This season on Gypsy Poet Radio, it's all about the directors and to me, directors hold a very special place close to my heart. These guys are the visionaries, the storytellers and the figures that shape what we know about our modern world today. Johnny Daggers is one of those people and he has surprised me time and again! His latest project has me wanting for more and he is with me to dish it out and serve it with appetizers and plenty of Ouzo on the rocks! Ladies & Gentlemen, the visionary himself... Johnny Daggers!

Hello, Johnny! It's a joy you are here! Talk to me! What's new since Gypsy Poet Radio?

Thank you for your very kind words and introduction. I am still here locked away in my own little world of conceptual art and grinding away at what I love doing.

I know you are working with Manoush and a group of others on your latest work, Blood On The Reel. Who all else is involved?

There are over 30 filmmakers featured. Initially I had over 80 interested parties and weeded the list down from there. A few that come to mind are; Michael S. Rodriquez (Lamb Feed / Night Of The Sea Monkey), David Blyth (Wound / Ghost Bride), Craig Everett Earl (Intrusion / Intrusion: Disconnected), Blue de Golyer (House Of Good And Evil). I also have to add that the film will be hosted by my dear friend and talented actress, Bianca Barnett Allaine.

How did Micky James of Kriss Angel's band become a part of the project?

Micky and I have been friends for several years now. We met during the Caustic Zombies era. He was a fan of the film and called me up to see if I needed him to score any music. I made him a promise back then that we would work together even if it wasn't on Caustic. Here we are four years later. We are still good friends and working together on Blood On The Reel. Micky isn't doing any music for the film. I will actually be featuring him in a segment of the documentary talking a little about my film Caustic Zombies. There are some special treats that I am throwing in the film for any of Micky's fans who happen to be reading this. Some of you may or may not know that Micky is also working on his first film, “Mick James Is Dead'. It is in the very early stages but if I am lucky, perhaps Micky will give me a small role in his film as well.

This is a documentary about horror films. This is something that has not been done before and is the first of its kind. How does it feel to do a prototype of a film like this?

“Blood On The Reel” is the first documentary that focuses on indie horror filmmakers, but is certainly not the first “horror” documentary. Two of the filmmakers featured in “Blood On The Reel”, John Gillette and Reyna Young of Last Doorway Productions made a documentary which focuses on indie horror actresses and is entitled; “The Women In Horror”.

The majority of the “horror” documentaries that are out there focus on the either the Hollywood produced films or strictly on the Universal and Hammer Horror Films. There has never been a documentary that has focused on the hardships that the indie horror filmmakers go through to bring their films from fruition to the screen. Most people do not realize that most of us have put our entire life savings, relationships and freedoms on the line to get their films completed. The majority of the filmmakers featured in “Blood On The Reel” have been wanting to share their stories for years, and until now didn't have a platform to do so. I am just happy that I can be their soapbox if you will.

I noticed two elements that are different in this film. First of all, most of the folks you are collaborating with are met via the web and second, this is done mostly with computer. I know in this digital most everything is done via the computer. How do you think this is different compared to other films you have done in the past?

I really despise technology so this film is very ironic in that aspect. I suppose that this is one instance where technology works quite well. It has allowed me to meet and work with filmmakers from all over the world. Filmmakers whom I would have never had the opportunity to work with on such an indie scale. I certainly do not have the finances to travel to New Zealand, Germany, Canada and so on.

Working on a film through this medium has its pros and cons. It has given me an opportunity that I wouldn't have had otherwise, and for that I am thankful. The one major con would be that I have established a very good friendship with many of the filmmakers involved, but other than speaking with them via phone, I have not had real human interaction with them. This is the one thing that I hate about technology. I feel that the current society of people have forgotten how to interact with each other on a one on one intimate level. People form romantic relationships on-line with people whom they have never even met. It's just weird and foreign to me.

You mentioned on GPR that you got picked up by SGL Distribution company for Blood On The Reel. How did this make you feel when you got the news?

You always want people to show interest in your art, so in that essence I was very elated. On the other hand there is that cynical side where you fear that someone is trying to take advantage of you. I guess it's just that deep rooted indie mentality.

I was introduced to SGL through Massimiliano Cerchi, a filmmaker who is not only featured in “Blood On The Reel”, but has also released his last several films on SGL Entertainment. Owner Jeffrey Swanson and I spoke on the phone several times and hit it off quite well. We quickly discovered that we both come from musical backgrounds. Jeffrey and partner Damien Dante own Darkstar Records, and both happen to be musicians and filmmakers as well. We just clicked. Everything that was discussed sounded more than fair. With that being said, I agreed to have the contract sent over to review. I honestly didn't think the contract would live up to what had been discussed. I expected to see something that would deter me. To my surprise, the contract was straight forward and was everything that was promised in the initial talks. Both Jeff and Dante treat you like you are family and that was one of the factors that made me want to sign on board with them. We just come from the same mindset.

You also run a pod-cast, as well! How long have you been doing this and who are some of the guests you have featured?

I did, but no more. My once DaggerVision partner Brian Cottington and I hosted the DaggerVision Films Horror Talk Radio Show for a little over a year on Spookshow.Tv. Looking back, I am very happy that we did it, but it did take a lot of coercing from Brian for me to do it.

