Fred Vogel

AN INTERVIEW WITH FRED VOGEL

23.08.2007

Fred Vogel is a force to be reckoned with in the underground cult film circles. His beginnings as an FX teacher in Tom Savini's Make-Up School quickly morphed into a career in filmmaking, when he directed the realistic, faux-snuff classic August Underground in 2001. With colleague Jerami Cruise, Fred founded Toetag Pictures, and remains the production company's President. Since then, Fred has directed, starred, produced and done FX for two August Underground sequels, directed a non-Snuff film The Redsin Tower, and worked on visual effects for Nick Palumbo's notorious NC-17 nasty Murder-Set-Pieces. Fred granted an exclusive interview to MJ Reviews, where he discusses his films and inspirations.

Well, you're probably most notorious for making one of the most violent and disturbing underground cult classics of all time, August Underground . What got you going on the project?

I was teaching at the time and some of my students were writing serial killers and that bugged the shit out of me, it was like they idolized these sick fucks. So it got me thinking about making a serial killer movies that showed violence how it really is not pretty like Hollywood shows you but nasty like it really is. I was at the top of my game as an FX guy and I new I could make up for the low budget with some killer FX. I wanted to make the most realistic film about serial killers and fool the viewer to believing what they are watching was real.

What was the atmosphere on the August Underground set?

It was great, but very straining. Being the director, lead actor and FX guy was hard, I still didn't know if this faux snuff style was going to work. Some of my students that were helping me stopped coming to help because they didn't know where this whole thing was going so that added a little tension but it was great.

You then made Mordum, the second in the August Underground trilogy. In Mordum, you significantly upped the ante. Was it your intention to outdo yourself by way of violence and perversity after each film?

AUM started out as a music video for Necrophagia and turned into a feature. The movie pushed more boundries because I was working with new people who brought something new to the table. Jerami Cruise brought his amazing FX , Cristy Whiles brought the best female villain serial killer to ever be in film and Maggot brought pure craziness. All the elements made AUM what it is.

The third in the August Underground series was Penance, which was more conventional than the original and Mordum, although it kept with the faux-snuff, cinema verite feel. Was it your intention to make a more polished movie?


AUP might seem more polished because we didn't degrade the film as much as the first two but cameras are a lot better now, but it is the most moving and raw of the three films for me.

All three August Underground films were extreme with violence and depravity. Did you encounter any censorship trouble with the films?

I was arrested back in '05 for bringing the movies into Canada but its all good, I understand that different countries have different laws but remember its only a movie folks.

Did you ever think, after watching one of your films, that a particular scene went too far?


Oh yes but that what make the AU Series special, the opening of AU, the ending of AUM and the X-MAS home invasion scene in AUP all go too far but that's what makes them work.

What was the main inspiration for the August Underground trilogy?

My main inspiration was making people aware that there are real sick fucks out there and show that serial killers are not to be glamorized.

Tell us a little bit about The Redsin Tower.

Redsin is more of a Toetag mainstream type movie. It's made to look and sound like a movie and not a personal home video tape of serial killers.

Are there any similarities between Redsin and the August Underground films?

Well they're both sick in their own ways, there's titties and made by people who really care about the genre.

What kind of release are you hoping for Redsin?

Redsin will find its home, I just want people to enjoy the flick.

Finally, Fred, thank you very much for your time. We greatly appreciate it and wish you the best of luck for Redsin. We hope to hear from you again soon!

Thank you to all the TTP fans out there for SPREADING THE SICKNESS!!