PASSION OF THE PERVERT

“Pervert!” was the first feature film from director Jonathan Yudis, but he didn’t exactly come out of nowhere. Yudis graduated with honors on the dean’s list at New York University, received his masters from the American Film Institute and had his many award-winning student short films play internationally at festivals. The son-in-law of filmmaker Ralph Bakshi (“The Lord of the Rings”) has also written, produced and directed for a number of television projects that have aired on Court TV and Spike. He is also a teacher of “The Yoga of Film Making” workshops. In this interview with PollyStaffle.com, Yudis shares a bit about making the cult smash “Pervert!,” which was written by his pal Mike Davis, and the influence of Russ Meyer on the project. Yudis also talks about some of his favorite films, fellow NYU grad Spike Lee, kicking his son, busty women and Jesus.

Jonathan Yudis

CCF: What do you hope audiences will take away from watching your movie “Pervert!”?

JY: Laughter. The absurdity of it all… Some mild outrage and disgust. Hopefully a good time.

CCF: It is a great movie. Hopefully, everyone is able to enjoy it as much as I did... Russ Meyer, I’ve actually never seen any of his movies. How big an influence was his work on the project?

JY: Russ was a huge influence for “Pervert!” Mike introduced me to Russ Meyer films back in college at NYU over ten years ago. What I love about Russ is primarily his strange sense of humor. The comic bizarre worlds he creates in his movies. His tone and style, his beautiful and colorful cinematography and quick fire editing. And of course we share a love of beautiful bountiful curvaceous and voluptuous naturally busty women.

CCF: What’s the overall reaction you’ve gotten from Russ Meyer fans on the film?

JY: It’s been amazing. We’ve had many fans and even close friends of Russ himself both support the film and tell us they think he would truly dig it and see that his work has influenced a new generation of filmmakers. Can’t ask for much more than this.

CCF: I felt like you had a wonderful cast and crew here. How were you able to get all these people together?

JY: It was an extreme challenge but it’s what made the movie work. It was Mike and I as a team from the start. I had a lot of trouble finding a cinematographer, but once my friend and amazingly talented DP Guy Livneh came on board, the rest of the crew fell into place. It was a small crew but they were all very talented, experienced and committed. I really lucked out to get people like Timothy Johnson (stop motion animation and special f/x), William Moore (art direction), Dimitris (gaffer), Corky Quakenbush (stop motion director) and the entire crew.

CCF: You mentioned Guy Livneh, I thought his work was amazing.

JY: Yeah, Guy Livneh brought our vision to life with his colorful and clean cinematography. He perfectly understood the tone, style, and angles that made Russ Meyer’s films great while adding his own touch. Guy almost got heat stroke out there in the desert shooting for hours on end in fox holes and covered in sound blankets so the camera noise wasn’t recorded, but his experience in the Israeli army came in handy and he proved to be an amazing leader of his crew. He demands nothing less than excellence in his work- and this commitment can be seen in every luscious frame of “Pervert!”

CCF: I heard it was really hot. How bad did it get?

JY: People might think we’re exaggerating about the heat, but it was over 100 degrees every day of filming. It was so hot that some of our film stock literally melted in the cans when we were shooting!

CCF: That’s got to suck… I was a fan of the editing too. What were your thoughts on Michael Fitzpatrick’s work here?

JY: I can’t begin to praise my editor Fitz enough. I know it sounds so cliché, but the movie really does not become real or a movie at all until the editing room. Fitz saw this footage more than anyone else on the planet and figured out how to make it work. It might look like we had great coverage but we didn’t. We shot this movie in two weeks and had to cut like twenty pages out of the script. Fitz is also a writer and director himself, so he served as much more than just an editor, he was a pure creative collaborator that could help us make scenes work that wouldn’t otherwise. He’s also got a sense of humor and an attitude and that attitude comes off in the comic timing and on all those crazy swoosh cuts and wipes throughout the movie.

CCF: Talk casting. Was it hard getting actresses for the movie?

JY: The casting was tough. At least eighty percent of the universe was scared off by the nudity and the script. At that stage we hadn’t even told anybody the title. However, the moment I auditioned most of the actors I casted, I knew they had the roles.

CCF: Like I said in my review, Mary Carey stole the show. What were your thoughts on her performance?

JY: Mary Carey was perfect for Cheryl. She liked the role and the script and was actually the first person signed on to do the movie. She is literally effervescent. She bubbles with fun energy. I think we captured that on film.

CCF: Were you a fan of hers before this?

JY: I thought she was sexy but only knew of her from photos of her run for governor.

CCF: As far as the rest of the cast, what made you say, “This is the actor for this role” and tell me about what some of them brought to the characters.

JY: Darrell Sandeen was the quintessential Hezekiah, nobody else even came close in auditions. Darrell is Hezekiah.... He just owns this role through and through. I cast Sean Andrews against the nerdy type of James we were looking for because I thought his good looks and goofy style went right with James. I think people underestimate how hard it is to pull of such a strange young man such as James. I really liked Juliette Clarke’s energy when she auditioned, but didn’t know what part she would be right for, then she came on board as nurse Patty and made it her own. But the moment I laid eyes on Sally Jean I knew she was right for Alisha.

Jonathan Yudis on the set.

