Six Sex Scenes & A Murder

Interview with Writer, Producer, Director Julie Rubio

Q1: There are lots of strong characters you establish in the film. How did you go about casting?
We casted her locally and then moved on to LA. Ramona
Maramonte and myself did all the casting. Overall it went smoothly. We rented out the Film Art Foundation audition space and did casting there. In LA we rented out the Beverly Hills playhouse and held auditions there. I also met with actors in LA at Aroma Cafe. Aroma is a really cool hip coffee shop with tons of movers and shakers. Overall it was a lot of fun! I grew up in LA so I like that sort of thing sometimes.

Q2: You explore a few themes with the film, can you tell us a little more about writing then directing the film?
Writing the film was really kind of strange.

At first I wrote one screenplay and was asked by another director if we could collaborate and he was only interested in less then half of the original screenplay, he even wanted to change the name. At that point I had over half of a screenplay left so I then changed directions and wrote another screenplay adding in what I had already written. Confusing I know. But it really made me have to stretch as a writer. Six Sex Scenes And A Murder is complex because of it. You have to watch closely to understand. There are many layers.

Directing was amazing! I had so many talented people I was working with. The crew were like family or I should say they were like family if you picked your family:) They really were lovely and they worked their asses off. We have worked on a few films together and really respect and love one another. The actors were fun, crazy and talented! Really our set was a total love fest!

Don’t get me wrong we had our problems like every movie has, but overall it was fantastic.

Q3: Good looking actors, dialogue, and colorful visual style drive the film, what challenges or welcome surprises happened when matching these elements while shooting the film?
Most days went fast and well.

One night it rained. No not rained, it stormed, all night and we were outside filming in San Francisco. One of our cameras blew over in the wind. We were down and out a camera and wet to the bone. It was 2:00am and we still had hours to go. We pushed on with one camera and we laughed all night and had blast. I even crashed my Landrover and took out the side of two passenger doors. Ouch.

We all remember that as our favorite night. It was crazy! Filmmakers are crazy…chasing the shot and running on adrenalin. We were soaking wet with guns hanging out the window of my crashed Landrover and SF Police watching to make sure all was legal. Fun times!

Q4: What noir films inspired you or did you draw from?
I have a collection of all the old ones. Muholland Falls is one of my favorites as well as LA Confidential.

Q5: How was working with such a great DP as Marty Rosenberg?
Well Marty Rosenberg has been around the block and knows his stuff. Sometimes we butted heads but again it was still a love fest. God I love that guy! What a great eye for lighting and it was an honor to be respected and heard by such a talent.

Q6: Not many films actually get made in San Francisco Bay Area, can you explain what it was like?
Yeah, people seem to think you have to be in LA. I think ignorance is bliss. What I didn’t know helped me to keep going. People will tell you “You can’t do that” I just had to keep going and not listen to them or to even myself sometimes. Telling myself and them to shushhhhh, we can do it. Too many people don’t believe. You just can’t listen.

Q7: Tell us about next steps for the film?
We just got distribution with Panorama Entertainment and we are going to be doing a theatrical release here in SF. Next is film festivals and selling it. We have a few good reviews so far and things are really looking up.

Q8: I understand you are now working on your next film, what would you like to say about it?
It is called ‘Masked Pleasures’. I will be filming the summer of 2008 and I am really excited about that. I think ‘Masked Pleasures’ will be a lot easier to understand. It’s about honesty. Real honesty and slaying one’s dragons. It’s a psychological thriller that’s sexy and of course real. I can’t wait!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008  |  Share This