Q&A with Ray Sullivan, director of “Good Business”
“Good Business” producer & director Ray Sullivan took a few minutes to answer our questions about his short film and sci-fi in general. Interesting fact about the short, “Good Business” was based on the comic book by Simon Roy.
Find out what he had to say below and make sure to watch the short film here.
GOOD BUSINESS – Questions for Ray Sullivan
If the world you created in your film became a reality, is that a world you would want to live in?
I don’t think I’d prefer to live on a Skwoid infested planet over the leafy suburb in Dublin where I live now… so no.
Is there a Sci-Fi world you’d buy a one-way ticket to?
Yep, STAR TREK: TNG
Name a Sci-Fi character you relate to on a spiritual level?
I’m not a spiritual person.
Who is your Sci-Fi spirit animal/spirit alien?
See above.
Friend or Foe: humanoid robots with advanced artificial intelligence?
Friend and foe, just like humans.
What if robots start making their own Sci-Fi films?
They’ll be shit films if they do.
Will you support them in their endeavors?
Nope.
In 1996, Bugs Bunny recruited Michael Jordan and Bill Murray to form the greatest basketball
squad of all-time, the Toon Squad; you’re Bugs, who’s on your Sci-Fi Toon Squad?
I’d go for Neo, a T-800, a Xenomorph, a Predator, Danny Glover, Michael Ironside and Keith David.
You’ve gotta go through some bad ideas to get to the good ones. Tell us one of your bad ideas.
How do you get past the bad ones to find your spark?
You don’t get past bad ideas, you just develop them into good ones. Failing that, there’s always a great story somebody else came up with that you can adapt into a film.
Do you consider yourself part of a sci-fi community?
Sure, as a fan.
Do you consider yourself more of an analog or digital person? What kind of balance do you strike between the two?
I don’t think about it. Digital is the only way I can make films so I don’t worry about a balance.
Where did you film “GOOD BUSINESS”?
We filmed in an area called The Burren in County Clare, Ireland. It was actually private land and we were lucky to get permission to shoot there.
How did you find funding this film?
It was privately funded by myself with the help of a few talented friends. We all worked for free and any money that I needed to spend was spent on gear, costumes, props and vfx. I don’t have an exact figure but I probably spent just over two grand.
How long did production from start to finish take?
Simon Roy gave me permission to make the film (based on his comic) in March ’16. I spent the next three months prepping everything and shot the film in July ’16. The film was released in July ’17 and during that year between wrap and release I spent roughly 6 months on getting the vfx to a satisfactory level.
What’s next for you, will we see a full length feature based on this story?
I want to make a feature next which will most likely be a horror film. But if anyone has 15 million dollars and wants to make a feature film based on ‘Good Business’, call us!