Q&A: Director PK Colinet Discusses Teaming Up with James Tynion IV and Elsa Charretier for New Horror Short Film ROOM SERVICE, Now on Kickstarter!

2022/10/19 19:25:38 +00:00 | Derek Anderson

Many comic book readers are familiar with PK Colinet from his work on Superfreaks, Star Wars: Adventures, and The Infinite Loop, but for his next project, Colinet is stepping behind the camera to direct the live-action horror short film Room Service! Written by James Tynion IV (The Nice House on the Lake) and storyboarded by Elsa Charretier (November), Room Service is now available to support on Kickstarter, and we caught up with Colinet in a new Q&A feature to discuss his passion for directing, teaming up with a comic book dream team for a live-action short film, and interweaving vital socioeconomic themes throughout the nightmarish narrative of Room Service.

Below, you can read our full Q&A with Colinet as well as the official press release with additional details, and to help support Room Service, visit the short film's official Kickstarter page!

Thanks for taking the time to answer questions for us, PK! How did the idea for Room Service come about, and how did you initially get involved?

PK Colinet: It really started when I was directing the video for our second Kickstarter. We went for a more narrative route and it reminded me how much I was missing doing movies. Thinking it would appease my urge for cinema, Elsa and I launched a YouTube channel about storytelling. It had the complete opposite effect on me, I was having too much fun, to the point I couldn’t help myself any longer. I had to direct a movie again. So we just emailed our favorite horror writer. And the crazy thing is, he said yes.

You’re going to direct Room Service from a screenplay by James Tynion IV, one of the most exciting comic book writers working today. What were your thoughts when you first read the screenplay for Room Service?

PK Colinet: I wanted this movie to be deeply personal and at the same time, I wanted James to have carte blanche so he could write an amazing story without any interference. So we only talked about themes, feelings, deep fears, and movies that shaped us as storytellers. When I got the script, I couldn't believe how tailor-made to me it was. It was like James had dissected my brain, my heart and put it into words. Plus, he managed to create a tale both smart and thrilling like only he can do.

Have you always had an interest in directing? Do you have any favorite directors that have inspired you over the years?

PK Colinet: Oh god yes. From age nine to my mid-20s I constantly had a camera in my hand, went to cinema school, etc. I happened to also develop a passion for comics and developed a career as a writer and it was a blast. But this fire inside never left.

My inspirations are quite eclectic. I draw some of my sensibilities from Murnau, Almodovar, Friedkin, De Palma, and Aster’s work. If I had to pick only one director, it would be Park Chan-wook. If I had to pick only one horror movie, it would be Thirst.

Renowned artist Elsa Charretier has illustrated the storyboards for Room Service. What has it been like collaborating with Elsa to help bring the story of Room Service to life in pre-production?

PK Colinet: I feel bad that not every director has an Elsa Charretier working on their movie. Even though I had a precise idea of every shot I wanted in this movie, she has brought a sense of composition and refinement that has elevated my narration to another dimension. It changes everything when you have the freedom to experiment without any consequences to find the perfect blocking, the perfect camera movement.

Room Service explores some vital and timely socioeconomic issues. How important was it for you to incorporate social commentary within the scary story of Room Service?

PK Colinet: I mean it’s what horror is all about. Most of the masterpieces we cherish today are deeply intertwined with the era in which they came out. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre would have been vastly different without the Vietnam War happening in the background. Room Service is so beautiful and so terrifying because it precisely is a reflection of today’s primal cultural fears: that the wealthy can do the most horrendous things and get away with it.

Room Service is being funded on Kickstarter. What types of stretch goals can supporters look forward to enjoying, and how involved can they get in the making of this short film?

PK Colinet: We have a full array of rewards, the most exciting maybe being the movie artbook we’re putting out. It will be a superb 80-page, 6.8-in by 10.4-in hardcover edition, that will include James' screenplay, a movie treatment, details on production, Tonči Zonjić's mask design for the Caretaker, interviews, a making-of, and the full short movie storyboarded.

For the most hardcore movie fans, we’re also offering visits on set where backers will get to hang out with us, the cast and crew, and insider’s production updates.

Do you have plans to expand Room Service into a feature-length film if given the opportunity?

PK Colinet: James’ concept would make a fantastic feature and we’ve got a pretty good idea of what it would look and feel like, definitely. We’re super excited to see how the short film we’ve been developing for months does on Kickstarter, and potentially where it leads us.

In addition to Room Service, what other projects do you have coming up, and where can our readers go online to keep up to date on your work?

