We had the chance to interview the director and writer of Sleep.Walk.KiIl, Justin Miller, and one of his leading stars Bill Reick. one of the main characters of this Sleep.Walk.Kill brings a fascinating take on the horror genre and we deep dive into how the film got made, how Bill Reick started his career in acting and brought his character Edgar to life, and how it all started from screenwriting to becoming an actor.
Bill mentions that working with Justin and the cast and crew was a great time while filming. Not only did he have fun on set, but he was also happy that he got to work with The Legendary WID; seeing him perform his Uncle Pat was an experience he’ll never forget because he admires his work; as well as reminiscing about his late-night show skits. Justin as well mentions how they just enjoyed the filmmaking process and how it was a one-of-a-kind family environment on set.
While we got to know Bill, Justin tells us how he met him and how Sleep.Walk.Kill was conceived and how his daughter mentioned to him that he is the guy on the chair because he loves to watch movies. Justin breaks down certain scenes from the film and how it felt to bring his visions to life. Bill and Justin also talk about some other projects they worked on before meeting each other for this film. We also talk a little bit about the possibility of a sequel to Sleep.Walk.Kill. An idea that Justin wants to bring to life but is still currently in the early stages of the creative process.
You can watch the interview in the video above or read the entire interview below!
The Nerdy Basement: Guys, welcome to The Nerdy Basement. I do need to let you know that. It's been an honor to watch Sleep.Walk.Kill; I think I got this. Yeah, I got the title, right. I got the movies very interesting. I'm not gonna lie to you guys. It has a very, very interesting premise. I actually enjoy it. And I hope that everybody that gets to watch it on VOD today, they can enjoy it as well. And I'm super excited because today is my birthday as well. Bill Reick: Happy birthday. Thank you. Thank you. Justin Miller: So we did it all just for you. The Nerdy Basement: Amazing. Honor of horror cinema. I am proud. So we're Justin Miller: gonna put all the release dates of every movie around around your birthday? The Nerdy Basement: That will be great. That'll be great. And that we'll see. We'll see each other more often here. Perfect. Perfect. Okay, so I have a line of questions. I divided them some for Bill some for Justin. And then I have a couple of them for both of you. So this is going to be an interesting talk today. So I wasn't started with Justin. Okay, Justin, what inspired you to create this film be the fact that you're a direct director and as well as the writer of this film. Bill Reick: So I always wanted to make a movie and Justin Miller: my daughter kind of saying that I was the guy on the sofa, referring me to that because I was watching movies and TV kind of lit a fire under my butt to make this movie, like I write screenplays and stuff. But I, I you know, always wanted to go from one end all the way to the other see it through and finish something and, and this is you know, this is the product. It's a book you. The Nerdy Basement: Awesome. Awesome. And for for Bill? Yes. what interested you to play Edgar? Justin Miller: Well, the fact that it was a horror movie, I was on board, before I even got the script. Like somebody wanted me to be in a horror movie. And I said, Yes, absolutely. What can I do to help make sure that that happens. And then luckily, when I got the script, I realized that this was a zoom movie with a lot of great ideas in it. And I wasn't let down. It was a script that kind of like, I don't know, kept me engaged as a reader. So I knew I would keep people engaged as viewers as well. So it was probably mostly the fact that it wasn't this isn't like a cookie cutter predictable movie where I knew it was going the whole time. So I was excited to be on board with the project like that. The Nerdy Basement: No, yeah, I was just into YouTube. Justin Miller: I'm sorry. I said, Yeah, but Bill, we were really happy to have you on board. Yeah, shucks, Oh, yeah. The greatest thrill? The Nerdy Basement: No, really, is that the thing is that it is true because when you watch the film, you go ahead and you're expecting one thing and then it's another thing and it just keeps you wanting to see what happens in the end. Plus that ending that's a question for later you know, but you know, it leads on so my question now for both of you how was it working with each other you know, you bill as the as the actor and Justin as a director slash writer. Justin Miller: For me, I mean, it was really easy working with these guys. You know, all of them really brought their A game, you know, a lot of them I actually already know from from the comedy scene in Philadelphia. tons of laughs on set. You know, just tons of fun. But when it was time to get seriously turned it on. And so yeah, it was a pleasure working with everybody on that on on this film. Justin Miller: Yeah, I