James Crow talks how he pulled off making his film, House of Salem

James Crow is an English writer and director from Kent, who has carved out a successful career as an independent film writer in a wide range of genres, including films sold to Lionsgate and Studiocanal. His first feature film as writer GBH (Riot) featured the legendary Steven Berkoff, and was selected for both the London Independent Film Festival & European Independent Film Festival respectively. Now he talks to us about House of Salem and how he wrote, directed and produced it

indieactivity: When did your filmmaking career kick off?
James: My own personal career as a director not working for other people was Curse of the Witching Tree. I managed to network and get enough support to make a low budget horror. No one really expected much and they was shocked I think when they saw the results. It was a top 75 UK DVD and we signed a massive deal with Red Box in the states. That’s when thankfully I started getting the support for my company Last British Dragon and a business partner.

indieactivity: And why movies? What was it about movies that had you fixed on building a career around making them?
James: I love writing, photography, music and even to a certain degree design. With film you get to do everything. I just feel like I can express the stories and art I want best with film.

indieactivity: Most cite “Star Wars” as one of the films that spurred them towards a career as a filmmaker. What film was it for you?
James: Without doubt I’d say the moment I knew I wanted to be a director was Dario Argento’s Suspiria. Everything about that film I love, including the Goblin soundtrack. It’s like if disney made a live action horror. I remember staying up late when I was 14 or something and my mind just sort of blew up like that guy in scanners. Before then I was allowed to watch the old hammer horror movies. Those films with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing were a big influence on me.

indieactivity: What was the first thing you shot?
James: It was actually a little plasticine short after watching a making of about Wallace and Gromit. I did it in my grandparents kitchen, and it was with one of those old big VHS cameras they had. I had to stop and start really fast, so it was proper old school dinosaur stuff. The plasticine heads and body parts kept all falling off though. So I guess that was a sign of things to come with the gore.

indieactivity: And how do you think you’ve improved as a filmmaker since then?
James: I think every film you make you learn and you look back on and go I wish I’d know about this and that. Maybe one of things I’m learning though it to listen to myself more, instead of just being pulled around trying to please distributors and producers all the time.

indieactivity: Is there a sequence in the latest movie that you’re truly proud of, one you can genuinely step back from and say ‘wow, that looks great’!?
James: My favourite scene in film is when Jacob Colgan is confronting Nancy with the gun. I think the dark humour from Les Mills Jacob is brilliant, and he really gets my black humour. A lot of people seem to miss the subtle jokes in House of Salem, but some people do get it. Looks wise I’m proud of a few scenes in it. I like the boxes stuff with the demons.

indieactivity: How did you get the cast? All auditions?
James: A lot of the cast I knew and I like working with the same actors when I can, even write for them sometimes too. We spend a lot of time casting the right Josh and Nancy. We saw a lot of kids before we decided on Liam Kelly and Jessica Arterton.

indieactivity: Did they have much time to get to know each other before the shoot began?
James: We had a read through and a workshop day but other than that no not really. We were all just thrown together on set.

indieactivity: Where did you shoot the movie? Do you believe the house is as much a star of the movie as the human players?
James: We shot the whole film on location at an old Georgian mansion. The basement where we shot the boxes scene was actually an old napoleonic prison where many people drowned. But we didn’t encounter any real ghosts sadly.

indieactivity: What do you hope audiences get from the movie?
James: I throwback to those classic 70’s and 80’s horror movies hopefully other people loved when they were younger like me.