Executive Producer John Acquaviva and Director/Writer Jimmie Gonzalez present a modern day psychological mystery titled The Red Man concerning the ecstasy and depravity in the life of a contemporary DJ…
Interview by Dan Prince
John a huge welcome back to DMCWORLD, where on planet earth are you today?
John Acquaviva – Ha! Great question and couldn’t have been a better time to reply. I am flying to do a night in Las Vegas called Techno Taco Tuesday with my good friend Tino, as well as to do the voice track of myself and Jimmie Gonzalez commentary for our Redman DVD release.
The first piece of music you heard after falling out of bed this morning?
John Acquaviva – Actually, I’m listening to Techno in preparation for my Berghain gig early in November. Techno is as good if not better than coffee to get you going! The first track was 2000 and One – “Prowler.”
So, another day another John Acquaviva project to wow us all, this time in the form of your new independent film The Red Man created with your dear friend Jimmie Gonzalez. Before we delve into this psychological thriller, let’s rewind for a moment. At what age did you begin to really fall in love with the film world and what were some of the early films that made an impression on you?
Jimmie Gonzalez: I can recall going to drive-in theatres as a family around 7 years old in Chicago. It was the late seventies when they would follow a mainstream feature with a trashy B film. It really was a grindhouse now that I think about it. My 2 older brothers would fall asleep during the second film and my parents always assumed I did too. Little did they know, I was sneaking looks between them or at least listening the whole time. I was exposed to films like “Squirm”, “Last House on the Left” and “I Drink Your Blood” way too early but there was no way I can sleep just through the audio alone. I was riveted with curiosity and fear.
John Acquaviva – For me, I have always loved irreverent but also dark twisted and almost always independent films. From early days of watching eraserhead or even shorts. I loved the film Giallo stuff and also Kubrick and Roman Polansky work which certainly manifests itself in our film. Jimmie has the deepest appreciation for film in a profound way, like I do with music however.
I have seen the film and can quite honestly say it is fantastic. Basically all about the ecstasy and depravity in the life of a contemporary DJ with its core about conspiracy theories and how the paranoid mind reacts to them – with shades of Kubrisk for good measure. The film took over two years of work and organization to complete, please take us back to the beginning and tell us how this whole incredible piece of work began…
John Acquaviva – Thanks for your kind reception to our work and ideas.
Jimmie Gonzalez : Coming out of the 90’s rave scene as a DJ myself I was beginning to see the commercialism destroy the scene I once loved. Frustrated that the underground sound I especially gravitated to
wasn’t getting its due in the early 2000’s, I reverted back to cinema not realizing it was my own form of therapy. It was then I made the connection filling a void comparing the high you get from finding a rare record to finding a rare film. In the years to follow, I became immersed into film history studying as if in my own home-schooled film school. Soon I gained the confidence to express myself even further than music. Some of my early visual work gained the attention of John Acquaviva which led to various music video projects for his definitive records imprint. As my own first screenplay started to take shape I shared the idea with John, which ultimately led to producing The Red Man. Fortunately the concept of melding the worlds of electronic music and cult cinema excited John, giving me the drive to write from the heart and create authentically from the two things I knew and loved the most.
John Acquaviva – So for me, I have know Jimmie for ages, and as a good friend he reached out to me when his first rough trailer was done, and I flew down to Vegas to meet the core cast. I was blown away by what he had done and left off that I wanted to get a bit deeper and in the least, help him make this a reality and raise the money to do it
You are the first to say that there are a lot of elements of the film that are personal to you, just how much of John is in there?
John Acquaviva – I think it is personal to all of us as DJs and in this lifestyle
for me this is a faustian tale in DJ clothing. All of us have to make choices in our lives for our careers. There is always some element of dealing with the devil as an artist in every deal. Have you or will you sell your soul? A wrong decision and you end up doubting and questioning. Luckily in this universe my decisions turned out pretty good. But I can tell you on bad days and some of the valleys I have had, you have that self doubt sneak in. So you can crack or keep it together and get a grip on reality. Clearly our protagonist in this film is cracked and out of touch with reality, thus the paranoia and conspiracy.
A quote from you : “we can all feel like puppets in this consumer world” – discuss…
John Acquaviva – Who is pulling the strings. We all want some level of control on a bad day we are not in control and feel helpless. We are all part of a bigger world and sometimes the gravity of the bigger world pulls you where it wants.
Did you enjoy the film making process, is this something you will want to do again?
John Acquaviva – I love any and most creative processes. I think that Jimmie wrote such a great script and did such a great job directing that he has made the movie business seem like a lot of fun! So yes! I want to participate in more. I have to add that the whole group that came together on the film from Shane Daly [who is our most accomplished film world person] to Fang Lee, Richard Jay our producer and the whole gang who many were not from the film world or rather new to it and just gave it their all, and often providing fresh perspectives in how a job and this film got completed.
Definitive partner Oliver Giacomotto is the man responsible for film score duties, a task that pushed him to the edge of exhaustion while matching matching sounds with the scenes.
