Friday the 13th & the Birth of Jason Voorhees

Sebastian Twardosz interviews Friday the 13th creator Sean S. Cunningham to talk about everything from  how the film started out as only a title to the creation of the infamous hockey mask.

• 00:30 — Introducing Sean S. Cunningham.
• 00:45 — How Friday the 13th started as just a title.
• 03:35 — The making of Friday The 13th.
• 06:00 — Creating the soundscape of Friday The 13th.
• 09:00 — Expectations after releasing the film.
• 11:15 — What it’s like working with the same people on multiple projects.
• 12:50 — Creating the grudge match Freddy vs Jason.
• 15:00 — How did Jason Voorhees’ mask become part of the character?
• 16:30 — Cunningham’s change of heart and decision to not be a doctor.
• 21:15 — Raising funds before Kickstarter existed.
• 22:05 — Early film projects of Sean S. Cunningham.
• 24:25 — Bringing The Last House on the Left into being with Wes Craven.
• 27:00 — Kids sports films; Here Come the Tigers and Manny’s Orphans.
• 30:50 — Spring Break.
• 33:50 — House and My Boyfriend’s Back.
• 37:00 — Watching a screening of Alien with O.J. Simpson.

Not only dose Cunningham share information about how the franchise (originally not intending to be one) was formulated, but he shares some keen wisdom on filmmaking as well. For instance, he shares a story about when he first screened Friday the 13th for Wes Craven and was told that it was boring and slow. However, when he screened the final cut with all the audio, music, and sound effects added, reactions completely changed. Cunningham expresses how large of an impact the right soundtrack can make on how your viewers respond to your film emotionally.