We had the wonderful opportunity to chat with director Michael Carnick. Check out the interview below.
Hi, Michael! Thank you for granting the interview. You have a unique pilot you’re working on. What inspired the story?
There are a lot of TV shows out there about supernatural creatures, but they’re living in secrecy and shrouded by evil conspiracies. The humans are fighting these demonic evildoers, and it always seems to come down to shooting and explosions. Blah. Boring.
Now imagine a world out where all these classic movie monsters existed, and they lived right next door to you. What would it be like if it was perfectly normal to bump into a vampire or a zombie on the way to work, at a restaurant, or through a dating website?
We’d need trained therapists to help deal with these supernatural creatures. I mean, it’s hard enough dealing with human issues. After all, it’s not always easy being supernatural. What happens when a deceased couple needs marriage counseling? I can imagine that it’d be hard for ghosts to have a fulfilling sex life. How does a vampire deal with the urge to drink human blood? You could say it’s an addiction like anything else, one that if left unchecked addiction could cost someone their life.
Manny Fantasma is one of the few psychiatrists trained to handle such extreme cases, and we follow his story as he deals not only with his otherworldly patients, but his own dysfunctional family life.
You are telling an emotional story about sex, relationships, and violence. Do you think the audience will accept the pilot?
Sex, relationships, and violence could be the tagline for humanity. Sure, it’s a strange concept, but I think that uniqueness helps set it apart. Manny Fantasma is primarily a comedy, and laughter can turn the uncomfortable into the familiar. If it’s funny and relatable, then people will enjoy it.
We know the storyline. In your opinion, what makes the pilot powerful and raw?
This is an unflinching dive into some of the more uncomfortable aspects of life. There are no pulled punches or walking around eggshells.
Though he’s a mental health professional, Manny’s home life is less than textbook perfection. Infidelity is introduced as a central plot point from the first episode. There is brewing sexual tension between Manny and his vampire patient. When she has a particularly nasty episode of bloodlust, she ends up quenching her thirst by literally catching Manny with his pants down. Meanwhile, Manny’s wife is having a secret affair with her coworker. To top it off, their eight-year-old son is having issues at school because he’s being haunted by a mischievous ghost, which Manny assumes is just an imaginary friend.
There aren’t enough shows dealing with the topic of mental health. Depression and anxiety still carry a lot of negative stigmas, and people that go to therapists are often seen as weak minded. Therapy and counseling is an important but neglected aspect of bodily wellness. Putting a psychiatrist in the spotlight creates the potential for a lot of raw emotion. As Manny probes into the psyche of his patients, sex and sexuality are openly discussed. There are some things that we’re too ashamed to go to our family or best friends about. It’s refreshing to hear this stuff out in the open air, even if it’s as a fly on the wall. It makes you realize you’re not alone.
People need to suspend disbelief. How did you manage to create realism for the storyline? How did you make the character relatable?
Manny deals with some pretty weird patients, but we quickly find out that he’s just as damaged as they are. Manny was abandoned by his father at an early age. He still carries a lot of pain from that early trauma, and it often bleeds into his family life. His marriage is disintegrating, and he turns to alcohol to self-medicate. Manny is also so tied up with his patients that he can barely find time to spend with his child, thus perpetuating the cycle of father-son abandonment. These are very real, serious issues that are dealt with here in a comedic and sometimes surreal way. It’s easier to face darkness with a sense of humor. Comedy can be a sort of anesthesia. We’re touching delicate nerves with these topics, but keeping people entertained with laughter makes it easier to explore the raw tissue.
Overall, the show is about seeking love and acceptance. Manny’s patients feel abandoned, which is why they turn to him for help. But Manny himself is also looking for acceptance, with his family, and within his own past. This is the Human condition. We all want someone that will listen to us, and not judge what we have to say. That fundamental theme of searching for approval will strike a chord with a lot of people, I’d imagine.
Although these character are fictional, the storyline indicates that you wish is to spark a conversation on these topics. Do you believe it’s important to do so?
Why are monsters and otherworldly creatures always portrayed as malicious? Because they look and behave in a different way?
