Eric J. Moreels
Oct 12, 2002, 02:33 am
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/logos/slsh_logo.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/logos/slsh_logot.jpg" align=left alt="Sex, Lies & Superheroes logo"></a>X-Fan recently had the chance to speak with director Constantine Valhouli, cinematographer Benjamin Jackendoff, and executive producer Peter Sanderson about their upcoming independent film, Sex, Lies, & Superheroes.
The film, which is set to premiere later this month, is a documentary about the comic book industry featuring interviews with such luminaries as Stan Lee, Chris Claremont, Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller, John Byrne, and more.
X-FAN: First of all, how did the project first come about?
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/stansmiles.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/stansmilest.jpg" align=right alt="Stan Lee in a scene from Sex, Lies & Superheroes"></a>CONSTANTINE VALHOULI: We met our fairy godmother, Catherine Schuller Gruenwald, during the production of my last movie, Curve, a documentary on modeling and fashion. Catherine is a former Ford model and fashion entrepreneur and the widow of the late Mark Gruenwald, a senior editor at Marvel. During a business meeting, she made a reference to Captain America and the Fantastic Four. There was no going back.
When Catherine heard that I wanted to do a film about comics, she said "I know just the man you need on your team," and phoned Peter Sanderson.
PETER SANDERSON: With Curve, Constantine made an entertaining and intelligent film that dispelled conventional notions and prejudices that people had about the subculture of plus-size modeling. The theme of Constantine's films is often 'things are not what they seem.' I was confident he'd bring the same approach to the topic of comics.
X-FAN: Who else is involved with the making of the film, and in what capacity?
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/amanda.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/amandat.jpg" align=right alt="Amanda Conner in a scene from Sex, Lies & Superheroes"></a>CV: This film would not be possible without the skillful hand and careful eye of cinematographer (and editor) Benjamin Jackendoff. The film poster was drawn by the dynamic duo of Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti. The logo by former George magazine art director Jorge Colombo. And uber-fan Jeff Stumpf has been a wonderful resource and sounding board as senior production associate. And I know I am leaving out some important names here, so please forgive me if you're reading this and I haven't mentioned you (it's the sleep deprivation talking!).
X-FAN: There's quite the impressive list of creators appearing in the film. Is there any specific reason why you chose the ones that appear in the film?
PS: We looked for creators who have made major contributions to comics as an art form, who are intelligent and articulate, and who have strong, distinct personalities.
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/claremont.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/claremontt.jpg" align=right alt="Chris Claremont in a scene from Sex, Lies & Superheroes"></a>CV: And those who returned our phone calls! :)
X-FAN:Was there anyone you wanted to get involved but couldn't?
CV: Alan Moore. Howard Pyle. Kirsten Dunst.
X-FAN: What is it you hope the film will achieve?
CV: We conceived the film with something to prove, not for ourselves, but for an industry which we loved. The majority of people in this country look down on comics, and we wanted to disprove conventional wisdom. As John Byrne put it, "The American public regards not just a medium for kids, but a medium for stupid kids." We wanted to demonstrate that comics are a medium for sophisticated stories and artwork worthy of the attention of intelligent adults.
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/johnb2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/johnb2t.jpg" align=right alt="John Byrne in a scene from Sex, Lies & Superheroes"></a>PS: The film explores how Americans regard concepts of heroism. Comics are a font of modern-day mythology.
JACKENDOFF: We hope that Sex, Lies & Superheroes will reach a wide audience. We hope that people who already love comics will enjoy the film but we also want to reach a broader audience, one that may not realize the kind of quality material that is being produced in the comics medium.
PS: And we want to spread the word that the comics medium, even the superhero genre, produces serious, intelligent, well-crafted work that is an important part of American popular culture.
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/neil1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/neil1t.jpg" align=right alt="Neil Gaiman in a scene from Sex, Lies & Superheroes"></a>X-FAN: What's the current plan for the film's distribution, both within the U.S. and (hopefully!) overseas?
CV: We're still looking for an international distributor, but our intention is to screen to fans first at comic conventions and film festivals. We will produce a limited edition DVD before we do a theatrical run (details to be posted soon at SexLiesSuperheroes.com (http://www.sexliessuperheroes.com/)) for fans who cannot wait for the films to hit regional theaters. We will do a limited theatrical release (and e-mail us if you happen to own a theater or know someone who does), and of course we will eventually be out on mass-market DVD and VHS.
