It is one of the most iconic cult sci-fi film adaptations of all time.
Mike Hodges’ FLASH GORDON was one of the biggest hits of 1980/1981 in the UK and was even more successful than RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK in this territory on its’ first run release (although RAIDERS was the biggest hit in the USA in 1981)
Thirty-five years later, director Lisa Downs commissioned a documentary, which focuses on the life and times of Sam J. Jones, the actor who played the title role, in LIFE AFTER FLASH.
The film celebrates the legacy of FLASH GORDON, as well as Jones’ journey after the film to become a security person, having been a Marine before an actor, as well as his extended family life.
Film And TV Now was delighted to speak with Downs about the film and its’ impact.
FILM AND TV NOW: What or who was the catalyst for putting together this documentary?
LISA DOWNS: This project really happened organically for me. I had been on the lookout for a story I really wanted to tell – I wanted to get into feature documentaries but really wanted something I was passionate about because in the indie film world, it takes so much to get it off the ground, and get a project across the finish line, you have to live and breathe it.
So when I was talking to a mutual producer friend who had just worked with Sam on a UK show called “The Jump”, I instantly thought his story would make a fascinating documentary – and when you’re telling the story of Sam J Jones, naturally a celebration of the film needed to be incorporated too.
FTVN: Are there other now-classic movies that you admired and appreciated around the same time you saw FLASH GORDON first time around?
LD: At the time when I was conscious about film, Flash Gordon had been out a few years already, and I had begun watching films where the protagonists were my age, so my other staples were those classic 80s kids films that have really grown to be iconic – THE GOONIES, FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR, THE NEVERENDING STORY, LABYRINTH, THE DARK CRYSTAL….it was a magical time to be a kid
FTVN: FLASH GORDON has gained a major following in the decades since its’ original release. What are your own personal memories of watching the film for the first time?
LD: I was the VHS generation of the 80s. I wasn’t actually born when FLASH GORDON came out so I never had that cinema moment so many other people fondly cherish. I don’t remember the first time I saw the film on TV but in the UK, it’s a staple, especially around Christmas time so I just had it part of my childhood. It was as much a “normal” part of growing up as was writing my letters to Santa, or having birthday parties. I was just there.
FTVN: Sam J Jones is also executive producer on the film along with other names. How much of a challenge was it to raise money for the documentary?
LD: Raising budget for indie film is the reason why most indie films don’t get completed. It’s a really hard process, and a stressful one at times.
I started a crowdfunding campaign pretty much straight out the gate, with no research or experience, so that ultimately was shut down after a week and I gave myself 6 months to really learn what is needed, to build an audience, and we started again for a much lower amount which was successful. I then later did a 2nd round for a small amount which helped in post production.
But really it was such a shoe string budget for a feature documentary, it only just covered the basics with a LOT of favours pulled in. What is great about documentary though, is that you don’t need a full budget to start – unlike a scripted film – you can just grab a camera and yourself, and start shooting and get it going.
Sam deserved an EP credit because he was such an important part of the crowdfunding in the sense his signatures features on most “rewards”, as well as helping obtain interviews with both family and friends, and some cast too.
FTVN: We see a lot of the principal cast list in the film who seem happy to talk about it, but we don’t see people like Timothy Dalton AKA Prince Barin for example. Was he contacted for the project?
LD: Of course, I can’t imagine anyone would make a documentary on FLASH GORDON and not try and get an interview with Timothy Dalton. I really tried to get an interview with everyone, but for various reasons those who you don’t see, it just didn’t work out.
Not everyone wants to celebrate FLASH GORDON, and that’s fine, they don’t owe me anything so why should they say yes.? But I think it shows that the people who ended up on camera are there because they want to celebrate the film, and they also were happy to do it to tell Sam’s story. He was and is still so loved by the cast and crew, they hold the film and that experience so dearly.
FTVN: How much footage did you shoot of the film and are there things you would love to have included in the documentary that you couldn’t due to rights etc?
LD: It really wasn’t a rights issue when I didn’t include anything, with the exception of a few photographs that would have been nice but I don’t think the film suffered because of it.
What I didn’t include was really for the overall narrative of the documentary – I didn’t want this to be one of those 3 or 6 hour fan-made documentaries just for the sake of having EVERYTHING in there. I still wanted it to be an interesting watch, leave people wanting more, but because there was SO much footage, I chose to release a lot as bonus features on my BluRay and DVD release, as it’s not going to be enjoyed sitting on my hard-drive
FTVN: How long did it take to make overall?
