Director James Cullen Bressack chatted with Digital Journal’s Markos Papadatos about his new action film “Survive the Game,” which stars Bruce Willis and Chad Michael Murray.
It is available in select theaters, on Apple TV, and everywhere one rent movies on October 8; moreover, it will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on October 12.
‘Survive the Game’
On his experience directing the film, he said, “I really enjoyed making the film. It is nonstop action from start to finish. I really had a lot of fun working with my amazing cast and crew and filming in Puerto Rico was very special. It was a fantastic experience. The film is a wild ride and I tried to create something that feels very Elmore Leonard /Robert Rodriguez with how we painted these characters on screen. Hopefully, that comes across.”
Bruce Willis (“Pulp Fiction”) and Chad Michael Murray (“Riverdale”) star in this explosive crime-thriller. When cop David (Willis) is injured in a drug bust gone wrong, his partner, Cal, pursues the two criminals who shot him to a remote farm owned by troubled vet Eric (Murray). As Cal and Eric plot their defense, more of the gang arrives — along with a wounded David — and, outnumbered, the three heroes must use stealth, smarts, and marksmanship to take down the drug-dealing mob.
On his daily motivations as a director and filmmaker, he said, “That’s an interesting question. But I would say film. The audience. The need to make sure your audience will be entertained. Passion. No matter the budget the audience still pays the same amount to rent your movie as they do to rent a Marvel movie, so you have to push to make something you believe they will enjoy.”
“I pour myself into my films as much as I can every day, from prep, through filming, through post because of not only the hunger to tell stories but the duty to do my absolute best that I can for everyone involved and everyone who will watch it. I feel like I grow every time I make a film and I learn so much from the wonderful people I work with,” he said.
The digital age of filmmaking
On being a filmmaker in the digital age, he said, “I think it’s an amazing and beautiful thing, films are more accessible and making them is much more cost-effective but nothing for me will ever replace the feeling of watching a movie on the big screen. Growing up, the movie theatre was my home, my sanctuary, and I’m sure many film fans agree. Movie theaters are something special.”
Working with Sean Kanan
He had great words about working with Sean Kanan in “Survive the Game.” “Oh man, Sean! This was our fifth movie together. Sean is always a blast to work with. He’s a very passionate actor and he comes to work, he’s very collaborative and he follows me on my crazy ideas of the characters he plays. Just look at the mohawk he had for the film,” he said.
“It’s really great to work with someone I have built a report with over so many years. He’s great with improv and really brings something special to each role he does but I think most importantly there is a level of trust between him and I that only comes with the time we have put in together. I think he’s very funny in this film and I can’t wait for people to see what he did with Ed,” he said.
For young and aspiring directors and filmmakers, he said, “I think you need to go out there and make your movie! Make a short, make a feature, no budget? That’s fine! Just create. Build. Content is king. Play to what you have and can do and shine.”
Career-defining moments
Regarding his career-defining moments, he said, “My career is still developing. I don’t think any one moment defines me. I have a passion for creating movies. I have been blessed that people have believed in me and given me the opportunity to make films. I also feel my career has been shaped by the wisdom, knowledge, teachings, and mentoring my father gave me my whole life. He passed away two years ago but he always believed in me and knew I would direct movies, even before I knew what that meant.”
“My dad use to watch movies with me all the time, the classics like Maltese Falcon and Unforgiven and Psycho, and he would pause the film after certain scenes and ask me questions, character motivation, why the camera moved a certain way. That’s what we did together. That was my childhood. So I guess maybe my dad defined me, and I hope that I live up to his teachings, hopes, and expectations,” he said.
Success
On his definition of the word success, he said, “I think success is all relative. If you told me 15 years ago I’d one day be directing a movie starring Bruce Willis I’d think you were crazy. At that time I was religiously watching ‘Sin City’ every single day (not an exaggeration I’ve seen it over 100 times). But I do not look at myself as a successful person. I have aspirations to do much more but I am blessed to do what I love, and I love what I do.”
Bressack concluded about “Survive the Game,” “I think it’s the type of movie you just need to sit back relax and have fun. It’s nonstop action, has crazy characters, explosions, car chases, fight scenes, and a rocking soundtrack.”