kind of just want to like, reiterate that same sentiment, because I had a ball every day that we were on, on set, I would really, if it was on a, you know, a Friday that I'd spent all week really looking forward to be in there. And like Justin said, it was a bunch of a bunch of cut ups on set. Like we had some really funny people, I get to work with the legendary wid who's like a comedian that's like, you know, a hero of mine prior to working with him. So it was cool to like, get to know him on set. And everybody that we worked with was the most fun, like we just, we just had such a good time. And situations that may have been stressful on another project. Everybody was able to like, stay cool, because we were all passionate about getting this done, and making it the best that we could. So it was a it was really, really fun. The Nerdy Basement: No, that's amazing. I really do love the fact that when when you are sitting down and you just hear that everything was fun, everybody had like that chemistry. And you can see it on the film as well. So you can see how everybody was working, working together to get this film completed. So I wanted to go ahead and jump back with Bill. So Bill, I did some research on you. And I saw that you didn't have that much credits in IMDB. I will ask you a question about something later later. But I wanted to ask you what got you into into acting? Because I know that I know that anybody can say I'm an actor, even I can say I'm an actor Hey, I? Well, either way I have I have heard my friends say dude, on and off camera, you're the same. You're the same guy. So I don't know what's going on. So what got you into acting? Justin Miller: Well, it started around. I think it was like 2015 2014 2015 When I started getting involved in writing, sketch comedy in Philly. And then kind of being like the first couple things that I put up with respect to the the actors that I worked with. I was like, Ah, I love what they did, I kind of wish that they did ABC instead of XYZ. And so then the next couple sketches that I wrote, I was like, I'm actually going to take this on, I'm going to I'm going to be the guy in this sketch, whatever, whatever it was. And then eventually, that led to I got casted in a, I was cast in a play for the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. And that's where Samantha Russell, our casting director, saw me and I guess saw me in like a different light than she was used to because she and I knew each other. But this play was like the first bit of Act enacted that I ever did. And luckily, Samantha was in the audience saw me hit up. Justin was like, Hey, I think I think Bill might you know, have the chops to bring this Edgar to life and I couldn't be more grateful for every every step in that story. The Nerdy Basement: Okay, that's That's great. That's awesome. And for, for Justin, got ask you you worked on a film that sadly I didn't I haven't gotten the chance to, to see it. But what was your experience being part of Kane on screen? Justin Miller: Oh, so you know, that was just the monetary backing. So I'm a huge Stephen King fan. So I really didn't work on that film at all. Okay. You know, I just supported it. And I'm really happy to because I love Stephen King and his adaptation. So The Nerdy Basement: no, yeah, I gotta say I was I was supposed to be the one covering King on King on screen. But here in Puerto Rico. We had the hurricane. So we had almost two weeks with no light service. So that took me away from working on, on covering it. But I still I still had my I think it was my editor that covered it. And he told me that it was a blast. So I was like, for next time. So I wanted to go ahead, jumping back to Bill. And Bill. I did see in your credits. You have a credit because you were part of friends giving or I don't know if it's pronounced right because Yeah, he did. Being part of that project. Was that project like a stepping stone to move forward on your career as an actor? Justin Miller: No, probably not. Just because I don't I don't know anybody that's that's seen it. I don't know where it's available. There was kind of a deal where there's not at any given time there's not too much popping off in Philly kind comedy. So, I think it was one summer, a whole bunch of people in Philly were like, oh, let's get together and pitch around different script ideas and make it into like a feature length thing. And I got to like, show up in the background or something. I'm grateful for the the IMDB credit, but I don't think anybody has ever seen that and been like, oh, we gotta get him work, because I don't, okay, I just don't think anybody's seen it, period. So it was really, really fun to do. And I'm really, really grateful that somebody trusted me to be on set somewhere. I can't say that it was a stepping stone in that it gave me just a little bit more experience being on set, knowing when to shut up that kind of thing. Okay. The Nerdy Basement: So, Justin, there's a scene in the film that I would like to, you know, as well hear Bill on his side, how he felt about this