Quotes

Being a horror filmmaker is about finding new ways to build suspense and tension that keeps the genre fresh and pushes it forward in a fun way

Directing 'Carved' was like leading a summer camp with a tornado on the horizon.

Practical effects are my bread and butter. There's a certain magic in seeing a creature or effect come to life in front of the camera, with limited digital enhancements.

Working with practical effects isn't just about nostalgia for me, it's about craftsmanship. There's something incredibly satisfying about building a monster from the ground up and seeing it come to life on screen.

I am quite drawn to dark and disturbing stories like The Shining, Hereditary, or even Requiem for a Dream, but there's another side of me that's passionate about blending horror with comedy, like Evil Dead 2, Tremors or Gremlins. There's a sweet spot where fear and laughter coexist, and that's where I love to experiment when I'm taking a departure from unadulterated dread.

Editing has always felt like a filmmaking superpower. Over the years, I've mastered various editing programs and take great satisfaction in cutting my own projects. I advise aspiring filmmakers to learn editing, as all roads in filmmaking lead to the edit room. Along with crafting a compelling screenplay, editing is one of the most crucial skills you can develop. And to step up your game even further, learn After Effects too.

Every film is a new challenge, a new puzzle to solve. With 'Carved,' it was about bringing a ridiculous idea, a killer pumpkin, to life in a way that was grounded enough to be terrifying, but also fun and adventurous.

I think Carved has the potential to become a new Halloween franchise. The killer pumpkin is such a unique monster, and the world we've built is ripe for expansion. I'd love to see where this story could go in sequels.