Comics News
Watch UK Indie Technofreak The Movie…
A Taste Of What Could Be…
John Charles and Barry May’s Technofreak is a UK indie comic that’s built up a bit of a following the past few years and they’ve made a short film based on it…
What was the genesis of this movie?
It began with the Technofreak comic, of course, but it was really inspired by my newest and greatest friend, Andy McInnes. Andy is a terrific character in his own right – graphic designer for The Vapors, of “Turning Japanese” fame, back in the day. Andy has played Doctor Who as a double for William Hartnell for the BBC.
He made a Technofreak costume off his own bat, and we did a photoshoot around our mutual hometown of Guildford. Once we’d done the shoot, the idea of pushing it into a movie was born. It’s not really a movie as such, of course, but we regard it as a proof of concept. If anyone wants to make a full-length Technofreak feature, they should get in touch with me.
I know it’s pie in the sky, and I’ve always said someone would make the Technofreak movie after my death. We bit the bullet and did it ourselves, as best we could. It ain’t perfect, but as our slogan goes: It ain’t Marvel and it Ain’t PC.
How and where was it shot?
The “movie” was shot in and around Guildford – in graveyards, alleyways and a fine public house: Rogues Bar. The Messent brothers, who work there, were so helpful and are in the movie, as is my marvellous girlfriend, Sophie. Turns out Sophie is a terrific actress. She improvised some of her lines and they’re great. “Pornstar Martini,” anyone?
Me and Technofreak co-creator Barry May are in it too, reprising our Alas Smith and Jones nods, which we developed as a way of promoting the Kickstarter for our comic, Technofreak Apocrypha.
Barry and I scripted it, and it was great working with him. Watch out for the “My Darren bought me these boots” bit. Cracks me up!
My neighbour and friend Steve “Wedding Videos” Mercer shot and edited it, and added all the post-production effects, like the time bubble and other visual touches. I made the credits at the end, and right at the very end there’s a CGI robot cat – Maurice, from the comics – created by another great pal, Hal Laren.
Oh, and there’s the amazing Technofreak theme song by Andy MacInnes and me, as Junk Satellites. Some of my original songs are in it too, along with one from “my” old Leicester band, Swell. “Burning Inside” is really Mark Garner’s song.
What was the reasoning behind making it?
I guess the main reason was the desire to promote our comics. A new TF #1 is in the works, but it’s taking a while. The video precedes it and serves as an advert for what we’ve done already over the last seven years.
It was great fun, and a lot of hard work for Steve; the result of great friendships and true collaboration. We’d love to do another one, but Steve might need a rest first!
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