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Past Filmmakers
Armor of God
 The
Interview
1. How did you come up with the idea for the film?
Brett: In 1994, along with my friend Christina Clum, I directed
a music video for the former Greensboro band, Geezer Lake. Scotty
Irving was their drummer. We stayed in touch over the years and
when I heard about Scotty's Clang Quartet performance, I went to
see the show one night. About five minutes into the show, I thought
my ears were going to start bleeding. My next thought was: "Gee,
this would make a great film." I talked to Jim and he concurred
100%. Scotty gave us the OK and we were off and running.
 Jim:
Once you see Scotty perform, it's difficult not to be fascinated
by him. He's such a unique performer and his act has incredible
visuals and sounds, which of course are perfect for film. Once you
get to know him, you realize his story is compelling as well.
2. How long did the production process take?
Brett: A lot longer than it really needed to. Sometimes a regular
job really eats into your time, if you know what I mean.
Jim: We couldn't work on it full time, so we worked
sporadically for about eight months from the initial interview with
Scotty until the final edit was completed. We shot the performance
footage in one (very grueling) day, the rest of the footage over
a couple more. Editing took longer, because that's where it really
had to take shape.
3. What challenges did you experience in the creation
of the film?
Brett: Trying to accurately portray Scotty and tell a coherent story
in twelve minutes. It was like writing a haiku when your subject
has given you a novel with which to work.
Jim: Trying to do Scotty's act justice. There were
a lot of things we wanted to include, but just didn't have the time
(or budget) to do. This was also the first time I've collaborated
on directing and editing a film, which turned out to be a really
fun and invigorating process.
4. What is your favorite memory from creating the
film?
Brett: Visiting Scotty at his day job. He's a receptionist at a
modeling agency in Greensboro. We set up a timelapse camera rig,
brought in some BBQ sandwiches for lunch, sat and watched the master
at work. If you think the guy can play the drums, you ought to see/hear
him operate the phone lines!
Jim: The long shooting day when we shot the performance.
We had a rock club for about eight hours and Scotty performed for
us over and over again for an incredibly long time. He was, to say
the least, quite a trouper! He just drank his Gatorade and kept
doing take after take. Everybody on the volunteer crew worked really
hard, and it was just a fun and inspiring day.
5. When someone has finished watching the film,
what do you hope they'll take away from the experience?
Brett: I hope viewers will be inspired by Scotty's courage to express
himself honestly, openly, and with panache. I hope they will find
humor, as Scotty does, in the little quirks that make Scotty, like
us all, an individual. Finally, at the risk of sounding preachy,
I hope viewers will re-think their notions of religious ritual as
it relates to spirituality. As a kid, I attended a Methodist church,
which had traditions of worship - someone lights a candle here,
the minister says something there, the choir sings at this point,
and so on. When I first attended a college roommate's Catholic church,
I was struck by the distinctly different set of rituals. Later,
at my first Buddhist meditation session, I was struck again by the
particulars of the rituals. Each time this happened, I thought:
"Who thought this up? Who made the rules? Do the rules matter?
What's really important here?" I think we all take comfort
in rituals, whether they be our daily routines or our religious
practices. There has to be some order in our worlds. But, what I
think Scotty might be up to with his Clang Quartet is trying to
shake us, wake us up out of our routines so that we might see things
afresh. Ultimately, I hope each viewer's belief or church or denomination
does not stand in the way of them seeing how Scotty lets "the
spirit" move him. He has soul. I admire that about Scotty.
I hope other folks do, too.
Jim: I hope people will take a look at what Scotty
is doing and appreciate the artistic and spiritual richness of it.
Clang Quartet seems strange and nonsensical when you first experience
the show, but the more you listen and watch, the more you realize
how tremendous it is as a form of worship and music. There's nobody
doing this kind of thing out there. It shakes up some assumptions
people have about Christianity and music, and that's not an easy
road to take.
6. What type of reaction has your film received
from viewers?
Brett: It varies, of course. A lot of folks "get it."
A lot find humor in it. Some are stunned or puzzled. About what
you would expect. Every film has a niche audience. Trouble is, when
you don't have a studio marketing team behind you, it's up to you
to find that audience. Jim and I tried to make the most mainstream
film about Scotty that we could make, but the film has faired best
in the alternative and experimental film festival circuit. We sent
it to a Canadian distributor of Christian films several weeks ago,
but haven't heard a peep yet.
Jim: Very positive overall. At the Cucalorus festival
in Wilmington a group of high school kids saw it, and they thought
Scotty was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I think teenagers
can really identify with being misunderstood and judged by your
appearance.
7. What advice would you give to aspiring young
filmmakers?
Brett: Like Scotty says in the film: "You have nothing to be
afraid of. Go out there and show 'em you have nothing to be afraid
of!"
Jim: Pursue making films you love, not what you think
will sell. So naturally, if you do this, you'll also need to figure
out a good day job.
8. What is the next film you plan to work on?
Brett: "Monster Road," a feature length documentary about
Seattle underground animator Bruce Bickford. Jim is co-producing
and we're editing it together. We plan to have it done by the end
of Summer 2003.
9. What are your thoughts on the film industry
in NC?
Brett: The commercial film industry is a source of employment for
a lot of talented technicians and artisans living and working here.
Other than that, I know very little about it.
Jim: There are lots of us working in the "basement,"
which makes NC a very interesting place for film lovers and makers.
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