CCF: What did it take to pull this project off as well as you did? Any advice for indie filmmakers that are interested in tackling something like this?

JY: It takes a tremendous amount of energy, will power, effort, and determination to pull off a movie... Any movie...Even a bad movie! So my advice is to choose something you are willing to commit to, believe in, suffer and struggle for, and ultimately celebrate. Other than that, just find a cool team of creative people to join you for the journey and don’t get discouraged by set backs, nay sayers, and all the challenges along the way. Just keep the faith and you will prevail. And if at all possible, try and remember to have fun and enjoy the process as much as possible. But it is a lot of hard work.

CCF: Besides Russ Meyer, who are some of the directors and films that influence your directing style?

JY: As a film maker in general: Stanley Kubrick, Francis Ford Coppola, and more modern directors like Spike Lee, Ron Fricke and Stephen Chow.

CCF: I’m a big Spike Lee fan myself. What are some of your favorite movies of his?

JY: No question: “Do the Right Thing.” It’s a true classic, but I also love “Malcolm X” and I really enjoyed his most recent film “Inside Man.” It was fun and commercial but still had his style and stamp on it.

CCF: What are some of your all-time favorite films?

JY: “Baraka,” “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Chariots of Fire,” “Somewhere in Time,” “Apocalypse Now,” “The Godfather” and “E.T.”

CCF: “E.T.”?

JY: I know it’s a conservative list., but I could list thousands of movies I love ... In terms of crazy comedy, I loved “Kung Fu Hustle.”

CCF: Now, I don’t know if there is any truth to it, but somebody emailed me and told me that you bad mouthed Russ Meyer at some film festival and that you basically said “Pervert!” wasn’t the kind of film you “actually” want to make. They also said you claimed Peter Jackson’s early work was garbage and that you loved “Lord of the Rings” and “King Kong.” What is your take on what they were referring to and what was actually said?

JY: Wow, I can’t believe I’ve actually already been misquoted or definitely misinterpreted! All I said relating to this was that I did not only want to make exploitation genre movies in my film career and that I respected filmmakers like Peter Jackson who created awesome material no matter what genre, budget, or stage in his career. I referenced that I loved both “Dead Alive” and “Lord of the Rings” even though most people would never imagine they were created by the same person. I wish I could personally apologize to this person and explain that I love and am very proud of “Pervert!” in all its perverted glory.

CCF: Ok. Yeah, that makes a bit more sense to me… I’m not really that big on any of Peter Jackson’s stuff myself except “Heavenly Creatures.” … Now as far as you and Mike, are you going to work on other projects together or do you have your own agenda with Infinite?

JY: We both have our own agenda’s and want to collaborate again. We are in the process of our follow up to “Pervert!” - another outrageous comedy called the “Corpse Corps” about a rogue motorcycle gang and a homage to 60/70’s motorcycle gang exploitation flicks. I dare say it could take “Pervert!” fans to a new level. Infinite Entertainment is also producing other projects including a radically different film from this one - a spiritual biopic on the life of Jesus. I’m very excited about directing this inspiring project.

CCF: Any busty women in the Jesus movie or is it going to actually be a serious “Passion of the Christ” type movie? How does one go from one extreme to the other?

JY: It is a spiritual epic! My goal with “Pervert!” was to create an outrageous comedy that celebrates beautiful busty women and the absurdity of everything. My goal with the Jesus project is to tell his story and reveal aspects of his life and being that have never been explored on film and to awaken the unconditional love of Christ in all hearts. All I can say is that I live with my life with deep passion and try to express this in my creativity and films, regardless of their topic. I truly believe that our Divine Source has both themes covered: an incredible and non judgmental sense of humor and unconditional love for everything.

CCF: Speaking of non judgmental sense of humors, you played a redneck hip-hop loving auto mechanic in “Pervert!” You were great. Are you planning on having little Spike Lee-like bit parts in every film you direct?

JY: Yes, I love to act and play fun roles, especially the crazy and twisted ones. And when I direct I have the rare ability to cast myself. I would love it if other producers and directors who dig the mechanic would cast me in their movies!

CCF: (LOL) Yeah, you should do other movies… With that same exact character as well… Having the same hillbilly pop up in a horror movie here or there and a comedy or two… He’d be great in a “Wrong Turn” type movie or in Rob Zombie’s stuff and Kevin Smith films… That’ll be cool… Wasn’t that your son William in the movie as the little mechanic that gets kicked?

JY: Yes, that was him! And I think he did an amazing job for being under a year old! Though it looks terrible, he wasn’t even on set when the kick happened. We used a doll for that shot. This scene actually sums up my sense of humor, which is perhaps perverted because I’d like to think that the mechanic is exactly who I don’t play in real life, so it was a blast playing him for the movie. Some things are just so wrong that they become hilarious! The kick evokes the exact response I was hoping to create with it which is a “No way! He didn’t just do that, did he?” and again, people who are like myself are just appalled by such behavior and can’t help but crack up when they see it. This is the kind of celebrated silly fun in “Pervert!” And just for the record, for anybody who might take the film too seriously, I love my son with all my heart and would never touch or harm him in any way in real life.

CCF: All right. Well, I think that’s about it.

JY: Thanks Chad. You are awesome.

CCF: Thanks for you time Jon.

- CCF, May 2006