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First all us here at Soul Java would like to extend a Thank You to all of those involved in the production of Babys Breath. I hope for those of you who have not gone to the promo site please do so, as it will send chills down your spine with just the intro. This is the must go see film that I have run across so far this year. It offers a chilling story line that I am sure will be well worth the wait till opening! Which of course could be sooner if the to be audience makes their interest in this Spine Tingling Thriller known. Once again Thank You Laurin and Matthew for taking the time with us here at Soul Java and we hope that Every one will check out Babys Breath!
Great questions! We are off to Sundance for a couple of weeks to
promote Baby's Breath...and see a few films.
Take care,
Laurin Krause
Executive Producer
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Q: In Matthew Krauses bio, it is stated that he and his brothers
had a paranormal experience at the cemetery where their Grandfather
is buried. The sound described as "childrens laughter" is said
to be heard. Is this the sound that is captured on the tape? Can
you explain how you came to the conclusion that you have indeed captured
paranormal activity within this recording?
A: Regarding both questions, were not 100 percent at any conclusion
regarding the tape. Weve no doubt that what we heard in the cemetery
is some sort of paranormal activity, but sounds on the tape are a
little sketchier. There is definitely something that COULD be a
childs laughter on the tape, but there are also a number of extraneous,
ambient sounds: crickets in the fields, Matthew and his brothers
talking, and those good old Kansas winds. Currently, Matthews brother
Doug has the tape in his studio in Denver--hes a sound engineer
on our film as well as our composer--where hes made a digital copy
of it and is trying to isolate the sounds with Pro Tools. After
that, we might have a more definite answer to this question.
Q: If so, do you have plans to share this recorded phenomena?
A: Were holding off on sharing it until Doug can isolate something.
We all pretty much felt that if we turned the tape over to a paranormal
expert and were subsequently told that the sounds were inconclusive,
wed feel pretty silly. This isnt the first paranormal experience
Matthew and his brothers have had, but its the most dramatic and
the first time theyve shared in the same experience. Previously,
their contact with the paranormal has been on a much subtler plane:
objects that disappear and reappear, sounds in houses that arent
quite right, or just that eerie intuitive chill one feels in the
presence of the supernatural. Supernatural presence is not something
anyone on the crew is uncomfortable with, but we want to be certain
about an experience before we give the Discovery Channel a call.
Q: Has there been any other research into the area within the cemetery
and if so, was there anything that could substantiate a ghost or
haunting of a child or children?
A: Matthew remembers something about visiting his Grandpas grave
back in the late 70s. He was just a kid at the time, and when he
walked around the cemetery during the visit, he noticed that there
were two or three graves where children were buried. Matthews Mom-
-who had grown up on a nearby farm and knew the area well--was right
there to tell the stories of these children. Matthew doesnt remember
all of the stories, but the one that sort of traumatized him was
about the grave of a child not quite a year old. According to Matthews
Mom, the child had tried to blow up a balloon and ended up sucking
it into his throat and suffocating. It was a rather morbid tale,
which is probably why it stayed with Matthew for over 20 years.
Q: Being that we are paranormal researchers it is our job to keep
things in a perspective and make sure we rule out all logical explanations.
Is there any information you can give us to support the claims
of the tapes authenticity?
A: Matthew and his brothers are still on the fence as to what is
actually on the tape. When it was first played back, they were of
course absolutely certain that they had recorded a ghost. But keep
in mind that this was a muggy summer night at their cousins farm
just down the road from the cemetery, Kansass wind whistling through
the door screen, ambiance and atmosphere - its pretty easy to jump
to conclusions under those conditions. But in the light of day,
they tended to listen to the tape with a little more sobriety, I
guess. This is one of the reasons theyre sort of "preparing a case"
on the tape before they make it more public.
Q: Was there any further paranormal research done that helped in
the completion of BABYS BREATH?
A: Matthew and his brothers have always had a love affair with the
supernatural, so in a way theyre always doing paranormal research
in some roundabout way. Since they were teenagers theyve dabbled
in all the weird experiments you hear about on ghost documentaries.
