First Comics News: How did you become Executive Producer on “Werewolves from Outer Space”?
Renee Ebert: When contracted funds fell through for a screenplay that was under contract with our management company, my business partner and I decided to go Indie in order to produce our first movie. I planned on offering the executive producer credit to an investor and ended up proceeding with No Budget as opposed to low budget in order to get the project completed. I brought our “Werewolves from Outer Space” team together with Greg Isherwood which earned us both executive producer credits.
1st: What exactly do you do on “Werewolves from Outer Space”?
Renee: As an executive producer in “Werewolves from Outer Space” I secured soundtrack artists and filled in wherever needed, from taking the place of directors who were not present for some shoots, to securing a backup makeup artist when our effects person was unable to make it to several sets. I am presently doing post production work with my team to make sure this project is ready for a double release with Ghost House and Wells Township Haunted House on Halloween 2017.
1st: Is there lots of action in “Werewolves from Outer Space”?
Renee: There is some action in “Werewolves from Outer Space,” but it is mostly dark comedy done in the vein of a campy comic-book and the B-rated, classic superhero series. It is a pleasure working with people like you, Richard, who share a love for that style of pin-up and poster art.
1st: What type of budget did the movie have?
Renee: “Werewolves from Outer Space” had absolutely no budget. We had used clothes for costuming and I paid out-of-pocket to purchase coffee, hot dogs and pretzels to feed our cast and crew. I offered IMDb credits to everyone and rounded up an amazing all-volunteer cast and crew by offering promotion as an incentive. I offered producer credits to one lead actress and one lead actor who excelled in their field. I offered director’s credits to people who had the camera equipment and experience operating it. I offered 15 seconds of onscreen advertisement space before the movie to the person who knew how to do post production. Then I offered all of my soundtrack musicians a movie credit and soundtrack royalties on the backend, which will be divided equally among the artists chosen, including Buddy Powell who wrote our amazing theme song.
1st: Where can one watch “Werewolves from Outer Space”?
Renee: “Werewolves from Outer Space” can be found on IMDb and is presently in post production. We intend to release it as a double feature to Ghost House with Wells Township Haunted House, and we will start hitting up drive-in theaters. We are willing to offer this as an exclusive offer to distributors and there is talk of possibly taking the movie on tour with cast and crew.
1st: Do these werewolves bite and claw?
Renee: These werewolves most definitely bite and claw, with six-inch stiletto claws and petite fangs. As the theme song says, “They look real good, but they’re good and mean. They’re on the prowl, it’s Halloween, you better watch out for the big bad wolves.”
1st: Are werewolves from outer space different than ones from Earth?
Renee: “Werewolves from Outer Space” are a highly advanced race of all female wolf-hybrids who left home moon to preserve their species. They crash land on our overpopulated planet of genetically modified monkeys and that’s where the fun begins.
1st: Would you or have you ever done any acting?
Renee: I filled in as an extra when need be, but I definitely prefer to be behind the camera rather than in front of it.
1st: Do you have any ideas for other movies?
Renee: We are presently in pre-production for Ghost House with Wells Township Haunted House and Ross Clarkson signed an LOI to direct our “Just a Bruise” project, which five charity organizations asked me to write to raise awareness for domestic violence. We intend to do a book and documentary interview which will be free to the public, and then release these as a feature film. We will be telling the true stories of real survivors who rose above their circumstances to remove themselves and their children from abusive environments, people who broke the cycle of violence and refused to pass down such learned and hereditary behavior to future generations.
1st: How is screenwriting different than writing book?
Renee: There is much more “white spacing” when writing scripts. Paragraphs of descriptions are broken down to a sentence or two, as is dialogue. Movies are visual and written to be aesthetically pleasing, while books tend to immerse their audiences in all of the physical senses by painting pictures with words that often offer a deeper insight into the introspective emotions of character development.
1st: Have you worked on any other movies?
Renee: I worked on set with other producers and directors, including Joel Davis and his production which is presently being filmed.
1st: Would you like to turn into a werewolf for a day?
Renee: I kept a set of claws and cat eye contacts for myself, so I can do just that.
1st: What type of movies do you generally watch?
Renee: I like anything that is written well, but my favorite genres are documentaries, horror, comedy, drama, action, sci-fi and anything about theoretical physics, mythology or conspiracy theories. They all make for inspirational reference material when writing.
1st: Any thing to say to those who might watch “Werewolves from Outer Space”?
Renee: Prepare for a fantastic adventure, and welcome aboard!
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