Jason Dugre Talks the Insane Horror of Saint Bernard from Severin Movies [Exclusive]
Are you prepared for the weirdest film of the summer season? Legendary FX Grasp Gabe Bartalos is again with a hallucinatory horror journey like no different with the totally unusual and generally downright stunning horror expertise Saint Bernard. That is Bartalos’ second directorial function, leaping behind the digital camera for the primary time since his 2004 cult favourite Skinned Deep. However Bartalos is maybe higher often called the horror grasp behind the FX in a few of the greatest horror franchises of all-time, along with his films together with Gremlins 2, Leprechaun, Dolls, Texas Chainsaw Bloodbath 2, Friday the 13th Half VI: Jason Lives and so many extra.
Bartalos brings again his previous buddy Warwick Davis from the Leprechaun franchise for a job in Saint Bernard, which is nearly not possible to explain in easy phrases. The film was shot on each 16mm and 35mm, giving it a really distinct feel and look that’s not of this earth. You may inform by watching the Saint Bernard trailer that you simply’re in for a deal with.
The story follows a classical musical conductor who takes to carrying across the severed head of a Saint Bernard canine. Jason Dugre performs the conductor, who’s identify coincidently occurs to be Bernard, taking the person on a journey by way of madness, letting him wallow within the abyss of insanity. It’s being referred to as ‘a must-see for the actually adventurous’. The film is now out there on Blu-ray, DVD and most digital platforms. Jason Dugre provided his tackle the film, and the way he obtained wrapped up on this psychedelic journey.
Associated: Saint Bernard Assessment: Extremely Weird But Oddly Compelling
You are constructing a powerful resume for your self. How have you ever been selecting your tasks?
Jason Dugre: Nicely, thanks! Largely although, at this level in my profession, it is extra like it’s within the Wizarding World. You recognize, the wand chooses the wizard. Nicely, the tasks, they select me. Or perhaps it is the casting administrators. Or the producers. I do not know however somebody is selecting me. And I hope they proceed to take action.
And the way did Saint Bernard come to be?
Jason Dugre: It was developed in Gabe’s mind at the beginning. That is actually the place the magic occurs. After which when it got here time for him to comprehend his mind footage, he requested me to leap on board. He had solid me beforehand in his first movie, Skinned Deep. That film had been a loopy expertise, which included me getting arrested for working bare by way of Occasions Sq. in New York Metropolis. So evidently, when Gabe requested me to do that new film, I jumped on the probability! HA! Truly, arrest apart, I DID have a good time on that first film and, extra importantly, Gabe and I had shaped a fairly good bond, so I used to be excited and flattered to be requested to do Saint Bernard.
How was it working with the legendary Gabe Bartalos? I think about it could’ve been a really distinctive expertise?
Jason Dugre: I met Gabe 20 odd years in the past and so I’ve labored with him a bunch in that point. To name it “distinctive” is an understatement. You can additionally name it gratifying, thrilling, enjoyable, perspective-shifting, adventurous, I may go on and on. He IS a legend in his area. As a director, he has a rock strong imaginative and prescient. You recognize that he is aware of precisely what he needs to seize in a scene and that is so nice. You could have religion that when he says we’re transferring on, it is as a result of he obtained precisely what he wished. As an actor, it is wonderful to have that form of religion in your director. The most important factor I’ve taken away from my years working with Gabe is that he’s a very nice buddy to a number of folks. And he is fiercely loyal to these pals and they’re loyal proper again. He made this film largely by way of his personal ingenuity and, virtually as essential, the assistance of others. And you actually obtained a way that when folks confirmed as much as work on the movie, positive, they have been blissful to be engaged on such a novel undertaking however they have been largely blissful to be serving to Gabe. So, sure, it IS distinctive. Normally on this enterprise, loyalty solely lasts so lengthy. However not on this case.
Due to his background in FX, did he work in a different way than different filmmakers you’ve got labored with? In that case, how?
