Interview by Lou Radon

What are the Brookens Brothers all about?
Matt- We're all about havin' similar genetic make-up and shootin' gnarly flicks about rad shit.

How long have you been collaborating and on what types of projects (movies, music, etc.)?
Matt- We've been collaborating since the birth of Greg. What started as boredom induced weekend movie-making adventures has blossomed into full throttle cinematic blowouts... to the X-TREME!!! The movies we make are usually comedies and involve death and/or drugs. We co-write and co-direct our films, and also work at the same movie theater. We've been making sweet music together
since the conception of Dr. Killbot, our band.

Can you tell us anything about Dr.Killbot?
Matt- Greg on Accordion. Matt on Guitar. Dr.Killbot is what we call our six piece electro-nerd punk band. We'll soon be releasing our debut album Super Sonic Hell Beast. It'll blast the flesh off your body and leave you gasping for more!

What inspired you to make the movie about the Skunk Ape phenomenon?
Matt- Back in '99, Greg fertilized a skunk ape's egg sack, and it just kept coming back for child support. That's when we knew we had to make a movie about this majestic beast.

What was the funniest or most rewarding aspect of making SKUNK APE!? ?
Matt- If this movie makes just ONE child smile... we'll be totally pissed cuz we fuckin busted our asses on it! Actually, the best thing is the audience reaction. This movie either deeply offends them, or really cracks them up. There's nothing that satisfies us more than a crowded theater's awkward silence when the overlong ape masturbation scene comes on.

How did you find your actors?
Matt- Posted audition fliers around town, and placed an ad in the Reader (a local Chicago newspaper). We held auditions with a surprisingly high turnout. A few of our friends that we've used in older movies were cast as well.

Before SKUNK APE!? was submitted to any festivals what did you think would be the response and how many awards has it won since?
Matt- We didn't think the country was ready for Skunk Ape!? As it turns out, very small, isolated pockets are indeed willing to accept the ape into their hearts. It has currently won two awards, and we're just getting started. One at the Route 66 Film Fest for best short comedy, and one at Fright-Fest for best horror-short comedy. Lookout Sundance! That's Skunk Ape you're about to reject! Woo!!

Who did what on the production end of things?
Matt- Matt was the DP, and we shared the director role. We owe a lot to Dr.Killbot, especially Steve Albertson (the singer). He was a kick ass AD/Gaffer/Go-fer/fluffer. Greg played the skunk ape about half the time.

What obstacles did you encounter during the making of SKUNK APE!?
Matt- More than I can count. We both lost our jobs, we shot in freezing conditions on zero sleep, two of our leads moved out of state when we needed to re-shoot, we shot entirely without permits in public doing crazy dangerous shit, and had to keep an eye out for Jonny Law. Body slamming the punk rocker off the bridge in downtown Chicago was no easy feat either. Also Greg got a paper cut.

What are your goals as filmmakers?
Matt- Our goal is to make some stoned teenager living in his mother's basement to watch our movies and say"Dude, that's some funny shit!" . And might I say Mission Accomplished! We just want to keep makingmovies from our own scripts the way we want, and not
let the Man hold us down. We want to reach for the stars! :)

Any other movies in the works?
Matt- Three things:
1)Matt's writing a black as hell comedy about an artist whose life gets destroyed by a psychotic biker. Expect zombies, comics, and murder.
2) We're working on a feature length murder mysterythat's absolutely nothing like Clue. Three words:Genetically Modified Unicorns. If that doesn't spell comedy to you then you might need to check into HA HA School! Plus there's our Super Top Secret Project X, also
known as Escape from the Lost Forbidden Island ofMystery.

What are your parting words of wisdom or advice for other filmmakers out there?
Matt- The sky's the limit! Your imagination can take you anywhere! Hang in there baby! Life begins at 40!Keep your laws off my body!.and so fourth.