John Acquaviva – I have had the pleasure to work with many great engineers and after 10 years with Olivier, he is at the top. He is a master of sound and can give anyone who walks into the studio exactly what they want. For this film we plumbed the depths of emotional exhaustion and that was his task. I think to really understand another one needs empathy, but that comes at a cost. Olivier has empathy as a person and perhaps even more so as a composer engineer. He really got into the situation and yes…he absorbed all that confusion anguish and paranoia and re-channelled it into the soundtrack.
What was it like watching him do his magic on the film and how much of an input did you have soundwise?
John Acquaviva – As team player, when I pick and collaborate with people I don’t look over their shoulders very ofter nor tell them what to do. I engage them for the very purpose that they are in charge and entrusted to use their skills and judgement to add to what we are making. I was on set for a good chunk of the filming, but let Olivier alone as he is a master at work.
What can you tell us about the sound frequencies used in the film?
Olivier Giacomotto – Most of the time I used frequencies instead of notes. 19 hertz for example is a sub frequency that is supposed to create dizziness, un-comfort, fear and panic. Mainly because I make your eye balls vibrate and make you start seeing things that don’t really exist. That frequency was the cornerstone of the whole Red Man soundtrack. All the highest harmonics of that frequency are inside every piece of music of the movie. That’s why the result is obviously so dark, druggy, and creepy.
Who would you like to play you in your life story?
John Acquaviva – Never thought of that! I think I have been in the room for many a great story but never as the lead…so that said, if I had to pick an actor…hmmm. I ultimately would pick an unknown actor. We did this with the film for the most part and this is what I like about films. I want the story and whether based on real people or imagined, I don’t like the over-ride of having a big name actor distracting from the story.
The greatest film ever made?
John Acquaviva— Tough question. I can’t answer that when asked about tracks or food or favorite city. There is a time and place for everything.
Is this your proudest life moment to date?
John Acquaviva – I don’t do things for pride. Rather to work with other people and bring an idea to life, be it a business or piece of art. That said, I am proud and very satisfied with the result. I am curious how this will age, and also who in our team will grow beyond this to who knows what!
Congratulations on scooping the Electronic Music Pioneer Award at this year’s DJ Awards at Pacha in Ibiza earlier this month. You have had a great 2016, are you happy how the year has gone?
John Acquaviva – I like to joke that one of my hobbies is aging gracefully. I may not be slowing down, but I can say my life is not turning out like the character in the movie. Getting an award like this certainly beats an intervention by your friends saying you have lost the plot, they love you but…
Putting an awards ceremony on the same day of Space Closing was always going to see a lot of missing persons, you seemed quite ‘rested’ though. How was the Space event for you?
John Acquaviva – All right all right…I was worried this would become some sort of investigative journalism!! I confess, I did not stay ALL night. The key to partying is to go full on but steal a nap. Siestas are good for all. The other secret is for me is to either completely grow out my beard or shave everyday so that the accumulation of 2-3 days party does not show on your dishevelled face.
Ushuaia are apparently going after the ‘Pacha market’ with the new venue, a decision a lot of music purists will be aghast at. What are your thoughts on the takeover…?
John Acquaviva – Tough question. I am not really a nightlife politician but whatever happens…I see a movie in this somewhere.
5 big tunes in the Acquaviva box this weekend…
John Acquaviva – I still have my head in summer mode as well as Burning Man and closings in Ibiza.
Here are my big tunes- they are more timeless and just big tunes for me at those special moments:
1/ Lee van Dowski – “If Only Jack Was Here”
2/ Hearthug – “Don’t Rain on My Parade”
3/ Chicola – Addikted [Guy Mantzur RMX]
4/ Barac – Tubular Bells
5/ Todd Terje – Inspector Norse
What is coming out next from you studio wise?
John Acquaviva – Inspector Norse on the heels of releasing Sacrilegious and “Time is Where I Left It” with Manuele de la Mare. I have been in the studio with him some more, as well as my label parter Olivier Giacomotto and M.O.N.R.O.E. – No set release dates until the New Year as movie and tech projects are pressing right now.
An up and coming producer to watch out for in 2017 and why…
John Acquaviva – Not sure if M.O.N.R.O.E. counts…but more people need to know about this guy. he is a genius. really a great artist and great engineer skills.
Your favourite DJ gig of 2016?
John Acquaviva – I have been blessed to still have such a wonderful career and this year have had many great gigs such as the SXM Festival closing set with Dubfire, Stereo in Montreal, ENTER. at Cavo Paradiso in Mykonos and iconic moments like Space closing. There was a first time gig in Santorini where not many DJ’s go, but I played all night then all day until I had to stop and go to the airport. The most sincere and serendipitous event…in that you can’t plan these things…like the ones above…but sometimes magic still happens.
The last time you danced to a DJ?
John Acquaviva – Lots this summer! I think Jackmaster was playing at Seth Troxler’s birthday party at Pikes, Ibiza…old school tracks bringing me back to my youth.
And finally, John Acquaviva’s guilty pleasure?
John Acquaviva – Sleeping…once a month I sleep over 8 hours
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