It was 1988/89. I was living in a dormitory getting my higher education at Montana State University, Bozeman Montana. There was a large dude on my floor. His girth was tremendous. He had a problem- a problem with his butt. Just as Wade in the movie could not keep his pants up, neither could he, so we did the only thing we could do in a situation like that- we laughed at him behind his back. Years later, 1994, I guess it was, I was back home in Virginia, and my mind wondered back to my Montana days. I got to thinking about that dude. And then I had a dream. In this dream, the words "Whatever you do, don't look at his Buttcrack!" Where hollered at me. I knew I had to write the screenplay for Buttcrack, and somehow some way, work in that line. So the entire screenplay was written, and the entire story was conceived, just to work in "Whatever you do, don't look at his Buttcrack!"

2. What are some of the technical specs on the film?

It was shot on Super 16mm film.

3. What was it like working with Mojo Nixon?

Mojo was very professional. He studied the script, he learned his lines, and he had some really good ideas about who Preacher Man Bob was. He commented a few times about feeling like Bela Lugosi in an Ed Wood movie, but he was having fun. He even showed up one morning with some donuts. One time between takes, he took a nap in the basement. When we needed him again, I sent my cousin who was hanging around with us, to get him. She jabbed him with a stick until he woke up. That didn't seem to bother him-having a stick jabbed at him, so I knew he was a good person.

4. What problems were encountered in the 2 year long shoot for Buttcrack?

Money was the big problem. Our strategy for making the whole movie was to raise what we could, shoot what we could with what he got, then raise some more for the next shoot. In that time, everybody had to maintain their appearances, weight, hairstyle, etc. And of course, shooting in my own home, I couldn't do much redecorating. I redecorated a lot though, once the film was finished. I built a back porch and got a satellite dish.

5. Can you give us a few details about the script for Buttcrack 2: Crack Of Dawn?

Buttcrack 2: Crack of Dawn is quite possibly the most inspired and truly the greatest piece of fiction ever written. From the time the first primitive man scribbled a picture of a successful hunt on his cave wall, until Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson co-wrote The Royal Tenenbaums, Buttcrack 2: Crack of Dawn is the literary world's finest achievement. With a little luck, maybe it might get made. I think it would make a great animated project. I would love to see that happen. You can think of the story as sort of being a cross between Back to the Future and Touched by an Angel, only the Angel touching you is tripping out on acid. The story picks up where the first one ended, with Ken in Heaven, more or less becoming a deputy to Jesus Christ who instructs him to be Wade's guardian angel as he goes back to his senior year in high school to set right the things that went wrong which lead his sister to put the curse on him. Along the way, Wade falls in love with a scrawny girl named Dawn. What part does love play in Jesus' plan? That's the big question.

6. When do you expect the sequel to go into production?

Someday, hopefully.

7. Any other interesting facts on Buttcrack you'd like to mention?

In the first draft of the screenplay, I had Brian shooting Wade in the back with the plan of making it look like a hunting accident, but I didn't like that. It was too premeditated, so I changed it to the electrocution. Was that an accident, or was it on purpose? Whatever it was, it was spontaneous.

8. What are some of your favorite Troma films?

My #1 favorite is Cannibal the Musical. Other favorites include Redneck Zombies, Troma's War, The Killer Condom and Tromeo and Juliet.

9. Anything else you'd like to mention?

If you are going to write a screenplay, get whatever inspiration you can from whatever source you can. Don't tell me you know somebody who is a freak somehow, or they got this really weird habit that would make a great character, and then say "But I don't think I should do that, because they will know I'm making fun of them." That's bullshit! I want to beat the crap out of people when they say things like that to me. Where do you think characters come from? Make as much fun of people as you can! It's your God-given right! So, if you don't make fun of people, you are not only letting yourself down, but God as well. Do you want to let God down? I don' t. If you're worried, then make sure to change their names. If their name is Gary, change it to Larry. If it's Ned, change it to Ted. Just don't be afraid. That's all.

For more information on Jim Larsen, be sure to check out the official Desert Dog Films website!