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Actor Barry Bostwick and Director John Landis at 2011 Las Vegas Cine Fest

Actor Barry Bostwick and Director John Landis at 2011 Las Vegas Cine Fest

A highlight for movie buffs whoattended the inaugural 2011 Vegas Cine Fest film festival that washeld August 25 – 27 at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino was the inperson appearances of actor Barry Bostwick and acclaimedfilmmaker/director John Landis.

They were in attendance to help promote each of their films which were being screened at the festival and to discuss their experience working on their flick during an after screening Q & A. Oddly enough their films have a few things in common. Both are dark comedies about serial killers and most important very entertaining.

Thursday, August 25 the Official Opening Night Film was the offbeat, dark comedy “Some Guy Who KillsPeople” starring Kevin Corrigan as a newly released patient fromthe loony bin who arrives home to his overbearing, chain smokingmother played by Karen Black and is the prime suspect for a series of heinous serial killings. Corrigan was not in attendance, but Barry Bostwick who co-stars as the eccentric, but clever Town Sheriff was on hand as well as the film's director Jack Perez and writer Ryan Levin. Bostwick said he had a great time making the film and knew he wanted to accept the role as soon as he read the worthwhile script. Director Perez added that although the film was made on a small budget, “it did not sacrifice the actors and I got the actors I wanted”. Shot for 18 days in January of 2010, the audience was told the film cost under $1/2 million, an extraordinary feat for an idie film which appears to have rich production value. John Landis was slated to direct, but we were told he had to back out after another film “Burke and Hare” he was attached to (which, as it turned out, was the closing night feature film at this year's Vegas Cine Fest), “was in the processof starting production”. Landis had given some input to Levin's screenplay and was asked to be credited as Executive Producer on “Some Guy Who Kills People”, IF he was paid. Since his name appears on the credits, that should speak for itself. After auditioning directors to take Landis' place, Perez was chosen because “he and Ryan shared the same vision and offered good ideas” in bringing the story to the big screen.

Barry Bostwick
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

Barry Bostwick, Jack Perez and Ryan Levin
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

Director John Landis said he is a supporter of film festivals and was happy that his film Burke and Hare was featured as the closing night's flick at Vegas Cine Fest. The dark comedy, which is based on the real life exploits of partners in crime, grave robbers/killers William Burke and William Hare in 19th century Edinburgh, Scotland stars Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Isla Fisher and Tom Wilkinson. Popping up on the screen in the opening scene were the words “This is a true story...except for the parts that aren't”, that set the comedic tone for this “mostly” factual story.

Director John Landis
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

Continually dropping F-bombs during his talk, the self assured Landis, nevertheless, appeared charged up and excited to discuss his craft and the making of his latest effort that was shot in Edinburgh and London. In talking about the real life characters, Landis said that over the years, 14 films have been based on Burke and Hare and they have shown up in movies such as Dr. Jekyl and Mr.Hyde. Regarding fact versus fiction and other interesting information related to the making of Burke and Hare, Landis offered up the following:

Isla Fisher's character, Helen, Burke's supposed love interest, was made up.

The dog that stayed next to his master's cemetary grave for 11years, did actually exist. His name was Bobby.

Dr. Robert Knox (portrayed by Tom Wilkinson) who taught medicine to future surgeons at a teaching hospital and paid the infamous duo to bring him two cadavers per week, DID save millions of lives as a result of his research.

Charles Darwin WAS Dr. Monroe's (Knox's rival, portayed by Tim Curry) assistant.

In reality, Burke's partner Hare, and his wife Lucky (Jessica Hynes) put states evidence against him.

Over 50,00 people came to see Burke hanged.

David Tennant was orginally cast in Serkis' role as William Hare, but there was a conflict and Serkis came in two to three weeks before filming began.

The cast improvised during rehearsal, but basically stuck to the script during filming.

Set during another era, the filmaker tried to be as accurate as possible when it came to the setting, clothes, and the characters' look of the 1828 time period. However, “Everyone had rotten teeth (back in those days), but audiences don't want to see that,” Landis said.

It was an entirely British made film except for American director Landis and his wife, costume designer Deborah Nadoolman.

The movie cost $6 million to make and was shot in 40 days. Landis credited the camera man, production designer and, of course, his wife who designed the costumes, for making the film look so good.

When asked how he got signed on to direct the film, Landis stated that while in London two and a half years ago, he was invited to lunch with his friend, "Bend it Like Beckham" director Gurinder Chadka who then
asked him to read the script. “I was attracted to it because it was so WRONG,” Landis said jokingly. “It is basically a romantic comedy (referring to the fictional romance between Pegg's and Fisher's
character). We make no apologies for what they are doing (the insidious murders) but you have to like them. My intent was to do an evil Laurel and Hardy.”

Landis said, right now, Burke and Hare can be seen on cable TV's video on demand. Considered an art house film, and picked up by IFC in the U.S., it opened for limited theatrical release on September 9, 2011 in New York City.