Andrew was gracious enough to answer my questions regarding this excellent project.

Jonathan Stryker:  Tell me about your childhood growing up in Tallahassee, Florida.

Andrew Kasch: I lived a pretty sheltered life in Florida in a very tight-knit religious community of sorts. Nothing really existed outside our neighborhood and church. Life finally reared its ugly head and we ended up moving to different places in the South throughout my childhood, but I never truly left the Bible Belt until I moved out to Los Angeles to make films.

Jonathan Stryker: What was the first horror film that you remember seeing?  Did you go to drive-in movie theatres? 

Andrew Kasch: I wasn't really allowed to see horror films in my youth so it was always like forbidden fruit. But I think ALIEN was the film I saw around age twelve or so that really lit the fuse. I became addicted to that adrenaline rush just like any other horror junkie. Growing up in the South, there were no drive-in movie theaters or anything so I was at the mercy of the local video stores and those early internet tape traders.

Jonathan Stryker: You grew up at a time when home video was in full swing, with video stores abound and movie rentals as a great way to catch up on movies.  A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET was the first VHS tape that I ever rented.  Was it difficult for you to get your hands on certain films that you wanted to see?  

Andrew Kasch: I think for all of us cinephiles in the 80's and 90's, that was both the biggest frustration and the biggest charm. I remember scouring old rental shops and used video stores to find all these old cult films. That was the day when finding something like EVIL DEAD II on VHS was an ordeal. Now of course, you can pick between 37 versions of it on DVD. The times have changed but part of me still misses that old thrill of the "the hunt" and the satisfaction of finally finding those rare titles. There was something really cool about that.

Jonathan Stryker: What are some of your favorite horror films/television series?  

Andrew Kasch: Beyond the typical stuff like Raimi, Carpenter, Romero, etc? I'm a big fan of all that late-90's Asian cult cinema stuff from Hideo Nakata, Takashi Miike, and Kiyoshi Kurosawa. As far as horror TV goes, I love classic "Twilight Zone," "Twin Peaks," "Carnivale," "Buffy," and "Supernatural."  I'm sure "The Walking Dead" will soon be among 'em!

Jonathan Stryker: How did you get into the business?  

Andrew Kasch: I've never really considered myself "in" the business. That whole elite world of studios and unions is something I have yet to be a part of. I've just been a freelance editor and independent filmmaker who has been fortunate enough to work on some really great projects with people I've always admired.

Jonathan Stryker: As an editor, how do you determine what material stays and what material goes?  

Andrew Kasch: That's the toughest process. "Kill your babies," as they say. It's all about pacing. Use exactly what you need to make the point and move on.  You have to be especially brutal when you're doing something like a four-hour documentary, because you can lose or bore your audience so quickly. Sometimes it's really hard to sacrifice that great story or line that you want, but that's all part of being an editor. You just tell yourself, "That's why God created bonus features."

Jonathan Stryker: What is it about the Elm Street films that made you want to make the new documentary NEVER SLEEP AGAIN - THE ELM STREET LEGACY? 

Andrew Kasch: There are a lot more layers to the Elm Street series that made it a little more fun to explore than your average horror franchise. Most franchises have that seminal first film and quickly go down the drain after that. With Elm Street, there are so many ups and downs. It's like a roller coaster ride! New Line took a lot of risks, generated a lot of controversy and, of course, built an empire over it. That's such a fascinating story to explore!

Jonathan Stryker: This film is poised to be the documentary to end all documentaries.  Do you think that other filmmakers will follow your lead? 

Andrew Kasch: Absolutely! We're seeing a huge trend in fan-produced documentaries recently. I hope this stuff continues and I hope more studios will come to embrace and support the efforts of all these filmmakers. Times are changing and now it's the fans who are writing cinematic history. That is how it should be!

Jonathan Stryker: What's next for you?

Andrew Kasch: Sleep!