Episode 141: Talk w/ Filmmaker Brian Skiba(Rottentail, Clear Cut)

0:00 All right everybody welcome to uncle dad talks i'm myself i'm uncle daddy with me as always is the one and only mike hampton mike we have a very special guest very excited to talk to this gentleman he is responsible for one of my favorite films uh that is rotten tail i absolutely love that movie so very excited to chat with this man we are with brian skiba how are you good thanks for having me guys really appreciate it yeah just thank you for being being a part of this today So you have a new movie coming out, and if you can, for our audience, can you just describe it really quick, like what it's about? Yeah, yeah. It's clear-cut. It's an action thriller. It's kind of an homage to the 90s kind of action-y movies.

0:40 And, you know, it's about a greenhorn, first day on the job, finds a bag of money at a camp that's cooking drugs and takes the money and runs. I mean, who wouldn't, right? Right. Mike, would you take it? Definitely take it. Yeah. Especially if they're cooking drugs. I mean, come on, you know, you can't really feel that bad about that. No, you can't feel bad about that. Come on. Yeah. How was it like that out there, Brian? Like, do you enjoy being, you know, the movies clear cut? They're obviously guys that go out and cut trees. Do you enjoy being stuck out there in the woods for some time? A nature guy?

1:22 Yeah, I didn't hate it. You know, I definitely, you know, I grew up hiking in the wilderness, you know, I was for better or worse, a Boy Scout, I guess. So, you know, yeah, so it was actually a lot of fun and we weren't too far out there. I mean, we were out there, but it wasn't, you know, super sticks. It was, there's still a place to eat in the evening. So there weren't people actually cooking drugs out there. So you're good. No, no, just us. But, you know, that camp, the camp that we used for the for the drug, we actually found that place. That place was there. That was like we walked in and I was like, all right, we're done. You know, it was very interesting. Somebody had actually lived in that place. So.

2:03 Wow. So, you know, in this movie, there's a lot of talent in there. And, you know, I'm just curious, like, what was that like to work with such an icon like Alec Baldwin? You know, I mean, Alex, I've been a fan, you know, since I was a kid. I mean, Hunt for Red October, I mean, one of my favorite movies ever, right? Right. So to actually have that, an icon on set and, and, you know, unfortunately we got him after the, the accident and I was worried, you know, I was worried, like, you know, how's, how's, how's he going to be? And, you know, we, we got along great. And, and the guy is just, I mean, he loves, he loves cinema. He loves acting. He's passionate. I mean, this, you know, and, and, you know, so, so are his brothers.

2:45 I've worked with his brothers and, and, you know, and it's just like that whole family is is phenomenal and and so it was it was it was a real treat it was a real treat and and he and i bonded since and and you know i wish him well so love that yeah it's really cool to watch you know guys like that that you know are legends in cinema you know you know steven dorff has obviously done a ton of movies too and you really get to see the level of talent that they have not to say anything negative about the other actors and actresses in the movies but it's like almost boom oh this guy's a definite pro and i'm sure you even as a as a director can learn stuff from from working with guys like that right no 100 100 i mean that was my second movie with dorf he actually stars in my next movie that comes out through lionsgate next year with nick cage and you know so it's like you know yeah i mean when when i always tell.

3:41 People it's like acting is one of those weird professions not weird but it's one of those professions where you've got to have like you know god kind of gives you a little gift you know not everybody can walk on screen and just and just have that energy and that shine it's just it's just not i mean it's it's unfortunate you know i wish everybody could but some people are just giving it and and you know dorf baldwin you know stand in i mean all these guys i got i got fortunate with welling you know they all they all had that gift so everybody's got a little gem in them and and that's that's that was just it was great it was great to work with all of them so i love that you know yeah and hopefully hopefully take this as a compliment when i watched it the vibe of it kind of makes me think of arnold schwarzenegger's commando.

4:30 Absolutely no i love commando man i i met the guy before you guys but i actually dropped commando i was like yeah this is the okay that's that that was one of my favorite movies growing up so i think that's what i want to ask is when we talk about there's so many great action movies so i'm just curious specifically what is your favorite bruce willis action movies. I mean, definitely Die Hard. I mean, with that hands down. I mean, Die Hard was number one. You know, I almost had a chance. I was going to direct Bruce right before he retired. I had a movie with him and everything. And unfortunately, he retired, you know, but it was, yeah, I mean, Die Hard, he can't beat Die Hard.

5:11 I mean, look, even myself, I've tried to emulate it with the second Ryan Phillippe. I mean, it's just one of those classics. yeah yeah it's funny how many movies are just basically die hard but in a different place like you know the second right that's in a school building right exactly exactly but yeah i mean this was totally like a i could see i i kind of always imagine i'm a huge bruce willis fan by the way that's why we uncle dad here has rocked that but i could almost imagine bruce just in this in this film you know in some way it's funny because cory large the producer did a lot of bruce willis movies and that that was actually this movie was the replacement for the bruce willis movie i was supposed to do so i i was i was supposed to do a bruce willis movie with cory and we were all set lined up ready to go and then you know bruce bruce and his family decided it was best for him to retire so that cory came to me and said well give me another script what do you got and so that's how this one actually got made so so when you uh when you initially read it were you like uh immediately attracted to it or it was kind of like, oh, this is cool, but can I tweet things out a little bit?

