An Interview with filmmaker Dominik Starck
Writing about action movies is something that just started happening. I have always watched them but it’s only in recent years that the thought of someone spending their time reading about my thoughts on a specific movie became a thing. We’re not Siskel and Ebert, here, and if you’re looking for some University-trained eye to go into detail about the filmmaking process then you’re definitely in the wrong place. But I do get the opportunity every once in a while to pick the brain of someone who lives and breathes film. Those are the people that I get interested in because it only takes a minute to see and feel the passion they have for their art. As much as I hate social media, Twitter has allowed me to talk with some great people and learn a bit about why they do what they do. You may not know Dominik Starck now but there is no better time to introduce yourself to the man who may be among the biggest Highlander fans this side of the planet Zeist.
CC: First of all, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions that I know our fans will appreciate. Let’s start with an easy one. What is it that drew you to the action genre?
DS: First of all, thank you for caring that much about not only action movies but also B-movies and independent movies in general. In the days of dominating tent pole movies we as fans and makers of that kind of movies have to step up for what we love.
I love all kinds of movies with only few exceptions. While I wasn’t allowed to watch much horror at a young age I managed to see an action film every once in a while- even though some of them were censored versions on TV. There were also reruns of The A-Team that I wasn’t supposed to watch as a kid but watched anyway. So action and I go way back and when I made my first steps in working on films after a few horror projects Atomic Eden came along. I had the chance to co-write and produce that one with director Nico Sentner. And here I was; shooting a straight up action movie as a tribute to all those mercenary movies we used to love with Fred ‘ The Hammer’ Williamson. Working with squibs, explosions and a stellar stunt team around choreographer Mike Möller I felt like a kid in a candy store. And yet; as a writer I tent to more complex characters and storytelling. So after the experience with Atomic Eden I went and started working on my own feature which became The Hitman Agency.
It wasn’t supposed to be an action movie at all. It was all about the characters and basically began with two men, a chair, a few chains and one room. An intimate, small thriller. And yet; since they’re competing hitmen it was unavoidable to bring some action to the thriller-table. Not the fancy one but more grounded and focused.
CC: You’ve written, starred in, and now directed a film. Are there any styles that you knowingly try to emulate or are there any filmmakers out there that you watch for tips?
DS: Not knowingly but as artist we’re all the sum of our art consume. So there’s a very long list of inspiring filmmakers from all around the world. Starting with classic movies over modern classics like the once we grew up on in the 80’s and 90’s and it never stops.
If I single out the action genre there’re personal heroes like Robert Rodriguez and his El Mariachi and especially Desperado in the 90’s. He’s such a constant artist, he just never stops and his whole philosophy is even making his breakfast into a creative endeavor- while still making action heavy, sleazy grindhouse-ish movies. Desperado was probably the coolest movie around at that time. On the other hand there are filmmakers like Michael Mann that are that real you almost feel like watching a documentary when Heat is on. I should also mention John Frankenheimer with Ronin and many more.
In recent years of action history there’re obvious guys like Isaac Florentine but my go-to probably is Dutch filmmaker Roel Reiné. While some of his movies lack better stories that man breathes and dreams action sequences and is just amazing in delivering the goods on budgets that are insane. I mean; have you seen his two Death Race movies? Compare belated sequels like The Marine 2 or Hard Target 2 to the classic originals and yes, they are really unnecessary but visually impressive. Give him a bit more money and better writers and he’s unstoppable. We had a long take in the action intro sequence of The Hitman Agency that was a direct tribute to Roel but I sadly had to cut that down a little bit.
CC: Which movies, either growing up or in recent years, would you say have influenced you the most?
DS: In general that’s Highlander by Russell Mulcahy, Gregory Widen’s The Prophecy, James Cameron’s The Terminator and John Carpenter’s Assault on Precinct 13. They’re not necessarily perfect movies but they hit me at the right time and delivered beyond the obvious. In recent years I’m really impressed by the genre-benders Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Spring, The Endless) and S. Craig Zahler (Brawl in Cell Block 99).
If we’re going back to action films; I already mentioned Desperado. It really made me think “Wait, you can do THAT?” And I guess it’s fair to say that The Terminator counts as an action film too. In the last years it’s probably Mad Max: Fury Road and I have a soft spot for everything Joe Lynch does so there’re also Everly with Salma Hayek and last year’s Mayhem starring Steven Yuen and a stellar Samara Weaving. The last new action film I watched is Wheelman on Netflix. Frank Grillo is the ultimate man’s man of cinema today if you ask me. Last not least: shout-out to Sidney J. Furie’s Hollow Point with Thomas Ian Griffith. If you haven’t seen it you have to check that rare action comedy out. Best Thomas Ian Griffith movie.
CC: A work/life balance is key for anyone to keep their sanity but I’m guessing it’s much more difficult when you’re involved in pretty much every aspect of a movie like The Hitman Agency. Do you have anything that you do to help keep you in the zone while on set but also to remember the things that really matter?
DS: I don’t think so. I’m all work and no fun. (Laughs) No, seriously; you got to be a little bit insane and a workaholic to work in this crazy business. To me it’s very hard to escape being a storyteller. Driving a car, walking the dog, a shower…it’s all time to work on a story.
But sometimes you get stuck so yes, I need some balance too. I’m a pretty decent pizza baker and that needs some time and I used to read a lot but that became work as well. I love listening to music. If my mind is blocked I simply go for a walk and listen to music that makes me happy- or sad. Emotional. It’s a reset button in a way. It’s either that or I do the dishes.