For several years fans kept asking us to do a pod-cast so that they could stay up to date with current and future DaggerVision projects. While I liked the notion, I had been a part of Internet radio since its inception and had hosted several shows back in the days of Live365. I was not really interested in doing more radio. I finally buckled to the requests but made it known that if we were going to do the show that I didn't want it to be just us talking about Daggervision Films. I wanted to bring on fellow actors, actresses and musicians and artists.

Some of the many fantastic guests that were featured on the show were John Kassir (voice of the Crypt Keeper), Doug Bradley (Pinhead in Hellraiser), Joe Flood (Mr. Dumpkin of Student Bodies), Jerry Roach who was the owner of the legendary punk club, “The Cuckoo's Nest” which was home to the first mosh pit. We also had Sid Haig (House Of 1000 Corpses / Devil's Rejects). We had Tom Sullivan ( Evil Dead / Army Of Darkness). And the list goes on. Looking back, it is a pretty impressive one at that for being on the air for just a year. The show ended because Spookshow.TV came to an end and we felt that it was a good time to get back to focusing on our films.

What is next after Blood On The Reel is complete?

I have an extensive list of scripts that I have been sitting on. I have one in mind, but I am not divulging that just yet.

Tell us a little bit about Caustic Zombies.

The cursed film. Caustic Zombies was my first endeavor at a feature film. I should be thankful because the film really put me out there to the world. Despite all of the success and accolades, the film has never officially been released. I do have an “Official Bootleg” version for sale on the website. Long story short. We had some issues with the initial editor who never completed the film and then held the tapes for several years, refusing to relinquish them. I finally acquired the original tapes a few months back and now the footage has to be recaptured and re-edited from scratch. At the point I feel like it is beating a dead horse. So much has happened for the better since 2011 and there comes a point where you have to decide to just move on. The official directors cut will see the light of day some time in the future, but no time soon. For now it must be enjoyed as an obscure cult film. I kind of like it that way. When the official directors cut is released it will be a completely different movie than the “official bootleg” version. So for those who own the “bootleg, you own a very rare version.

Is there a dream actor/actress you have in mind to ever star in one of your films?

Not particularly. There are a few people that it would be an honor to work along the side of, but I lost that giddy sense of fandom a long time ago.

You should know, The Gypsy Poet is a musician herself. You gotta give me a list of your faves.

It really depends on my mood. Music and films are my life so it is rather hard to condense that in to a list. To me that is like asking a parent to chose their favorite child. At the very young age of 4 I grew up with many punk, post-punk and new wave bands. Bands like the Clash, Ramones, Devo and (early) Elvis Costello. Then a little later I discovered bands like The Cure, Siouxsie And The Banshees and Echo And The Bunnymen. After that, or about the same time I got heavily involved in both the Batcave and the Deathrock scenes with bands like Christian Death, TSOL, 45 Grave, The Damned, Bauhaus, Kommunity FK, Sisters Of Mercy and so on.

I really detest current music so I tend to stay in those years of punk, post-punk and Goth. I essentially live in the past. There are a few more current bands whom I have come to love an adore but they are minimal. Bands and musicians like Dresden Dolls, Amanda Palmer, The National, Emilie Simon, Birdeatsbaby, The Romanov's and Jill Tracy are truly astounding. The most recent band that I have come to love and adore is Savages. Holy fuck, they are brilliant. So much raw energy. They really take me back to the early post punk days that I love. These bands that I just mentioned are ones that I do wish I was an observing fly on the wall watching their rehearsals.

Let's talk about your career as an alternative model. This intrigues me. What possessed you to do this kind of endeavor? (it does hit close to home, that's why I had to ask!)

Modeling just happened. I never aspired to do it. Personally I think that it is a hobby and not a career. How it started was I was being interviewed for magazines around the world in support of my films. To coincide with the interviews, the magazines asked for head shots. I started doing one off photo shoots to submit with my interviews. The next thing you know, I was being contacted by modeling agencies and magazines. And although I have a lot of fun with the darker horror or goth shoots that I do, it's just play time to me really and I don't put any stock in it. I would much rather be making music or film and doing photo shoots to support those.

You have accomplished a lot in a very short amount of time. I definitely see you going very far in this project, Blood On The Reel, since it is the first of its kind in multiple ways. Do you have any expectations on this project? Or do you want to wait it out and see what it does?

It may seem like a lot in a short time and probably more so with Daggervision, but honestly it has been a long and grueling road. I have been a professional artist on so many levels since 1995. I have owned several magazines. I was an illustrator for a book publishing company. I have been in signed bands, you name it. Things just really didn't start to blow up until I became a filmmaker.

As far as expectations, I really try not to think about it. I just Do what I do and I hope that people like it. No one can foresee how a piece of art will be perceived. Time will tell its tale.

Anything you want to say to the amazing readers of Punk Globe?

I come from that old school DIY punk mentality. If you don't like a scene around you, start your own. Make things happen and never be afraid to shake things up. I didn't like what was going on in the world of Hollywood horror, so I decided to pick up a camera and make my own film and start an indie film company. Your readers get this. They stay true to this belief and they implement that in to their daily life. And for that I am thankful to be speaking with you and reaching out to your readers. Please continue to stay raw and support the independents.

You are a joy in company and may you be one with the stars!

Thank you. The pleasure is mine.