Martin Gooch is UK/US based indie film maker who is responsible for cult comedy movies such as The Search For Simon, Atomic Apocalypse and The Gatehouse. We caught up with him to learn about his latest project, a fantasy movie which is also an homage to 1980’s gaming, called Argh and the Quest for The Golden Dragon Skull. Ahead of it’s opening screening (details here), we caught up with him to find out more.
How would you pitch Argh and the Quest for The Golden Dragon Skull to fans of the game Dungeons and Dragons?
It’s the first film to be entirely filmed using 25mm miniatures and with the blessing of John Blanche (Legendary Fantasy Artist and Games Workshop/Warhammer) featuring the godfather of gaming Sir Ian Livingstone. Written and Directed by a fan of D&D since 1982. Can’t get much more D&D than that!
And how would you pitch it to fans of Game of Thrones?
Less nudity. More laughs.
It’s an unusual idea for a movie, how did it come about?
I love fantasy (and SF) movies and always wanted to do one – but without a budget it is tough, especially as Argh is an epic quest with a cast of hundred! Impossible to do without a big budget but my creative itch must be scratched so I decided to make an epic fantasy film using my old D&D and Warhammer 25mm miniatures (most of them 30-40 years old!). I love Monty Python and The Holy Grail, which is one of my favourite films, and I think that when you have a low budget then comedy is more forgiving, so audiences are more likely to suspend their disbelief if something is funny. Like the LEGO movies, I think it’d be hard to do a totally serious movie about a tough issue with LEGO…
I bought a macro lens for my Lumix Camera and off I went. I wrote it first with the help of Brad Moore and Mark Felgate who helped with all the gags and general silliness. Then I filmed all the live action actors shots – I actually made a short film to show the actors how to shoot their own shots, and got lots of them to shoot it themselves and send me the rushes. Then I edited the whole film just for dialogue – so there is a version of the film that just has actors talking heads – without any miniatures or VFX etc or music or sound design. I asked my friend Trevor Moore to help with the sound design and his work lifts the film up and it’s amazing how many audio jokes he put in which I think helped the movie immensely.
I shot the whole thing at home mostly on the dining room table. It was good fun building all the sets and painting (badly) all the minatures.
How can I see this movie?
How can I help more people see this movie?
Spread the word! Mention Argh on the socials and then maybe if it gets a following a decent Sales Agent will take up the Quest!
Why did you make this movie?
I’ve been a film and Tv director for many years, but it’s very difficult to get work, everyone always wants a famous director and I’m just not that famous! I’d love to direct fantasy and SF film and TV but kept getting rejected as producers would say “Ah yes, but you haven’t actually directed a fantasy film…” which is nonsense as the genre is just the wrapper to performance and emotional connection is what is important, so I just thought I’d direct my own fantasy movie. And if you can’t go big go small. Without a huge budget I decided to shoot this using what I already had which was loads of miniatures and bits and bobs about my flat.
What’s your favourite gag from the movie?
There are several running jokes. In the land of Mushroomia they use mushrooms as currency, then in the middle of the film, it’s bananas and then at the end it’s gone to pickled onions! This made me laugh a lot. When I was filming it at home I had to get a jar of pickled onions to put on all the miniatures like little hats, and of course under the lamps they all started to pong and dry out so I had to film all those scenes in one go which took about a day, but there was a vaguely pickled onion smell about the flat for a day or two…
Has AI ruined Fantasy?
Not yet. AI has many incredibly application in the medical world, cancer detection and many other areas, so it’s not all bad, But the genie is well out of the bottle. The danger is that AI gives those who are not creative the illusion that they are creative, but they are not.
What other projects would you like to work on?
I have always wanted to direct Doctor Who, I was a shadow director on Kazaam! With Jodie Whittaker, and really felt I could direct Who to the next level. Now there is a D&D TV series on the way I dream of being involved with something like that – I’d gladly give the next ten year of my life to working on an awesome show. C’mon universe it’s not that big an ask.
I’m actively seeking the next project so open to new work.
What can you tell us about forthcoming work?
I have so many irons in the fire and spinning plates as they say, that I’m excited about any that don’t come crashing down or set the forge alight. I have a Short film in Post entitled Kafka’s Appraisal which was all shot on a volume stage in Manchester last year. It’s a two-hander starring Paul Ready and Alix Wilton Regan written by 2000AD scribe Kek W. Hope to have that finished soon.
I’ve been working on a novel entitled Whirled World which is complete and with my editors, hopefully this is the last draft and then see if there is any interest. I have also written a TV series called Agatha Mistress of Swords, starring fabulous actress Claira Amy Parr (who was in my previous feature film Darkheart Manor) and Carol Cleveland from Monty Python. The pilot has been made and, again, looking for production partners to take it to the next stage.
I’ve been working on an Indy film entitled The Dragon Detective for a few years all about a man who believers Dragons exist and sets out to prove it. I’ve already shot some of it – so would love to find a producer to finish that – I can’t finish it on my own.
I have a serious SF TV Series entitled Breakaway Station which I am very passionate about and would love to see realised. Whilst Argh is a comedy and very silly, I am still a drama director and would love to tackle a serious SF. Actors and crew can work on all sorts of different genre films and TV, so why can’t a director explore different genres? Ridley Scott has tackled all sorts of genre’s as a director. I’m up for it.
Simpsons or Futurama?
When I was at “Film School” in Canterbury (UK) our Head of Department was named Phil Simpson, so he actually did a lecture with an episode of the Simpsons. It was probably the least boring lecture I was at. All the rest were incredibly dull about New German Cinema and other such movements that sadly, did not excite me.
So, Simpsons.
Deathstars or Dragons?
Tricky. Star Wars (A New Hope) is a near perfect movie IMHO. But then DragonSlayer with the arch dragon Verminthrax Pejorative was one of the greatest cinematic adventures I had as a child. I was in love with DragonSlayer for Decades. If the question is which would I like to direct then I would love to do a Star Wars movies/Series. But realistically I don’t think they are going to call, so maybe Dragons are more realistic (pun intended).
Truth or Beauty?
Hmm, Context would be good here!
I’m reminded of the old picture of a skull that from another angle looks like a lady at her dressing table in front of a mirror – all is vanity – it’s called I think. So ultimately truth is what we should all be seeking but isn’t it nice to gaze upon beauty once in a while?
