Trent Haaga | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1971 |
| Occupation | Film actor, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Website | http://www.trenthaaga.com/ |
Trent Haaga is an actor, screenwriter, and director.
Career
Haaga came to the attention of the horror community after co-starring in the Troma film Terror Firmer.[1] He went on to fill the role of screenwriter as well as assistant director on the fourth film in the Toxic Avenger series, Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV.[1][2] Due to also playing the leader of the Diaper Mafia in this film, he was forced to direct many scenes in the film while wearing a baby bonnet and an adult diaper.[2] He relates many of these experiences as co-author of the book Make Your Own Damn Movie! written with Lloyd Kaufman of Troma.[3]
He has worked in many aspects of filmmaking (writing, producing, acting) and enjoys them all.
"As a writer or actor you're important to the project, but not indispensable. If you're producing there are fewer battles to fight creatively. But, honestly, I like to make films and am happy to do anything on a film set. I'm happy and flattered that people want me to be in their movies or have shot scripts that I've written."[4]
Haaga works in independent film and has stated that he likes the advances made in digital cinematography.[1]
"Let's make as many as we can right now! History will determine which ones live on, but I can't get enough low budget horror films no matter what."[1]
Haaga has praised the speed of digital filmmaking.
"We shot Killjoy 2, Hell Asylum, and Dead and Rotting in 8 days (each, not all three in 8 days!). The Ghouls shot in 12 days. Suburban Nightmare in 9."[1]
Haaga directorial debut Chop, which stars Tanishaa Mukherji and Billy Bakshi,[5] was released in 2011. He wrote the script for the independent thriller alongside Adam Minarovich.[6] The movie is a revenge thriller within the tradition of Fargo and Oldboy.[7] Haaga narrated the Indie thriller flick Fetch.[8]
Haaga has also written for video games; he worked on the DLC for the survival horror game The Evil Within and was the lead writer on the game's sequel. The story for The Evil Within 2 was created by the Japanese developers and Haaga was tasked with fleshing out the characters in the game.[9]
Acting credits
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Terror Firmer | Jerry | |
| Troma's Edge TV | Troma Superstar Trent Haaga | ||
| 2000 | Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV | Tex Diaper | |
| 2001 | Mulva: Zombie Ass Kicker! | James 'the Cock God' Vanbrunt | |
| 2002 | Killjoy 2: Deliverance from Evil | Killjoy | |
| 2003 | The Ghouls | Clift | |
| 2004 | Suburban Nightmare | Charles Rosenblad | |
| Tales from the Crapper | Party Goer | ||
| 2005 | Knight of the Living Dead | Justin's Dad | |
| 2006 | Easter Bunny, Kill! Kill! | Bum/Donald | |
| 2007 | Gimme Skelter | Luther | |
| Black Dahlia Movie: The Elizabeth Short Story | Red/Bobby Manley | ||
| Splatter Disco | Kent Chubb | ||
| 2008 | Bonnie & Clyde vs. Dracula | Clyde | |
| 2010 | Killjoy 3 | Killjoy | |
| 2012 | Where the Dead Go to Die | Ralph's Dad | |
| Killjoy Goes to Hell | Killjoy | ||
| 2014 | The Pact 2 | Pink Room Receptionist | |
| 2016 | Killjoy's Psycho Circus | Killjoy | |
| 2017 | Bad Match | Detective Dean | |
| 2019 | Bunker of Blood 07: Killjoys Carnage Caravan | Killjoy | |
| 2019 | The Creative Slump | Trent Haaga | Short |
| 2021 | An American Masquerade | Bronson | pre-production |
Writing credits
- Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV (2000) (writer)
- Hell Asylum (2002) (V) (writer)
- Feeding the Masses (2004) (V) (writer)
- Damage Control (2005) TV series (unknown episodes)
- Raving Maniacs (2005) (screenplay)
- Make Your Own Damn Movie! (2005) (book)
- Deadgirl (2008) (writer)
- Poor Things (2008) (screenplay) (story)
- Fetch (2009)[10]
- Cheap Thrills (2013) (writer)
- Killing Mommy (2016) (writer) (TV Movie)
- 68 Kill (2017) (screenplay) (director)
- The Evil Within 2 (2017) (video game) (writer)
- It Came From the Desert (2017) (writer)
- Girl on the Third Floor (2019) (writer)
- Deathcember (writer) (2019) (segment "Operation Dolph)
Producer credits
- Killjoy 2: Deliverance from Evil (2002) (line producer)
- Dead & Rotting (2002) (producer)
- Hell Asylum (2002) (line producer)
- The Ghouls (2003) (associate producer)
- Easter Bunny, Kill! Kill! (2006) (producer)
- Chop (2011) (producter)
- The Dead Reborn (2013) (producer)
References
- ^ a b c d e Interview with Haaga for horror-asylum.com
- ^ a b Kaufman, Lloyd (2003). Make Your Own Damn Movie. L.A. Weekly Books. pp. 33–34. ISBN 0-312-28864-6.
- ^ "The Dude's Got 'Chop'(s): A Visit to the Set of Trent 'What the Fuck' Haaga's Directorial Debut". BloodyDisgusting.
- ^ Interview with Haaga for Skullring.org
- ^ "Deadgirl Writer Now Set to Show Us How to Chop". DreadCentral.
- ^ "Troma Vet, 'Deadgirl' Writer Trent Haaga to Direct 'Chop'". BloodyDisgusting.
- ^ "First Look: Trent Haaga's Bloody 'Chop'". BloodyDisgusting.
- ^ "Indie Film Fetch Sets a Premiere Date". DreadCentral.
- ^ https://www.cgmagonline.com/2017/10/13/reliving-evil-within-interview-shinji-mikami-john-johanas-trent-haaga/
- ^ "EXCL: Casting Update and Behind-the-Scenes Photos for Fetch". DreadCentral.
External links
- Official website
- Trent Haaga at IMDb
- Trent Haaga at Rotten Tomatoes