Talks From The Crypt

#26 - Joe Begos (Bliss, VFW, Jimmy and Stiggs)

Talks From The Crypt

Show Notes

Joe Begos, director of Bliss, Christmas Bloody Christmas, Jimmy and Stiggs, and more, joins us in the Crypt for a conversation about independent filmmaking, shooting on film, and carving your own path without the system behind you. Joe discusses his films, the chaos that inspires his work, his polarizing writing and visual style, and maintaining full control over his films. We get into moving to Los Angeles with nothing, skipping film school, self-funding projects, and the reality of surviving as an independent horror filmmaker. We also talk film vs digital, world-building and taking wild ideas seriously, practical effects, working with Eli Roth, and the current state of the industry. We give our thoughts on Scream 7, remakes, horror conventions, and the mindset it takes to keep making movies your way no matter what it costs.

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00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:48 - Moving to LA, Starting Out In Filmmaking, Writing Out of Necessity 00:07:35 - Joe's Polarizing Writing and Visual Style, Maintaining Control of His Films 00:19:53 - Starting Out In Short Films and Getting Into Film Festivals, School of Begos 00:28:29 - Joe's World Building, Christmas Bloody Christmas, Taking Crazy Plots Seriously 00:35:54 - Jimmy and Stiggs Sequel Idea, The Film Performing Under Expectations, Making Small Budgets Work 00:43:43 - Film vs. Digital, Not Making The Vampire Element of Bliss Too Obvious 00:57:30 - Joe Brings Gifts, Abel Ferrara Inspiration, Easter Eggs 01:08:48 - Arthouse Theaters and Video Stores, AI in the Film Industry, The Industry Is Moving Backwards 01:26:08 - Working with Eli Roth on Jimmy and Stiggs, Getting No Noise Complaints While Making the Film, Connection to Infamous Murderers 01:36:56 - Ryan Murphy's Monster Series, Joe's Next Projects, Shooting in LA 01:44:06 - People Take LA for Granted, Theme Parks, Conventions, and Haunted Attractions 01:54:27 - Haunted Attractions, Horror In the Mainstream, How Horror Conventions Changed 02:09:26 - Scream 7 Review (Spoilers) 02:17:31 - Joe's Texas Chainsaw Massacre Idea, Problems With Remaking Classics, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer 02:26:58 - Joe's Socials and Outro

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