A fun-filled and insightful exclusive interview with writer, director, and editor ROBBIE DAVIDSON going inside the making of the wildly wonderful (and wacky) action/comedy/horror film DICK DYNAMITE: 1944.
SYNOPSIS: In the dying days of World War II, Dick Dynamite and his ragtag team of Nazi-killing commandos must stop a group of depraved German scientists from turning the population of New York into flesh-eating zombies.
Written and Directed by ROBBIE DAVIDSON, DICKDYNAMITE: 1944 stars, among others, ‘Snars’, Olly Bassi, Adam Harper, Valerie Birss, Marrakesh “Mark” Burdette, Shaun Davidson, Graham ‘Scottie’ Scott, Dick Valentine, and Robbie Davidson.
Campy, pulpy, hilarious, action-filled and fueled, DICK DYNAMITE: 1944 is high octane non-stop energy from beginning to end, filled with one-liners sure to delight and visuals coordinated to each. One of the film’s strongest suits after the action is its characters with each so distinct and so well-defined that one can immediately identify each (and detect cinematic references and touchstones) while also feeling a band of brothers wartime camaraderie that is palpable. Filmed in multiple locations throughout Scotland, the locations give the visuals a sense of time and place while serving the story and providing a visual texture from which the action “explodes” and pops off the screen. (A 3-D cinematic experience of DICK DYNAMITE would be most welcome!)
In this exclusive conversation, ROBBIE DAVIDSON dug deep into the production of DICK DYNAMITE: 1944, highlighting the pulp, camp, and hilarity that stemmed from and idea that originated from a tour with a band and evolved into a character inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Focusing more on the main character’s actions and the action itself, Robbie emphasized the importance of storyboarding and planning for a production like this. Interestingly, many of his cast are musicians which plays well in providing a natural rhythm and flow of performances. Pulling from World War II historical events and using real locations and props, including a Spitfire plane, give a heightened level of authenticity to the hilarity and horror.
As you’ll hear, we break down all of the production elements, including but not limited to:
- Concept and Development
- origin of the idea, inspired by a tour with a band and a plane ride where he envisioned Arnold Schwarzenegger in an army movie
- developing the character of Dick Dynamite from a bumbling hero to a more straightforward, action-oriented character
- creating something that’s pulpy, campy, and hilarious, with elements of gore, zombies, Nazis and lots of bloodshed
- Research and Authenticity
- many elements were based on real events, exaggerated for comedic effect
- America bomber and Nazi scientific experiments were real, but the film took them to an extreme level
- authenticity of costuming
- Visual Design and Storyboarding Process
- visual planning and storyboarding process during scriptwriting
- Robbie created a playlist while writing to visualize scenes
- the 108-degree rule of filming was followed but sometimes compromised due to practical constraints
- importance of planning and editing to maintain the film’s pace and energy
- Editing and Directing
- planned from the beginning to direct and edit himself given his experience in TV and music videos
- challenges of editing and directing
- planning shots while directing with editing in mind but sometimes sacrificing visually appealing but impractical shots
- high energy and quick pacing
- Casting and Character Development
- standout casting and performances, most notably with Colin Mcafferty as Hitler, and Adam Harper as Wakowski
- chemistry between the characters
- Locations and Filming Challenges
- diverse and beautiful
- challenges of finding and securing locations
- the use of real D-Day planes and a nuclear bunker
- Visual Effects and Practical Filming
- practical effects used, such as rubber casts for flying guns and water balloons for blood explosions.
- planned blood explosions to enhance the film’s humor and visual appeal.
- melding visual effects with practical effects to create and complement the overall fun atmosphere
- Lessons Learned
- and more!
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, Exclusive Interview 12/20/2024
DICK DYNAMITE: 1944 is available on digital and VOD.
