Film Name: Dept Meat
Director: Benji Edward
Writers: Benji Edward
Starring: Laya Lewis, Keegan Carr, Jane McDowell, Paul Tonkin, Alex McKeown
In a new interview on Blazing Minds ahead of the play’s short run at the Drayton Arms Theatre, I got a chance to ask SFX Artist Jason Jay Lowe a few questions about his involvement in ‘Debt Meat‘
Debt Meat will have a limited run at the Drayton Arms Theatre from 17th – 18th May.
Q. You are involved in the new stage production Debt Meat. Can you tell us a bit about your role as the SFX Artist and how you got involved with the show?
A. When I heard about the opportunity I asked if I could help. I haven’t done theatre before and the idea of doing horror live made my balls twitch.
Q. What were your initial ideas when you first read the script, and how did you begin the process of transferring the horror from page to a stage setting?
A. Benji’s script is so good that the aesthetics and impact the effect needs to achieve is really well visualised, which means that all I really had to do is work out the smoke and mirrors to deliver the punch of the practical FX live in front of an audience.
Q. How does creating special effects on stage in front of a live audience, compare to creating effects on film?
A. In film we have the luxury of picking the angles we’re viewing, the benefits of editing and the ability to have another go. You don’t have those crutches on stage. On stage the effect itself needs to be considered a magic trick and achieved with misdirection and slight of hand. Exciting stuff.
Q. How early are the special effects introduced to the cast and did you find any issues trying to use the special effects in real time environment?
A. The effects were present during rehearsal. There’s a certain amount of practice involved to get the timing right for the desired gory outcome.
Q. You are well known in the indie horror circuit for your special effects, what first drew you into the making of special effects?
A. 1982’s An American Werewolf in London. I think it was the Sunday supplement had a making of feature showing the Oscar winning FX being crafted. I was transfixed on horror and sci-fi from then on. Fast forward 40 years and I bump in to a guy at a boot fair selling some great horror related booty. That fella was Actor, Writer and Director Tony Mardon. Somehow from that serendipitous meeting I ended doing
this stuff.
Q. Taking into consideration your time working with special effects both in film and theatre, have you ever had a situation where you had to change the way it was executed, as it wasn’t practical or was unsafe?
A. Not yet although I would never tell someone somethings unsafe. I would totally keep that to myself. I’m joking of course. I try everything on my kids first to know its safe for actors, also a joke people!
Q. What do you think makes horror effective in live theatre compared to film or television?
A. It’s happening in front of your eyes. Again it like seeing a conjurer on TV compared to in person.
Q. Do you have anything else you are currently working on?
A. Some stuff for a portmanteau wrap around for Tony and Lauren Barnett. Hopefully a music video for 4ft fingers and at some point this year I want to get my short ‘Schrödinger’s Killer’ into production. Other than that I’m excited for the Rondo awards to be announced as a short film ‘The Domestication of Vampires in Essex‘ I was the Creative Director and did the Practical FX for was nominated for the short
film prize. It’d would be pretty bloody amazing to win that.
Q. What advice would you give to someone who was interested in getting into theatrical special effects, and should they prepare differently when compared to working on film or TV?
A. An understanding of stage magic is a great starting point.
Debt Meat will have a limited run at the Drayton Arms Theatre from 17th – 18th May.
You can find out more about the play and purchase tickets here
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!