PK Colinet: My only focus for the coming months will be to make the film the best it can be and deliver the incredible movie adaptation James’ screenplay deserves.

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Press Release: (October 19, 2022) Three acclaimed comic book creators — writer James Tynion IV, director PK Colinet, and artist Elsa Charretier — are collaborating to make something truly unexpected: a dark, strange, and provocative live-action short horror film titled “Room Service,” which they are funding on Kickstarter . Tynion IV, the Eisner award-winning writer of unforgettable and unflinching horror comics like The Nice House on the Lake and Something is Killing the Children, has written the film’s screenplay. Charretier, who has co-created acclaimed comics with the likes of Tom King (Love Everlasting) and Matt Fraction (November), has illustrated the film’s storyboards. Colinet, who has critically acclaimed comics, including Superfreaks and Star Wars: Adventures, and the award-winning comic The Infinite Loop, will direct. Skulldigger artist Tonči Zonjić, who worked as a concept artist on Star Wars, has designed the mask for the mask’s mysterious character known only as the Caretaker.

The ambitious “Room Service” crowdfunding project includes a beautiful artbook that will document the film’s creation, a poster by artist Martin Simmonds (Tynion’s collaborator on The Department of Truth), a Kickstarter exclusive poster by Charretier, a stand-alone prose short story by Tynion, set in the world of the film, featuring Charretier’s spot illustrations, and prints by five all-star comic book creators: Rafael Albuquerque (American Vampire), Cliff Chiang (Paper Girls), Francesco Francavilla (Night of The Ghoul), and Jim Mahfood (Grrl Scouts), and Charretier.

“Room Service” asks: what’s the cost of one perfect evening? The wealthy know that there’s no desire outside the reach of their wallet,” said director PK Colinet. “The film’s protagonist is down on his luck and his family is on the verge of ruin. With the help of the mysterious Caretaker, he might have found a way out of his trouble. But at what cost?”

“From ‘Get Out’ to ‘The Invisible Man’ and ‘Parasite,’ this is a tremendously exciting time for people who love horror films with biting social commentary,” said screenwriter James Tynion IV. “When PK and Elsa approached me about collaborating on a short film, I wanted to create a story that would confront the horror and inequity of the world around us.”

“The great thing about comic books is that you don’t need anyone’s permission or money to create one. Take a wad of paper, a pen, and a bunch of hours later, there’s your comic!” said storyboard artist Elsa Charretier. “So why the heck are three successful comic creators pivoting to this cash-eating monster of a medium: movies?! PK was excited to get behind the camera for his directorial debut, James wanted to stretch himself creatively, and for me it was a true honor to capture James' chilling words and PK’s haunting vision in my storyboards. "Room Service” is poetic and gory and it just might break your heart.”

The “Room Service” screenplay is already written and filming will commence if the project is funded. For more information follow James Tynion IV’s Tiny Onion Studios on Twitter and Substack, Follow Elsa Charretier on Twitter, follow Pierrick Colinet on Twitter and subscribe to the Case Studio YouTube Channel.The project can be supported here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elsacharretier/1133524435?ref=aphypg

About the Creative Team

Elsa Charretier is a comic book artist and writer. Early in her career she has illustrated numerous books for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, IDW Publishing, Random House, Disney and Lucasfilm and has now shifted her focus to her independent work, most notably NOVEMBER with Matt Fraction and LOVE EVERLASTING with Tom King (both published by Image Comics). She has also encountered great success on Kickstarter and her Comics Case Study YouTube channel has become a fan-favorite.

Pierrick Colinet is a director and writer of comic books including the award winning THE INFINITE LOOP (IDW), critically acclaimed STAR WARS ADVENTURES, SUPERFREAKS and BATMAN BLACK & WHITE. A curious and versatile creator, he also provided world-building and worked as a narrative consultant for video games companies, like Ubisoft, Lightbulb and Quantic Dream, as well as produce, direct and launch his and Charretier's fan-favorite Comics Case Studies Youtube Channel. When not busy working, he spends time with his two cats and partner in the south of France.

James Tynion IV is an Eisner Award winning, New York Times bestselling author and publisher of comic books. He is best known for writing horror stories, like SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN at Boom! Studios, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH at Image Comics, and THE NICE HOUSE ON THE LAKE at DC Black Label, manga-inspired young adult stories like the 2021 GLAAD Media Award nominee WYND and the 2017 GLAAD Media Award winner THE WOODS at Boom! Studios, and stories featuring BATMAN and his supporting cast for DC COMICS. He lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.