J.S.- Please tell us how this idea manifested for you?
Steve- I’ve always been fascinated by rock stars, especially the larger-than-life personalities of the ’70s and ’80s. There’s something inherently ridiculous about that level of fame and excess, which makes it perfect material for comedy. And horror, obviously.
The character of Nigel Wrathbone actually goes back about 14 years. He’s a recurring character I used to play in my old sketch comedy videos on YouTube. Over the years, I started wondering what would happen if I gave him a proper origin story. Putting a supernatural spin on it seemed like the right move, since rock ‘n’ roll and horror go together like peanut butter and jelly.
For the film, I wanted to make something that combined all the things I love: horror, comedy, music, documentary. I actually have a background in musical theater. But until now, I never had the opportunity to write songs or record an album. So this project got me out of my comfort zone, for sure. It’s probably the most ambitious thing I’ve ever made, and definitely the most fun.
J.S.- I adore Panic Fest and the crew is absolutely incredible. How did it feel being part of Panic Fest, and premiering Wrathbone at Panic Fest?
Steve- Panic Fest is awesome. I wasn’t able to attend in person, but I was pleasantly surprised by the online reception. I remember seeing reviews pop up on Letterboxd and thinking, “holy shit, people are actually watching this!” The festival team was lovely, and the programming was fantastic. I’d love to make it out there in person someday.
J.S.- Did you grow up loving horror movies, with the influences that you see in Wrathbone?
Steve- Oh, absolutely. I was a horror kid from a very young age. I grew up in the ’90s, so I was obsessed with movies like Gremlins, Beetlejuice, and The Monster Squad. I loved anything that mixed horror with comedy and had these big, memorable characters.
I pitched Wrathbone to my team as This is Spinal Tap meets Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey. I think that pretty accurately describes what we made. I love when movies fully commit to an absurd premise. The characters might be completely ridiculous, but the filmmakers take their world seriously. That’s the sweet spot for me.
J.S.- VH1 and MTV were such a big part of all of our lives, and I remember watching some of the documentaries. What do you think was the most challenging aspect of making Wrathbone?
Steve- In the ‘90s, I used to watch VH1’s Behind the Music with my dad. Every episode was basically a Greek tragedy about somebody who got famous, lost their way, and eventually found redemption. Or didn’t! I wanted Wrathbone to feel like a cursed episode of that show. Like we came across a dusty VHS recording of it, hidden away in a creepy basement.
Our biggest challenge was the sheer number of moving parts. We weren’t just making a narrative short. We were making five original songs, multiple music videos, mockumentary footage, a concert sequence, and a bunch of different looks and time periods.
We had a total of nine shoot days, spread across three months. That might sound like a lot of time, but for the scope of what we were doing, we had to be really scrappy. I also play two characters, which meant I was constantly bouncing between directing, performing, and figuring out how we were going to pull off the next setup.
Luckily, I had a fantastic cast and crew who embraced the insanity. Filmmaking is such a collaborative art form. It’s amazing how ambitious you can be when you’re surrounded by awesome, talented people who genuinely care about what they’re making.
J.S.- Writers do not get enough credit. You wrote five original songs for Wrathbone. Tell us about the process? Also, do you have any advice or words of wisdom for the writers out there?
Steve- The crazy thing is that we actually wrote the soundtrack before we made the movie. That was over two years ago. Our music producer, Nathan Meckel, really helped me develop these songs as if Wrathbone were a real band with a real discography. We weren’t just writing songs for individual scenes. We were creating an entire musical identity for these fictional characters.
That ended up shaping the screenplay in ways I hadn’t anticipated. The music became the foundation for the story, rather than something we added afterward. For the Rick Astley-inspired pop song, I collaborated with Becca Schack, who composed the score for my previous film, Thirst Trap.
As far as advice goes: don’t wait for permission to make something. Write the weird thing that only you could write. Find collaborators who get excited about it. Make the version you can make with the resources you have. I think sometimes we get so caught up in trying to make something commercially viable that we forget why we fell in love with it in the first place. The most interesting work comes from people following their obsessions.
What do you want to say to people who will be watching Wrathbone?
First of all, turn the volume up! I really hope people have fun with it. Wrathbone is a love letter to horror movies, rock music, and all the wonderfully ridiculous pop culture I grew up with. We poured an enormous amount of love and creativity into every frame, and I hope that comes through.
J.S.- What is next for you?
Steve- I’ve got a few things cooking. I’m actually developing a feature-length sequel called Wrathbone Rising, which takes the characters in an even more ridiculous direction. I also wrote a feature adaptation of my 2017 short film, Blood Oranges, which I’m hoping to direct soon.
In the meantime, I’m building out my YouTube channel, where I’ve been sharing my films and talking about how they were made. I love talking about the creative process, especially the scrappy, unconventional ways independent filmmakers bring their ideas to life.
Basically, I just want to keep making weird movies with talented people. That’s the dream!
