Here's our exclusive interview with documentary director, Jeremy Lamberton.
Jeremy Lamberton is the writer/director of Biker Fox, a
documentary profiling an unintentional celebrity from Tulsa. The film, now on
VOD, chronicles the adventures of underdog Frank P. DeLarzelere III aka Biker
Fox. Part documentary and part self help
testimonial, the film navigates the uneasy relationships DeLarzelere has with
both the city of Tulsa and himself.
TMS: Jeremy, How well-known is Biker Fox in his home city?
JL: Biker Fox is very well
known in Tulsa. He's is a mystical creature spreading love and light to the
masses. He talks to trees. He is like Jack LaLanne on Ritalin and cough
syrup.
TMS: Jeremy, did it help having someone on board like Todd Lincoln
who had been involved in a couple of big films before?
JL: Todd and I have been
collaborating on projects since high school. In 1998, we founded Tulsa
Overground, a annual film festival that showcases the world's most innovative
short films and videos. On Biker Fox, Todd didn't really get involved until
half way through production when Biker Fox started getting arrested. That's
when I realized this could become a film. Before that, Biker and I were just
friends shooting for fun. When trouble started swirling it grounded him and the
results were more authentic to his true character. Todd's role really kicked in
once post-production started. The first edit was really long so we would talk
and trade emails about how to cut it down. And he would put me in contact with
music supervisors, sound mixers and title designers that I couldn't find here
in Tulsa.
TMS: Was Biker Fox easy to direct?
JL: No, he's not. Shooting
with Biker Fox is like shooting a nature film. You can't control it. You just
hope to be rolling when something memorable happens. And Biker Fox has a
tendency to perform in front of a camera. And he's severely ADHD, so he's
constantly moving. He can't sit still. The most effective way to show his true
character - the character behind the character - was to make the film
non-traditionally. So we set up cameras on tripods all over his house and in
his shop and encouraged him to videotape himself. I would go to his house
multiple times a week and pick up sometimes as many as 40 tapes at a time. He
was shooting like crazy.
TMS: The film is going to VOD. Why the decision to go that route?
Is VOD the future?
JL: It's the best option for a film this size. VOD is the future
for independent film and smaller distributors who don't have the budget to
compete with the studios.
TMS: Who do you think will best enjoy the film?
JL: Biker Fox was intended to
be a film for everyone. Because Biker Fox is so distinct it's allowed us to
play with the documentary genre. It's like a hybrid of documentary, performance
and psychedelia.
TMS: Would Biker Fox work as a narrative feature, you think? Who
could you envision playing him?
JL:I don't think so. Most of
what happens in the movie you can't make up. And the serendipity is what made
film special.
TMS: What's next?
JL: I'm currently working on
an narrative script and producing a documentary called Dreamland. Also, Tulsa
Overground makes its return this August after a 7 year hiatus.