‘We’re barely above porn’: why would a film-maker choose to make a deliberately bad ‘mockbuster’?
With a tiny budget and six days, Anthony Frith directed a film for the studio behind Sharknado – and then made Mockbuster, a documentary about the experience
TL;DR
- Filmmaker Anthony Frith discusses his experience making a "mockbuster" for The Asylum, a studio known for bargain-basement B-movies.
- The Asylum's target audience is described as viewers who "just want something crap to watch, then never have to think about again."
- Frith admits to having overconfidence about making a good movie with the limited resources and time (six days) provided by The Asylum.
- He notes that The Asylum's process "shaves off all the flavour" from cast and crew, resulting in a diluted final product.
- Production fiascos included incorrectly sewn Russian flags and a debate over filming in front of a garage door versus a concrete wall.
- Despite the painful shoot, Frith made the documentary "Mockbuster" about the experience, which has been well-received.
- Frith compares The Asylum's willingness to give chances to aspiring filmmakers to Roger Corman's similar practice.
- Looking back, Frith believes he would push back more on certain decisions, like the garage door scene.