Clay Borris may not be a name you recognize immediately, but trust me, you’ve seen his work. A veteran of film and television, Borris has been writing, acting and directing since the early 1970s. In 1981, he wrote, directed, produced and starred in the film Alligator Shoes. He is most well known for Quiet Cool, a 1986 film from New Line about an unconventional New York cop. He also directed the genre flick Prom Night IV: Deliver Us From Evil, and was Second Unit Director on the now classic Wrong Turn. In addition, he’s directed numerous episodes of genre television mainstays like Forever Knight and Highlander (TV). Over the last few years, he has done more television than anything, but has taken time to talk to us today about his return to the silver screen.

Horror Yearbook: Tell us about your latest project.

Clay Borris: It’s called Picture the Sound. It’s about a blind woman who by chance becomes a world famous photographer. I based the screenplay on a short film I did.

HYB: What was your inspiration for the story?

CB: A friend of mine saw a blind man buying a camera in a camera store. He told me about it and I instantly visualized the movie. So we sat down and wrote the script, and we shot the short in a couple of days.

HYB: With the excepiton of several films in the 90s, Prom Night IV was one of the last films you had directed. Was there anything paticular that drew your focus to television?

CB: Not really. As a director living in Canada, you wind up doing both a lot to survive. I learned a lot from doing television. I never on purpose did one or the other; I just like to direct.

HYB: I know you worked on Forever Knight. Withe the resurgence in vampires over the last few years because of the Twilight phenomenon, have you ever thought about doing anymore vampire stories?

CB: No. Those aren’t the kind of films I’m really geared toward. With Forever Knight, I guess they hired me because they saw PN4 and they knew I could do that kind of stuff. I’ve never sat down and wrote a horror film. But I certainly can direct them. I think they’re fun to do and they’re a challenge.

HYB: Prom Night IV was the last true sequel to the films before they rebooted the franchise in 2008. Did you happen to see the remake?

CB: Actually, I never did. I don’t know why. Paul Lynch, the director of the original Prom Night is a friend of mine. I was talking to him about it (the remake), and I can’t remember what he said but I believe he enjoyed it.

HYB: I was watching PN4 a few days ago and there is a scene where Father Jonas had crucified two of the kids to burning crosses. In the final shot of that scene, one of the dummies falls off of the cross. I was just curious if that was originally scripted?

CB: Yes, it was. Everything in that movie was meticulously planned. When you’re doing horror you have to have a jump every five minutes.

HYB: In addition to all of the directing and writing you’ve done, you also have some acting credits too. Most of them are smaller parts, but have you ever wanted to pursue a larger acting role in anything?

CB: I starred in Alligator Shoes with my brothers which I also wrote, directed and produced. I gave myself a huge role in that! I’ve also acted in other films for other people. I’ve gone out and auditioned for commercials just to see what it’s like to be on the other end. It’s a real drag, but I understand where actors are coming from. I’m always open to it if someone wants me out there.

HYB: You were nominated for a Genie (Canada’s OSCAR) in 1982 for Alligator Shoes. What was that like for you being only a budding film maker at that time?

CB: It was great. There were actually four nominations, one for best original screenplay. When I did Alligator Shoes I had never really written a script before. So I got a book on how to write a script, but I never understood the book! So I just sat down and wrote the script in forty hours. When I was nominated, I got a kick out of it.

HYB: You directed second unit for Wrong Turn which has now become a franchise.

CB: I guess they hired me because of Forever Knight or the producer liked my stuff. I enjoy second unit because I love doing action. It was a lot of fun.

HYB: In closing, after Picture the Sound, do you have any other ideas you’re working on?

CB: Yes I do. I’m working on a film called Saddle Copps about a rookie horseback police officer named Joe Copps. Sort of like Lethal Weapon with horses.

Clay, we appreciate your time and look forward to hearing from you again.