Interview With Israel Luna, Director of Ticked-Off Trannies With Knives

Israel Luna’s Ticked-Off Trannies With Knives (Click here for full review and showtimes) pays homage to the great low-budgeted exploitative revenge films that were being shown in grindhouses throughout much of the 70′s and 80′s, and does it without relying solely on obvious sight gags ie, missing film reels, purposeful bad editing, interruptions from theatre management etc.  What makes this stand out amongst all other exploitative films is its funny script, strong acting performances, the satisfyingly fun violence, and its smooth transitioned tonal shifts.

We here at filmbalaya were fortunate enough to catch up with the director of Ticked-Off Trannies, Mr. Luna and ask him some questions regarding his latest film, his thoughts on GLADD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), some classic horror films, and the best way to exact revenge on your enemies.  Enjoy the interview.

The film’s look is that of a grindhouse 70’s exploitation film.  Why did you choose to film it this way and not in a more traditional way?

IL: I’m a huge fan of films from the late 70′s & early 80′s where they had a very low budget but still told a fun story, although the editing was a bit sloppy. That sloppiness gave those films a sense of character and personality. Their subject matter was also a bit on the racy/edgy side – a tad politically incorrect.  I wanted all of those elements with my film.  So, it seemed like a perfect fit.

Did you have any difficult times during the shoot or was it as carefree as the dance party/catwalking closing credits suggest?

IL: The only difficulty was the last day of shooting.  We shot the final revenge scene in a long 27 hour day.  It was hot because we couldn’t have AC for sound issues, the girls were in leather and lights up everywhere.  I had salt that had dried on my shirt I sweat so much that day.  You gotta love Dallas weather in July.  But, yeah, most of the time, it was just friends together shooting a movie and making it a party.  It was a blast!

There has been quite a bit of controversy surrounding this film.  It is my understanding that much of it stems from GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) speaking out against your film saying “it sensationalizes anti-transgender violence and misrepresents the lives of transgender women”.   What do you make of all this?

IL: My film is about hate crime.  The girls get revenge.  And it’s done in an entertaining way.  Someone who says that it sensationalizes anti-transgender violence hasn’t seen my film.  Also, my film is one, if not, THE first feature to cast real transwomen in lead roles. The characters aren’t hookers, or drug dealers or victims and they’re rockin’-hot beautiful.  I misrepresented lives of transgender women?  I think that GLAAD, as an organization, means well.  I think it’s their head guy, Jerrett or Jerod or whatever the Hell his name is who is the problem.  He’s misinformed, unnecessarily aggressive and flat-out unfriendly when it comes to our film.  I’ve spoken to a few GLAAD reps that seem very nice and seem to listen, then he steps in and it goes downhill. I can understand GLAAD not liking me, or my film or its content, but issuing a call to action and demand it to be pulled from the TriBeCa festival schedule?  That’s flat-out censorship and 100% un-American.  Maybe if I make my girls all victims and cast a straight person in a trans-role, who’s also famous, like Felicity Huffman or Hillary Swank, then I’ll get a GLAAD award.

What do you think Big Momma, “Pinky La’Trimm” would say of GLADDs comments?

IL: She’d say, “I love GLAAD!  We’re a lot alike:  We’re tough, we’re black and I use them to throw out my trash all the time. Hefty, hefty, hefty!”

Any chance of a sequel?

IL: OMG, I hope so!  I’ll have to think on the story, though cause this one has such a solid end.  Oh, and we’d have to call it a tranquel.

Who were/are some of your cinematic influences?

IL: I Spit On Your Grave: it was so raw and tough to watch but it seemed so new and non-Hollywood.  It made you feel like you weren’t supposed to be watching it.  There was also this movie from the early 80′s with Linda Blair called Savage Streets.  She and her friends are in High School, they’re bad girls, they get into bitch-fights in the showers naked, of course, they trash people’s cars and look cute while doing it.  That was a big influence with Ticked-Off Trannies With Knives.  And Linea Quigley looking 12 years old getting gang-raped in a men’s bathroom by some thugs?  That’s gutsy filmmaking right there.

I know you are a huge horror fan.  Do you have a favorite horror film?

IL: Oh yeah!  The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre: it looks like a documentary.  It had no-name actors (which adds to the realness) and has a sense of dread through the entire last half of the film…almost claustrophobic, that continues to build till the end.  It’s used so effectively and still gives me chills when I watch it.  Most “horror films” now-a-days make a big mistake.  They think a loud music slam that causes you to jump is scary.  It’s not.  Scary is when you’re sucked into the scene, you see what’s coming and you can’t stop watching, wondering what you’d do if you were in that situation and you think, “I’d just kill myself.”  That’s scary.  Chainsaw did that brilliantly.

Any advice to anyone out there seeking revenge?

IL: When getting revenge on film, it’s very therapeutic to be over-the-top, physically violent.  In real life…if you’re seeking revenge, my advice would be:  don’t do it physically cause wounds heal.  Mentally, if done right, will scar them for life.