Jason Leavy is a person who wears many hats within the movie business… that’s, when he’s not sporting his Tampa Bay’s Buccaneers cap! He’s a producer, director, videographer, editor, and content material creator. He, his brother Michael Leavy, and buddy Steven Della Salla based the manufacturing firm Fuzz on the Lens. Fuzz has helped convey horror followers a number of the largest titles within the final decade, together with the Terrifier franchise and Stream.
Jason was variety sufficient to sit down down with iHorror and share with us his life; appearing, producing, and his journey into filmmaking are all explored!
iHorror: How did you start your journey into filmmaking?
Jason Leavy: Ever since we had been children, my brother and I had been obsessive about creating tales. We used to sneak off with my mother’s outdated camcorder and movie little spoof films with our buddies. Whereas different children had been out enjoying ding-dong ditch or manhunt, we had been organising scenes, appearing out characters, and attempting to make one another chortle. Trying again, that’s actually the place it began. We knew from a really younger age that we wished to be artistic, to inform tales, and to make folks really feel each type of emotion whereas being entertained.
iHorror: Do you and your brother have the identical model when working behind the digicam collectively?
Jason Leavy: I’d say we undoubtedly share a really comparable model, and that’s one of many important causes we work so effectively collectively. We are likely to see issues the identical means creatively, which makes collaborating behind the digicam really feel pure and easy. In fact, there are occasions when we now have totally different viewpoints, however truthfully, that’s what makes us stronger. These moments of distinction push us to assume outdoors the field and finally make the ultimate product even higher.
iHorror: What position did the horror style play in your life whenever you had been rising up?
Jason Leavy: Consider it or not, our love for horror actually began with our mother. Whereas different children had been watching exhibits like Barney and Blue’s Clues, she was displaying us classics like The Exorcist, IT, and Halloween. That early publicity undoubtedly formed our ardour for the style. Our grandfather additionally performed an enormous position, he completely liked Halloween and would go all out adorning the home yearly. We’ve carried on that custom, turning our dad and mom’ dwelling right into a neighborhood staple with huge Halloween shows.
For us, it’s about extra than simply the scares, it’s about recreating that feeling of pleasure and magic we had as children. Similar to with our movies, we love giving again to our neighborhood and creating experiences that convey folks collectively and depart them with recollections that final a lifetime.
iHorror: In the event you weren’t working within the movie business, what would you be doing to earn a dwelling?
Jason Leavy: Fascinating query, for me, there actually isn’t a plan B. I’ve at all times believed that if you wish to achieve something, you must go all in and by no means look again. You go for the gold regardless of how exhausting it will get. I’ve realized that perseverance and fervour are every part. I’d moderately chase my desires and fail attempting than by no means take the prospect in any respect. We solely get one shot at this life, so why not dream huge and provides it every part you’ve received?
The Terrifier collection has lots of darkish comedic parts all through the flicks. Was it enjoyable engaged on the set together with your solid and crew?
iHorror: Jason Leavy: I at all times say that horror movies are a number of the most enjoyable to work on in relation to being on set. Particularly with the wonderful group of individuals we had, we’re all like one huge household, and I believe you possibly can actually see that keenness and friendship bleed by means of the movie. We shared so many laughs and created recollections that may final a lifetime. From Damien to Phil to George, to my brother, and Steve Della Salla all of us get alongside so effectively, and that chemistry is pivotal when making a film of that magnitude. You actually must benefit from the folks you’re working with, as a result of that power is what makes the lengthy hours and exhausting work all value it.
iHorror: Had you seen All Hallows’ Eve earlier than you turned concerned with the primary Terrifier film?
iHorror: Jason Leavy: Sure, I had seen All Hallows’ Eve earlier than getting concerned with the primary Terrifier film, and I bear in mind considering how distinctive the character was. The way in which Damien instructed the story was wild; it actually stood out. What impressed me probably the most had been his sensible results; they introduced such a uncooked, genuine really feel that the horror style had been lacking for some time. Sensible results are king, and this franchise resides proof of that.
Do you’ve a favourite kill from all three films?
Jason Leavy: Sure, I do. One among my favourite kills must be the Allie kill. There was simply a lot that went into bringing that scene to life. The quantity of sensible results concerned was insane, and every part needed to be spot on for it to work. We constructed a full puppet that took 4 folks to function, and the scene itself took seven days to movie. It was lots of lengthy hours, but it surely stored constructing and getting crazier as we went. The very best half was seeing the viewers’s response in theaters; the shock, the gasps, folks masking their eyes. That’s when all of the exhausting work paid off and you probably did it proper.
iHorror: What are you wanting ahead to probably the most about persevering with the Terrifier story?
