We spoke with filmmaker Ronni Thomas, creator of Resurrecting an Old Spirit to ask him a few inspiring questions.

How did absinthe inspire you to do this film?

It more than inspired me…and the result was a tribute to my favorite spirit...  also...  (and I shouldn't be saying this) but absinthe told me it would kick my a** if I did not do the film it wanted me to do.  I had my first taste of absinthe back in 2003 with a very dear friend of mine in London - it was AWFUL - when I noted my disappointment to my friend - he dashed into the liquor store to demand a refund - instead, the matron gave us some of the real deal stuff - from then on I was hooked.  And I honestly dig everything about Le Tourment Vert – it’s a unique and interesting slant on the most wonderful drink in the history of spirits.

How do you feel about the final product?

Which product?  The drink?  I feel great about it – [better than] gin, whiskey, brandy or sambuca.  And it’s a lovely bottle. If you were asking about the film - I'm alright with it - always room for improvement I suppose, but I REALLY am proud of this piece – a lot of very good and talented people spent a lot of time making my vision come to life and I love them dearly for that.

You've worked with the Real Tuesday Weld on past projects, what do you like about their work and why do you incorporate his music in your film?

 The Real Tuesday Weld is my favorite group in modern times... Stephen Coates (front man) and I have (I think) very similar fetishes and interests.  When I first heard them I actually decided to stop making music  (I’d been a composer for film and commercials) because they were the music I wanted to do – and better (though I am pretty good with a banjo or any other set of strings...) - some music is visceral other music is visual - TRTW is both - I’m a kid when it comes to music - I get excited - working with TRTW twice is more than I’d imagine being reality... so we choose surreality (its a whole lot more fun).

It seems like this project was a real team effort.  Have you worked with these actors before?  Do you have a strong support network in NY?

Robert Carnevale, Corinna Mantlo, Maureen Thomas, Shane Morton, Frank Szelwach, Robert Ross, Amanda Madden, Jake Durand, The Joe, Little Ben, Cassandra Seale, Dominic Thackray, Noble & Claudia Robinette, Robert Ross, Jonathan Jacobson... etc...  These people all did absolutely nothing to make this film possible - I did 100% of everything - if you run into any of them in a bar or begging for change on the street - DO NOT listen to a word they say - they are evil vile people who will stop at nothing to try to stake their claim on what is rightfully mine – and should be ashamed of themselves.  Odhran Cal too...  he's a spy - I just know it.

What other projects have you done?

Tonight - I not only cleaned the dishes BUT I also made chicken soup with the strangest noodles in the world - they were soy noodles - not bad - very healthy (I suppose) but what an odd texture - what was nice about them was - it sort of felt like you were eating human flesh - like when you bite that part of your skin between the joints in your thumb...chewy - very satisfying to my cannibalistic senses.  NEXT WEEK LAUNDRY!!!! 

What is your dream project?

Sleep...  Ahh enough with the sarcasm...  honestly this was sort of my dream project - it sounds stupid but - I love all those old absinthe posters and adverts...  that was a time when film didn't really exist (as far as advertising was concerned...) - so in some odd way I feel like this is a modern interpretation of one of those old posters or works of art inspired by a powerful and moving spirit – Dreams…  dreams are weird - they change with achievements - if I won an Oscar - I'd be sad I hadn't won the Pulitzer.

Do you have anything in the works?

I dunno - I’m always afraid that the last project is "THE LAST" project anyone is going to be crazy or stupid or weird enough to let me do - it hasn't played out that way but I suppose you always have to worry it might (?) - I am working on a screenplay for a feature film about 19th century spiritualism and a séance that goes horribly (hilariously) wrong...  also - if I could figure out how to unclog a toilet using only a stick of gum and a Twinkie - I’d be pretty satisfied with myself

What are your goals with filmmaking?

Oh I don't know... I don't even watch films - I always feel so busy - its so hard to dedicate that much time to a 90 minute block which may or may not turn out the way you want it to - I really like that film incorporates an assortment of arts wrapped in one - I compose, I write, I like pretty pictures, I’m emotional to a fault - no other artistic medium can combine all those elements - I like story-telling - even if the story you are telling a strange one...   the reason I chose advertising is because I didn't have (and still don't have) the money to make the films I want to without selling my kid on the black market to pay for the telecine...  I guess if I had a goal (besides an early death) it would be to make the films I want, the way I want them, with the means to do it.

What time do you get into work every morning?

9:12 on the dot - New York City transit - like clockwork - if only I could make up those 12 minutes some how...