Meet Richard Mullenax, Filmmaker
Film + Prank = Fun!

How do you know what to choose for your first real film? What if the film-to-be finds you, instead? That happened to Richard Mullenax of Lakewood, a budding filmmaker, and native Clevelander. His feature-length film has even been selected for showing at the inaugural Geauga Film Festival, held now through June 14, at the historic Geauga Lyric Theater, 101 Water St., Chardon. Rich's film will be shown Saturday, June 13 at 4:30PM.

Title of the film? Impaled -- Painfully Blunt. It's not a sequel to the slightly earlier Impaler by W. Tray White, although it was somewhat inspired by it. They are two separate and totally different films about the same person, whose ego seems to be big enough for several films.

Jonathon ‘The Impaler’ Sharkey claims to have run for several big-time elective positions, although there is a difference of opinion about that, even if you consult the Federal Election Commission, which generally has the final word on the subject. Sharkey did file with them, but if he actually appeared on the ballot is a different matter. He campaigned for President of the U. S. twice: as an Independent in 2004 and in 2008, and three times for Congress, although in different states. First was his native state--New Jersey, (1999-2000) as a Republican; Indiana (2000) on the Reform Party; and Florida, (2001-02) again as a Republican. In 2006, he upped the stakes a bit, running for governor of Minnesota.

For this particular race, he went all out, creating his own party for the occasion: The Vampyres, Witches, and Pagans Party. Founded in 2005, it is officially recognized by the United States Federal Election Committee. The party platform “advocates protection of the religious beliefs and political advancement of individuals identifying themselves as vampires, witches, pagans, demons, Satanists, Wiccans, and those professing similar lifestyles and religious views.” He is a staunch advocate of ‘impaling’ terrorists in Minnesota. (What IS in the water up there, anyway?) As was a previous governor of that state, Sharkey is also a professional wrestler—and boxer.

During the last few years, he’s been in and out of trouble with the law in several states. Given all this, it’s hardly to be wondered at that he’s become a film industry all by himself. Need I mention that he’s also an Elvis fan, although there’s no recent word on a possible sighting.

Once Rich saw White’s film Impaler, he knew he’d found his subject, and set about making it happen. “Jonathon is very charming, a really nice guy. He’s just addicted to the spotlight, and I found this to be compelling. I wrote to Tray White and asked him about the film. To my surprise and pleasure, he responded.”

In October, 2007, Sharkey came to Brunswick, and agreed to meet with Rich. “I took my Handi-Cam, and we met at a place that made Motel 6 look like a palace somewhere. My intention always was to make a satire. But Jonathon took me 100% seriously. He didn’t get the satire part. He told me later it was his ‘funnest [sic] interview ever’ and suggested that maybe we could do a documentary. He didn’t much care for White.”

“I talked to Tray in early 2008. He owned the rights to this story, but he liked my idea. I had no budget, really, but somehow . . .” Rich’s face lights up as he tells what happened. “Tray helped me with equipment: a DVX100 Camera from him, some mini-DVD film stock, another camera and accessories, plus a boom mike. In two weeks, there we were. It just all came together.”

“Next, we got a couple of actors, and some ‘regular’ people (non-actors). We set up scenes, and had guidelines, but not really a script. We had ideas, but we never knew what Jonathon was likely to say. We had about twenty acting and tech folks, all told. We’d set up a schedule for the day, and there were surprises,” he says with a laugh. “We always knew it was a 50-50 chance to work or not, but somehow we knew it would. We shot 15-20 hours of film in the first week.”

“Tray and I were co-executive producers, and I directed,” Rich explains. “I was also the narrator and tour guide, while Brian Dickson did the post-production editing. He’s a free-lance director of photography and an editor, who works with Tray a lot.”

Rich was the only person involved at all stages and times. “Time itself wasn’t important,” he says. “The main thing was to tell a story. Jonathon Sharkey is using America’s fascination with the bizarre, and so I created what I call a ‘docu-comedy’. So far,” he says, “people laugh until they cry at this story about a man so highly addicted to attention.”

One week before the deadline for entries, Rich discovered the Geauga Film Festival, and submitted his film. Needless to say, he’s thrilled that it was one of 30 films selected to be shown during the six days.

For the uninitiated (like me) a Handi-Cam is a version of a home video camera, being easy to use. Rich used his for creating funny skits. He uses the Sony-Vegas Editing System, which is found on-line. (Isn’t nearly everything, these days?) He never took himself too seriously, “just having fun,” he says, laughing. “It’s really enjoyable, especially to make people laugh. I was thinking small, but Tray saw big.” (He’s from Texas, of course.) “I thought to just follow Jonathon for a day or two, and make people laugh.”

Rich, 28, grew up on the West side of Cleveland, and graduated from Lutheran West High. He’s not thought too much—yet—about college. “I’m still trying to figure out what to do with my life. A four-year college locks you in, and I need to find out what I really want to do. I know that film is my passion, whether as a job or a hobby.” Of course, he’s worked for Blockbuster and Hollywood Video stores. “I love living in the film world. It’s a great escape for a little while.”

He’s not related to the auto dealer of the same last name, but has worked for a different auto dealer. “It was either too hot or too cold. Not a fun thing, exactly.” Still, he has no desire to live and/or work in Hollywood. “Not everyone is treated well in that system.” Another of his idols is Kevin Smith, who produces gritty films ‘with amazing content’ such as Clerks. It became a cult classic, allowing Smith to grow as a film-maker, and he’s now making Hollywood ‘Indie’ films.

“The system as it is, is too competitive. My way is more free.” He shakes his head. “California just wouldn’t be a place for me. Look at Michael Moore—the Oscar-winning documentary/mockumentary film-maker—he doesn’t have to be in California to be successful. Anyway, I’m more into improv. For instance, on TV, ‘The Office’ is very improv in nature.”

Although not into sports as many young men of his age are, he admits to being a major Nnew England Patriots fan. A good-sized young man, he says “I was asked to play football in high school, but it just wasn’t my thing. I loved writing, but I have a dark sense of humor.” Indeed.

Now that Impaled-Painfully Blunt is out there, Sharkey is making vulgar comments about Tray White, “and maybe me, too,” says the young film-maker. “He does say the film is badly done. He doesn’t understand that it’s really a prank. Jonathon really wants to be King of the Vampires, with his own sovereign nation, and to impale anyone who disagrees with him.”

“It probably will be a controversial film,” he adds. “The main questions are: Is Jonathon Sharkey really mentally ill? He may well be delusional. He seems willing to do anything to get attention. But still,” Rich admits, “sometimes you can’t fault his logic. He’s an excellent speaker, very eloquent. If you can keep him on target, he’s very bright, but just doesn’t quite get it. He sees it all more like a monarchy, and talks a lot about revolution. That’s going ass-backwards in this country!” Rich shakes his head. “He’s cartoonish and eccentric, but 100% for real. He really does believe he’s a vampire. Well, he was an ‘indie’ professional wrestler – not WWF – and actually wrestled in trailer parks in Indiana.”

Richard Mullenax has hopes for his film. You can watch the trailer for Impaled – Painfully Blunt at http://www.MySpace.com/ImpaledPainfullyBlunt. Full schedule of films at the Geauga FilmFest appear online at http://www.GeaugaFilm.org.

For now, Mullenax doesn’t have a personal website, “but all the news is at that myspace.com site.” He’s not currently employed, either. “This economy stinks!” he adds.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATroadrunner.com
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