09/11/2026
I have a present for you guys!
We have the first-ever interview with Paducah native and McCracken County HS alumnus Myles Gaia - the inspiring filmmaker behind many incredible films, including the horror film "Dreams of Cthulhu" - which will be premiering at Maiden Alley Cinema on Saturday, Sept. 12th, and starring some familiar faces from around town!
Hey Myles! Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to let the folks learn more about you, especially with your new movie, "Dreams of Cthulhu," premiering at Maiden Alley this Saturday, September 12th! (And it's gonna sell out, so get yer tickets!)
B: So, tell us, was there a particular moment, movie, or experience that made you think, "Yes - this is what I want to do. Make movies."
M: I would definitely say growing up with my dad showing me these horror films and how cool the effects were. Seeing the effects in things like "An American Werewolf in London," "The Howling," "Fright Night," etc., really stuck with me and made me want to start doing my own things like that.
However, I would say my biggest inspirations as a kid were movies like Indiana Jones, Sinbad, etc. Those types of films had me in awe, and I wanted others to feel the same way about something I had made.
B: Oh, that's awesome. I loved "Fright Night"! And Indiana Jones will be my forever crush. So, what was your first film, and how did that come about? Any "smack my head"/"what was I thinking?" or "how did we even pull that off?" moments? Or was it smooth sailing from the beginning?
M: Back in the day, I started out making little stop-motions with my action figures as a kid (I’m a nerd), but TECHNICALLY, my first “actual” full movie was called “Terror by the Campfire.”
I had made a five-minute short film with my dad about Jason Voorhees chasing me through the backyard. Afterwards, I was thinking, “You know, this was a lot of fun, so why not make a full film out of it?”
That’s what I did. I gathered a few of my best friends together and decided to make “Terror by the Campfire.” This film takes place at a house in the woods with an old serial-killer scarecrow that hunts down these kids who trespass on his land - aka my friends and me.
Ever since then, it’s been pretty much smooth sailing, with its fair share of ups and downs.
B: You started putting content up on YouTube, and your channel, Film Idiot, gained you a huge cult following. How did that venture start out, and what surprised you the most about the experience?
M: When I used to do stop-motions, I would post them on YouTube, and they would get a lot of traction for some reason. I had a couple million views on a Spider-Man stop-motion and close to a million on a couple of others. However, the first big deal in live-action was my Vietnam War film I made when I was a senior in high school.
Unfortunately, it’s not up on YouTube anymore because of copyright reasons. That being said, even though it was a very fun time, it wasn’t as great as I remember, haha. Later on, what I was really surprised about was how my Scooby-Doo film took off.
That was the first live-action film I had made that caught a lot of traction, and I mean a LOT of it. I absolutely underestimated the Scooby-Doo fan base, but I am so glad it blew up like it did. It was an achievement for sure.
B: Well, everyone loves Scooby-Doo! How many films, including short films, have you made? What are they called, and can they be found on your channel? Did you write, direct, and produce all of them yourself, or do you have some shout-outs?
M: Roughly, I have probably made over 500 films since I was 13. That includes films ranging from a one-minute short to an hour-and-a-half full-length feature. The majority of them are not public because they are honestly so terrible, haha.
I would say my movies became somewhat good enough to post starting around 2019. I feel as though that was when I became super serious about it. You see, back in the day, they were made for fun, and it didn’t matter if they were terribly edited or acted. However, now that my audience is growing, I prefer to actually take the time and make them as good as I possibly can.
As for the old films, I keep them around for good memories. I do love going back and rewatching a lot of them from time to time.
B: Wow. That is seriously impressive! Now let's talk about "Dreams of Cthulhu." I always have to double-check my spelling on that! What is the origin of the myth?
M: Cthulhu, for one, is very hard to spell and pronounce. The reason for that is because he is a cosmic entity, and it is supposed to be impossible for the simple human mind to pronounce it correctly.
The creation of Cthulhu came from a 1920s horror novelist by the name of H.P. Lovecraft. His first introduction was in the 1928 magazine "Weird Tales."
As for his story, Cthulhu is an ancient cosmic entity who came to Earth billions of years ago with his minions to conquer and rule.
However, another ancient race took over his throne and banished him and his minions to an everlasting slumber. Cthulhu cannot be killed. Therefore, forcing him to sleep forever was the only way to truly stop him. However, his consciousness remains active, and he is constantly trying to get any creature he can on Earth to wake him from his deep sleep and set him free to rule the world once again.