LD: We Skyped Sam in October 2014 to pitch the idea, first frames were shot January 2015, we finished the edit early 2018 and it took a year with festivals / sales agents and distribution to get it out and released February 2019.
FTVN: You organised the 35th Anniversary FLASH GORDON Reunion event at BAFTA. Tell us about some of the logistics and planning that went into putting that event together and how easy was it get some of the key contributors to participate?
LD: That was a rough night behind the scenes!
It took a lot to organise, much like the film it was myself doing it with the help of Ash my producer. He had his then-company help a bit on the night which was great to have extra hands involved, but there were so much going on, on the actual night everything is a bit like a blur – I don’t think my feet stopped once. But everyone had a great time so it was worth it!
It took a few months to plan, maybe 6 months, and pretty easy at that stage to get participants as I had already been in contact with them about interviews so they weren’t hard to track down – just had to make sure I got them all there on time and home safely! They all had a great time though, and I’ll never forget that night (what I do remember of it!)
FTVN: Are there other films you would like to do as part of a LIFE AFTER….. subject?
LD: Indeed, and there’s a series already in the works.
LIFE AFTER THE NAVIGATOR (on FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR) and star Joey Cramer was released November 2020, and LIFE AFTER ATREYU (on THE NEVERENDING STORY and Noah Hathaway) is already in production, and we’ll get started on that again once travel restrictions ease. We have 3 more going to go into production then too (yet to be revealed), and always connecting with people for more.
FTVN: In 2012, you directed JUST ATE. Tell us about the genesis of this film and where can people see it presently?
LD: Really just myself and two friends about 10 years ago sitting in our office – we worked in production at the time for adventure travel TV shows – and just said “why don’t we make a film”?
I wanted to direct one before I turned 30, and between us – myself a director, my friend Anna was a writer and my other friend Louisa was a producer – it just felt write. Anna wrote the script, we raised investment and just did it – I’m actually always surprised we actually did because it just all happened so quickly, but I’m really proud of it.
It’s a true story Anna wrote based on her own experience with an eating disorder whilst working as a chef, and we filmed it in her house, with her real-life parents acting as her on-screen parents, so it was quite a moving experience. It was on Amazon for a while, but now we really just want people to see it, so I put it up on YouTube 2 months ago for free and it’s really been received well.
FTVN: You worked on travel documentaries for a time. Given the current global situation, how important is content like this to inspire and stimulate people?
LD: Travel documentaries are important regardless of what’s happening in the world I think, because it allows people to see that there is an incredible world out there, with so many amazing cultures and foods and beliefs and people and traditions….and I think its important for people to be exposed these differences, because it’s these differences that make the world so beautiful and fascinating.
FTVN: What advice would you give any aspiring film-makers who would love to do a LIFE AFTER-type film to bring people up to date with somebody like Sam J Jones’ life after a film like FLASH GORDON?
LD: My advice for anyone who wants to make a documentary – no matter what the subject – is just start it.
Just start filming – even if it’s on an iPhone. There’s no excuse with the technology we have to not get out and film. I think whatever you make, know what your end goal is – do you want to make money? Do you want to just get it seen? That will determine what level of equipment you need to use, and steer certain elements of production and post, but you don’t need to wait on a full budget or full crew.
Grab friends, go out there on your own, and just make it happen. No-one will love your project as much as you do. No-one will be as passionate about your project as you, so you need to be the one that drives it, and lives and breathes it.
FTVN: The fan conventions are certainly what keeps the legacy of films like FLASH GORDON alive. What has been the reaction of fans to the documentary since its’ release?
LD: We’ve had an incredible reaction – so many people have been touched by Sam’s story and Sam even said over half of fans that visit his table at comic cons are to talk about LIFE AFTER FLASH. To have people moved and inspired by Sam’s story is all we could have asked. I also wanted to make sure I did justice to FLASH GORDON the film – there are some really dedicated fans out there and luckily the doc has had a great reaction from lifelong film fans, so couldn’t ask for more.
FTVN: Finally, what are you most proud of about LIFE AFTER FLASH?
LD: That we finished it, and that Sam was really happy.
There were so many unknowns going into the documentary, I didn’t know what to expect and learnt so much along the way, I’m just really proud of what I learnt, what I overcame, what knowledge I took into LIFE AFTER THE NAVIGATOR, and just that we made Sam proud with what we did. I would have been heartbroken if Sam gave us his time, and trust, and we disappointed him.
