| Home > Horror News > Interviews > Interview with THE PSYCHO LEGACY Director Rob Galluzzo |
| Rated: 5.00/5 | Votes: 6 | Views: 519 |Submitted: 12/08/08 |
|
Interview with THE PSYCHO LEGACY Director Rob Galluzzo
By Heather Wixson Even though Rob Galluzzo spent most of his 20s working in the music industry, he knew that deep down he had a love for filmmaking. This love, which spawned the website www.iconsoffright.com, has now progressed into Galluzzo helming his first documentary, THE PSYCHO LEGACY, which takes a look at the entire PSYCHO family of films. “I always feel like the PSYCHO films never really get their due in terms of modern horror,” said Galluzzo. “You have these special editions for FRIDAY THE 13TH, NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, or HALLOWEEN, but everyone ends up overlooking PSYCHO.” “I guess this is my way of sort of ‘willing’ something like a boxed set or special editions to happen for all the PSYCHO movies,” added Galluzzo. “Selfishly, as a fan, this is something I want to see and I guess what better way to get it done then to help make it happen yourself.” It was that entrepreneurial spirit that led Galluzzo to go to his friend John Torrani and told him of his idea of examining the entire series of PSYCHO. Galluzzo would take care of the interviews and Torrani would capture everything on film. It was important to Galluzzo though that this wouldn’t be a retread project since Laurent Bouzereau made a documentary exclusively about the first film in 1997. “I definitely don’t want to repeat anything that has already been done,” explained Galluzzo. “Bouzereau made a beautiful  documentary on Hitchcock’s original so I don’t want to do that again. What I wanted to explore is how the original PSYCHO lived on by influencing the sequels, and just how this legacy continues to carry on through new generations of filmmakers that continue to be influenced by all the movies, not just the first.”
Making a first-time documentary on something as profound as Norman Bates and PSYCHO would already be a daunting task for anyone, but that didn’t stop Galluzzo. Not only is he comfortable with handling the material and interviews (skills he undoubtedly honed at ICONSOFFRIGHT through the years), he’s also funded the entire project himself. “I didn’t really get to work on THE PSYCHO LEGACY on a consistent basis because I have to come up with the money myself for everything,” said Galluzzo. “I put together a couple hundred bucks just to get the ball rolling to start filming, we’d get some interviews done, then I’d go home and save up so that we could do it all again in the next couple of months.” The idea of THE PSYCHO LEGACY has been warmly welcomed many of those involved with the PSYCHO films over the years, including Mick Garris, Robert Loggia, Tom Holland, and Jeff Fahey, who are all featured interviews within the documentary. Some of today’s “new generation” of horror directors that are featured includes Adam Green, Mike Mendez and Joe Lynch, who discuss the prolonged effect that the PSYCHO films have had, not only on them, but the horror genre as well. “I’ve been super lucky by just how enthusiastic everyone has been in terms of helping me with not only interviews, but by going through some of the stuff these people have held on through the years,” said Galluzzo. “I think everyone realizes that what I am doing is really from a place of love for the whole series,” added Galluzzo. “They can tell I am working really hard on this project and it pretty much takes anyone about two seconds after they meet me to see just how geeky-excited I am while working on this.” Along the way, Galluzzo has been able “geek out” and spend a little time with “Mother” from Mick Garris’ PSYCHO IV and has also been privy to Tom Holland’s behind-the-scenes Polaroids from PSYCHO II. However, it was one interview that didn’t happen that probably spawned the most memorable moment for Galluzzo from the last several years. “I was trying to figure out a way to get an interview of Richard Franklin (who directed PSYCHO II) since he lived in Australia, but during my overall filming schedule, Franklin had passed away,” explained Galluzzo. “A short time later, I went to interview Andrew London (film editor for PSYCHO II) and he said he had something for me. It turns out that he had all of these materials from Richard- ads, newspaper clippings, a script, blueprints to the house, and even some pictures- you name it and it was there. And he just gave them to me and told me Richard would want me to have them. I was completely overwhelmed and I realize that these are things that I will take care of for the rest of my life.” In April 2008, Galluzzo was able to put together a twelve minute mini-documentary that debuted at the Fangoria Convention in LA where for the first time, many of those involved with the PSYCHO films were gathered for a reunion. The mini-film was well received by attendees and those involved with PSYCHO films. However, it was one unlikely place that Galluzzo found hesitation on THE PSYCHO LEGACY- Universal Studios. Galluzzo brought his project to Universal and unfortunately, they passed. Undaunted, Galluzzo soldiered on to get his project to completion and brought in his long-time friend, Anthony Masi, to help produce THE PSYCHO LEGACY and manage the business end of the details concerning finishing the project. Masi himself is no stranger to the genre documentary arena. He put together the 25th anniversary HALLOWEEN documentary and is now working on finishing up HIS NAME WAS JASON: 30 YEARS OF FRIDAY THE 13TH. “I know Rob found himself in a strange place seeing that Universal turned down THE PSYCHO LEGACY,” said Masi. “But right now, he’s in a unique position where he can go ahead and shop the documentary around and go anywhere with it. Especially with the 50th Anniversary of the original PSYCHO coming up, the timing is definitely right for this documentary.” “It is really great to see what Rob has done with all these materials and interviews,” added Masi. “I am incredibly excited to be working with him on this project and cannot wait to see him get to enjoy the benefits of all of his hard work on such a masterful project. You can just see in his work what a fan he is of the genre and of these movies specifically.” “The bottom line is, I really wanted to do something to pay my respects to all of the films, not just the original,” said Galluzzo. “I just feel like it’s almost my obligation to keep the legacy going since all of the PSYCHO films have gotten overlooked along the years. I want a new generation to rediscover all these films so they can enjoy them just as much as I have.” For more information on Galluzzo’s work, visit: http://www.myspace.com/ |
Search | Search the website
Use our search facility to trawl our wide range of content
Contest
Top Members
Username: ArsonCuff
Posts: 332
Username: misterhorror
Posts: 243
Username: terrortu
Posts: 228
Username: heatherwixson
Posts: 135
Username: DavidAsdkl
Posts: 71