Indie Horror Month Exclusive: Producer Jamie Kennedy on A Resurrection, a Look Back at Scream and More
Steve Barton
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Considering he started off his career in the genre world, it’s certainly fitting that now Jamie Kennedy is producing horror movies, including Matt Orlando’s A Resurrection, which arrived in limited theaters this weekend.
Written and directed by first-time filmmaker Orlando, A Resurrection stars Mischa Barton, Devon Sawa, J. Michael Trautmann and Michael Clarke Duncan in his final role and follows a mentally ill student named Eli (Trautmann), who believes his recently deceased brother is returning from the grave for revenge on the students who killed him. The project was produced by Jamie Kennedy Entertainment and Levine Pictures.
Dread Central chatted with Kennedy earlier this week for Indie Horror Month to talk about his first indie horror production, A Resurrection, and what the future holds for Jamie Kennedy Entertainment as they continue to produce independent horror films. Since we had him on the phone, we couldn’t help but get nostalgic with “Randy” and chat a bit about the original Scream as well. Check out the highlights from our exclusive interview below!
Dread Central: Congrats on transitioning into producing- what made you want to take the leap and what was it about A Resurrection that you thought felt like the right project to start off with?
Jamie Kennedy: I started off in the horror genre so I wanted to come back to my roots because horror fans are really the best and I thought it would be fun to reconnect with them again through some new movies. When they really love something and get behind it like Paranormal Activity or Cabin in the Woods, they really give that project legs, and there are no other fans where that happens.
So one of the producers on the project approached me about this and I read the script. Turns out, I really liked it because it wasn’t the same old thing, and once I found out Matt wanted to direct too, I got really excited by being able to really give someone a chance to tell a cool story with this so I got involved soon after that. But all of this was really Matt’s vision. I helped with financing and distribution, but the movie was all of his passion.
Dread Central: So collaborating with Matt went well then?
Jamie Kennedy: It went fantastically well; Matt really knew what he wanted to do and for a first-time director showed a lot of confidence. That’s why I loved working with him; he really knew how to make the movie look bigger than what it was shot for and created a fun and atmospheric scary movie that’s really well crafted. I couldn’t be happier and I hope we get to work together again. In fact, we may work together again- we’re looking at a script of his right now called Abomination.
Dread Central: Did you help him with securing his cast at all?
Jamie Kennedy: Here and there, yes. I didn’t know Mischa but I was familiar with her work so I was glad when she came aboard. I did know Devon; he’s always been someone that I admired and respected so I was really happy that this role fit him so well. I knew Michael too and we were so lucky to have him on this project since he was such an amazing talent. It’s unfortunate that he is no longer with us but he was just a great guy all around. J. Michael Trautmann was also amazing in this and is going to be one of those kids who goes somewhere in his career. Keep an eye on that kid for sure.
Dread Central: Did you ever consider at all acting in A Resurrection?
Jamie Kennedy: You know, if there had been a part that fit, I definitely would have done it. But nothing in this seemed to fit and I never want to do a role if it doesn’t seem like something that I’d be good for. Maybe in his next project though, Abomination. That could be fun. Producing this movie was enough for me- it was a great reintroduction back into the horror genre for me.
What I will tell you is that I do already have a horror movie that I want to star in and we’ve already shot the short for it; I want this movie to have its own icon because I love all of the horror icons so it would be cool if our movie could have its own iconic moment to it. It’s also got some dark comedy to it but it’s scary too. I am looking into funding that right now, probably through Kickstarter so that way the horror fans can be a part of it.
Dread Central: What else are you guys working on?
Jamie Kennedy: There’s a project called Kantemir that we just finished shooting in January; I’m still waiting to see a first cut but I’m really excited to see what the fans think because we have Robert Englund back in full form as a villain in it. I think all the Freddy fans are going to love seeing him again like he was back in the day. It’s also got a lot of twists and turns and should be a lot of fun.
Dread Central: For my last question, I’d love to talk a bit about Scream– you mentioned iconic figures and I’d say that Randy was definitely an iconic character of modern horror. He’s a guy we still quote and still love even though he hasn’t been involved in the franchise since Part Three. Did you have any idea when you guys were making that movie just how important it would end up being to the genre? A lot of things in horror definitely changed after Scream.
Jamie Kennedy: Thank you, that’s awesome. Scream was just an amazing experience because I was unknown at the time so I really had no idea what we were making or how things would change after at all. Honestly, I thought it was kind of weird and because there wasn’t anything else like it at the time, I don’t think any of us really understood the impact it would have.
I think Scream sort of ended up being like the horror version of The Breakfast Club for our generation, which is incredible to look back and see what that movie came to mean for so many fans. It really did set a new standard and to be a part of something like that was really incredible. I was only involved with the first three but the way the fans continue to embrace this franchise is so great; I’d love to find a way to come back for another one. People always come back in these movies inexplicably, right? (Laughs)
A Resurrection is currently playing in these select theaters:
Atlanta
Regal Hollywood 24 @ N. I-85
3265 NE Expressway Access
Chamblee, GA 30341
Minneapolis/ St Paul
Regal Brooklyn Center 20
6420 Camden Avenue North
Brooklyn, MN 55430
New York
AMC Empire 25
234 West 42nd Street
NY, NY 10036
Pittsburgh
Loews Waterfront Theatre
300 West Waterfront Drive
West Homestead, PA 1520
Houston
Houston Marq*E Stadium 23 Cinemas
7620 Katy Freeway
Houston, TX 77024
Denver
AMC Westminster Promenade 24
10655 Westminster Boulevard
Westminster, CO 80020
Phoenix
AMC Westgate 20
9400 West Hanna Lane
Glendale, AZ 85305
Dallas
AMC Stonebriar 24
2601 Preston Road
Suite 300
Frisco, TX 75034
Los Angeles
AMC Burbank Town Center 8
201 East Magnolia Avenue
Burbank, CA 91501
Los Angeles
AMC Block 30 @ Orange
20 City Boulevard West
Orange, CA 92968
Seattle
Regal Meridian 16
1507 7th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
Detroit
AMC Star Fairlane 21
18900 Michigan Avenue
Dearborn, MI 48126
Miami
AMC Sunset 24
5701 Sunset Drive
Suite 300
South Miami, FL 33143
Chicago
AMC South Barrington 30
175 Studio Drive
South Barrington, IL 60010
Nashville
Carmike Thoroughbred 20
633 Frazier Drive
Franklin, TN 37067-8267
San Diego
Regal Rancho Del Rey Stadium 16
1025 Tierra Del Rey
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Philadelphia
AMC Neshaminy 24
660 Neshaminy Mall
Bensalem, PA 19020
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