One time, Matthew and Doug left a tape recorder running in Dougs
living room to see if the house was haunted (theyd seen the experiment
on some TV show). On the playback, they heard an odd sound that
they were certain was made by some paranormal source. Only later
did they discover that it was nothing more than bubbles gurgling
in a water cooler (you can see why were hesitant to let anyone hear
the ghost tape until we know more). On a more academic note, there
is an excellent local book by Lisa Hefner Heitz called HAUNTED KANSAS.
Ms. Heitz did some pretty thorough research into the ghosts of
Kansas, and her book became something of a "biblia sacra" for Matthew
while writing BABYS BREATH.
Q: While working on BABYS BREATH, did any new mysteries unfold that
coincide with the EVPs (electronic voice phenomenon) previously
collected or any other information you were working with?
A: No new mysteries popped up regarding the EVP. However, once we
made the decision to produce this film, it was interesting to see
how many people wanted to tell us their personal ghost experiences.
On our electronic press kit (EPK), we included a few of those stories
from folks in El Dorado under the chapter heading "Local Ghosts."
Q: Matthew previously mentioned that he has always known in the back
of his head that he wanted to direct. Is BABYS BREATH his directing
debut?
A: Yes, it is. I dont think directing was a conscious choice when
he first went to Los Angeles; his passion has always been for writing.
His desire to direct really springs out of frustration. If youre
just a writer, a lot of times you conceive a story, you write it,
you visualize it - then somebody else makes it completely different.
After awhile, a writer comes to know what he wants and starts looking
for ways to have more control over the telling of a story. Thats
why Matthew is directing BABYS BREATH.
Q: With your youngest cast member a mere 18 months old, were there
any key elements in the decision to cast the role of Jessie or any
other cast member?
A: Casting "Jessie" was most influenced by the casting of "Annie,
" since "Annie" is "Jessies" mother. So once we cast Jessica Sullivan
as "Annie," we needed a "Jessie" that looked like she could be "Annies"
daughter. We auditioned at over 30 children, and the little girl
we got, Kaitlyn Blackburn, has a remarkable look, thoughtful and
sad, as if she already has years of life experience. Her parents
were another consideration in the casting process, and Kaitlyns
Mom and Dad are enthusiastic, smart and incredibly supportive of
the project. As far as the casting of the other actors, a lot of
my choices were based on my gut. We videotaped every audition, then
watched the tapes with Pete Henderson, our casting director, and
looked for the "magic." We landed a really fine cast and I think
youll be amazed by the result.
Q: Since you were working with a limited budget, did you feel BABYS
BREATH would have a hard time competing with movies that seem to
have unlimited funds?
A: A small film is always going to have a hard time competing with
the studios. Nevertheless, it can be done with the right distributor-
-look at the success of films like CLERKS, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING
and THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. The bottom line: if you have a good
story and tell it well, people will want to see it, kind of the "if
you build it they will come" theory. So the challenge, above all,
is to make BABYS BREATH a compelling story, which I think this
cast and crew will do.
Q: Do you feel that for the same reason you were able to focus more
on the characters and story line?
A: Oh, absolutely. The focus of BABYS BREATH is as much on the
characters and their reaction to this wandering spirit as it is on
the spirit itself. What really excites us is the process the actors
are currently going through, finding nuances in their characters
and moments in the drama that wind up being about something greater
than whats on the surface. Now that the characters have faces,
weve really fallen in love with all of them and Matthew has even
received insight into their motivation that he hadnt noticed before.
Q: Did you use any unique advertising techniques or strategies?
A: We are using the full potential of the internet. We believe this
is the way to reach people. By uniting with paranormal websites
and other websites that have to do with horror and thrillers we are
able to reach quite a lot of people. We have had a lot of great
sites, including your own, wanting interviews and helping with the
promotion of Babys Breath. We plan to include all of these sites
in the credits of the movie. No other motion picture has thanked
websites in their credits!