6:20 As a director, you always want to tweak the script, I think. It comes with the territory. What I look for is if a writer can lay some great groundwork. If they can lay some great groundwork, then I can fill in the pieces. And Joe did a great job of laying the groundwork. I love that, Mike. Yeah, it's like, yeah, I will just say like, I know, I know the script is obviously very important, you know, and this one has an interesting concept where, you know, the kind of hero of this, of the action also is reflecting on his like road to redemption outside of, of what's going on, you know, basically him fighting for his life. Like, do you ever find similar type of, of, of feelings when you're doing a movie?

7:03 Like, do you relate it to your own life outside of the film in some way? Yeah i'm always on the run so i don't know yeah i think i see someone peeking in the window behind you somebody's out to get me i don't know but no it's it's definitely yeah i mean you know like, filmmaking i think you always leave a little piece of yourself in it you know i mean you, know i i would i would say you know like you said you know like i think the biggest piece of myself is probably in Rotten Tail. I mean, if you know, I know you guys love that one, but that was, you know, I, I grew up, you know, Mel Brooks, my dad loved Mel Brooks.

7:45 He loves stupid comedy and, and, you know, I, I got to, I got to actually have fun for once and do that. And so yeah, you always leave a piece of yourself in the movie. I believe I, I, I love that you said that because I think Rotten Tail is so underrated. Like it really is. And it's, I was so excited to see that a Joe Bob did a thing on it. Joe Bob Riggs. To see that on there, it's so, it's, you know, I know we're talking about Clear Cut, but I'm sorry, I just got excited about Rotten Tail. Because that movie is just so much fun. It really is. And that translates into this movie. It is a fun action. You don't see movies like this no more. I don't really feel like you do. I think the era of the action movie, the era of that action star, it doesn't seem to be as mainstream as it used to be, right?

8:25 And, you know, you remember like Stallone, All's Cats, like that was such a huge, that was your summer blockbusters and we don't see that anymore. More so it's just exciting that you're doing that and making that happen again so what i'm curious for is what do you want the audiences to take from the movie do you want to have a good time or do you want them to be like hey i want to go be a tree logger well definitely not be a tree logger that profession is tough man everybody i met had no fingers you know that everything you know they're they're they're rough dudes no i mean it's a popcorn movie i mean it's it really is it's It's a Saturday night popcorn thriller action. You know, it's, it's, it's an homage and, and, and I want people to just have a great time, you know, just, just have fun with it.

9:08 I, it's, it's, you know, it's, it's not, it's, it's one of those, you know, just turn it on a Saturday night and, and, and it's not so much meatheads killing people as, as it is, there's some story there. And so I think, you know, women can get behind it and be like, it's, you know, this isn't just stupid, you know, it's like, there's a story here. There's a little bit of love story there's you know and so i i think it's got that going for it too i love that before we go mike any last questions yeah real quick if you can who who is your mount rushmore of action stars mount rushmore i i think it's definitely schwarzenegger i mean you know running man is one of my favorite movies ever i mean the guy pinnacled it you know i think he pinnacled action movies i think the guy that plays reacher right now is is probably on the on the same trajectory.

9:57 I think everybody I'm hearing right now, I'm spacing his name. I think. The guy the guy playing reacher i think's gonna trajectory that way as well we need we need a couple of good new action heroes i mean the rock yeah and you know but i think schwarzenegger was the man's man at one point you know i love that and it's kind of funny you said that because i think like we had a little bit of that coming with jason's was jason statham and like there was like that era like okay yeah like with expendables right they have the newer people in there and it's like yeah yeah that's cool okay but i think you're right about the guy from reacher i think he i forgot his name too i think it's alex something but that guy man i think he has like a career being like an action legend if he gets the right roles have you worked with him yet because if you haven't you need to make that happen we're trying to make it happen we're working on it so i love that so before we go uh i just have one last question for you just because this movie is about you know it takes place in in the trees so i'm curious what are your top three trees.

11:00 Trees what's your mountain rush more of trees i kind of like pine cypress is cool awesome awesome, i'm really in the tall tall trees yeah the big ones yeah i will say the trees we cut down were all destined to be cut and so we didn't we didn't cut any like trees anybody would miss so we were we were very friendly we're very uh nature friendly in this movie i love that awesome well thank you so much brian i really appreciate it i really can't wait for everybody to go watch this movie thank you for your time and yeah we'll see everybody next time yeah take care thank you guys thanks man what's up this is west from revolution you're listening to uncle dad talks what's up everybody we are back wow what a great interview that was mike i think we had a lot of fun i think we learned about action movies we learned about trees and we learned where you can and make some good meth.

