B MOVIE NEWS: What got you interested in Film Making?
RACHEL GOLDENBERG: I went to college unsure of what I wanted
to do. I took a film class and found it to be the most
expressive, fulfilling experience of my life. The ability
to create and the amount of control one has over reality is
intoxicating. Previously, I had never been able to apply
myself to anything. Suddenly, with film, I became a
workaholic.
How did you get involved in Sunday School Musical?
RACHEL: Ashley Holloway, former Asylum employee, and I went
to college together. She saw that the Asylum was toying
with the idea of doing SSM. She called me and said,
"Rachel, we're going to make Sunday School Musical." And I
said, "What?" and then I said "Yes, yes we are." We wrote
it together, and then I directed and she line produced.
 
You made this for Faith Films which is apart of The Asylum.
Are you religious? And if so or not, how did this affect the
film.
RACHEL: I am not religious, and both of my parents are
Jewish. I tried to make something that everyone could relate
to, within the Faith Films framework. I definitely had to
do some research.
How on earth did you get a group of good looking people that
could act, sing and dance. Most ultra low budget films
hardly get people who can act.
RACHEL: We were very lucky. Cheryl Baxter, our
choreographer, seems to know everyone. She made a few calls
to agents and performing arts schools she knew, and they
were able to recommend performers. Chris, Krystle, and
Robert (three of the leads) came to the project that way.
Candise was just a lucky, random find.
 
Following on from that, most ultra low budget don't tend to
have a lot of extras, but your film is like Ben Hur in that
respect. How did you get so many extras?
RACHEL: I'm glad it looks that way! Honestly, a lot of that
is camera tricks. For each shot, we juggled people around
and filled in holes to create the feel of a full church.
Beyond that, we begged. Crew members would plead
church-goers, and knock on doors around where we were
shooting. Cast members' parents showed up to help out as
well. People felt good about the project, so in some cases
we even had people showing up at multiple locations just to
hang out and get a little more screen time.
How much creative control did you have over the film? Did
Faith Films/The Asylum have many demands? And are you
satisfied with it?
RACHEL: This film was an amazing opportunity for me. At 23,
to be paid to do my dream job, I am very thankful. That
said, it is not the genre or style of film that I am most
interested in. Ashley and I created the film within a very
specific framework. Ashley, who has a passion for musicals,
often had to get me back on track during the writing
process, reminding me that it would be beneficial to stick
to a certain structure that works for this genre. This
concept was reinforced by the Asylum. Even more than
childrens' musical status quo, time became the biggest
obstacle. I would go on set with an idea of how to shoot
something, and then we would have 35 minutes to light and
shoot the scene. Scenes were simplified and shots minimized,
simply to ensure that at the end of the day, we would have a
completed movie. I have come to accept the limitations of
the project, I had an amazing experience and learned a
tremendous amount about filmmaking.
Sunday School Musical is a major departure from the normal
films that Faith Films/The Asylum make. Did they give you
any special concessions with your production?
RACHEL: Our budget was among the lowest that Asylum/Faith
Films does. Ashley and I found ways to work within the
budget, and everyone involved worked for much less than they
are worth. Without the dedication of the performers, Don
Raymond, Cheryl Baxter, and so many others, this film would
have looked its budget. Instead, we were able to make a
movie that actually has some production value and
(hopefully?!) the ability to entertain.
 
What was the production like? Did you have any major dramas
as you were trying something so ambitious?
RACHEL: As far as low-budget filmmaking goes, major drama is
par for the course. We sometimes would get our songs the
night before, and then have the cast learn the lyrics and
choreography the next day on set. It was all very last
minute. This was difficult for everyone, but also leant
itself to improvisation. It allowed scenes and numbers to
grow organically on set, as we worked through them together
with little time to prepare. One day we were shut down for
not having a permit, so the entire cast and crew moved to my
house and we made the scenes work there. Overall,
production was a lot of fun. Every night, we e-mailed the
songs for the following day so that the actors could
rehearse. A few days in, we realized crew members were also
downloading and learning the music. By the end of the day,
we would all be singing the songs (albeit sometimes
involuntarily).
What has the response been like?
RACHEL: People have been mostly positive. The music is very
strong, and the characters are likable. SSM gets teased for
being a mockbuster. I understand this argument, but the
similarities between Sunday School Musical and High School
Musical end with the title...and the title font. People tend
to find it fun, catchy, and heartwarming, what more could
Ashley and I ask for?
 
Any chance of a sequel?
RACHEL: I guess we'll have to see if there's a HSM4. I would
gladly do another.
What's next for you?
RACHEL: I am line producing a few Asylum projects, as well
as working on my own stuff. Hopefully I will be doing some
more directing in the near future.
I'll give one more chance to sell your film! Why should we
rent Sunday School Musical and what should we expect.
RACHEL: Expect fun, wholesome family entertainment. The
music is fun and catchy, and the cast is cool. Get over the
title, and you'll probably enjoy yourself.
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