We also have made an Electronic Press Kit DVD to send to distributors
and media. This DVD goes behind the scenes of pre-production and
the making of Babys Breath in small town Kansas.
Q: I read in your interview with Melanie Billings at All About Ghosts
that you decided to make BABYS BREATH independently to avoid "toning
it down." Have you received any criticism for that and have you
had any regrets?
A: Before we got too far in developing this film, we had several
people outside the industry read the script, people who represent
your average movie ticket-buyers. I made sure these were people
from a broad demographic who would offer constructive straight answers
without gushing a lot of meaningless praise for Matthews writing.
We found that those who read the script pretty much got caught
up in the story rather than focusing on the narratives disturbing
details. Yes, these "edgy' elements caught them off guard at first,
but the readers still liked the way BABYS BREATH resolves this
elements in its denouement. Matthew also received some quality constructive
criticism from these readers, and he used many of their suggestions.
These people were kind of like our test audience; we ran the script
past them before we moved any further with the project.
Q: We have seen that some Hollywood execs have warned that the script
for BABYS BREATH is too intense for viewers, thus calling for it
to be toned down. Do you think that the publicity from their statements
could turn people away from seeing the film?
A: I would hope just the opposite would happen. Remember when Stephen
King released PET SEMETERY, and the story surrounding it was that
this was a novel so disturbing that King initially didnt want it
published? That statement alone sold a lot of books and movie tickets.
Believe it or not, we have taken the opinions of the studio execs
into account, but I think the intense elements of BABYS BREATH are
blown a little bit out of proportion. At the core of the narrative
you have this one shocking act performed by a very evil character,
but the story itself is about so many broader themes, most of them
very spiritual in nature. Im willing to bet that the opinions of
many of my non-industry readers will hold true with a broader audience
once this film makes it to the theater.
Q: With the start of filming right around the corner, do you have
any fears or do you feel confident in the decisions you have made
so far?
A: If we have any fears, we have to pretty much ignore them. Matthews
favorite verse in the Bible that says God does not give us a "spirit
of fear" but rather one of "power, love and self-discipline." So
when we get scared around here, we have to remind ourselves that
power, love and self-discipline are the tools that came standard
with each individual when he or she rolled off the showroom floor.
The creative process really becomes a matter of tapping into these
tools. As far as the decisions weve made so far, weve been very,
very blessed. And the good news is were not going into this thing
alone: our crew and cast members have been wonderful, with great
work ethic and a lot of excellent ideas.
Q: You have given us a brief synopsis of BABYS BREATH. Is there
anything more you could add without unraveling the mystery?
A: I dont want to add too much more. The best I can offer is to
direct you to the BABYS BREATH website and encourage you to look
for the "Easter eggs" on the main menu page. They might give you
a bit more insight into the details of the story.
Q: You hint that a semi-conscious child is the only one who can identify
a brutal killer. Can we then speculate that the killer and child
have crossed paths? Are you saying that the killer is responsible
for the childs current state?
A: I guess you can speculate whatever you want. ;) Seriously, youre
pretty accurate on both those assumptions, and I dont want to give
you much more than that. Sorry.
Q: Not to place BABYS BREATH in a specified genre such as "slasher"
or what you referred to as an "intellectual thriller," but would
you say that viewers can expect to experience more psychological
chills?
A: Matthew is a big proponent of psychological thrills. With BABYS
BREATH, he says that he wants to tell the kind of ghost story he
likes to hear, a story that plays on emotions and moods and doesnt
fall back on high-end special effects and visual pyrotechnics. We
both love films like THE SIXTH SENSE, THE OTHERS, THE RING and classics
such as the original THE HAUNTING because the chills come across
through suggestion. We hear sounds, see things in the shadows, sense
a presence and even see evidence of visitation after the fact but
were never quite sure what is haunting us. In contrast, when a
film decides to show us the horror in full Technicolor--as the remake
of THE HAUNTING did, for instance--it doesnt have the same impact,
for me anyway. At the beginning of Shakespeares HENRY V, the narrator
says something about working on the audiences "imaginary forces.