The film, which is set to premiere later this month, is a documentary about the comic book industry featuring interviews with such luminaries as Stan Lee, Chris Claremont, Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller, John Byrne, and more.
X-FAN: First of all, how did the project first come about?
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/stansmiles.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/stansmilest.jpg" align=right alt="Stan Lee in a scene from Sex, Lies & Superheroes"></a>CONSTANTINE VALHOULI: We met our fairy godmother, Catherine Schuller Gruenwald, during the production of my last movie, Curve, a documentary on modeling and fashion. Catherine is a former Ford model and fashion entrepreneur and the widow of the late Mark Gruenwald, a senior editor at Marvel. During a business meeting, she made a reference to Captain America and the Fantastic Four. There was no going back.
When Catherine heard that I wanted to do a film about comics, she said "I know just the man you need on your team," and phoned Peter Sanderson.
PETER SANDERSON: With Curve, Constantine made an entertaining and intelligent film that dispelled conventional notions and prejudices that people had about the subculture of plus-size modeling. The theme of Constantine's films is often 'things are not what they seem.' I was confident he'd bring the same approach to the topic of comics.
X-FAN: Who else is involved with the making of the film, and in what capacity?
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/amanda.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/amandat.jpg" align=right alt="Amanda Conner in a scene from Sex, Lies & Superheroes"></a>CV: This film would not be possible without the skillful hand and careful eye of cinematographer (and editor) Benjamin Jackendoff. The film poster was drawn by the dynamic duo of Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti. The logo by former George magazine art director Jorge Colombo. And uber-fan Jeff Stumpf has been a wonderful resource and sounding board as senior production associate. And I know I am leaving out some important names here, so please forgive me if you're reading this and I haven't mentioned you (it's the sleep deprivation talking!).
X-FAN: There's quite the impressive list of creators appearing in the film. Is there any specific reason why you chose the ones that appear in the film?
PS: We looked for creators who have made major contributions to comics as an art form, who are intelligent and articulate, and who have strong, distinct personalities.
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/claremont.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/claremontt.jpg" align=right alt="Chris Claremont in a scene from Sex, Lies & Superheroes"></a>CV: And those who returned our phone calls! :)
X-FAN:Was there anyone you wanted to get involved but couldn't?
CV: Alan Moore. Howard Pyle. Kirsten Dunst.
X-FAN: What is it you hope the film will achieve?
CV: We conceived the film with something to prove, not for ourselves, but for an industry which we loved. The majority of people in this country look down on comics, and we wanted to disprove conventional wisdom. As John Byrne put it, "The American public regards not just a medium for kids, but a medium for stupid kids." We wanted to demonstrate that comics are a medium for sophisticated stories and artwork worthy of the attention of intelligent adults.
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/johnb2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/johnb2t.jpg" align=right alt="John Byrne in a scene from Sex, Lies & Superheroes"></a>PS: The film explores how Americans regard concepts of heroism. Comics are a font of modern-day mythology.
JACKENDOFF: We hope that Sex, Lies & Superheroes will reach a wide audience. We hope that people who already love comics will enjoy the film but we also want to reach a broader audience, one that may not realize the kind of quality material that is being produced in the comics medium.
PS: And we want to spread the word that the comics medium, even the superhero genre, produces serious, intelligent, well-crafted work that is an important part of American popular culture.
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/neil1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/mugshots/neil1t.jpg" align=right alt="Neil Gaiman in a scene from Sex, Lies & Superheroes"></a>X-FAN: What's the current plan for the film's distribution, both within the U.S. and (hopefully!) overseas?
CV: We're still looking for an international distributor, but our intention is to screen to fans first at comic conventions and film festivals. We will produce a limited edition DVD before we do a theatrical run (details to be posted soon at SexLiesSuperheroes.com (http://www.sexliessuperheroes.com/)) for fans who cannot wait for the films to hit regional theaters. We will do a limited theatrical release (and e-mail us if you happen to own a theater or know someone who does), and of course we will eventually be out on mass-market DVD and VHS.