Greg Clark: So, how did you come about to working on Bubba Ho-Tep?

Justin Zaharczuk: I first worked for Don Coscarelli as Art and Camera assistant on Phantasm: Oblivion

Justin Zaharczuk: We had a meeting in 2001 in Long Beach and Don asked me if I would Art Direct his latest film.

Justin Zaharczuk: I knew about Bubba Ho-Tep for a little while before that because Don sent me the original novella by Joe R. Lansdale to study.

Tyler Cruz: When you first knew what the movie was about, what was your initial reaction?

Justin Zaharczuk: My initial reaction? ..totally original and fresh

Tyler Cruz: Did you know that Bruce Campbell would be cast as Elvis right away?

Justin Zaharczuk: Back then, Bruce wasnt involved yet. There was Gary Busey, Harvey Kietel, and Meatloaf!

Justin Zaharczuk: All were considered at first.

Justin Zaharczuk: When Bruce came on board, I knew the film's audience appeal just increased 10 fold.

Tyler Cruz: Well Campbell really makes it into an instant cult-classic.

Justin Zaharczuk: Right.

Justin Zaharczuk: Having Bruce really changed the tone of the whole project.

Greg Clark: How did you decide on the look of the film, since it's such a genre-blending kind of movie?

Justin Zaharczuk: The production designer (Dan Vecchione) and I studied both Seven and The Shining.

Justin Zaharczuk: All of us (Don too) are big fans of Kubrick.

Justin Zaharczuk: We put a lot of energy into the retirement home hallways.

Justin Zaharczuk: We were originally budgeted for only 100 ft of hallway, but..

Justin Zaharczuk: We gave Don 200 with several offshoots.

Justin Zaharczuk: Each Phantasm film had its own unique set of creepy hallways. With Bubba, We had our chance to put a new spin on this tradition.

Tyler Cruz: Was lighting a key factor during those hallway sequences?

Justin Zaharczuk: Yes,the sconce lighting.

Justin Zaharczuk: All the hall lighting in the hallway was controlled by a mixer.

Justin Zaharczuk: You could play with the light tones and make them flicker for various effects.

Justin Zaharczuk: It was amazing considring our modest budget.

Justin Zaharczuk: We gave Don 110% the biggest bang for his buck

Justin Zaharczuk: We were very resourceful. You don't need a huge budget, sometimes...

Greg Clark: Yes, I've seen the trailer and the hallways are very interestingly lit, especially for a movie that's half comedy.

Tyler Cruz: Having worked with Don in the past, how much did that help you as far as experience with him, in this film?

Justin Zaharczuk: Dons great, creatively.

Justin Zaharczuk: If he thinks you have a good idea, he lets you run with it.

Tyler Cruz: There are not a lot of directors that are like that!

Justin Zaharczuk: True, Tyler.

Justin Zaharczuk: thats why it was so easy to give so much effort everyday for 3 months; hes very accomidating.

Justin Zaharczuk: He's the best I've dealt with.

Greg Clark: I've noticed that this is your first film that you've worked on that is recieving a lot of exposure, especially in the independent world, have you found any new doors bring opened?

Justin Zaharczuk: It's been overwhelming, the buzz level is high.

Justin Zaharczuk: I've just been offered a great Zombie film that takes place in Hell's kitchen and I have an underground experimental film being edited in NY right now. I'm very curious to see what happens next.

Greg Clark: So, how did you come to the decision to shoot and light the movie, which is very much so a comedy, it appears, in such a dark manner? Did you ever think that maybe the atmosphere would be too dark to let the humor shine through?

Justin Zaharczuk: Bubba ho-tep walks a fine line. Its a hybrid-type of film.

Justin Zaharczuk: It's many things. Its a redemption story of an elderly Elvis and JFK warding off a mummy in an East Texas Retirement Home. It also has undertones of comedy and horror. The main theme is reclaiming ones dignity.

Greg Clark: Were there any added pressures to being the Art Director, rather than an assistant?

Justin Zaharczuk: Great question.

Justin Zaharczuk: A world of difference. You become someone in a position that tells other people what, when, and how to do
something.

Justin Zaharczuk: But we had a great, very hardworking crew, so it was really very fun.

Justin Zaharczuk: We had a guy - Damon Caruso, who was responsible for sizing and cutting thousands of pieces of wainscotting.

Justin Zaharczuk: You'll notice these strips on the lower sections of all the hallways.

Greg Clark: Are there any sort of easter eggs in the background that you guys put in that we should keep an eye out for when we see the movie?

Justin Zaharczuk: Yes

Justin Zaharczuk: the one that I've been having audience members ask me about is the scale model of Dealey Plaza (Book Depository). We were trying to show how obscessed the one patient was about JFK - A nice little touch. Things like that make all the difference to me.

Justin Zaharczuk: when I see a film, a lot of times what makes it memorable is if you can go back, watch it again, and find something you didnt see, or notice before. It can make a film that much more fun.

Justin Zaharczuk: Thats the approach the Production Designer and I had, make it fun for people to see.

Greg Clark: Has anyone thought that this was shot at a real nursing home?

Justin Zaharczuk: Greg, very many.

Justin Zaharczuk: There was a real rehab center near by, but we shot in a gutted-out building.

Greg Clark: Does that give you a new level of satisfaction, that it was good enough to pass as the real thing?

Justin Zaharczuk: Yes, its interesting. This brings up something I'd like to take a minute to discuss.

Tyler Cruz: Please do!

Justin Zaharczuk: One thing that happens when you work on and watch a film being made is that you lose all sense of a fresh perspective. To get around this, and do a better job, every once in a while I'd bring someone (who hadn't been there ever) onto Bubba's sets and get their feedback. That helps a lot of times - people walk out of a film going, "what were those people thinking who made that film! Didn't they know how corney that set looked, or how rancid that acting was. It's important to bring fresh people in once a week or so and listen to what they have to say. It helped make Bubba Ho-Tep that much better. This also applies in the editing phase - bringing fresh people in to get there reaction to rough cut scenes.

Greg Clark: As an Art Director, what is the mindset you have to have in regards to the fact that after the film wraps, the set will be destroyed?

Justin Zaharczuk: Well, the funny thing is that Buba's sets are still there.

Justin Zaharczuk: But usually, like on Oblivion, it was no big deal.

Justin Zaharczuk: Because whats cool is that if a set looks good in person, you usually know it will look GREAT on film.

Justin Zaharczuk: I'm still intrigued by how film changes reality.

Tyler Cruz: I've noticed that in just short while, you've really worked in a broad spectrum of various aspects of filmmaking. Do you plan to direct?

Justin Zaharczuk: Directing is something that most people are trying to get to do. Start out in editing, effects, or grip work, and then work their way towards directing.

Justin Zaharczuk: But I am very interested in shaping the look of a film; I like the metamorphasis that happens form screenplay to screen.Deciding how something will look...Bubba was great in that aspect.

Greg Clark: So, now that Bubba is making the rounds at festivals and increasing awareness, what are your plans for the future?

Justin Zaharczuk: I'm intensely studying computer graphics and on-line editing. But my film Encephalon will be finished in late September-mid October. It will then be entered into every film festival I can find. It's an exciting time. Besides that, I've been looking at some screenplays, wondering which ones have the potential to be great. A few do...

Tyler Cruz: Mr. Zaharczuk, thank you VERY much for taking the time out of your busy schedule for joining us in this interview. Bubba Ho-Tep sure looks like an instant cult-classic, and perhaps we can do a follow-up interview sometime. Thanks again!

Justin Zaharczuk: Thanks for having me. It's been a pleasure.