JULIET
   LANDAU
 

Since her breakthrough role in ED WOOD, Juliet Landau has etched quite a career in genre entertainment, gaining a huge cult following with her flawless portrayal of Drusilla in BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and ANGEL. However, the versatile actress has added documentarian to her resume with an extremely unique project.

TAKE FLIGHT is a short documentary about the making of a rap video by Jewish hip hop band Chutzpah, directed by Gary Oldman, who only used Nokia cell phones to shoot for the project. The film explores Oldman's creative process, and serves not only as a personal glimpse into one of today's finest actors, but is a celebration of creativity on the tiniest of budgets.

On the day that TAKE FLIGHT premieres online at www.julietlandaustakeflight.com, Landau spoke exclusively with the Crypt to discuss the film, her career in horror, writing and directing, and the future of independent filmmaking..

COLONELSCRYPT: Congratulations on the completion of TAKE FLIGHT. It sounds like a very unique and intriguing documentary. What was the genesis of the project?

JULIET LANDAU: Gary Oldman directed a music video for the Jewish Hip Hop band, Chutzpah, which he shot entirely on cell phones. He asked me to direct the “making-of.” When I watched the footage, I asked if I could make a short documentary and Gary gave me his blessing.

CC: At what point did it become a full-fledged documentary during the behind the scenes process?

JL: I had 50 hours of material. I oversaw 3 cameras and had access to all of the cell phone footage. Gary operated one of the “cell-cams” and I became very excited about getting this rare POV that we wouldn’t have had with a traditional camera, of getting to “look through his eyes” as he was working and creating. I watched the 50 hours, 3times through.  It was while I was watching that the premise expanded and the structure was born. At first we get peppered glimpses of Gary’s POV, then more expansive, longer pieces and by the end, the viewer is completely released into his perspective.

CC: For movie fans, Gary Oldman is considered to be one of our finest actors, but knowing him personally, professionally, and creatively, what will his fans see most in TAKE FLIGHT that would surprise them?

JL: The film shows him in a way he’s never been seen. A lot of people associate him with his dark, intense roles. TAKE FLIGHT shows a funny, joyous side of him as he explores with childlike abandon. He has a great sense of humor.

CC: The film is a celebration of no budget, independent filmmaking in addition and over the course of the past decade, it’s been a boom for people to make quality films on an affordable budget. What is your opinion of the “Youtube” generation?

JL: I think it’s fantastic. It levels the playing field and makes it accessible for anyone with an idea to express that idea and make something. The cell phone thing takes it one step further. It eliminates the prohibitive cost of camera equipment. Of course, it takes a lot of skill to make cell footage visually stunning. Gary and cinematographer Deverill Weeks, who shot the Chutzpah video as well, made it look like 35mm in some sections. We get to witness the ingenious ways they did that in TAKE FLIGHT.

CC: Do you think the overabundance of no budget, independent films is a good or bad thing for the movie industry?

JL: I think it’s good. Amazing art can come from unexpected places. Also sometimes financial limitations bear inventive, imaginative solutions, inspirations that wouldn’t be born otherwise. That said, I’d love to work with a real budget. I pulled in so many favors from my talented friends, but you are at the mercy of working around their paying jobs and it takes much longer. I am beholden to two-time Emmy winning sound editor Pembrooke Andrews, Ingela Ogard, Deverill Weekes, Jon Vasquez, Larry Benjamin, Jeremy Alter and FotoKem.

CC: Where do you see the industry going in the next five years?

JL: I’m really not sure. It is rapidly changing. It will be interesting to see what happens with Internet content and all of the new technology. Hopefully women will be working more across the board. I just saw this amazing documentary called, WITHOUT LYING DOWN. It was about Frances Marion. Apparently there were lots of women directors, writers, editors etc initially in Hollywood. I didn’t know that. I thought it had always been a male dominated industry, but that was not the case.

CC: Can you talk about the short film you are funding, IT’S RAINING CATS AND CATS and how fans can contribute to the film’s production?

