Daemon Hillin, Producer of The Flood Interview

On July 14, Saban Films and Producer, Daemon Hillin are releasing The Flood. This action packed genre mash-up is pure entertainment from beginning to end and as we learn in this interview with the producer, that was definitely the plan.

Adam Pope: The Flood feels like a mash-up of a disaster, police drama and prison breakout films. Did the script begin as one genre and have the other elements added or was it always designed as a smorgasbord of action movie fun?

Daemon Hillin: From the outset, the script for ‘The Flood’ was conceived as a dynamic fusion of various genres. This amalgamation is what makes the film so enjoyable and engaging.

Adam Pope: What particular element of The Flood script was most exciting to you as a Producer that made you move forward on the project?

Daemon Hillin: One of the most thrilling aspects for me as a producer was the challenge of creating a set that could feasibly be flooded. This was a big challenge that I hadn’t tackled before, and the opportunity to overcome this hurdle and deliver on the promise of the script was an exciting prospect that motivated me to push forward with the project.

Adam Pope: As is to be expected, the killer alligators are presented as CGI creatures. Were practical alligator puppets ever considered as an option for the shoot?

Daemon Hillin: As independent filmmaker, you always consider the balance between practical effects and CGI. However, budget constraints often dictate your choices. The decision in this case was to prioritize resources towards creating high-quality CGI creatures. Attempting to split the budget between practical and CGI effects may have compromised the overall quality of the visual effects. I aimed for an optimal visual experience and, given our budget, investing in superior CGI proved to be the best decision.

Adam Pope: While the marketing certainly puts the killer alligators to the forefront, the story itself is very focused on the very colorful prisoners and police personnel. Is there a particular character as written, that you identified as the breakout while assembling the film?

Daemon Hillin: With a diverse and talented group of actors, it’s hard to single out a particular breakout character. The richness of ‘The Flood’ lies in the nuances each actor brought to their role. Each character, with their unique personalities, contributes to the overall narrative and tension of the film. It’s the collective performance that makes the movie truly special.

Adam Pope: Obviously with a name like The Flood, every scene is filmed in water at varying heights. What was the biggest challenge for the cast and crew, working in water for all those weeks?

Daemon Hillin: Our sets, which we converted into pools, had to be continuously managed. Given the tropical climate of Thailand, the heat was a constant challenge, especially with all the technical equipment around. Our cast and crew had to withstand long hours in the water, which was physically demanding. Also, maintaining water quality was a major concern. The constant activity in the water muddied it quickly, requiring frequent cleaning and refilling. This was a time-consuming process.

Adam Pope: There’s quite a bit of physical action in the form of one on one fights during the film. Did most of the actors come in with a martial arts background or did they have to undergo fight training?

Daemon Hillin: Given the physical demands of the script, we were particularly interested in actors with a background in stunts and combat training. This allowed us to maintain a high degree of safety during the action sequences.

Adam Pope: In terms of legendary producers or filmmakers, do you take personal inspiration from a particular individual’s body of work?

Daemon Hillin: Rather than being inspired by a particular individual, I find my motivation in the unique mechanics of each project. It’s the art of the deal that fuels me. I place immense trust in the talents I hire and take great satisfaction in seeing them bring their visions to life.

Adam Pope: Do you get very involved in the filmmaking or editing of the movies you produce? Where do you think your influence was most felt in the final cut of The Flood?

Daemon Hillin: My approach as a producer is to entrust the creative aspects of a project to the talented individuals I work with. For ‘The Flood’, I played a crucial role in overseeing the overall picture and ensuring the production complied with the expectations of our distributor. My influence is seen in the strategic decisions and the coordination of various elements that contributed to the final cut. I place huge faith in director Brandon Slagle and my co-producer Amy Covell.

Adam Pope: What kind of feedback do you anticipate from audiences as The Flood is shared with the world?

Daemon Hillin:  I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished with ‘The Flood’, especially given the constraints of independent filmmaking. We hope audiences will appreciate the effort and creativity that went into this project, recognizing it as a film from independent producers, not a big studio production. We anticipate audiences will embrace the unique blend of action, horror, and suspense that ‘The Flood’ offers.

The Flood from Saban Films will be available on VOD and On Demand starting July 14th.