11:53 Yeah, where there's already a meth or some type of meth camp set up. Actually, we didn't learn where it is. We need to find out where it is. Yes, yes, yes. We need to find out, and then we need to go make a movie there. Or make a podcast there. There we go. Or see if there's a bag of money there. Oh, that too. That too. So, Mike, we just got done with that. We talked about Bruce Willis for a minute, and when you asked him about the Mount Rushmore of action stars, I was shocked that he only went just with Schwarzenegger. Do you think Bruce Willis would have been on there too? I think he should be. i think yeah my mount rushmore is obviously schwarzenegger i think stallone is on there, obviously bruce willis is on there and that fourth one's hard you know there's like who gets that spot you know like if there's like there's like the older action stars that made the genre then there's the newer guys like you mentioned the rock and jason statham that like kind of carried the torch yeah so like i don't know i think like wesley snipes at some point could have got that fourth spot you know yeah he did a bunch of action movies back in the day that were you know when they were like up and come you know the genre was becoming what it became, you was is nicholas cage considered an action star or no i don't know if he i mean he definitely did action movies but i wouldn't say he's an action star okay gotcha okay no he's a movie star yes yeah i like that right uh you know who i would actually think kind of deserves to be up there because he's so slept on.

13:24 We have talked about him once, is Guy Pearce. Because he does a lot of action movies now. I mean, I know he didn't before, but he does a lot of those now. And clearly you don't like my choice. I don't like your choice. I can tell you don't. That's okay. We're going to play a game, and I'm going to call it two of a kind, because you and I are two of a kind. Would you agree with that? Sure. Yeah, we are. We may have different fourth spots on the Mount Rushmore of action stars, but we are very similar in other ways. Yeah. Exactly. Let me pull up my list here really fast of our contestants.

14:06 Let's see who is going to be selected. Let's go with, just going with a random name here. Tell me to stop. Just say stop. stop all right. That's gonna be oh i understand maybe i told you to stop at the wrong time it's gonna be uh his i don't want to say his last name so i'll just say his his instagram name uh rude g3 you and i are playing for rude g3 now what's gonna happen is rude g3 will win a brand new sealed copy of the hatchet Complete Collection, which I have here somewhere.

14:47 Oh, yes, from our last guest, Adam Green. See that? Wow. Nice and shiny. Hatchet. Now, the way he's going to win this is that you and I have to get four... Sorry, three out of six matching terms. So this is how it's going to work. Two of a kind. I'm going to throw a... I'm going to say here's a test one. I'm going to say Marvel Superhero. Then I'm going to count down. One or three, two, one. And then you have to say the first two we match. That's a win. That's a point. If we don't match. Then we're not in sync. Then we're not two of a kind. Yeah, exactly. So if you and I can match three out of six, or I'll do four out of six, then Rude 3G will win. If not, well, we'll wait until the next episode.

15:35 Okay. Sound good? Let's see where we're at. Yeah. All right. Mike, the first category is Marvel Superhero. I didn't see that one coming. Here we go. Ready? Ready? Three, two. One spider-man we're off we got a little bit delay all right well we're wrong that's that's a miss for that i'll try it again yeah they would do it again here uh dc superhero one three two one batman batman yes okay cool that's one point of course bruce willis movie that's not die hard oh very good not any of the diehards, cards three two one armageddon six cents oh man okay so that's uh one of three right now right well we can't we can't miss any more if we're gonna do four out of six so the game is on the line still is okay oh man i'm trying to think of another category okay a music festival just a A music festival. Yes.

16:50 Okay. Three, two, one. One. Coachella. Outside ends. Oh! Coachella. You need to go to Coachella. Why would you go outside? Coachella's like the festival. Well, for me. I guess not. Okay, well, sorry, RudeDG. You're definitely not going to win. We appreciate it. But you know what? We're going to play this game again next episode. And maybe by then... I was just telling him, thanks for playing. Thanks for I'm still going to DM you and I will send you some Uncle Dad stickers hey so Mike before we go is there anything you want to tell the audience well yes one of the things I'd like to tell the audience is my one thing you asked Brian that you didn't ask me was my favorite my favorite trees my top three trees because everyone knows I love nature, yes you do and so my my trees are I like a cypress tree.

17:57 I do like a nice palm tree. And I'm a big fan of redwood trees. I'm a fan. What do you think? I would say I love that list. I would have thrown in banyan tree. Oh, yeah. Those are very sacred tree. Yeah. Very good. Okay. All right. That's the fourth. That's the fourth on the Mount Rushmore. There you go. The Mount Rushmore. Yeah I smell a bunch more of trees. Where else are you going to find this great content I know, I do want to say if you can if you're having a good time and you want yourself to have a chance to win some great stuff be sure to go to on Instagram and give us a follow and be sure to follow my man here at Mike Hampton Arts.