JL: I wrote IT’S RAINING CATS AND CATS and will play 7 different characters in it. Four-time Oscar winning Darc Studios will design and do all of the make-ups. (BENJAMIN BUTTON, HANNIBAL, DRACULA, MRS. DOUGHTFIRE.) I am raising money for it the way fellow BUFFY alum Amber Benson did to raise money for her two feature films. I am selling autographed merchandise on my official website: julietlandau.com

CC: You’ve had quite a career thus far in the horror genre, with BUFFY, TOOLBOX MURDERS, HACK to name a few. What is it about the horror genre that appeals to you so much? And might I add seeing your death scene in TOOLBOX MURDERS was rather unsettling.

JL: Tobe’s initial cut off my death scene in TOOLBOX MURDERS was even more graphic than the final one he went with. I think it may be in the directors cut or in the extras. We shot that on my first day, by the way. I’ve had the chance to play a wide range of interesting, textured, dynamic characters in the horror genre. For me, it’s really about the role.

CC: I have to mention BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and ANGEL and the role of Drusilla. I’m sure you get this a lot but personally speaking, I had to ask, what to you was the most memorable moment of portraying Drusilla and being that ANGEL’s been off for six years now, do you miss playing the role?

JL: I loved playing Dru. It is hard to pick one moment. I have three favorite episodes: Schoolhard because it was my first. It is the one where Spike and Drusilla were introduced. Surprise, because Dru got strong and Reunion, because Darla and I got to team up and create quite a stir in LA. I feel like I played Drusilla again recently, by delving back into her psyche when co-writing two issues of the ANGEL comic book with Brian Lynch. I was very involved with all of the art as well. I had so much fun!

CC: In the time BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and ANGEL have been off the air, vampires have gone through a resurgence and it seems that everyone is making a vampire movie (including myself). What do you think it is about the vampire myth that remains popular to this day?

JL: Eternal youth and unrestricted sexuality, two very desirable things.

CC: With TAKE FLIGHT and IT’S RAINING CATS AND CATS, is producing and directing something that you are interested in continuing?

JL: Yes, absolutely. I also recently co-directed Godhead’s HERO music video, which I appeared in with lead singer Jason C. Miller.

CC: What is coming up for you?

JL: I shot an adorable kid’s movie produced by the aforementioned Drac Studios. I play the blonde, Russian baddy. Another cool thing is the campaign I put together to promote TAKE FLIGHT. I interviewed all kinds of talented folks, asking them about their creative process and how they would market a film about Gary Oldman, Jewish Hip Hop and cell phones. Some of the people are Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luther on 7 Seasons of Smallville), Sam Anderson (Bernard from Lost, Dr. Kayson from ER, Holland Manners from Angel), David J (bassist for Love and Rockets, Bauhaus), Armin Shimerman (Quark from Star Trek: Deep Space 9, Principal Synder from Buffy) Harry Groener (The mayor from Buffy) etc. Check them out on Youtube.

CC: OK, let’s say that you are a film professor teaching the history of film and you have five films to show your class. Which five films would you show to represent the history of film and why?

JL: If it was American film… I would have a silent movie, perhaps Charlie Chaplin’s brilliant CITY LIGHTS, then Hitchcock… I’ll go with REAR WINDOW, then Brando, either in STREETCAR or ON THE WATERFRONT. He changed the course of film acting. Then perhaps a couple of the character driven movies of the 70’s, DOG DAY AFTERNOON and we must include GODFATHER. We might have to view something from the 90’s, Tarantino’s PULP FICTION and from now: AVATAR. I think that is more than 5, but it would cover the span of what has gone on in American film.

CC: What do you hope audiences get out of TAKE FLIGHT when they see it?

JL: I hope people enjoy the humor and think it is funny and also that it captures the beauty of creativity. There is a point in the movie where Gary says, “I’m just trying to find that right moment.” I think that is the pursuit of every artist. We’re all searching for the moment where everything gels and takes flight.

CC: Thanks so much for your time Juliet. I wish you well with TAKE FLIGHT.

JL: Thank you! It’s been a pleasure.

You can view TAKE FLIGHT exclusively at www.julietlandaustakeflight.com