To celebrate the success of his debut feature Black Sheep, Script to Screen invited filmmaker Jonathan King to the June Writer's Room event in Auckland for some splatter script talk. King was joined by one of NZ's gore greats: Stephen Sinclair (Braindead, Meet the Feebles, The Two Towers).

Image: "No sheep were harmed in the making of Black Sheep but several were eaten for lunch," said writer/director Jonathan King.To celebrate the success of his debut feature Black Sheep, Script to Screen invited filmmaker Jonathan King to the June Writer's Room event in Auckland for some splatter script talk. King was joined by one of NZ's gore greats: Stephen Sinclair (Braindead, Meet the Feebles, The Two Towers).

Image: "No sheep were harmed in the making of Black Sheep but several were eaten for lunch," said writer/director Jonathan King.Comic gore genre never more popular

Black Sheep's recent success - both locally and on the international stage - proves the classic 'comic gore' genre has never been more popular. Both King and Sinclair have long shared a taste for the genre and Black Sheep is a fine example of the classic massacre tradition - one that lingers on the revolting - started by Sinclair with Peter Jackson.

When asked if the concept for Black Sheep was commercially motivated, King said his ideas are less analytical and more spontaneous.

"The idea of sheep eating people instantly appealed to me - there's just something funny about sheep and I'd always loved the old horror-gore movies like Braindead."

But King took his time examining the potential and solidity of it.

"I did realise that this idea could sell internationally, but that wasn't intentional. I was just lucky that the concept of a sheep horror was a distinctly New Zealand idea."

Black Sheep's 'Kiwi-ness' invaluable

King said the 'Kiwi' aspect was invaluable for securing funding and also for giving the film international appeal. Drawing a link between Colin McCahon and the rolling hills of the film's location was something that King and his producer weren't afraid to do to win points with the NZ Film Commission.

King's script also gained interest from Richard Taylor at Weta Workshop, who was keen to get back to his roots in the gore genre. A Korean company, keen to be associated with Weta Workshop's business, helped to pick up the shortfall.

Creating 'killer' script a challenge

The biggest challenge through the development process was creating a script that lived up to the expectation of those who had experienced the key concept. Having good friend Matthew Grainger on board as script editor helped King focus on four key elements: refining the structure, developing believable characters, keeping the audience throughout the film's journey and pin-pointing the scares and laughs.

Black Sheep has now played in over 17 countries and King believes its New Zealand identity has contributed to its cross-cultural success.

"If it were just sheep on a hill anywhere in the world it would be less appealing but somehow the strong New Zealand aspect has made it more charming to international audiences."

Visual comedy appreciated worldwide

Movie-goers worldwide share an understanding of humour and visual comedy that transcends linguistic and cultural differences. They laugh in the same places, despite the occasional strange translation of Black Sheep's NZ colloquialisms. For instance, "Rattle your dags Henry" became "Courage, Henry" in France. Big gags bring the house down everywhere and King said he refused to cut the film to make an 'international version'.

King and Sinclair both sons of historians

Both King and Sinclair are the sons of historians, and Sinclair wondered if their filmmaking was related to the emphasis on history in their childhoods. King agreed that both the roles of historian and filmmaker use the same raw material but exploit it in different ways.

Sinclair has used film as a vehicle for exploring the New Zealand psyche, noting that Braindead was a conscious attempt to satirise 1950s' suburban repression. King said Black Sheep did not favour any one argument over genetic engineering, but used the character of Experience to endearingly send up of elements of the green movement.

About Script to Screen

Script to Screen is an independent, industry-wide initiative that was established to develop the culture of screenwriting in New Zealand. Script to Screen's programme of talks and workshops provide opportunities for both established and emerging screenwriters to meet, share knowledge, and develop their craft.

"Our night with Jonathan King and Stephen Sinclair was another popular event in our ongoing Writer's Room series," said Script to Screen Executive Director Rebecca Kunin. "It shows that the local screenwriting community appreciate the vital role that comic-gore has played in our industry and are proud of the way that Black Sheep has continued this filmmaking tradition. With many upcoming writers in the audience we can be sure that we will continue to export blood, guts and zombies to screens around the world."

9/7/07