Exclusive: Filmmaker Michael Kallio Talks Proof of Concept Ash vs. Evil Dead Short Film
Sean Decker
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Within the last 48 hours you’ve probably seen it making the rounds on social media: the nearly pitch perfect, seven-minute “Ash vs. Evil Dead” short film “Auntie Linda’s Bake Off,” written and directed by LA filmmaker Michael Kallio as a director “proof of concept” piece for the STARZ show of the same name. If not, we’ve got it right here for you as well as a few stills and an exclusive chat with Kallio so read on!
“I shot it to be a calling card in the hopes of getting directing work on ‘Ash vs. Evil Dead,’ but unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet,” offered Kallio of his film, which stars Betsy Baker (who portrayed “Linda” in 1981’s seminal The Evil Dead), indie darling Sarah Nicklin (Nun of That, Exhumed), Greg Dow, and Emily Charouhas. “So I decided at the very least I could put it online for the fans to enjoy since I feel like I captured the tone of the show and the series of movies. We had no money and hardly any crew, but I’m pretty proud of what we all did. It fits into that world.”
Regarding the casting, “I cast people I knew I could abuse on a friendly level,” joked the filmmaker. “Really, though, I cast my old Detroit pal Dow because I knew he’d let me pour lots of blood on him and that he’d also help with the production. He’s good that way. Nicklin because I knew she could act, and I’d always wanted to work with her. She was a trooper, as was everyone. And I cast my friend Emily for the same reasons. And, of course, Betsy Baker… I wrote her role for her, and when I asked, I was pleasantly surprised that she said ‘yes’ without hesitation.”
“I had known Betsy for a while,” continued Kallio, “having been friends with Bruce for 24+ years and being part of that world of folks, but I had also done some shooting on the Ladies of the Evil Dead years ago, when they first reunited. I was there when it happened and documented it, in like 2002. Betsy is so cool. She was kind enough to give us her time that day, and she rocked it. I loved working with her, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. The same goes for the whole cast. Fun people working on a crazy little homage to a classic horror film.”
As for who was responsible for the no-budget short’s rather impressive FX, “Well, there were a few of us,” said Kallio. “I have to give props to Jerry Constantine for, well, the prop! He lent us the decapitated head prop and provided us with a great silicon prosthetic for the first Deadite [in the short], which Emily portrayed. Makeup artist Veronica Rodarte, whom I had previously worked on a few features with that my producer friend Jeff Miller had made, came out and applied the makeup; and then myself and my crew threw around the red sticky stuff on set. The VFX were courtesy of my old friend Kevin James, who worked his magic on the white Deadite eyes and the exploding ‘Aunt Linda’ head, among other bits and pieces here and there. I did the smoldering hand gag VFX at the last minute.”
We asked Kallio of the beginnings of his long-standing relationship with Evil Dead icon Bruce Campbell.
“I met him a million years ago in 1990,” stated Kallio. “At first, it was through a girl I was seeing at the time who used to babysit his daughter. The real connect came a few months later when I wrote him a letter that started ‘Dear Bruce, I’m 20. I want to make a movie, but I have no idea how to start.’ A few weeks later he called me on the phone, and that was that. He became my mentor, or as he calls it, my ‘tormentor,’ on my first feature. As years went on, we’ve become colleagues, very good friends, and family really. He’s been such a great supporter of me and my career and a great friend. I can never thank him enough.”
So, while Kallio waits for the powers-that-be to give him a ring and offer him a directing gig on an official episode or two of the STARZ show, what else has he got going on?
“Just this past weekend I created a video promo for Bruce’s upcoming book tour that starts this August,” offered the filmmaker. “Also, it looks like my first feature film, Hatred of a Minute, is getting the Blu-ray treatment, with new interviews from Campbell and I and a new commentary track from us both. Aside from that, I have a feature script that I co-wrote called Beepocalypse that’s buzzing around Hollywood, and I have a few other feature film projects that are floating around the circuit too.”
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