With Ken Yakkel, the director of SI,YKM. Conducted via Email on the 14/15th of August 99.
This interview was conducted by ME (Shane Gavin) prior to seeing the film.

Q. SIYKM's trailer and look has reminded me of a pop horror film from the 80s "Return of the Living Dead" (1985) directed by Dan O'Bannon. The Horror comedy is a very volatile mixture, when something goes wrong the film goes wrong, how did you balance the horror with the comedy in this film?

A. Mainly SI,YKM is a comedy in a horror setting with the familiars of the horror genre. The movie, however is played for total laughs. There are only a few moments intended to creep you out, but the main intention was to crack you up. Instead of pissing yourself because you're scared, you'll piss yourself because you're laughing so hard...or at least I hope.

Q. Will you be screening the film anyplace anywhere soon? It would be great to forewarn people.

A. I have talked to a few people putting on some festivals near
Halloween. Nothing yet has been set in stone. As soon as I have the dates secured, I'll let you know. If you know of anyone who is hosting a festival, I can be contacted by e-mail.

Q. In 10 years when you are doing your own projects, will you be
concentrating on the Horror genre still or will you have directors
chairs in all genres?

A. It's nice to think I'd have my choice of films to be working on, but that doesn't mean I would turn my back on horror. I always hear Wes Craven saying he'd like to get out of horror and do something else. I can't imagine to ever be in the state of mind that I'd want to completely turn my back on horror. I still have several horror scripts I want to do...it's only a matter of time and money.

Q. Also in 10 years, can you see yourself as a producer following in the shadow of Corman trying to start up the careers of film school grads etc? If so what advice and what type of graduates would you look for?

A. I'd love to be in the position to help. There are so few people in Hollywood that are willing to help others get off the ground. Most people in this business are self centered, I wish I had someone to help me out when I first started. Roger Corman is a rare breed. If I had any advice for new-comers to Hollywood it would be to make as many contacts as you could. In this business, it's not what you know, but who you know. It sounds cliché, but if it weren't true, wouldn't you think we would be seeing a lot more 'good' films. I would have to say, I go through twenty movies before I find one that I really like, and that's a pretty shitty ratio don't you think?

Q. SI,YKM seems more reliant on Makeup FX, rather than CGI makeup FX. Would you prefer to steer clear of CGI FX when necessary, by using FX from studios like Winston's (which always was the selling point of film in the 80s, the brilliance of Henson or Savini and recently KnB), or do like the look of CGI. Basically to sum up, in a film that uses FX what type of FX would you prefer CGI or MAKEUP and why?

A. I've always been more impressed to see what the make-up guys can do. When you deal with CGI, you have to have money, no way around it, but that isn't the case with make-up. Just look at some of the early Savini stuff. That guy can make a cool looking corpse out of nothing more than a roll of toilet paper, a stick of chewing gum and a sack of potatoes. I worked with him when I was doing crew work on a movie called "Killing Zoe". Savini made a burn victim out of Vaseline and spirit gum. I was
impressed to say the least.

The things that can be done with C.G.I. however, are pretty impressive too. Phantom Menace had some amazing work in it I must admit. It'll be interesting to see where the future of computer graphics takes us.

Q. Did you write the screenplay for SI,YKM alone or were their other people who helped you?

A. I actually didn't write the screenplay, a friend named Todd Luck provided the script for us. We did do a lot of improv, so I think it's beyond what it originally started out as. It was always funny, but because of a really talented cast, it went beyond anything any of us ever expected.

Q. Who has had the biggest impact on your directing style and why?

A. Oddly enough, it was a combination of several TV. directors. I worked on many shows over the years and did the first 3 seasons of "Babylon 5". I have more respect for the people that can put together a show week after week and do it so fast, that one entire episode can be done in 7 days of shooting. It's a lot more impressive to do that, than it is to direct a feature which allows you weeks and quite often months of prep.

When we shot SI,YKM, I tried to stick to the TV style of movie making, in low budget, there is no room to sit back and let it happen. You can't waste a single second. The people that can whip out good work in a short amount of time are the ones that impresses me most.

Q. In an interview with Monster Club you mentioned that you enjoyed the films of William Castle, in particular "The House on Haunted Hill".Unfortunately William no longer produces, but if you had the chance would you work with his daughter Terry Castle (who has been in charge of the remake)?

A. I would absolutely love to work with her. In fact I have a script that tributes the type of films her father makes. Coincidentally, last January I had the chance to go onto the set for the "House On Haunted Hill" re-make. I was sorry to see that they were remaking yet another classic...that is until I saw Geoffrey Rush walk out wearing a smoking jacket and an ascot. He looked like Price, in fact that's his name in the movie. Fingers crossed that it turns out better than the remake of "The aunting"...But
please stay away from a re-make of "The Tingler"!

Q. Date of Birth and location??

A. September 27th. 1965...Cleveland Ohio. I was born on my mother's birthday. How often does that happen?

Q. Have Corman and Kauffmann made an impact in the way you market and
direct your films?

A. SI,YKM is very much like a film either of these two would produce. Very cult-ish. In fact I'd go as far as to say it's the last cult movie of the millennium. But I'll let your readers be the judge of that.

Q. Growing up in Cleveland, did you ever cross paths with Wes Craven when he was a lecturer, or are you self educated?? What I mean is did you go through University, if so which one?

A. Never met fellow Clevelander Craven. I do admire his movies, especially the original "Elm Street", that scared the shit out of me.
I didn't go to school for film, I actually spent four years at a local Cleveland school for Graphic Design. I dreaded the thought of sitting at the same desk for nine hours a day. So I up and moved to Hollywood in 1990.
Working as a crew member in the industry for many years was my film school. The hands-on method is a great way to learn all aspects of film making, I recommend it more than film school. Why pay someone to learn the craft, when you could be getting paid to do the same. Could never figure that one out?
(bonus interviewer fact: Wes Craven also learnt his trade on the film set, at University he was into Humanities)

Q. Do you think you'll ever work with Roger Avery again, or are you aiming in a different direction?

A. I wouldn't mind it, but I'm mainly concentrating on my own stuff these days.

Q. In Australia we have the opportunity to get Government funding for film projects.. Is it easy for new film makers to get government assistance in the USA?

A. I actually had a recent discussion about this. I'm currently looking into a Grant for a C.G.I. Children's show I'd like to get off the ground. It's along the lines of "Re-Boot" or "Beast Wars" but with an educational twist. It hasn't been easy, so I guess the answer to your question would be.'No it isn't easy'. If it were, there would be more working film makers than out of work film makers. It's tough business to get started in.

Q. Sorry to sound so blatantly dumb, but can you give me a Character and actor list?. I haven't been able to obtain one anywhere.. Actually you have not been listed on the IMDB yet www.imdb.com .

A. Here you go...
Michael Todd as Edwin Vanlerberg, William the gay Zombie and The
Bartender.

Jamie Donahue as Anna "the Witch" Wortitski.

James Black as Eric.

Jessica Beckwith as Susan Vanlerberg.

Debbie "Dare" Dutch as Fawna.

Thankyou very much Ken for donating your time to answering these questions so indepthly.

WEBMASTER