Jason Leavy: I’d say what excites me most is that with every Terrifier movie, we go additional and additional down the rabbit gap. Like Damien has mentioned, I’m actually wanting ahead to audiences attending to see extra of Artwork the Clown’s backstory. I believe that’s one thing lots of people are interested in. And naturally, the kills simply maintain getting larger, bolder, and crazier with each film. I can’t watch for followers to see what’s coming subsequent… they haven’t seen something but.
iHorror: Was it at all times meant so that you can have an appearing half in Stream?
Jason Leavy: I’ve at all times liked appearing, and each time we make a movie, I attempt to discover a method to get in entrance of the digicam. I’ve at all times wished to play a killer, so Stream felt like the right alternative to lastly do this. I truly wrote lots of the scenes involving Participant 1, so I felt actually related to the character from the beginning. It was such a enjoyable position to tackle, and attending to work with wonderful actors like Danielle Harris made it even higher. She was unimaginable . She was at all times pushing me to go additional, particularly throughout the kill scene. We had a ton of enjoyable on set, and he or she was a complete professional. She’s nonetheless a terrific buddy to today.
iHorror: What was your favourite half about appearing in Stream? Did you discover appearing kind of aggravating than producing?
Jason Leavy: I believe my favourite half about appearing in Stream was having the ability to take every part in to truly see all of the issues we wrote come to life proper in entrance of me. Watching the phrases leap off the web page and switch into actual moments on set was an unimaginable feeling.
As for stress, I’d say appearing is certainly rather less aggravating. Producing, alternatively, is like having a child you watch it develop from an thought into one thing actual. It takes lots of care, time, and persistence, however the reward on the finish is large. Seeing every part come collectively, from that first spark of an thought to the completed product, makes all of the stress utterly value it.
iHorror: What was it like collaborating with nERD bOX and Pink Duke Video games on the sport, Stream: The Participant’s Lower?
Jason Leavy: It’s been such a enjoyable expertise collaborating with nERD bOX and Pink Duke Video games on Stream: The Participant’s Lower. I grew up enjoying board video games with my household, so to now have a recreation being made primarily based on a movie we created is truthfully wonderful. The staff actually went above and past with the main points. They captured the essence of the film completely whereas turning it into an excellent enjoyable, interactive expertise. I like how they built-in the story into the gameplay, and I believe followers are going to have an absolute blast enjoying it.
iHorror: How was making a recreation comparable and totally different from making a film?
Jason Leavy: Making a recreation and making a film share lots of similarities, however additionally they have their very own distinctive challenges. In each, you’re telling a narrative constructing rigidity, growing characters, and creating moments that maintain folks engaged. The massive distinction is that with a film, the viewers is watching the story unfold, whereas with a recreation, they’re truly half of it.
With the sport, there was much more give attention to interactivity and ensuring gamers felt immersed on the planet we constructed on display screen. It’s an entire new method to expertise the story, and seeing folks step into that universe and make their very own decisions has been actually rewarding. It’s like bringing the movie to life in a very totally different medium.
iHorror: What are you able to inform us in regards to the sequel to Stream to whet our urge for food?
Jason Leavy: With out giving an excessive amount of away, I can say that the sequel to Stream goes to be utterly high-octane from begin to end. The kills are going to be much more brutal, the strain extra intense, and we’re diving a lot deeper into the story behind the sport. Actually shedding extra mild on the way it all connects. I’m past excited for followers to see what’s coming. It’s going to be enjoyable, gory, and stuffed with surprises, every part our viewers loves and expects, and I promise they received’t be disenchanted.
iHorror: You will have labored with one in all my favourite indie horror administrators, Tory Jones. What was it like collaborating with him on the set of Phantom Enjoyable-World?
Jason Leavy: Tory is a superb buddy. I met him a few years in the past, and we’ve type of grown in parallel inside the indie horror world. It’s been superior watching his journey and seeing how a lot he’s completed over time. Working with him on Phantom Enjoyable-World was a incredible expertise. He’s a real skilled who brings a ton of ardour and creativity to every part he does, however past that, he’s only a genuinely nice man. Collaborating with somebody who loves the style as a lot as you do makes the entire course of that rather more fulfilling.