scene as well. There's this scene they we have Edgar and Addie, you know, they just at the end of the film, they just sit down. I would say that if you would have added a couple of Bruce trees I know that they had like, I think it was wine. And they just cut back, you know, just chill back and say like, you know, this, this is this is this is us now, this was. So I wanted to see if you could give us a little bit much more details on that scene. And as well, by any chance. Are we going to see Edgar and Addy once again, I know that the scene gives us a big highlight of what's going to happen, but still, you know, I have curiosity, you know what I mean? Justin Miller: I got Yeah, so like that scene? I mean, I really wanted to show the characters basically like except their fate fate actually, like embrace their fate kind of and just enjoy each other just for a few more minutes. And like I really haven't seen a film and that way before and I really thought that that would be and you could hear the kind of the world falling apart like all around them, and they are just chill. You know, they're completely chill. And just just actually having a good last ride. No, you will not be seeing it again. This was I think a one and done. Although I think I have a title for a sequel but like see sleepwalk kill repeat, but I'm not. Yeah, I don't think I'm interested in and doing a second one. Although, I mean, first one was great. But yeah, I think there's other projects I'm going to work on right now. The Nerdy Basement: Yeah. Okay. How about how about you, Bill? What you think what, what is? Are there any feelings that you got when you're like, when Justin was like, Hey, Bill, this is the final scene. Bill Reick: I loved it. I love it's got a little bit of like that. Inception, the end of inception. It kind of feels like that where you're like, who that little piece of information that's been introduced kind of flips. How I felt on my head. And it was cool. It was like a nice. I think the French would call it a denouement at the end, where we get to see like, the characters back in their place of comfort, at least for a moment. And it was super I felt like super validating for the character Edgar because he had kind of regained the faith and the trust of his ex wife, Addy, a fun bit of like trivia maybe those will have to go on the IMDB trivia page. The characters are sipping wine but I'm I'm an alcoholic and I was like pretty new in my sobriety when we were shooting that so I had to be super careful not to make sure to let everybody know on set like I can't drink what please don't have wine in my cup. Please Justin Miller: put it in your cup bill. Bill Reick: I think it was grape juice. So just pre wine The Nerdy Basement: that is a good wow. That's That's funny. Okay, but for great. I want to ask you guys before we get to the to my other questions, you guys have a favorite like moment of the whole film. Like is there like a scene or moment on the film that you guys are like yeah, this is just like, the moment that I love points in. Justin Miller: For me, it's definitely when my character's mom is like strapped into a chair and she turns she falls asleep and then she she she kind of she turns and the lights start going off bananas and everybody has real emotional reactions to it. I just it was so much fun to shoot because we had to be like a Little bit more innovative with with how we lit that scene than we had the prior. It's kind of the first time the movie feels like not that everything's hyper realistic before that, but there was a little bit of like, artistic surrealism if that makes sense. And it was super fun to shoot and I think it comes across as this like phantasmagoria nightmare on screen and I'm really really grateful to be a part of that such a cool looking scene. The Nerdy Basement: How about you Justin? Um, yeah, I Justin Miller: mean, I think Bill took kind of my scene there but like I also have Justin Miller: it this way Well, first I knew you were gonna say that too. Justin Miller: But you know definitely when you know we have Hazel sitting in the chair Laney Rosenthal, and and there's like three different things going on. You got the mom over there. You know, kick Samira. You don't know what's happening with her and then you got Hazel disappearing. And then you got a weird or uncle Pat having a seizure? The Nerdy Basement: Okay, yeah. Justin Miller: There's just a lot going on like and I really like I love like telling three different like really quick stories in a two minute timeframe. So that was definitely The Nerdy Basement: one of my favorite characters as the uncle because the uncle every time he went with those random, random like facts or, or like Oh, what's this? Wait, one of my favorite lines is when when did we start a hearing CDs or cassettes on an on this little square? I was like, what? Just started laughing? Yeah. Justin Miller: You gotta break the tension off and Justin Miller: now you got to follow up and look up the legendary with that actors. Like, you know, successful comedian in a real run