Jason Dugre: Yeah I might say so. As a result of he was doing every part, he was intimately entwined with every part from the script to the meals we ate on set. And the FX work was no completely different. If he builds an utility or a creature and it would not work for some cause, he’s the one who fixes it. It is like a farmer who really goes out into the fields along with his employees and will get his arms within the soil. He has a significantly better concept of what’s occurring in that area on a micro stage. Within the realm of constructing a film, if Gabe is with you in the identical freezing, chilly water tank, he is aware of what you are going by way of. He is going by way of the shit with you as a result of he is proper there along with his arms within the soil. And that is not at all times the case.
The place was it shot? Was the group supportive of the film shoot?
Jason Dugre: We shot all around the world! Actually! LA, New York, Paris, Bakersfield. I might say that completely different communities acted in a different way in the direction of us however solely within the stage of how a lot it did not actually trouble them that we have been there. We did photographs on the streets of Paris, close to the Notre Dame, by the Eiffel Tower and never solely have been there minimal battings of eyelashes, in some spots we have been really attracting intrigue and enthusiasm. In Paris a lady accosted me to ask me questions concerning the movie and it turned out that she had been an actress years earlier than and was actually curious about making her personal movies. It was fairly cool.
And the way much like your self is the character?
Jason Dugre: On the floor, by no means. I am not a music conductor and I do not do medicine. I am a foul drug doer. Largely as a result of I am a hypochondriac. Hypochondria and medicines don’t combine. BUT I used to be as soon as described as “somebody that stuff occurs to.” And that is not removed from the reality. Whether or not which means I’ve a passive angle towards life or that I simply hold round on the sting of exercise till I simply get swept up within the chaos, I am undecided. However on this film, I play the personification of that concept. Saint Bernard is at instances a clean canvas who finds himself in conditions that aren’t even remotely of his doing. I do not, personally, really feel like that is the form of individual I’m however I feel it could possibly be stated about me to a sure extent.
How was it working with Warwick Davis?
Jason Dugre: Warwick is wonderful. I had the pleasure of working with him on Skinned Deep as effectively. He is a gifted man and a real gentleman. He was nothing however nice for the few days I’ve labored with him. I attempted to play it cool round him as a lot as I may as a result of I may have geeked out on him onerous. I am an enormous fan of every part he does. However I made a decision to play it prefer it was regular, I used to be purported to be there in his presence. And truthfully, I obtained to listen to some cool tales and we obtained to have true conversations. I by no means obtained to search out out what it was wish to make Willow however we related on a private stage. In addition to, perhaps I will ask him that subsequent time. Maybe in Saint Bernard 2. Gabe?
What ought to the viewers count on from the movie?
Jason Dugre: Anticipate nothing expectable. This film is mind-bending, humorous, weird, lovely, grotesque and artistically horrific. And that is within the first 30 seconds. Anticipate a loopy trip, that is for positive.
What did you do to organize for the position?
Jason Dugre: I realized learn how to conduct. Not in entrance of an orchestra, sadly, however I realized the actions of a baton and I studied what the job of a conductor is in a creative sense to the orchestra, the music and in the end the viewers. I additionally went by way of the script and kind of made notes on what state of sanity Saint Bernard was in at any given second. As a result of we shot the movie out of order over an extended time period, I wanted to do my finest to be constant. Oh and I additionally realized learn how to fall out a window and run in gown sneakers. These have been more durable than you’d count on.
Horror films can evoke all types of feelings. How do you unwind after starring in a horror film?
Jason Dugre: Whiskey. Truly, it was largely actually enjoyable so I by no means felt like I needed to unwind. I like my job. I actually do. Typically I might be relieved that we had simply pulled off a very onerous shot (like on the freeway) as a result of we’d have been planning and worrying about it for some time and it had ended up going off with out a hitch. However these have been few and much between. I would just be glad when Gabe was pleased with what I did on a given day. As a result of I am in virtually each body of this film, THAT was the actual stress for me. Staying constant and attention-grabbing. But when he preferred what I did, then I went house feeling nice. So sure there was whiskey however largely for celebratory causes. Not for emotional help.
You may seize a replica of Saint Bernard over at Severin Movies right now.
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Co-founder of Movieweb. Heavy-metal-horror head. Guitar in Ignite & Into One other. Freshly minted Pinball man. I wish to create.