Marshal Hilton is honest and sincere, sometimes truthful to a fault. His muse is inner exploration and world observation, bringing life to words, often times living in the dark and painful places where Drama shines the light brightly. Making Movies is a “We Game”, not a “Me Game”, a Team Sport, Collaboration in its purest form, a lesson Marshal learned many years ago… “If it’s inspired and honest, I want to hear about it, experience it, dream within its confines, its whimsical space, it’s dark corners…” says Marshal Hilton.
indieactivity: How did you get connected to the Bunnyman project?
Marshal Hilton (HH): I worked with Carl on Bunny Massacre back in 2013. My character Sheriff Baxter was supposed to die at the end of Bunnyman Massacre, but due to technical difficulties and scheduling Carl couldn’t kill him off. Carl liked the character so much that he decided to bring him back, albeit slightly maimed and very revengeful, to give Sheriff Baxter a proper death. Carl sent me the script for Bunnyman Vengeance and said, “Let’s kill Baxter proper like…”
Actually for Bunnyman Massacre, I auditioned for the part. And to be honest with you, I got the part because I fit the shirt, seriously. I did a scene with an actress during the audition. We did the scene, Carl said thank you to the actress and she left the room. Carl asked me to stay, reached into a bag underneath the table and pulled out a Sheriff’s shirt wardrobe prop and said “…Try this on…”. It fit, and he said, “…You have the part…” And that’s how it went down.
indieactivity: As lead on the project, how did this ‘choice’ work for you?
Marshal Hilton (HH): It’s actually three choices. Be on time, be prepared and be respectful. I make these same choices on every film I am blessed to partake. The publicity and profile of Hollywood makes it appear to be a very large town, but it’s actually a very small town. If you spend enough time working in Hollywood, people talk, both good and bad. Every film you work on broadens your Brand awareness in the talent pool. I’ve been fortunate to have worked on close to 70 films over the last 25 plus years, so there’s going to be people that have watched your work, so do good work.
You have to remember, most people working on a set, and specifically in the Independent film world, aspire to a greater creative future. In Hollywood everyone has a dream, a script and a headshot. Most Production Assistant’s, Assistant Directors and various crew members all have a script or story they want to tell one day. Most went to a film school of one kind or another. Everyone wants to keep climbing the ladder.
Hopefully they like what you’re about and see working with you on something in the future. You’re always surrounded by ambition, so try to stay on point. You never know, that person that brought you a bottle of water on one film set, could pop up one day, offer you a film role, and be your next Director.
What part of the story challenged you? What drove you to get on the project?
Marshal Hilton (HH): I tend to gravitate too, and get cast, playing characters that are “Kind Hearted Bastards”, as a producer recently described it. There’s a sense of pain, vengeance, betrayal and anger floating underneath the surface. Those qualities seem to be emotional traits that are easier for me to find within myself, and those are most likely a better question for a therapist?
They can either be rural country types or high-end wealthy manipulative educated types. I suppose it’s just a matter of the quality of the wardrobe. It’s safe to say you’ll probably not be seeing me wearing a sweater driving a mini van in a film anytime soon. It just doesn’t fit my mug.
You’re not new to indie films. What do you enjoy about the work that keeps you working?
Marshal Hilton (HH): Getting the phone call from your Agent, “…They want you…” It’s a feeling that‘s hard to describe. It NEVER gets old! Being given the opportunity to play like a child and get paid. The meeting of fascinating people from all parts of the globe in pursuit of creativity; travelling to parts of the world that you would have most likely never travelled too; the feeling of communal focus that can be achieved within your temporary “Production Family”.
When everyone is supportive and on the same page, making stories come to life is breathtaking. Indie films also tend to tackle subject matter that the Studios would rather not risk doing battle. Packaged Properties funded from large corporate entertainment entities for mass consumption, come with a vast array of conditions placed upon the filmmaker, from casting decisions, to creative manipulation, to political correctness. Indie films tend to be autonomous and a freer creative environment.
Give an example of a direction you received from the director during the production?
Marshal Hilton (HH): We were shooting the finale of Baxter’s moment of truth and Carl yells out from behind the monitor, “ …turn you head to the left, I want to see the reflection of Bunnyman in your sunglasses…” It turned out that he also got my hands on the gun in the reflection of the glasses as well. It’s a pretty cool shot.
How did you create your character from ground up?