Growing up physically disabled has put me at odds with many aspects of ordinary life. Simple things like doorways and stairs are symbols of basic human architecture, but they’re also things I’m constantly forced to circumvent or otherwise overcome. The world doesn’t feel built for me. In a way, I feel outside of normal existence. A lot of minority subcultures also feel this way, especially in today’s political climate. Paranormal beings are symbolic of those on the outskirts of humanity. In the show, these supernatural creatures aren’t even human strictly speaking, but they still deserve the same rights and respect.
Manny Fantasma is a show about people that really feel lost and misunderstood by society. The titular Manny is a psychiatrist that deals only with paranormal beings. Being different gives you a lot of baggage to sort through, which we all can relate to in some way. By using monsters as a
metaphor, the show is free to explore things that might otherwise make people uncomfortable, such as sexuality, disability, and immigration. Manny is a Mexican immigrant, and his mentor is gay, but these traits seem perfectly normal (as they should be) when compared to creatures that, for example, might burst into flames when exposed to sunlight.
In the pilot episode, one of Manny’s patients explains that she was disowned by her parents after they found out she was voluntarily turned into a vampire. This is meant to mirror an all too common story that plays out when non-cisgendered kids come out family members.
As the series progresses, it will also explore the world’s immigration climate. In the universe of the show, the Non-Human Anti-Discrimination Act was signed into law in 1967. Although paranormal beings are accepted by the majority of society, a large contingent is hellbent on returning to the old ways of a pure human only America. There is currently a ban on paranormal immigration, and there are Jim Crow-style laws returning to many public establishments. Manny will have to treat patients that are being gravely affected by these institutions and may decide to help in ways that endanger the safety of his practice.
Though it’s a comedy show, I’m hoping that the themes of Manny Fantasma can spark some important discussions about sexuality, discrimination, and immigration.
When and where can people watch the pilot?
The pilot episode will be screen at the Santa Monica Film Festival on December 8th. More information on the event can be found at www.smff.org
In the coming month, a trailer will become available on the show’s social media sites.
If you would like to request a screener of the full pilot, please contact my agent.
You continuously hone your craft. What keeps you inspired?
Music. The original spark for Manny Fantasma came when I was listening to the song Doctor Doctor Gimme the News by Robert Palmer. I heard the opening lyrics and imagined a psychiatrist having a wild affair with a patient. Death Cab for Cutie is a band I regularly turn to for when I need a muse.
Thus far, what has been the best experience working in the industry?
One of my fondest memories was in 2005 when I won the grand prize of the 50th anniversary of the Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards. Winning such a prestigious award while I was still an undergrad at college was a true mindblower. It was my first screenplay, and I had no idea what I was doing, but there I was suddenly thrust into the machinery of Hollywood. It was a bit of a double-edged sword because receiving such an early victory meant that I wasn’t fully prepared for the chronic rejection that comes with working in the industry. After a decade of perseverance, my Goldwyn winning script, Who’s Driving Doug, finally went into production.
During production, I had the pleasure of working with some really great people. RJ Mitte was awesome to collaborate with. He’s an amazing actor and a huge personality on and off the set. His advocacy for the disability community is commendable. Daphne Zuniga was great as well, and I’ve always respected her work.
My first short film was also a blast. In 2013 I wrote Rolling Romance, a story about two people in wheelchairs that go on a tumultuous first date. Despite its long length (close to 30 minutes), it made several film festivals and won a few awards, including Best Original Screenplay at Malibu Film Festival, and Indie Fest’s Best of Show.
Awards and recognition are nice, but ultimately getting to film alongside people you admire are the most irreplaceable, unforgettable experiences. I am truly grateful for those opportunities, and I’ll cherish those memories forever.
Do you have any upcoming projects that we haven’t mentioned? NOTE: Use this section to discuss upcoming projects or events.
I’m currently developing a feature film about an Ethiopian rabbi that was airlifted to Israel during Operation Solomon.
Complete this sentence, if I had an opportunity to do anything I want, I would do ___________.
I just want to be able to keep doing what I’m doing. Making films is my passion. Even if nobody watched my stuff I’d probably keep doing this. I just love telling stories.
I’ve always wanted to visit Mars. Maybe someday.
Thank you for this interview, Occhi! Greatly appreciated.
Representation: Roger Strull at Preferred Artists.
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5494046/
Website: http://www.michaelcarnick.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelcarnick/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelcarnick
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelcarnick/
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