I just became a new father and that really changes a lot. It doesn’t take away from my love for movies but when I’m down all I need to do is to look at my baby boy, that little rockstar, and it’s all good again and I can go back in the trenches and take care of the bullshit again.
CC: Speaking of The Hitman Agency, is this a topic that you always saw as your directorial debut or did this kind of subject matter just come about recently?
DS: I always loved hitmen movies like Leon, the Professional, Assassins or Grosse Point Blank. But to be honest that was never the one thing I wanted to start my directorial path with. Since my dream project would’ve been way too expensive and ambitious I saved that one for later. The Hitman Agency really started in the mindset of bringing a great older character actor like Lance Henriksen -whom I adore- in a room with a way younger and seemingly superior competitor. A very simple setup, something that could be done on a budget. Once the element of the hitmen business kicked in the story kept expanding in ways I couldn’t see coming. But at some point my characters took over. They metaphorical took my hand and showed me the way to go and the movie’s world became much bigger than I expected.
And while Lance Henriksen wasn’t on the call sheet I’m so happy that I found Erik Hansen for the lead role. I think he’s exceptional. I knew what my second lead, Everett Ray Aponte, whom I worked and became friends with while making Atomic Eden, was capable of. Erik on the other hand was a wild card and after the first day of shooting with the both of them I knew we’re on the right track. It became way more about the dynamics of characters than the subject matter. That said, I couldn’t be happier than telling tales in a hitman verse and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Take John Wick for example, a great blend of Neo Noir and hitman action movie.
CC: I think that some themes are immortal to the action genre; the redemption angle, getting vengeance for some kind of wrong doing, the rescue mission, and most of all, the Die Hard knockoff. Is there one that you could see yourself making anytime soon?
DS: Very tricky question because my mantra is; don’t do the obvious. Don’t work inside the boxes. It’s boring. That’s why I’m not into romantic comedies. Not because I don’t like stories about love but the patterns are that obvious and you know 10 minutes in how it ends. Even though the action genre has its own tropes and clichés there are those Shane Black movies, there’s a Quentin Tarantino or even a more mainstream guy like Peter Berg. They add a flavor of unpredictability to the common mix. There’s not much point to try to make a poor man’s Die Hard because John McTiernan already made the best version of that theme and you can only loose.
That said I’m actually pitching an action movie right now that could be considered a Die Hard-ish scenario. The tough but broken lead character ends up in an isolated area that gets under siege by some really badass guys. Reactions to that pitch are actually very good so fingers crossed that might be up on my schedule soon.
CC: I’ve noticed that you’re a big fan of the 80’s classic Highlander. What would you do with the franchise?
DS: Funny enough I pitched an exposé to a Highlander story contest and won that competition last year. So I obviously thought about it. (Laughs) If I’d be in charge of an indie version of that classic it would be nothing like the original movie but still contains tons of references for the fan base. New characters in a new scenario, rock music but without Queen (you can’t catch lightning in the bottle twice) and it’s all about literally the Highlander brand because our Scottish immortal has to embrace his unglamorous past to become the Highlander. On the other hand a reboot of the original movie could work as well. Stay away from explaining too much, use intriguing flashbacks for surprise twists and deliver good handmade sword fights. I think the remake is in good hands with John Wick’s Chad Stahelski. I just hope the story doesn’t suck. That franchise had some really hard failures. So Chad, if you read this; send me a message and I’d love to consult on the movie. Check out The Hitman Agency; one more flashback and it would’ve been Highlander already. (Laughs)
CC: You have been lucky enough to work with some legendary actors like Don “The Dragon” Wilson, Lorenzo Lamas, Fred Williamson, and Lance Henriksen. Did you ever find yourself just listening to them in awe as they told stories?
DS: All the time. It started with Lance whom I met on several occasions and had the chance to talk to extensively- and I still could listen to him for weeks. Great, fascinating guy and exceptional actor. Fred Williamson has a casual way of talking about events that are film history to me and about people that are at least equal icons. And I can’t say enough good things about Don Wilson. We only worked very briefly on The Hitman Agency and under the worst circumstances. And yet he was so giving and willing to deliver the best material possible. When we met again we spent a few hours on the road together and what started with a lovely discussion about Roger Corman –who gave Don his start in the biz- ended in a philosophical exchange on quantum physics! And no, I am not kidding.
CC: To close it out, is there something that we at Bulletproof Action and our fans need to be watching out for in the near future. Whether it’s from you or someone you know, any other indie movies that you’re looking forward to?
DS: Okay, first of all –obviously- I’d love your readers to check out my movie The Hitman Agency that you can get exclusively on Amazon.com right now.
Aside from that the aforementioned action movie Atomic Eden is supposed to be available in the States later this year and my co-star from that movie, German martial arts expert Mike Möller, has a new movie cooking right now too that I did some producing work on. The production title is Jack Walker and you can find Facebook pages to all three movies under those names as well.
Just as a fan I’m looking forward to the new Mission: Impossible – Fallout. And as a filmmaker I have a few irons in the fire but, you know, it takes a lot of time to get a bigger project started and even though I’m aware of that I’m not a patient guy. So I decided to take action myself and make another very small but creative, surprising movie while waiting for the next bigger thing. Can’t tell you too much about it yet but it’s a pretty cool genre-mix with a strong female lead and also more than a dash of action.
All your readers are invited to join me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to learn more as soon as I can tell more. One thing’s for sure; there will be a window that needs somebody to jump through, Chad. So I’m counting on you here
CC: Hell Yeah! I’m in!!!
