Who is Vincent Pereira? To you, he's moast likely known as the guy next to the pinball micheene that holden breaks in the Chasing Amy trailer. Remember 'Got Lucky'?. Maybe you visit the WWWBoard often on the view askew website. He's the one everyone asks about movies. Or maybe you^Òre one of the fortionate few that have heard his comentary on both the Chasing Amy and Clerks laser discs ('The resident film historian'). Or, maybe, just maybe you're one of the small group of people who have managed to see his first feature A Better Place at either Vulgarthon or on Flixtour.

But, whoever you are Vincent Pereira is a name to look out for. With one film in the bag and another one in the earily stages of production Vincent is ready to take hollywood (or at least Redbank) by storm. Here's a little interview i recently conducted.

Nolan Reese: What are some of your all time favorite movies?

Vincent Pereira: LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, THE GODFATHER PART II, BADLANDS, THE PASSENGER, THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, THE SHINING, TAXI DRIVER, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, BREAKING THE WAVES, RAISING ARIZONA, A CHRISTMAS STORY... I could go on and on...

N.R: You've mentioned many times that you're a big fan of horror & slasher movies. What are some of your favorites?

V.P: Just about any Dario Argento film, especially INFERNO, TENEBRAE, and OPERA- Lucio Fulci's THE BEYOND, Romero's DAWN OF THE DEAD and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, Tobe Hooper's THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, Wes Craven's A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, Kubrick's THE SHINING, Coscarelli's PHANTASM, John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN, Raimi's EVIL DEAD and EVIL DEAD 2, Stuart Gordon's RE- ANIMATOR

N.R: Have they influenced your work at all?

V.P: Very much so- the way I structured the murder sequence in A BETTER PLACE was very much based on the way Argento structures the murder sequences in his films, as well as the way he moves his camera- I used what I call 'over-the- shoulder-POVs' a few times, which I got from HALLOWEEN, and I also did a few 50/50 rack focus shots that are like the ones Lucio Fulci uses a lot in his films. Overall, the use of setting and place to build a mood (which I tried to do in A BETTER PLACE) was very much inspired by Argento's PHENOMENA

N.R: How has the response been to ABP^Òs recent stint on Flixtour?

V.P: So far, pretty good- It's only been shown twice so far, in San Francisco at the Casting Couch and at Lehigh University. The Casting Couch showings were VERY sparcely attended, but the few who showed seemed to dig the film. The Lehigh gig was pretty well attended, and they liked the film.

N.R: Have any video of theatrical distributors shown interest?

V.P: There was a flurry of interest immediately following the IFFM screening in September, but that's died down, as it often does. I'm sure the film will get video distribution, and it should at least play in a couple theaters in New York and LA, but nothing is definate.

N.R: Do you think it will help at all that your star is now on the new fox show 'Significant Others'?

V.P: If both Eion Bailey and the show get good reviews and it does well in the ratings, sure, it can't do anything but help. If it's a flop, then no.

N.R: Tell me a little about your next film, 'Autograph'

V.P: It's a murder/mystery about a well-known Hollywood actor who is doing a benefit play in his home town and gets tangled up in a serial murder spree.

N.R: What stage is that currently at?

V.P: I've written a very detailed 20-page treatment, and am about 40 pages into the actual script.

N.R: I hear you were also involved with Bryan Lynch's 'Big Helium Dog' both in front of and behind the camera. Tell me a little about that movie.

V.P: It's a sketch-comedy type film- I was the assistant director and co- edited the film with Brian, and played the part of the Cigarette Fairy. It has a very bare-bones plot whose main purpose is to link the various sketches, and, if I may be so bold, it's a comic masterpiece.

N.R: About what phase is that at?

V.P: Just finished the final edit- they still have to add the credits, some title cards, and some animation to intro some of the sketches, but other than that the cut is finalized. Then, it's off to do the bulk of post-production- sound mixing, negative cutting, printing, etc. It should be done sometime this summer.

N.R: Filially, from various posts on the View Askew board I get the idea you're a big Laser Disc/ DVD fan. What's your take on the whole Laser/ DVD/ Divx thing?

V.P: I dig both the DVD and Laserdisc formats- people who argue about which is better are foolish, because they are both great and I collect them both. Divx, however, is a fucking travesty- the folks behind it deserve to be put into bankrupcy. It's the most retarded idea that I've ever heard of, and I can't imagine that ANYBODY in their right mind would ever buy into such a ridiculous format.

N.R: Thanks Again for your time.

V.P: No problem.