Joel Potrykus, Writer, Director, Editor and co-star of “Buzzard”, and Producer Ashley Young
Returning to the Locarno International Film Festival after winning for Best New Director in 2012 for his feature “Ape,” Joel Potrykus and his Sob Noisse collaborators are receiving quite the buzz in the American independent film scene. I met with Joel Potrykus during the Festival to talk about his films and “Buzzard.”
“Buzzard” : Paranoia forces small-time scam artist Marty to flee his hometown and hide out in a dangerous Detroit. With nothing but a pocket full of bogus checks, his power glove and a bad temper, the horror metal slacker lashes out.
Buzzard exists to break genre, give a middle finger to romance, spit on sentimentality, and laugh at the status quo. It’s time to bring punk back to film. —Joel Potrykus
Potrykus on “Buzzard ”
This is the final installment of the “Coyote,” “Ape,” and “Buzzard” films all starring Joshua Burge. It’s a loose trilogy. Josh does not play the same character. This is my angry young man series, the world is out to get him. Same actor, same setting, which is a dirty Midwest city landscape.
I never want to make a genre film, but I’m interested in making films taken from other genres. When people ask me: Is it is a comedy, a drama or horror? I hate to answer that; it bothers me when I try classifying it. I don’t want it to fit into some mold. I would say it’s funny, but it’s dark, and some of it is really sad. I would hope that it’s more than a dark comedy, an anti-romantic comedy.
On Writing
Some people have a rigorous writing schedule and work as a normal screenwriter. When I write a script, even when I’m not writing, I’m thinking about it. I try to set a goal; I want it done in a month, for example.
I studied film and journalism at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids Michigan. I thought to pay bills I would be a critic.
I start with a character — I hate to say “character study” that sounds generic — and then focus on one person and one character. I’m interested in the perspective of one person, and filter story through that perspective. My scripts centers on who that person interacts with.
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