Marshal Hilton (HH): I’ve also always been attracted to the stoic nature of old western and rural characters, and if I can put that kind of spin on a character then I know its going to be fun for me. I love the old West! I truly do feel as though I was born in the wrong century. Sheriff Baxter was a hard boiled, kick ass country sheriff, a “Good Guy” only because he hated idiots more than himself There’s is just something about cowboy boots, a crisp cowboy hat, sunglasses and an ornery attitude that makes for a fun afternoon of filming.
A “Creative Choice” can be an external stimulus, an internal stimulus, or both. The trick is to make them very specific, consistent, and repeatable. As for the physicality or external qualities of Baxter, it was actually two things that gave me a “sense” of Baxter, the Cowboy Hat and Sunglasses. Both props are my personal property and I used them both on my first Bunnyman film. I have many cowboy hats, but the Grey hat is more of a formal dress style cowboy. Baxter fancies himself as slick and powerful. It’s tight, rigid, and well shaped, kind of like Baxter’s Type A personality. The Mirror Sunglasses also give Baxter the ability to “hide” his thoughts and feeling while in plain sight.
As for the “Internal Choice” for Baxter, in the original script for Bunnyman Massacre the “Sheriff” actually didn’t have a name. He was just attitude on paper, a quiet stillness about him. He didn’t say a lot but would kill you with a stare. I’m a huge Clint Eastwood fan, so that essence, along with the cowboy hat, sunglasses, and rhythms just felt right. I asked Carl if we could name him Clint. The last name Baxter just sounded hard and nasty. He liked the name so that’s how Clint Baxter came to life.
As lead on the film, describe the feeling of responsibility that you shouldered?
Marshal Hilton (HH): Taking on a Lead Role in a film is always a daunting task, not just from the amount of work that you have to prepare, but the ability to maintain the focus over the process of filming the story out of sequence, and all the technical parts of getting the shots.
There is also I believe, the reality that everyone on the production watching how you work and your attitude towards all involved. I think that as a Lead actor you have the opportunity set the tone of the creative environment. Indie film sets are tough environments with often overworked and underpaid folks killing themselves for ten to fifteen hour days.
The morale of the crew is the most important asset on a film Set to make your days. Film crews talk. If they like what you’re doing, see your commitment to the material and are supportive of your work, often they will feel like they are working on something that’s going to be cool. If they sense that, they’ll work their asses off. They will see that you respect the entire process and that you’re there to help them be successful as well. That energy will circulate through the entire company.
Believe me, if you’re only concerned with yourself and act like an arrogant asshole, that energy will kill any chance of the crew being engaged. And a crew not engaged is a film production that will fail nine times out of ten.
Explain one creative choice you made on set during production?
Marshal Hilton (HH): The stunt we shot for one of Baxter’s scenes was a bit dicey. Without giving up too much, whenever you deal with the hood of a moving car on an old dusty road, and a psycho dude in a giant blood covered bunny suit, all bets are off the table My “Creative Choice” was to have the Director actually do the stunt gag in real time to prove to me it was safe. Remember kids, it’s just a movie…
What did you take away from the film production?
Marshal Hilton (HH): My hat, my sunglasses, and the satisfaction that Sheriff Clint Baxter died in a manner fitting to the twisted world of the Bunnyman.
What do you like most about the director, and his collaboration with his team?
Marshal Hilton (HH): Carl is a creative freak. And I say that in the most loving and respectful way. His imagination is a scary and very odd place. The stuff that runs amuck in his head is frightening. Its funny, but most of the guys that I’ve met that delve into the dark depravity of genre films have been some of the most unassuming and quiet people you’ll ever meet. Don’t get me wrong, Carl is strong willed and has a definitive opinion on things, but you’d never suspect that while shaking his hand a seeing his smile, that deep within lays an unfiltered distorted imagination.
I have another Script that he wrote called “Blood Angel”, about a time travelling Nazi named “Icarus” that has landed back on earth in search of his genetic offspring, as he attempts to recreate his bloody version of the 3rd Reich. I’m attached to the film playing an older, sceptical, grizzled Detective that’s trying to figure out how to protect the young girl at the heart of the story. It’s a crazy psychological time travel dream-like story in its Steam Punk Industrial vision. It’s so gnarly and poetic in its spirit. It’s very unique and I can’t wait to get working on it.
