“When the Asylum first asked me to write a film called “Shark Storm” I said no,” said Thunder Levin when Hollywood Today asked him if there was any script ideas he’d turned down. Apparently, Sharknado was much more inspiring. How could a name like that not be?
In case you were hiding under a rock over the summer, Sharknado was a made-for-TV movie about a surprise hurricane that created a waterspout, which pulled deadly killer sharks out of the ocean and carried them across Los Angeles terrorizing the entire city. It obviously sparked a Rotten Tomato or two. When suggested he has a fan base which is anxiously awaiting Sharknado merchandise Thunder replied “I have a “fan base?!”
The unlikely B movie took the interwebs by storm this summer. In tandem with its broadcast on SyFy, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and the like were ablaze with Sharknado chatter, it was a phenomenon that surprised everyone. But, you must admit, the ludicrousness of such a tale really is ripe topic for outlandish commentary.
HT had some additional film ideas for Levin and asked if he’d considered spreading the “big screen” love to other creatures? We suggested man-eating flies in a film called Flyclones or really anything called Llamageddon and Levin replied, “Of all the various suggestions I’ve seen like this, my favorite is Snailquake. It would have plenty of time for character development.” HA. So, what about a musical version of Sharknado we said flippantly, “Actually, Anthony Ferrante and I tossed that idea around a while ago. I think we were kidding, but who knows?!”
Hollywood Today got Thunder chatting about his favorite part of the filmmaking process. Clearly, he enjoys writing however he said, “About the only part of the filmmaking process I don’t like is rewriting. That’s like pulling teeth while scraping my nails against a blackboard as fire ants crawl over my body. …Only worse.”
“At any given time I’m liable to say almost any part is my favorite. I love knocking around story ideas in a room with other creative people. I love developing characters and plot structure and powerful moments as I write a screenplay. I love casting, and hearing the characters come to life for the very first time. I love working with designers on sets and costumes and props and effects and all the other pieces that will become the world to be filmed. I love location scouting, especially when a script calls for exotic locales, standing in a new place and imagining the action unfolding around me. I love working with a cinematographer to design the shots that will tell my story. I love working with actors to bring my characters to life (though I don’t care for the early mornings that production requires. I’m not a morning person!). I love sitting in a dark room with an editor and piecing things together and maybe finding new ways that what we shot works even better than what we planned. I love working with sound designers to create the critical backgrounds that make a difference between an audience watching a movie and experiencing a world. I love working with a gifted composer to create the magic carpet of emotions that a really good movie score represents. And nothing beats sitting in a theater as an audience experiences a movie for the first time and discovering whether I’ve succeeded in all these things”.
You think he likes filmmaking just a bit?
Sharknado fans, keep a look out – Sharknado 2 set in New York City is just around the corner!
