“El Muerto isn’t a tale of vengeance, it’s a story about love, and the strength we draw from those we love. It’s a romantic tale featuring an imaginative new screen hero.” – Javier Hernandez
The same can be said for the imaginative El Muerto: The Aztec Zombie comic book creator Javier Hernandez and his ascent into the spotlight with his EL MUERTO film adaptation. Having premiered at the San Diego Latino Film Festival on March 17th 2007 to a completely sold out audience, (with a few dozen stragglers waiting outside hoping for some no shows), Javier has set out on his own romantic tale of bringing a fantasy to the big screen in typical Hollywood fashion, yet retaining the Aztec mythology and Mexican culture he holds so dear.
HorrorYearbook: What inspired you to write about Aztec mythology in El Muerto: The Aztec Zombie comic book?
Javier Hernandez: When I was kicking around the idea of creating my own comic book, I had wanted to incorporate the rich and imaginative world of Aztec mythology. First of all, you rarely see it used in any of the popular media like movies, cartoons or comics. And, having read my share of Thor comics from Marvel, I saw the unlimited potential you could get by basing a comic book hero on an existing mythology. Also, I wanted to create something that drew on an aspect of my cultural background, my Mexican roots.
HYB: How were you contacted about the film adaptation of EL MUERTO?
JH: I was interviewed by NPR, along with several other artists, at the San Diego Comic Con a few years ago. When they aired the episode a week or so later, Brian Cox (my future director) heard the interview as he was driving and took note of me and my comic. He contacted me shortly thereafter and bought my first issue of EL Muerto, which at the time was only published as a zine (a photocopied, black & white edition), believe it or not. Just goes to show that it’s not so much the physical presentation of the product, but rather if the story and character are imaginative enough to get someone’s attention! So, I later met with Brian where he asked me questions about my story and the background of the characters. At the end of our meeting he asked if I had ever considered turning El Muerto into a movie. I told him I sure wasn’t put off by the idea!
HYB: Were there any major changes in the story to help adapt it to film?
JH: Well, since at the time of the initial agreement to make the film, I had only created the character’s origin tale. So Brian, who also wrote the script, created an original story for the film, using my characters and El Muerto’s origin as the basis. But he created some very interesting back story for the character, as well as some new supporting characters inhabiting a tale of destiny and the power of love. It was pretty neat to see someone take something I created, and craft an original tale out of it. Actually, I like to look at the movie as giving people two distinct versions of El Muerto, with the comic book representing what I created, and the film an adaptation as helmed by Brian. Most times books or comics are taken through a process of ‘adapting to another medium’, so it was no different for El Muerto.
HYB: Did you assist in casting process at all?
JH: Working with Brian was always a collaborative process, I’m happy to say. He let me sit in on one of the casting calls, the day Joel David Moore came to test for the role of Zak. It was really cool, because Joel was telling us that he had just finished filming the new Dan Clowes movie, ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL. Once we were all satisfied with the script, we got around to thinking who would be ideal to approach for the role. Wilmer Valderrama was the choice we all came up with.
HYB: How do you feel about Wilmer Valderrama being cast as your protagonist?
JH: Well, when Brian told me that he met Wilmer and he was indeed interested in the role, I started to think that our little film here was going to get a big boost with Wilmer’s involvement. He was fun to work with and indeed plays a very good El Muerto. Once, on the set, he had asked me if I was happy with the way he was portraying the character, which I thought was a nice thing to do. I assured him that he had my approval for the great job he was doing, bringing El Muerto to life.
HYB: What about cult favorite Billy Drago as Old Indian?
JH: Meeting Billy during pre-production at the offices was a thrill. ‘Frank Nitti’ (THE UNTOUCHABLES) was in our movie! He was a neat guy to talk to, that’s for sure. It’s great to be able to populate your film with these cult favorite actors. We were also lucky enough to have Michael Parks (KILL BILL 1 & 2) in our film. I actually gave him a ride to and from the set one day. Boy, talk about a down-to-earth guy, who just happens to be one of the coolest character actors around.
HYB: You also made an appearance as “Man in Costume” in a scene with El Muerto. Was that just for fun?
