I am Joyce James. I wrote, directed and produced "Driller." I' wanted to thank the lady poster for understanding that Driller was not a "tribute" to Thriller, or Michael Jackson--but precisely the opposite! At the time Thriller came out, my son was 4 years old--and was simply obsessed with the werewolf transformation in the "behind the scenes" of Thriller footage. I was sick to death of both MJ and Thriller and horror movies. I was also sick to death of porn movies with stilted plot lines--which were the staples of 70 and 80s porn. I foolishly thought I could turn everything on its ear--and make a gender-bending a Rocky Horroresque variation on Thriller.
My goal? To work with a special effects guy, Arnold Garguilo, who made all the appliances for "the Driller." Mostly--I wanted my son to see how FX and prosthetics worked. My son is still obsessed with werewolves--and has even played one in a horror flick!
Roger Watkins was brought in by me because he was a friend of mine. He assured me there was nothing to directing a movie--that he would help me, and things would be swell! NOT!! I had never directed more than photo shoots for magazines before--and I shot DRILLER IN 4 days, on a budget of $100,000. I was also encouraged by my friend, executive producer/Mr. UFO, aka Mr Creepo--Timothy Greene Beckley--that all would go swell! It didn't.
The shoot was the worst 4 days/nights in my life. Everything took longer than I had expected. The illuminated dildos had long hideous cords on them--and the actresses refused to use them as dildos--just because their vaginas might be sensitive to the rough plastic!!! Can you imagine??? The circular stage they were supposed to spin on wouldn't spin. My "Golden Girls" fantasy looks absurd. Roger Watkins had disappeared.
The crew mutinied. I had 45 minutes to shoot the entire zombie orgy in the graveyard scene. It was the worst--but I still love the utter insanity of that scene.
I also quite like the cave scene with the Gregorian chants over it--that's pretty much the only scene that went as I envisioned it. I also like the nonsense of the opening scene where you meet Dan and Louise (Brad and Janet) and her complaining about having to take the obligatory cut shot in the face. "Ew! Dan! You got it on my glasses!" Is probably my favorite line...
Yeah---I threw in some Alice in Wonderland imagery as well. Oddly--I really thought this movie would one day become a cult film--not because it's good--but because at least, it is different! Ironically--two other films of mine in another genre have become cult classics-- and I thought they would just disappear! Have patience on my poor little Driller. I overreached with it, no doubt. But still--the first singing/dancing/horror x-rated flick?? Yeah--I know! What's the market for that? Joyce James
