Lowell Dean [Interview]

Today’s interview subject is a guy who I was very excited to learn more about. Lowell Dean wasn’t exactly a name I had in my mental rolodex, and I will be the first to admit that it was shameful to not know of his work beforehand. But hey, we all learn and correct ourselves at our own pace, right?

I found out about Lowell whilst randomly coming across a couple of projects he has given the world known as Wolfcop, and that film’s follow up Another Wolfcop. And I am here to tell you folks, they are AMAZING! Dean is a man with an brilliant knack for truly unique storytelling, which is something that is very admirable and sadly a bit too rare this day and age. It was quite a shock to me when I attempted to simply get some words from somebody who was on the set of Chained, and to find myself becoming a HUGE fan of that random person’s work, and feeling like a damned fool for not knowing sooner.

So Ladies and Gentlemen, let us not be fools, let us be knowledgable and all-knowing of a man with a brilliant mind, who managed to take a seemingly campy idea and spin that shit into pure gold. Please enjoy some amazing words from the brilliant Lowell Dean!

What inspired you to get into the world of filmmaking? Was it a passion you can always remember having?

On a basic level, I’ve been interested in filmmaking since I was 7 years old. That’s when my best friend and I started making movies with his parent’s home video camera. Before I even knew what filmmaking was, we were shooting hours and hours of ridiculous VHS skits and fight scenes. Some days on set, in the best possible way, I feel like not much has changed.

How did you get your start in the film business? What was the first gig you can remember being a part of? And has that experienced helped shape who you are as an artist?

When I decided I was serious about pursuing film as a career, I took a film studies degree in university and then took any job I could in the industry. I spent a decade working my way “up the ladder” as a production assistant, assistant director and editor until I finally started writing and directing my own features. Every job along the way was a big learning experience, but to be honest I learned the most making my own short films on the side, which I would do once a year. You learn so much making a short film – and the stakes are lower – so you can find your voice and make mistakes without tons of money on the line.

Where did you come up with the idea for your incredible character we all know and love known as WolfCop? What made you decide you wanted to tell this tale?

I had just finished my first feature film as a director, 13 Eerie, on which I learned a lot. I realized that whatever I was going to do next I wanted to write myself, so that it would be closer to my sensibilities and my voice. I narrowed down all my ideas to a cop film and a werewolf film. I couldn’t decide which to choose and pour my time into, so I jokingly smashed them together. WolfCop was born. That idea excited me and felt familiar… but also weirdly fresh. So I dove in with both feet! 

And running through the credits of Another WolfCop, I noticed the appearance of one of our most beloved heroes has a cameo in the film, the legendary Kevin Smith! How did this come to be? How did you get ole Silent Bob himself involved with the project?

It was a case of good timing and good fortune. Kevin Smith was scouting his film Moose Jaws, and since the actual city of Moose Jaw is in Saskatchewan he was up in Canada at the time we were shooting Another WolfCop. Our executive producer J. Joly reached out to him, and the rest is history! It was kind of surreal, to be honest. A really fun day.

In 2012, a film was released that has truly haunted me since I first laid eyes upon it. That film was entitled Chained. And I understand you worked on this absolutely insane project. I am always curious what it would be like to be on a set like that? Was it all somber and awkwardness? Or did you all find a way to keep a light heart around such dark content?

Funny you should mention Chained! I was a third assistant director on that film. It was an intense shoot. I had no experience as an assistant director – or any desire to be one – but when I heard Jennifer Lynch was directing I was determined to be on that set, just to watch her work. In the process of that film,  I learned a lot about the role of being an AD, and Jennifer was wonderful and shared little tidbits of directing wisdom along the way. Even though the content was dark, the key creatives behind it were playfully twisted so the mood wasn’t overly glum! But yes, it was intense. 

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to share with our readers?

I just directed SuperGrid for producer Hugh Patterson (one of the producers behind the WolfCop films). The film is a sci-fi “future western” and should be out later this year.  Other than that, I’m currently developing other film and TV projects. Hopefully I can share more details about them soon! 

What was the last thing that made you smile?

Good question. I smile all the time, so who can keep track! In terms of entertainment, The Last Man on Earth is the last TV 

show that made me really happy. But sadly…  it dead.

Check out this trailer for the brilliant Wolfcop: