Podcasting is an artform in itself, but with an added twist of horror they become far more interesting. Dean Alioto's The Last Podcast is one of the most inventive movies at this year's FrightFest so we had a quick chat with him.
NYX: Are you a big horror movie fan?
DA: Yes, it’s the most inventive genre in cinema.
NYX: Where did the idea for The Last Podcast come from?
DA: I filled in for a podcaster on a podcast about UFOs and was encouraged to do my own podcast. Many months later of researching, I had become an obsessed psycho about getting tons of subscribers to the point that my girlfriend nearly did an intervention on me. Haha. I ended up using that period to create a character that goes through the same journey, but meshed it the horror/comedy genre.
NYX: Did you write it with a cast in mind?
DA: Except for David Foley, I didn’t have a cast in mind, but knew I wanted to find a young Tom Hanks type character to play our lead Charlie Bailey. I found that with actor Eric Tabach. He’s a phenomenally talented performer who can crush comedy and drama within a paragraph of dialogue. The other leads, Gabriel Rush and Kaikane were amazing as well and collectively their chemistry was fantastic.
NYX: The small team really do bounce perfectly off each other, did they have much time to rehearse?
DA: I had Eric and Kaikane hang out in the apartment location for a day, making it their own. Other than that, we pretty much dove head first into it. Occasionally improvising, finding moments within moments.
NYX: It looks as if it was a fun movie to make, what was the atmosphere like on set?
DA: From me calling “action” to “cut” was a dream more than any other film I’ve worked on. Actors had their lines down cold, so we were able to be fluid. There were more than a few times I was afraid I was gonna ruin a take by laughing at their fully-committed performances.
NYX: The effects are subtle, did much of the budget go on them?
DA: The challenge was to not make the effects so overpowering it stepped on the grounded tone of the film. I found myself sometimes dialling it back – to keep the suspension of disbelief alive.
NYX: It has a lot to say about the human condition, the craving of acceptance and popularity, was that hard to keep at the front and not be buried under the horror?
DA: Whenever I make a film I’m a slave to the emotional storyline. The genre comes second. If you don’t care about the characters and their goals, everything else suffers.
NYX: The movie has got to have the best staircase fall since The Exorcist, would you agree and who did that incredible stunt?
DA: Lukas Stoiber performed the staircase fall and was a great match for the actor Blake Sheldon. We only had two takes. Each take Lukas would say, “on this one, do you want me to go head first or flip backward?” It freaked me out to see him hurdle himself into an action that would render a normal person completely paralyzed.
NYX: Do you believe in the paranormal?
DA: I believe that we haven’t a clue what other dimensions of reality are out there. We call it “Paranormal” cause it’s not normal for our intellects, but is every bit as normal in the broader sense of reality.
NYX: There’s a rather cool cameo from a beloved director, how did that come about?
DA: Yes, the esteemed horror maestro, Mick Garris. Mick was an acquaintance of mine through film festivals and at the car wash once. I greatly admire his work from the Spielberg Amazing Stories days to directing more Stephen King novels than any other director. I wanted to have his fun love-of-making-movies energy on set, so I asked him if he’d like to do a cameo. He read the script, dug it, and two months later we were hanging out in a bar – on set. Personally, I think this is his best comedic performance.
NYX: Will you be nervous when the movie has its World premiere at FrightFest 2024?
DA: I’m nervous now! I assume I will be after the screenings as well. Premiering your film to an audience is at once exhilarating to reveal yours and everyone on the films work to an audience, and terrifying cause I’m revealing myself as an artist.
NYX: So, what are you up to at the moment?
DA: I have a new script I’m working on set in Scotland with vampires. It’s a fun, jacked up, ride.
NYX: Dean Alioto, thank you very much.
DA: My pleasure, James.
