Free Speech Revolution Interview With Director Chris Townsend
by M. Dickinson
1)When and how did you start making movies or short films?
I started making films in high School, I went to a very conservative Christian School in Stuarts Draft, VA. I would focus on making Christian Music Videos and I was told that I should be a preacher because anything else would not matter in the eyes of God. I was made to feel guilt and that breed anger in my heart.
After High School I went to Jerry Falwell’s School Liberty University for a year where that anger came out of me and I made a short film where a woman in the film was killed and raped by her jealous boyfriend, the rest of my class made films about angels and stuff. The prof told me the film was “A” quality but he had to give me an “F” for it’s content.
After that year I left for film school in NY and surrounded myself with creative diverse people from all over the world. It was a major outlet for me. My first short non-sync film was about a child molesting, satanic killer that had no fucking reason for killing other then he wanted to and loved it. I got mixed reviews, I had people walk out of the theater it was so beautiful. After Film school I just did music videos for indie bands that brought money into support me. I wrote a film called “ The Clarence Frazier Project that won the NY Independent film and video festival in ‘06 for best dark short film. The film was about a man named Clarence and his Fish Mother Fucker; They teach guys how to get laid.
I have really focused on Music Videos since even commercials. I have directed a commercial with Stephen Baldwin and Mike Huckabee. I have even done commercial work for a NFL team here on the east coast.
2) What was your idea when coming up with a movie/film featuring Obama?
I was out one day during the campaign and I thought to myself what would go down if someone killed Obama? I mean this guy is popular and is an African American cannadite, would there be riots? Would there be an all out homegrown war within the races? The answer is YES to all the above.
When you talk about Race, God or anything that is “PURE” in our culture you will get heat.
3)Did you ever mean any harm to the President?
HELL NO! I wanted to see how people would react to the question. What would you do if a White man Killed Obama? I mean no harm to the president or his family. I hope that people see this as a film.
Infact the film shows our characters only get their news from that twit Bill Oriely, Sean Hannity and Glen Beck. I wanted to show they don’t investigate for themselves, research anything and they live in the dark with all social issues.
4) You post the trailer up on You Tube. What happens?
The Secret Service called me and asked if I would take it down I said no way. There is worse shit online then my teaser where you hear the word Nigger or see the guys shooting Obama targets with guns.
Within maybe an hour it was down, take in mind it had been up for 3 months prior to that. The government wants to control us, they want to regulate everything we do and I will die to protect my right to say or create whatever I want.
5) Why do you think the Secret Service got involved? Did you ever expect them to?
Not sure why they got involved, I am sure some asshole saw the trailer and said hey this guys going to kill Obama. Fuck that fucker! I don’t really care they got involved I just wished they would have not investigated my family and my families background over a film.
6) What was your reaction towards the publicity, as well as the reaction of your friends?
Dude, your going to get some heat. In fact it has been mild most people just don’t want any involvement in this project. I have lost cast and crew out of fear they will get in trouble. My lead actress was suppose to be a black woman but she backed out two weeks before shooting so we had to re-cast with a white woman. It worked out well I was very pleased with Tasha and her performance.
7) Your movie featured a plot revolving around the assassination of Obama.
Major authors (such as Tom Clancy) and movie studios have similar plots all the time. Off the bat I can think of several; “Air Force One” (where The President and his family are held hostage), “Murder at 1600″ (where a member of the Presidents staff kills a female in the White House), and “The Sum of All Fears” (in which the Baltimore/DC area is blown up by a nuclear bomb).
Why do you think your film got on the White House security radar?
I brought the same point up, I was told because they are fearful it will cause some nut to actually get ideas from my film and go out and kill Obama.
Personally I like Obama. I voted for him. However, I feel that many of his supporters (not Obama himself) are whiners who don’t want the same principals applied to him, that were applied to Bush (who in my opinion was terrible).
I can think of several free speech incidents of people who made fun of or criticized Obama only to be shut down or attacked. For instance look at the media fury that the magazine cover of him generated where he was portrayed as “The Joker”. Is it really that big a deal? Do you think they want a double standard?
I believe people are very sensitive towards Obama because of the race issue. If you joke about him or criticize him you’re a racist. I think people just need to lighten up but that will never happen.
9) Have you ever heard of Max Hardcore?
I have and I think its bullshit he got in trouble. I’ll give you an example. In 2007 Dakota fanning played a 12-year-old girl who got raped in a scene in a film that made it Sundance. So if Max got charged in 98 why not this filmmaker? Porn is looked down on but it’s a physical art that only a select few can do. I mean for an actor on a film they have to dig deep to get that emotion for every fucking take.
For a Porn Actor or actress they need to dig down deep and find confidence, emotion and the physical ability to make their scene look amazing. I think Max is creating something for someone that wants to feel in control where in that viewers real life maybe they are dominated by some fat other half who bosses them around and uses there hard earned money on shit they really don’t need.
10) Another film making question. What do you think about the doublestandard between traditional “Hollywood” films and adult films?
Quentin Tarantino uses consenting adult actors to make “Hostel” featuring nudity, sexuality, rape, and torture and is seen as a genius. Yet, Rob Black films sex scenes featuring consenting adults involving the same themes and is sent to jail. What do you think?
NO ONE SHOULD BE JAILED FOR MAKING ANY FILM IN THIS COUNTRY WITH A LEGAL ADULT IN IT, SHIT LIKE THAT PISSES ME OFF !
I think a filmmakers film is good if it earns one f an for their work. I think we have drawn that line between film and porn for to long I think it’s all entertainment and should be treated that way.
I think the MPAA is a fucking joke and ratings should be tossed out. When you have a name like Eli Roth or Tarantino a person thinks this film will be great because that is what we are programmed to think. I love both of them as directors however they both don’t always make good films.
11) What is next for you?
Right now, I am writing something a little different. I am working on a film about a brother who comes home to face his brother’s demons after his brother has killed himself. I am also doing tons of Music Videos with my side company Broken Fan Media, INC if you’re a band or you need video work done hollar at us we have the best fucking rates.
12) Has the President invited over for a beer to discuss you film?
Dude, I would love that! I would kick back a few with him maybe even see if we could hop on Air force One to Russia and get some grade A vodka.
13) Do you have a website?
For Broken Fan Media, INC they can check out our myspace page at http://myspace.com/nyfakid.com
For The Obama Film they can E-mail me at yeswecanthemovie@gmail.com
14) Anything else you want to add:
Watch this film with an Open mind! If you want to get in touch with me about the film please E-mail me @ yeswecanthemovie@gmail.com
We need to really watch what’s going on in the government to protect our rights to free speech! If Erika Kane or Rio Valentine want to be my date for the release party of this film Nov 7th in Lynchburg, VA E-mail me ☺ other then that I am off to LA for a few weeks hope to hear from some of you out there.
For info on the release party please E-mail me @ yeswecanthemovie@gmail.com for your tickets. If you would like the film to be shown in your city please contact me @ 434-509-5625
Trailer to Yes We Can!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDSgGAJPYQE
FreeSpeechRevolution.com was founded by Mike Dickinson. If you want to be involved, offer ideas, or exercise your right to free speech and tell him you hate his ideas please email him at Mike@FreeSpeechRevolution.com
