Joe:
What was your inspiration and motivation for Batman: Defenders of the Night?

Kourosh:
It all started when we decided to be Batman and Robin for halloween and I wanted to show Arvin my costume. I sent Arvin (Robin) a short clip which I have attached for you. He saw it and we decided it would be cool to make an actual movie while we were at it. Obviously, we had no experience, but everyone’s gotta start somewhere.

Joe:
How long did it take you to cook up a script?

Kourosh:
I some ideas in my head about what direction I wanted the film to go in. I really wanted to make a serious movie, in the style of Batman Begins. I had a lot planned out in my head that never happened. But when we all got together the whole thing was just too fun and we started improvising and doing all kinds of crazy stuff. It obviously lost its serious tone. It ended up being more like Batman Forever.

Joe:
Were you happy with the results?

Kourosh:
I have to say we were happy with the results. While it wasn’t the film I originally had in mind, it was a lot of fun and people always laugh when they see it. Someone said it’s like Napolean Dynamite, since it gets funnier everytime you watch it.

Joe:
What advice would you give to aspiring independent fan film creators?

Kourosh:
I would say just have fun with it. Not every movie needs to be as dramatic as Dead End or Patient J. Those movies are amazing, but the fact is that most people don’t have film companies at their disposal. I think its ok for beginners to make movies too. If people don’t like it, so what. Some people do, and that’s all that matters.

Joe:
The costumes in Batman: Defenders of the Night were outstanding, where these manufactured specifically for the film, or were they purchased?

Kourosh:
Robin’s costume was made completely from scratch. I thought it was amazing. I bought a mask for Batman, which was actually very hard to find, aswell as a belt and gloves. I cut the cape out of simple cloth and made the logo out of a very expensive resin which needs to be light cured with a special machine. It’s funny because the cost of the material used to make the Batman Logo is probably worth more than both costumes put together. Good thing I didn’t pay for it.

Joe:
Do you have any plans for a sequel?

Kourosh:
Absolutely. People have been asking for it, so we will do it. It will probably be ready sometime in Febuary, so be on the look out for that.

Joe:
Can you give us an idea what the sequel will be about?

Kourosh:
I actually wanted to make a more serious movie this time, so I was thinking about trying to do things with improved acting and a better story. One idea is having Robin become evil, and Batman eventually is forced to fight him, only to discover that there are more to the story than meets the eye…… Stay tuned!!!

Joe:
Your depiction of Batman and Robin seemed to be that of a homosexual couple. Was that your intention? If not, then why were they holding hands in the final scene?

Kourosh:
I absolutely do not think of them as a homosexual couple. The campy ending with all the dancing and hand holding was just kind of making fun of the 60’s TV show. It was just a silly Austin Powers type thing.

Joe:
Where was this film shot?

Kourosh:
In the San Francisco area, in the Presidio.

Joe:
How long was the production time for this film?

Kourosh:
4 hours, give or take 15 minutes.

Joe:
Will you be able to reunite the original cast for the sequel?

Kourosh:
Hopefully. I really want the acting talents of Michael, who played the Riddler in the next movie. I felt like he really made the film.

Joe:
Any funny or interesting experiences during the filming?

Kourosh:
No, it was all business. Everyone was very professional.

Joe:
What kind of budget did you have to work under?

Kourosh:
I spent about 50 bucks for the Batman costume. I think the Robin costume cost 12 bucks.

Joe:
What are some positive things you were able to take away from this experience?

Kourosh:
I just thought it was a great time and a great first experience with movie making. I can’t wait to do it again and see how much better we can make the next one.

Joe:
Do you see yourself pursuing a career in directing, acting, writing or filming after the total success of Batman: Defenders of the Night?

Kourosh:
Only for fun. We all have other careers which will probably keep us very busy. But it never hurts to make a Batman movie in your free time.

I recently sent an email to Mr. Griffith asking for a brief email Q & A session, and he agreed.

If this interview were conducted in real life, there would have been an awkward silence after the first question, followed by nervous laughter on my part after his initial response. In the future, I should proof read my interview questions more carefully.

• Joe: I am fascinated by Ted Browning’s Freaks, and the Pinheads in
  particular. Brownings film was controversial, and your comic Zippy could
  be seen as being controversial in the eyes of human rights activists or
  similarly minded people. Have you come under attack by these types
  (elaborate if you’d like), and if so what is your response?
• BG: (Um, it’s Tod, not Ted) “Freaks” was undoubtedly controversial in its
  day (1932), but today it’s seen more as a cult “oddity”, I think. I’ve
  always loved the film and Zippy was partially inspired by the “Schlitzie”
  character (real name: Simon Metz) in the film. Strangely, I’ve only received
  a handful of responses to Zippy from people who believe I’m exploiting the
  handicapped. And those were all in the 70’s—there have been virtually none
  since then, though many interviewers have asked your question. I assume
  Zippy is now seen primarily as simply a weird comic strip character and his
  origins, inspirationally speaking, are lost on most readers. I remember
  doing a radio interview in Santa Cruz CA in the late 70’s when someone from
  a nearby mental health clinic called in. I braced for an accusation, but
  instead, she told me Zippy was a “role model” and a “superhero” to the
  patients there. She asked if I’d come down and sign their Zippy books.
• Joe: What comics have inspired you in your past works, and what inspires
  you now?
• BG: As a kid growing up in the 50’s, my favorite comics were Scrooge McDuck,
  Little Lulu, Mad magazine and Plasticman. I’m sure they all had a hand in
  forming my own style and content, especially Harvey Kurtzman’s brand of
  satire. Today, my pantheon of great cartoonists includes Robert Crumb, Gary
  Panter, Kim Deitch, Dan Clowes, Ben Katchor and the late, great Ernie
  Bushmiller, among others.
• Joe: In your online bio, it is said that you are annoyed by the simplicity
  of today’s comic strips. What is the cause of this over simplification,
  and what can budding creators do to avoid this and put out some high
  quality reading material?
• BG: Today’s daily newspaper comic strips are printed at such a small size
  compared to decades previous, that cartoonists have adapted and made the art
  simpler. But I think that’s an overreaction– and a lazy one. Even printed
  at a small size, drawing can be rich and complex. It’s just more of a
  challenge.
• Joe: How can one come up with good and original ideas for comics?
• BG: It’s a mysterious process, involving a notebook I always carry to jot
  down ideas as they arrive in rough form, a lot of media monitoring and
  reading and staring into the void. Zippy says he gets all his ideas from
  Orlando.
• Joe: What impact has the Internet had on your career?
• BG: Through the Zippy website, I receive 10 times the reader reaction than I
  used to get before the net, which is a good thing. It also has doubled my
  income and basically allowed me to keep doing the strip. Zippy is secure in
  his newspaper niche, but he’s no Dilbert in numbers. Sales of original art
  and prints over the website have been quite encouraging. Also, Zippy is now
  available in reader’s emailboxes free every day, and thousands of strips are
  archived on the site, allowing many more people to dip into my output
  without forking over a cent.