH". To say that the films plot is unique would be an understatement.The films premise centers around a Halloween legend that the devil appears in two places simiultaneously on Halloween night.In this interview,we get to know the man behind the film, and dig a little deeper into the movie itself..."SIN-JIN SMYTH". MR H:Tell us where you grew up? ETHAN:In the Los Angeles area and on the edge of Ventura County (California) MR H:Did you attend film school? ETHAN:No. I took my beating movin’ up through the ranks of the mailroom… MR H:Is SIN-JIN SMYTH your directorial debut? ETHAN:No, I’ve been directing a TV show in Las Vegas called Minxxx… MR H:Do you want to stick to the horror genre or do you want to branch out? ETHAN:I want to experiment with different things but I will never leave Horror completely behind… MR H:A few days ago we heard that Jonathan Davis of Korn was in talks to join the cast. What role will he be playing? ETHAN:There is no deal in place with Jonathan Davis at this time. We met over lunch (at the Warner Bros. executive dining room) and talked shop about the project but there is no contract between us… MR H:If you do agree to terms, what will he be playing? ETHAN:It’s best not to reveal that… MR H:The jist of the film is quite an interesting one, The Devil appearing in two places at the same time at different points on earth on Halloween night. Can you tell us anything else about the films synopsis going into moderate detail??? ETHAN:The story IS set against a Halloween legend about the Devil appearing in a quiet Kansas, cemetery but, the film itself is about two federal marshals who report to the small town of Shin Bone, Kansas (moments after a tornado warning) for a midnight prisoner transfer of a man with no past and no identity… MR H:How many other cast members have been rounded up for SIN-JIN SMYTH? Anyone we can recognize? Has the cast been assembled yet who are you still trying to get? ETHAN:On board are Richard Tyson (Black Hawk Down, Kindergarten Cop, Something About Mary) Jason Hildebrandt (Black Hawk Down) Lee Ving (The Decline of Western Civilization, Black Moon Rising, Clue and lead singer of the punk band FEAR) Jacqueline Moore (former star of the WWE) plus a few surprises we’re still in the process of working out… Mr H:Is there anyone you wanted to cast in Sin-jin Smyth that you couldn’t get? ETHAN:The script for SIN-JIN SMYTH (which is rumored to have a fake ending in it) made a positive impact on everyone we went after so we were able to build a steel cast of players… Mr H:Most horror movies have a goal in mind that they want to achieve within the film. What are you trying to achieve with SIN-JIN SMYTH? To create a new level of fear never before seen in film or to make it extremely bloody and gorey, all of the above… ETHAN:We started our pre-production work with the idea of striving to revolutionize the way a film transmits fear to an audience…I wanted to build something new. I know it’s a lot to ask of the people around me but, I believe, if you drive to put your best work forward, you will be impressed with the end result. Mr H:Is this a one time deal or do you have plans to franchise the film? ETHAN:You mean Sin-jin Smyth 2, Sin-jin Smyth Strikes Back, A Sin-jin Smyth Christmas, no. But if the film was to do well…if…the fans wanted it, I don’t think I could turn my back on any demands for a sequel if it was something they (the fans) wanted because we would have them to thank for the film’s initial success and our success with it and that’s not something we would forget! But we have a lot of work to do before we get to that point… Mr H:As I mentioned earlier, the film seems to take place in two places, the high plains of India and Kansas. Where will most of it take place? ETHAN:In the Kansas badlands…. MR H:What about the project made you want to be apart of it? ETHAN:The idea lit it up! And as a film maker, you need to love the idea above anything else, the paycheck, the people, everything…that, the genuine idea that sparks the imagination is what makes the movie true to the audience and that’s who we really work for… MR H:What emotions are you hoping the audience will feel while watching it? ETHAN:Fear! Excitement mixed with high-octane suspense! Mr H:Can we expect a teaser trailer, will it be released on DVD or in theatres and when? ETHAN:A limited trailer will be available but nothing extensive (I've had a firefight with my financiers over refusing to cut an extensive trailer that gives the movie away). And the film is set for a theatrical release…next June. MR H:Give me five of your favorite horror films and why? ETHAN:JAWS, Carpenter’s THE THING, THE EXORCIST, Whale’s INVISIBLE MAN, THE (original) HAUNTING. I also like Bob Hope in the Ghost Breakers! MR H:And why those films? ETHAN:Because of mood and the emotions those films charge you with. Plus the fact that they are all superior examples of quality film making.An art largely forgotten these days… Mr H:If you could re-make any horror film what would it be? ETHAN:I would prefer to break new ground and do something original! This industry can’t move forward until we stop rehashing the past! I think the system needs to re-structure itself in such a way so they can go after and explore new talent and try to shake things up…Let all these impoverished writers have a chance to put their best work forward and help move this industry into a new era… Mr H:Thanks for talking to us Ethan. ETHAN:Thank you for the time. Talk about "Sin-Jin Smyth" in the forums! ( Back to the main page)