JH: For fun, and to see myself as a youthful 30-something for the rest of my life! Actually, I picked out that part specifically because I wanted to be in a scene with Wilmer as El Muerto in full costume. Who wants to be seated on a park bench in the background as your main character appears on screen? I had a blast filming that scene, and was nervous as heck. I actually have a few lines of dialogue myself, which I’m happy to say I pulled off. Amazing what a lot of editing can do for non-actors! But really, I’m glad that I did it and people get a kick out of it when they see me up there. I’ve drawn myself in a few short stories with El Muerto, or in pieces of promotional art, so being onscreen with the character was something I was glad to be able to do.
HYB: Is the film adaptation PG-13 or can we look forward to some fun death scenes?
JH: Well, one of the things that I asked Brian and producer Larry Rattner early on was that we keep the film PG-13. I have no problem with Rated-R films but I wanted to have a movie that would be accessible to families as well as adults. However, just as in the comic, Diego de La Muerte does undergoes ancient Aztec heart surgery at the hands of the God of Death, so don’t feel too disappointed. But if you want bloody graphic action, check out my upcoming EL MUERTO : DEAD & CONFUSED story. Diego gets hit by a truck, his hand gets chopped off, he gets blown apart by a shotgun and a few more things you can only do to a self-regenerating zombie hero!
HYB: Does the comparison to the film THE CROW bother you?
JH: It did at first, when our teaser poster image was in circulation. People dismissing the whole project as a Crow rip-off, without the benefit of any knowledge of the film. But the more I would read online, the more I would learn to disengage what I read about me, and the film, from anything resembling Truth. I can see why people make the reaction they do though. Both characters are dead, they wear black and they have white, painted faces. But El Muerto draws his look from the Mexican Day of the Dead, where black mariachi suits and skull faces are traditional. Heck, Muerto, the Crow and Jack Skellington probably all shop at the same outlet stores! But El Muerto isn’t a tale of vengeance, it’s a story about love, and the strength we draw from those we love. It’s a romantic tale, as well as a story about an ancient Aztec curse featuring an imaginative new screen hero.
HYB: You have said in the past that a rough cut was done in 2005. What was the cause of a 2 year delay?
JH: Independent film post-production, is the quickest way I can describe it. Believe me, I was certainly waiting on pins and needles at times! However, I knew the filmmakers were working hard to get the film done the best way possible, and the final result delivers a film we’re all proud of.
HYB: Do you think if the film is well received that it could spawn a sequel and would you be interested in writing it?
JH: We’ve certainly discussed the possibility about a sequel, but as with any film, it’s in the hands of the audience. I would be more than happy to be looking at a franchise. To think that a little independent comic book could possibly spawn a franchise, now that’s pretty awesome! An animated series or animated film I think would be ideal for this character, and of course a video game with mystic pyramids, zombie conquistadors and graveyard warfare would be quite the site! I can’t tell you that I’ll be involved with writing a sequel, but you never know. I certainly got my feet wet in this film’s production. I was the Associate Producer and I also designed the main title illustrations seen at the beginning of the film.
HYB: You teach a comic book workshop at the Pico Rivera Centre for the Arts in LA. How can aspiring writers get involved?
JH: I actually teach it from the artist’s perspective. The students, and there have been some pretty talented kids in the class, draw their own 4 page story and dialogue it themselves. Only once did I have two students split the writing and drawing duties, but I seem to recall they could never agree on the direction of the story!
HYB: You will be attending SiliCon this October. What do we have to look forward to?
JH: I’m looking forward to attending my first SiliCon, especially since it was actually in San Jose that I first debuted El Muerto, at the Alternative Press Expo. So, this will be a homecoming for El Muerto. I should have the first-ever El Muerto trade paperback available, as well as some other special publications and such. As for the film, I believe the organizers are talking to my producer about that very thing.
HYB: What is next for you? Any new comics or movies?
JH: Well, I’m at that terrible/wonderful stage right now where I have a comic project I’m collaborating on with another person (not a comic creator) that I can’t discuss! But I have more Muerto stories to tell, and other characters to put in their own comics. I’m looking at releasing a webcomic, as the business model for that seems to be more practical everyday. As for films, well, let’s hope we’re talking one day about El Muerto Dos! Also, now that I’ve gotten one whole film experience under my belt, I’ve certainly got the movie bug. I’ve learned what it takes to make a film from initial idea to every stage of production, so I’d say it’s time to take full advantage of all that experience, and desire.
It looks like we can expect to see more from Javier and hopefully this will include more films in the future as well. And don’t forget to visit him and the Horror Yearbook team at SiliCon this year.
- Molly Celaschi
ElMuerto.com
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