" Thats what we want to do with BABYS BREATH, to keep the audience
imagining for as long as possible.
Q: It is said that the entire town of El Dorado, Kansas, was involved
in the making of BABYS BREATH. Has there been anyone at anytime
that did not seem as supportive as the rest?
A: The support is pretty much across the board. We love working
with these people and there is a wealth of untapped talent.
Q: Do you feel that like THE SIXTH SENSE and THE OTHERS, BABYS BREATH
will pull in a wider range in the age of viewers?
A: I hope so because THE SIXTH SENSE/THE OTHERS audience is exactly
the one were targeting, that broad demographic of smart, thoughtful
filmgoers. Age doesnt really matter with film fans like this.
Melanie Billings at All About Ghosts asked Matthew if he thought
there was a renewed interest in intelligent horror movies, and Matthews
response was that there has ALWAYS been an interest for intelligent
horror films. The only problem is, he says, is that we went through
a period where we received nothing but a steady diet of horror junk
food (were up to our tenth FRIDAY THE 13TH movie now), and were
still recovering from that. But Horror and sci-fi fans on the whole
tend to be pretty savvy, so I think that if we treat them like the
intelligent people they are, theyll show their appreciation by supporting
a well-made, intelligent film.
Q: Matthew also states how the story seemed to come out of the ether.
Could this possibly be a paranormal push toward his directing destiny?
A: Im a pretty spiritual person, so I tend to believe everything
happens for a reason. Whatever it was Matthew and his brothers heard
in the cemetery that night, its no accident that it happened during
a period where Matthew was researching violent crimes for a spec
script. The combination of those elements basically spawned this
thing called BABYS BREATH, which seems rather serendipitous to me.
And while Matthew had no intention to direct this script, he found
himself being pushed that way, not by any cosmic force, but rather
by a chain of coincidences that sort of thrust him into the role.
The original definition of "blessing" is quite simply "supernatural
favor." And weve seen this project receive a lot of supernatural
favor since we decided to produce and direct it ourselves. So in
answer to your question, yes, I do think there was a paranormal push
of some sort working in the wings.
Q: Are you confident that you will be able to meet the expectations
of all the eagerly awaiting viewers?
A: Well, this is an awesome crew and cast, so I think our fans will
be impressed with the finished product. I have never worked on a
project where so many people were committed to excellence.
Q: I read that you have heard many stories and visited many haunted
sites in El Dorado. Could this mean we may possibly look forward
to other projects set in or based on an El Dorado haunting?
A: Could be - Matthew also became fascinated with a cemetery in Stull,
Kansas, that has allegedly seen some unusual paranormal activity
(Lisa Hefner Heitz writes about this cemetery in HAUNTED KANSAS).
Q: When should we expect to see BABYS BREATH in theaters everywhere?
A: Were on schedule to have the movie ready for festivals by June,
and were already on a major marketing push to generate interest
among distributors. We could see it as early as late summer depending
on the distributor. One important note, if there is enough interest
generated on the internet and the distributor sees the need,we could
see it much sooner!
Q: Do you have any other projects in the works?
A: Well, theres a possible sequel to BABYS BREATH. Matthew also
have a couple of other scripts wed like to produce that veer away
from the paranormal, one is a sports drama and the other an historical
drama. Theyre both pretty ambitious projects, and when it comes
right down to it, supernatural thrillers are Matthews first love.
Hed like to give audiences a few more sleepless nights if he could.
Q: What do you hope to have accomplished in the next five years?
A: Weve approached this project with the next five to ten years
in mind because we absolutely love what were doing. So it is our
dream in five years to have two or three more solid pictures under
our belt after BABYS BREATH, and to continue producing them from
our home base here in Kansas.
interview and article by: Julie Eastin & Frankie Schug
Keep checking back as S.J will keep you posted on the Release of this years up-coming chilling movie.
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