Interview: Dominic Brunt talks ‘Attack of the Adult Babies’
Attack of the Adult Babies is a new horror comedy which is due for release on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital on June 18th. I got an opportunity to ask director Dominic Brunt a few questions about what we can expect from the film, his inspirations and his favourite moments during filming.
Although you directed Attack of the Adult Babies you started your career as an actor. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue acting as a career?
It’s a very boring story so I’ll keep it brief. I was a welder when I left school for five years then dropped it all to study music at college. I jumped across to the drama department because my mate was there. I just fell in love with it. It gave me a confidence and I was told I was good at it, so I became obsessive about reading plays. Then drama school, agent, vocation. I was already quite a cinephile and horror films were my default genre.
For anyone who hasn’t seen Attack of the Adult Babies, what can they expect from the film?
I can guarantee originality and there’s not a boring section to it. It jumps between gory set pieces to animation, monsters and spaceships. It’s ‘Carry On’ bumping into chainsaws and psychopaths.
What were your inspirations for the look and the style of the film?
The style and story came from old pre-comic code EC comics. Mad scientists and monsters in the cellars. The juxtaposition of big fat men in nappies and nurses running around in suspenders, all set in a sprawling manor house. The American view of Britain as a country full of posh people running the world while living in huge country houses. The colour pallet was set by the fact there was so much wooden panelling in the house. We also pulled the reds to the fore.
Were there any elements of the finished film which were changed from the original script?
No. It takes a lot to organise a film and I like to stick to a rigid schedule which is built around the agreed script as a final draft. It’s the only way. The time for making changes is way before the shooting dates.
Did you experience any issues whilst shooting the film?
Not really. We overshot by a few hours on two days and that’s it. It was a dream shoot. Whereas Bait was a fight to get the thing made from start to finish, we’d learned so much from the previous two films, we felt prepared. It was a happy time and I think it shows in the energy of the story we’re telling on the screen.
I suppose It was a little tricky trying to find eight grown men willing to wear nothing but a nappy on screen…
What was your favourite moment whilst filming?
The fact that after the first few days we knew we were properly organised and it was going to go well. Then we were shown an outdoor heated swimming pool which we were free to use. We all lived at the house for the duration. Extremely hard work but massive amounts of fun.
Although you are well known for portraying Paddy Kirk in the TV series Emmerdale, you have been involved in some more experimental projects as both a director and actor. Are there any other characters or film projects/genres which you would like to tackle in the future?
No! That would be greedy. I love Emmerdale and I feel very proud and loyal toward the show. It would be great to be able to keep making films every two or three years as I feel passionately about directing our own projects.
Do you have any other projects which you are working on at the moment?
We are! We start shooting next year but we need to sign off on the rights this month, so I don’t want to jinx it yet.
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to direct their first film?
Stop talking about it. Press record and start shouting orders at people!
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Attack of the Adult Babies will be released on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital on June 18th
