Se7en Questions with Filmmaker
Stephen Biro
Who are some of the artists or works
that inspired you to get started in your field? Of today’s current artists, who do you draw inspiration from?
I’ve always admired films like the Guinea Pigs, Cannibal Holocaust and Nekromantic, but if anything, I got my inspiration to produce films from people doing it wrong, and people ripping others off. Let’s do this right. Indie filmmakers should be able to make an honest living without their producers and distributors taking advantage of them.
This is why I stepped into the production side of it. I knew I could make a difference in that respect. I make a point to work closely with and promote the people who inspire me. Domiziano Cristopharo, Lex Ortega, Srdjan Spasojevic and Adrian Corona are great example of current artists that really have something to say. I am proud to be affiliated with them.
What have thus far been some of the negatives of being an indie artist in your field?
It’s hard to make a living as an indie artist because people steal from you. Torrents are killing us, and it’s a constant battle. There are still so many indie fans that don’t see a problem with downloading films for free. When they do this, they’re taking money from the writer, director and visionary behind that film. Usually in the indie world that’s all the same person. It’s amazing to me the fans that will hit up a director and tell him or her how much they like the film then say they torrented it all in the same breath. It’s discouraging to say the least. On a larger scale, torrents are killing everyone. The retail stores have been flopping dead every month and the Mom and Pops are almost entirely gone.
What have thus far been the positives of being an indie artist in your field?
Complete autonomy. You don’t answer to a big corporation, so you are freer to create your vision. Let’s make this clear though, I’m a businessman. If anything, I consider myself a writer because I love to write. Now, writing can be considered art, but I don’t call myself an artist. I just want to get the word out on what I went through to either give people hope or make them realize life is not as simple as it looks. I try to do that in all my stories.
What have been your favorite completed projects to work on up to this point? Can you tell us a little bit about them?
American Guinea Pig: Bouquet of Guts and Gore was my favorite completed project, since it was my first time in the director’s seat, but I was still learning. Bouquet of Guts and Gore was five days’ worth of shooting and a month worth of prep. It was fun watching all the effects come together and learning to do the effects myself.
What projects are you currently working on or have planned for the near future?
Unearthed Films has about one new release coming out each month for the next year. This month (November 13th) is Todd Sheets’ HOUSE OF FORBIDDEN SECRETS (our Video Review HERE), featuring Dyanne Thorne and Lew Temple. December 11th is Takahsi Hirose’s BRUTAL (our Video Review HERE), which is a truly nasty film. January 22nd, 2019 will be Adrian Corona’s DIS (our Video Review HERE), which already has picked up quite a few awards. February 12th, 2019 is Mark Savage’s PURGATORY ROAD.
Then later will be A RECORD OF SWEET MURDER (our Video Review HERE) from the director of GROTESQUE, NOROI THE CURSE, THE SLIT-MOUTHED WOMAN and SEDAKO VS. KAYAKO, Kôji Shiraishi. We’ve not announced a release date on that one yet. On a personal level, I have quite a few screen writing projects I’ve been working on, but unfortunately, I can’t talk about quite yet. I am toying with the idea of a sequel to THE SONG OF SOLOMON (our Video Review HERE), however. Well, I’m more than toying with the idea. I want it to happen.
Where do you see yourself in a few years and what would it take for you to consider your career a success?
Where will I be? I have no clue because the industry is a fickle bitch, but I will continue to grow and learn daily. I’ve been in the horror genre for over 18 years distributing indie horror. I moved to production, started directing, I’ve been producing for the last five years, and have been writing scripts for people for over a decade now. You have to stay in the game long enough to get any kind of name. You deal with the ups and downs and do not quit. I’ve never quit despite what life has thrown at me. That comes from an infallible belief in yourself, your product and your ability to change the way things are overall.
If you couldn’t do this anymore, what career path do you think you would have followed and why?
Well, I am an author, screen writer, actor, director, producer and distributor. If I couldn’t do anything related to the film industry, I would probably be a minister or life coach. In this line of work, I get plenty of opportunities to be those roles for others.
