With The Conspiracy being released on July 19th, we at Box Office Buz had a chance to not only view the film, but talk to the director and one of the stars.
If you would like to read what we thought of the film you can find it here.
Two childhood friends and filmmakers make a documentary about the incredible growth of the global conspiracy culture. But their tiny project takes a mysterious turn when the chief subject of their film disappears without a trace. The complex research he leaves leads to a trail into the highest levels of power and a dark shape of an ancient and mysterious society is slowly revealed. The stakes are raised and their suspicions disintegrate into a chilling fear and the filmmakers wonder if they will even survive to finish their film. THE CONSPIRACY melds the very real world of modern conspiracy scholarship with a fictionalized documentary style, capitalizing on the contemporary appetite for pseudo-reality based thrills while telling an ingenious story.
Christopher, I read that you were inspired to make this movie after a friend showed you a conspiracy theory film on the internet...is that true?
-- Yeah, it is. I thought I wasn’t going to be able to stand it, but I actually got completely sucked into it. It totally took me down the rabbit hole. I found myself at 5:00 am, watching three of those films in a row, back-to-back. Some of it is far-fetched, but some pose really important questions.
Did you put any stock into conspiracy theories prior to seeing that?
--Not really, but I’ve always thought of myself as open minded. You hear the term ‘conspiracy theory’ and you have preconceived judgements already in mind; it’s sad that that’s the case, but it’s just who we are as people. I’m not sure if I really do put stock into them now, but if nothing else, learning more about this world has taught me that you should always be concerned about where you get your information from. Just because it’s on the internet doesn’t mean it’s fake, but just because it’s on CNN doesn’t mean it’s true, either.
As a result of watching that film on the internet, your views on everyday life changed. Can you tell us any specific views that changed? Or is just a broad-scope type of thing?
-- Well, I became more aware of things. I was watching a lot of films on the New World Order type of thing, which is basically a one-world government. I remember one day, I was sitting in this cafe and a guy reading a newspaper that had something about New World Order in the headline. I looked up at the TV and saw the same thing in the ticker-line. I never would have noticed that before. It’s scary that important things aren’t always shared in the news...and it’s disturbing how very important things that happen in the world are not always reported and only told on conspiracy theory websites.
Aaron, you are an actor in the film as well as a producer...what drew you to this project?
-- Chris and I had developed a number of ideas over a bunch of years, and we were looking into something to direct as a major motion picture. When he came up with this idea, we both viewed it as a big opportunity for major feature. What drew me to this personally is highlighting how new technology can bring something like these theories into the limelight. For example, a reclusive person with ideas like these in a village was on ostracized back in the old days but technology now brings him closer to others who are like-minded and now makes his voice heard worldwide. The internet has mobilized an activist spirit across the world; technology has helped to spread the word about many things and conspiracy theories are just a small part of it.
Shifting gears for a moment, Aaron, you’ve done both TV and film...do you have a preference?
-- I work mostly in film and love the intimacy of the independent films that I’ve had the opportunity to do. But I like working as an actor and a producer because I can help in the creative process from the ground up. But to answer your question, with the exception of some recent work, the creative rewards from my television work have been minimal.
Christopher, are you wanting THE CONSPIRACY to be a “social wake-up call” for the masses? Meaning, do you want people to take away any kind of social commentary from the film?
Chris -- First and foremost, I’m a filmmaker so I can’t say with a straight face that it’s supposed to promote activism of any kind. I want to tell an interesting and intense story and entertain the audience. But with that being said, I wouldn’t have taken on something like this if it wasn’t up to prompting conversation. I’m always weary of people of coming out a fictional film with the inspiration for political activation. I mean, I’m someone trying to figure things out for myself, and I don’t want people taking my film as preaching. It’s just a film and I don’t want people thinking I have all the answers. With that being said, people do need to look at where they’re getting their information from.
Aaron -- I think Chris downplays the notion of people not trusting the source of information. Chris’s movie doesn’t provide answers, but it does make you question certain, important things, like whether or not the news you are watching is factual. That, to me, is what people should take away, if anything.
The film touches on some pretty epic insinuations. Were you worried about any kind of backlash, from the wealthier class or anything?
-- I will tell you a pretty cool story about that. When I wrote the script and started shopping it around for funding, I was kinda worried about that. I was sending it out to several people and there were some mysterious things that happened. One major one was when we sent the film to a big name in the Canada film industry and he told us that we as young filmmakers should NOT be trying to make a film like this. We asked what he meant and then asked for clarification; he replied back, and I think the exact quote was, “get a body-sized shield and a cast-iron jockstrap”. I thought it was cool but kinda freaky at the same time. I was concerned, but more curious about if someone was actually going to try and stop us.
What about you, Aaron...did you have any reservations about making the film?
-- Well, I was a party to that conversation with that prominent producer, so that kinda freaked me out. I was nervous. I didn’t think he was personally threatening us, but he was privy to powers that we were not...I wondered what would happen if we pushed forward.
And finally, Christopher, what can we expect from you in the future?
-- I’ve been lucky....the film hasn’t come out yet but several folks in Hollywood have seen it and it’s already opened doors. I’m writing a film with 20th Century Fox that, if all goes well, I will hopefully be directing. It’s a thriller called ECHO that deals with the CIA and paranoid thriller stuff.
Aaron, do you have anything on the horizon?
-- Yeah, got I’ve got a couple of films coming out this year, including one with Richard Dreyfuss. And I’ve just been cast in a western that should start shooting soon.
Gentlemen, thank you so much for your time. It has been a pleasure. I look forward to seeing more work from both of you.