An Interview With Writer, Director and Producer ARMIN SILJKOVIC
The Postman Always Rings Twice meets Drive in writer-director Armin Siljkovic’s neon-doused indie noir-thriller Death Waits for No Man. Expected to release late 2017/early 2018, it’s the unnerving and complex chronicle of a neon art collector that seduces a lone drifter into killing her abusive husband. Black Sails’ Angelique Pretorius headlines a cast that includes Bradley Snedeker, Corey Rieger and Travis Myers. We managed to grab five minutes with Armin to talk about Death Waits For No Man.
Hi Armin, we really appreciate you taking the time out to talk to us.
Was there ever a time when the film wasn’t going to be done independently, with fresh faces, and a newcomer-director in charge? Can you imagine that version?
It was always going to be done independently, I can’t really imagine it happening otherwise or what that version of the film would even look like.
Are there other benefits to doing a film independently, without studio involvement, other than getting to captain the ship?
Sure, the main benefit is that you’re free to make the film you want to make. But the downside is that you don’t have the financial and infrastructure support that a major studio brings to a film. You have limited resources when doing it independently, so you have to find creative ways out of those constraints.
Sometimes I think those creative ways you talk about are what make independent movies so special and unique.
What films or filmmakers inspired Death Waits for No Man?
I don’t think there’s a particual film or filmmaker who inspired Death Waits For No Man, but older film noirs in general were an inspiration. Not just visually, but the way they handled characters and emotions, showing the darker side of human nature.
Did you frame or shoot certain scenes as a homage to those films or filmmakers?
Not intentionally.
The film’s trailer suggests there’s some really good performances in the movie.
All of the actors did a terrific job on Death Waits For No Man. It wasn’t an easy film to do – we had limited time to shoot, and the actors had a lot of intense and challenging scenes. And I think they pulled it off.
It sounds like the actors involved have really excelled themselves.
Did your leads have trouble with anything in the movie?
Well, any time you’re dealing with controversial material, it’s not going to be easy for the actors. But everyone was up for the challenge. In cases like that, it’s important to be a supportive director.
What is Death Waits for No Man saying to the audience?
I think it’s saying a lot of things, mainly that we all have our secrets, and sometimes, those secrets are revealed in the worst of times.
Wow! That is an intense message! We are looking forward to seeing Death Waits for No Man. Thanks for taking the time out to speak to us and good luck with the release of the film. We are sure it will do well.
