Exclusive Interview: Joe Cash (Calling Nurse Meow)
You have worked on big budget movies such as Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) to smaller budget film such as Calling Nurse Meow (2022). How do you find the working environment between a big budget production compared to a indie film?
Both big budget, big studio films and low budget indie films come with their ups and downs and stresses. I find with big budget films it feels more of a 9-5 job where you basically just get in do your job and get out and not much time to chill out etc or even have a laugh with the crew. Indie low budget films are really fun and mental when filming but there is so much stress with the pre production and post production and dealing with people who don’t understand the industry. The end of the day I feel blessed to work in both ends of the Film industry.
Much like a lot filmmakers you have certain cast / crew that you work with quite often such as in your case Lili Thorpe and Claire Bacon. What is it about certain cast / crew that you enjoy working with?
Claire Bacon I did two films with, a fake trailer for Grindsploitation 9 which was called She Dogs Of The SS which was a blast to make and then we jumped straight into making Slutty The Clown which was two very cold weekends in minus weather all sleeping in a tent in an abandoned brick factory. Harmony Filth is who I have worked with her the most out of everyone, She always brings a sense of sensibility to my sets and is always wanting to push herself to her best abilities when in front of the camera and is always ready to jump and help out around the set in general. Harmony has appeared in Slutty The Clown, Carnal Monsters, Necro Lesbians, Calling Nurse Meow as well as a segment I did with her for Snuff Tapes and a documentary called Double Bs but we do not work together anymore but I wish her luck in the future.
You have managed to get your films picked up by TROMA and now VIPCO. As a filmmaker what is your reaction to getting your film into production and to finally signing a distribution deal?
I use to get really excited but especially in the last year I have had multiple companies come to me with various deals where I chose who I can have the most freedom with basically as my films offend people and I am proud of that fact.
Your films are mostly in the horror genre is there any genre outside of horror you would like to tackle given a chance?
I really want to do a western and am in early stages of planning a Western short film to be filmed in Italy.
What has been your favourite project to work on so far?
Calling Nurse Meow and Slutty The Clown are the two I enjoyed the most for different reasons. With the clown we were just making a movie which Lloyd Kaufman had challenged me to make a film in a month so had to come up with an idea and film it which resulted in Slutty The Clown as Claire Bacon had created the character in photography only at the stage but was just fun to do and not much stress. Calling Nurse Meow I am proud of because we were going to film Carnal Redemption in 2022 but I didn’t have enough money at the time to make it how I wanted so Lloyd Kaufman had suggested an anthology on the Tromette Laura Barker (Kitty Kiss) and her character Nurse Meow, which had first been introduced in Carnal Monsters and we rolled with it and don’t get me wrong there was multiple stresses throughout filming that film and travelling to some of the other filmmakers and just getting it done but it was so much fun to do when the actual filming was going on and the feedback has been unreal plus becoming the most banned film in the world is something I will always be proud of and Laura did such a great job.
The UK independent filmmaking industry is small but ever growing and you have worked with in some capacity the big names over here such as Jason Impey and Tony Newton. Is there anybody that you would like to work with in the UK, be it in front of or behind the camera?
Would like to work with Dani Thompson and Clive Barker.
There is usually a fair bit of flesh on show in your films be it from any gender. Sex as they say sells, what has been your most bizarre situation coming from someone seeing your movies? On the flip side of that question what has been your highest achievement and favourite compliment?
I think the most weirdest thing which has come from people seeing my films is seeing cum tribute videos or pictures of scenes from my films, or having people ask to buy used clothing from the films as they wanted to smell my actresses which I just think is weird. On the flip side I think one of the best compliments I have ever heard is there was a fan of my films and Laura Barker who was dying in hospital and we sent him a screener of Calling Nurse Meow before anyone else had seen it and he said how happy it had made him and how he had brought a very skimpy outfit for Laura and it had made him smile seeing her in it and showing her skin off and unfortunately he passed away not long afterwards but his outfit he brought Laura is the one she is pictured in on the Blu Ray cover for Calling Nurse Meow.
You have had a fair bit of a rocky road with your health in recent years but have managed to continue working. What has been the impact of your health on your films?
Well I got diagnosed with FND (Functional Neurological Disorder) in 2021 and that affects my hands at time and my legs which sometimes has caused issues when filming or just preparing for films. The cancer diagnosis of last year has affected my memory the most and forgetting names for simple clothing or forgetting who some people or forgetting conversations etc has affected some pre production stuff but I just keep on going and keeping myself busy which my body suffers afterwards but it’s the only way I can deal with it is to keep busy which shocks a lot of people. I think some people forget I don’t always remember things properly but I just try and let it slide.
What are your Top 3 horror films from any decade?
The Evil Dead, Return Of The Living Dead, Class Of Nuke Em High.
For any budding filmmakers out there, what is the best piece of advice that you could give them?
Just go out and film, doesn’t matter if it’s a smartphone, dslr or a cine camera but make a film you want to do as most people might not like it but as long as someone does you have done your job as a filmmaker
Finally, what projects do you have coming up?
Carnal Redemption is a feature length animated sequel to Carnal Monsters which is in the works currently.
Myself and Tony Newton are co directing Cocaine Ape feature film together in July this year.
A unannounced feature film which will be my last feature film is in the works and will star Stella Paris, Chloe Hill, Damien S Fear and many more and will have some recognisable faces in it but can’t say much but it will be a big departure from my usual genre and style.
Butthole Lighters which is a short film starring Dale Bartleson and Chloe Hill which will be explicit, shocking with lots of gore and will offend most people.
Blood Bank which is an anthology I am putting together with Tony Newton and I am doing a few shorts for including Fractured which stars Chloe Hill about a woman going insane with blood lust.
Amityville Cam which is being directed by Tony Newton and co directed by myself about Cam Girls dealing with the strange paranormal going-ons in Amityville.
And also in early development on Double Bs 2 which will be a sequel to the charity documentary Double Bs.