back in the day. He was on like HBO stuff and a couple of late night shows. He's a get like a hero. Um, I never seen a funnier, he's a prop comedian. And I've never, never laugh as hard as I do. Every time I get the chance to see the legendary wid on stage. So to have him play my uncle Pat was like, just the coolest. The Nerdy Basement: No, I can imagine I can imagine. So guys, this question is for both of you. If you could bring back any canceled TV series, which TV show would you choose? And why? Justin Miller: Oh, my goodness. I would have said like, two months ago quantum leap. But, but they brought that back. And I wish they did it. No, no. It's okay. But But yeah, so now I guess I'd have to say that's a tough one. Maybe the office you know, that's a that's a just the classic. I can't I can't stop rewatching that so it'd be nice to see another season of that. Justin Miller: I'm gonna go Gravity Falls. Okay, too. two seasons wasn't enough for me. I want I want more time with the that family I want more time in that that world. I want to learn more about like, the mythology and all the lore. I love Gravity Falls and I would definitely, definitely definitely look forward to new episodes or new comic books. However, Alex Hirsch, the creator wanted to extend that story. I would be here for big time. The Nerdy Basement: I completely agree with you, Bill. And with Justin, I would say I completely agree with you as well. But I am one of 99.9% of the people that haven't watched the office completely. Justin Miller: Yeah, I mean, it's just like, Oh, it's just a feel good thing that you could have in the background and, you know, and just kick back and enjoy. But um, what about quantum leap? But are you The Nerdy Basement: heard of it? But you know, which? My favorite TV show that was canceled? And I hope that one day maybe? If they do right, is Firefly? Justin Miller: Oh, yeah. Justin Miller: Thank you. Thank you. Yes. Firefly amazing. That was canceled after a season. The Nerdy Basement: Exactly. And the thing is that I follow up the comic books and the like, additional lore that's out there. Oh, yeah. But the thing is that, you know, it's not the same scene in a comic book and then seeing it in the big screen or in your house. So I just hope that one day somebody is like, you know what, we should bring Firefly back with the original cast if they can. But you know, it's something might happen. So Justin Miller: maybe I'm right there with you on that serenity just didn't wrap it up the way that I would have liked. Yeah. The Nerdy Basement: I completely agree. So guys wanted to have one final question for both of you. I heard Justin said some things that I want him to, you know if he can speak about it, but I'm gonna go with Bill first. Does that Do you have any other upcoming projects, anything that you're working on that you can give us a little bit of details? Justin Miller: Yeah, so after this, this movie ended the pandemic happened after the pandemic happened, I moved out to Chicago was kind of during the pandemic, but then I spent a lot of time studying here at the second cities Training Center. It's like a improv and sketch institution out here put together my team of people. And now I've been writing my own horror movie, that's a more more of a traditional slasher, another, but again, kind of tone, the horror comedy tone. And hopefully within the next I'd like to have that completed within the next year, like shot and all that with it, like, by a year from now. That's my my goal. The Nerdy Basement: Awesome. Awesome. How about you, Justin, I heard that you're, I heard that you're working on some other things you didn't give us details? Can you give us please? Yeah. Justin Miller: So I we just finished principal photography a few months ago on this really fun, retro, futuristic sci fi comedy was definitely an emphasis on the comedy in this film, and, you know, I'm really excited about it again, just a lot of fun to shoot. upset, and, and I'm hoping to be able to release that by the end of 2023 as well. The Nerdy Basement: Awesome. Awesome. So, Justin, Bill, really, thank you very much to you know, just to have a great time talking about sleepwalk kills, and as well, you know, just getting to know each other a little bit more here at the nerdy basement. And I hope that the people enjoy the film, and they can see what we all see because I gotta say this film is it's top notch. Justin Miller: It's sweet of you to say thank you for sharing that kindness with us. Yeah, and it was our pleasure being here. We look forward to the opportunity to join in the nerdy basement anytime. The Nerdy Basement: Oh, yes. You get you guys just send the emails and I'll be the one saying I want that. Justin Miller: Awesome. Yeah. Thank Justin Miller: you so much again, The Nerdy Basement: no, thank you guys a lot. So everybody here that is from the nerdy basement. We will see you guys in the next one. Justin Miller: Okay, nice to meet you.
“Sleep.Walk.Kill” is available now on digital.
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