B: I know you work with your friends a lot (including my bonus kiddo, Ethan Doughty, who, of course, I have to shout out because I love him 🥰) - do you think it's easier or harder to do projects with friends? I could tell from the pics from the Chicago set that you guys had a great time. Any funny/cool anecdotes from the shoot?
M: It honestly very much depends on who it is. Some friends of mine take it very seriously, while others like to goof around and drag the filming out all day. That being said, I still appreciate all of them for choosing to be in my film. However, I most definitely have a handful of “go-to” friends who are usually my picks for any movie I create.
I know that they will be respectful, yet still have a great time and also be able to act their asses off (which I absolutely appreciate the most).
I’m going to shout out Ethan as well because he is a great guy. I’ve always considered Ethan to be one of the best actors that I have, and I’m so glad I have finally given him the opportunity to have such a big role. He definitely deserves it.
As for Chicago, I could write a whole book about the experience. That could honestly be a whole other interview!
I could talk about how we got lost in the underground streets, how we made friends with some homeless people down there, how we also made friends with people tripping on acid who thought we were the coolest thing they’d ever seen, how a man had to touch my hat to make sure I was real, and how I had to carry a fake pistol in my pocket for the whole shoot, so my heart rate was through the roof. Very intense but interesting stuff!!
B: Omg! Hell yeah, that sounds intense! But what a story. We will definitely have to tell that one day! So, about special effects - do you work with a particular artist, or how does that work? Are they all practical effects or a mix of editing and practical? What can people expect to see up there? Without giving away the magic, of course!
M: Special-effects-wise, I would say this is my biggest film for that. There are all kinds of different cosmic entities in this film, so, of course, there is going to be a mix of computer-generated scenes with practical effects. I will say, it is way more practical than CGI.
I don’t mean to brag about this stuff, but all of the effects look very good and almost professional for the budget. I am very happy with it.
B: Um - yes, you should brag, because what you have accomplished is super brag-worthy! I have heard you guys take that stuff very seriously, and I love seeing behind-the-scenes footage of practical effects. I hope you release a short or share some pics after the big premiere! Speaking of, are you excited about the premiere? What are you looking forward to most?
M: I am very excited for the premiere. I am always excited for my premieres. However, excitement also comes with extreme anxiety. Think of a room of 115 people watching something you have made for six months, not knowing if they’re judging you or loving it.
It’s very hard to tell until afterwards because I usually focus on serious films. If it were a comedy, you could tell if the audience loves it by the way they laugh. For a serious movie? Dead silence until the very end.
B: Oh man, yeah - that sounds nerve-wracking! I tend to whisper through movies, which so embarrasses my kids, so if you want some running commentary, come sit by me! Ha! And what is next on the agenda, or are you taking a well-deserved break?
M: I am expecting a baby here soon, so I do plan on taking probably a year off from making full-length films. However, I will be attending the 48-Hour Film Festival next week.
As for the future? I already have about five full-length films written. I just have to figure out which one I would like to spend half a year focusing on.
B: Congratulations! Yeah, if you think shooting a movie is hard, wait till you are trying to stay awake and make a bottle for a screaming two-month-old on two days of no sleep! Ha! That could be your next horror plot! Ah, kidding, kidding. They really are the most amazing blessings in the world.
Speaking of the future, if you could give other new or dying-to-be filmmakers a word of advice, what would you tell them?
M: If you enjoy making films and have a deep passion for it, keep going. No matter how much anxiety you feel or how many negative thoughts are running through your head, keep going, and you will absolutely get somewhere.
Am I living in California and famous? No. However, I have had a ton of people watch the movies I have worked so hard on, and that is something to be very proud of.
The best part about all of it, though, is meeting all of the people. I don’t think I would have half of the friends I have today without these films. It has allowed me to meet new and exciting people along the way, and I am so grateful for that.
B: I agree. The best part of any creative venture is the amazing folks you meet along the way. I, for one, am delighted to see you on Saturday and hope everyone out there grabs their tickets and comes to check it out as well!
We are so fortunate to have such an amazing and inspiring young filmmaker in our midst, and a wonderful organization like Maiden Alley Cinema, which not only helps young filmmakers like yourself, but also, with the upcoming 48-Hour Film Festival, gives opportunities to new filmmakers, both young and old.
Congratulations again - and see you Saturday!
