Henrique Couto is the zaniest guy that I have ever known and I predicti big things for him in the future. In the meantine, check out his site at www.freakproductions.net because it's one of the sites that I just enjoy so much.
Look Henrique, I got another plug in there for you...hehehe!
Kristy Langford: What are your favorite horror films?
Henrique Couto: hmmm, well, usually i prefer cheese and sausage as the best toppings
er, i mean
Dawn of the Dead
Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Night of the Living Dead, So many others
but i'd have to say Dawn of the Dead is my ALLTIME favorite movie in general not just in horror.
KL: Speaking of Dawn of the Dead...what is your opinion on the remake of this film?
HC: Horrible fucking idea
Makes me angry, really really angry
so many fucking scripts are sitting around, but the executives would rather ruin a great film's name
they should remake Children of the Living Dead instead
they should remake the shitty movies and make them better
not top an AMAZING film
bastard bitch monkeys and their remakes
sorry, that was a rant
KL: Rant all you want with this interview.
HC: oh
and another thing
Fuckers with their remakes, i swear to god, micheal bay will get cancer of the testicles for his crimes
i'll end it now, REMAKES SUCK
KL: Being so young, how in the hell did you get started making your own films?
HC: honestly, it wasn't so hard, i mean, besides the spending lots of money and possibly ruining a future credit history.
I had always wanted to make films, and i started when i was 11, i never had the money for a camcorder, so i went and became the youngest producer at my local cable access station. They supplied the equipment so i made lots of TV shows.
I was pretty happey with TV and always considered doing movies. When the censorship got mean, i moved on. I bought me a DV cam and a Mac system for editing on credit thanks to my mother and i just went out and did it
it was that simple
KL: Wow! That is quite amazing.
HC: i live for this stuff, i really do
i know a lot of people talk about making them, i work on them more than i talk, hence my web site (www.freakproductions.net) isn't updated too well.
Pretty sneaky plug there, eh?
KL: Yes, you are pretty sneaky...hehehe!
Now, how in the world did you ever hook up with "the man" himself, JR Bookwalter?
HC: Funny story
not really, its just weird
I mean, i cannot tell you how i have any friends in filmmaking besides luck. I might be likable or something.
here comes the long part
I had met Chris Seaver from Low Budget Pictures, who i had idolized for a long time, and somehow became goode friends with him. So i went to the convention where i had met him a year earlier, and worked his table right next to JR's table. i am a HUGE fan of JR and it was so cool, we would just shoot the breeze when nothing was happening. Not too much of a friendship there, but then on the sunday morning he had asked me to watch his table while he was gone, i sold quite a bit of tempe "swag" in the short time, and i ended up becoming a tempe table boy. (i have quite a reputation for selling well at conventions.) Then by the next convention, flashback weekend, i was just hanging with JR and this one guy, i can't remember his name...i think it was like, matt james walter, or something....
oh, Mathew Jason Walsh, thats the name.
Thats really where the friendship with JR and Tempe started, and i LOVE selling their flicks so its goode times!
KL: Yes, Tempe is the best!
HC: They really are, everyone should check out their stuff, i love watching their flicks and am glad to even be sort of involved with them.
KL: I agree. Let's talk about Chris Seaver shall we? How did you meet this crazy guy?
HC: Just like most folks meet him, in an all gay/bukkake porn video store.
no i kid, i kid because i love.
I met him at Frightvision 2002, he was at his table selling his wild stuff. I had seen mulva and a few thanks to Tempe, So I jumped at the chance to grab his flicks. I bought everything on his table and from their we kept in touch on e-mail and starting hanging out at future conventions and i started sharing their hotel rooms, which is an experience into itself!
KL: How did you get started doing the DVD authoring thing?
HC: Necessity was the cause. I needed to put my flicks out so i started on really cheap authoring software on Mac.
Then it moved up hire programs, JR helped show me what programs i could use to get the best results, i really owe him, he has helped me out so much for no reason other than to just be helpful.
I love DVD Authoring, its fun to me. I figure i can help people who want pro looking disks for cheap, AND i can support myself and stay out of mcdonalds at the same time. You should check out the movie Black Sun by Andrew Copp (www.coppfilms.com) i did his disk and it is my resume disk of sorts. I also LOVE THE MOVIE.
Making menu's is like excercising in what you can do with a little bit of video and a lot of creativity.
another sneaky plug eh?
KL: Dammit! Those sneaky plugs again! LOL
HC: Pancakes sound goode right about now...
sorry, continue with your questions.
i know its 9:42pm here in Ohio, so that was VERY random comment.
KL: Why the hell are you so damn funny?
HC: i don't really consider myself very funny
i mean, i tried standup comedy once, but i think the funniest part of that was when noone laughed.
I just kinda say whats in my mind without processing it for relevence or sense.
but i really did want pancakes.
KL: You are so crazy!
HC: crazy like michael jackson or crazy like peter jackson?
or is it out of the line of jacksons?
KL: I believe it to be no one with the last name of Jackson.
HC: Damn, there goes my claim to fame.
or Claim to flame, if we speak of michael jackson.
shall we continue? lol
KL: Yes, we shall.
So, what is the biggest thing you want to do with your life?
HC: have a wife and kids and live close enough to my mother to really keep in touch with her since she has always taken care of me in life.
but, movie wise.
I would just like to do what i like to do for a living. Thats it
i mean, i don't want anything more. If i could do what JR Bookwalter does i would be happey.
oh, and start a band called Shaolin Funk
or Soylent Green Day
(c) 2003 Henrique Couto
KL: Hahaha....you are great!
HC: only on wendnesdays
Well, you speak very highly of JR Bookwalter and I have to say that he truly is a genius.
HC: He is, i mean, he's got a great thing going with Tempe, i wish i could do what he does, it kicks ass!
ooh! my mother is home! brb
KL: Ok
HC: alright, sorry about that, i just had to attend to a few things.
KL: That's ok.
What do you feel is the hardest part about being a filmmaker along with acting in your own film?
HC: Keeping the camera shots all perdy and stuff. I love setting up camera angles, but when you're infront of it, odds are it will lack seriously.
Unless you have enough time to personally look threw the viewfinder before everyshot which i rarely do.
KL: So, what's up next for the great Henrique Couto?
HC: Well, i dunno what the great henrique is up to, but this henrique is soldiering on and trying to make a name and a living. I am finishing up Slumber Party Murder Mania very soon and might be trying to start my own movie distribution label (cross your fingers) but thats all in the future and i have a bit of time to plan.
I also have a movie called the Adherent
it will just blow all your asses away really.
but its still in writing stages.
KL: Cool, can't wait to check that out!
HC: I hope you do, DV tapes and Karo Syrup ain't cheap!
KL: Wow! This was a great interview and I really want to thank you for taking this time with me. Before we go, are there any last words for all the people that will be reading this interview?
HC: Drink 8 glasses of water a day, Santa Claus is kewl (when John Russo isn't involved), Elvis is Dead and people should buy movies at www.FreakProductions.net!
KL: Thanks again. You are the coolest!
HC: you are
Rock on and thanks for this opportunity!
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