An Inside Look at ‘Mob Ghost’ with Filmmaker Jimmy Caputo

You think seeing a ghost is spooky? Try having a ghostly guest who was a mafia man. Filmmaker Jimmy Caputo lets us peek behind the lens at the spirited shenanigans that went into cooking up his drama-comedy short “Mob Ghost.”

1. What inspired you to come up with the concept for Mob Ghost?

I noticed there was construction of a house on an area where the mob would allegedly dump bodies. I thought to myself what if a mob ghost haunted the place?

2. How did you strike the right balance between the comedic and supernatural elements?

I had to go back and re-watch Tales From the Crypt and Ghostbusters to get a better idea how to blend the two genres. I ended up going more campy than scary, as I felt it was more appropriate for what I wanted to do. Comedy came first, though.

Paul Noonan and Jeff Blanchette in ‘Mob Ghost’

3. The dialogue is very quick-witted. What was the process of developing those comedic beats in the script?

I wrote a couple drafts of the script, then workshopped it with the actors during the table-read and the rehearsal. Then, after a few screenings, I gauged the audience’s reaction and trimmed the fat in the edit.

Aside from that, when I first started writing, I analyzed the inner workings of jokes in dialogue. I would transcribe some of my favorite funny scenes and get a sense of the rhythm. That really helps and I still sometimes do it.

4. How much did you rely on improvisation from the actors versus strictly following the script?

I tried to get as much improv out of the actors as possible. I trusted them. I could have thrown the script away and let them go at it. Aside from keeping the story moving, I favor a natural, funny performance.

5. What part of production was the most fun for you and why?

I would definitely say shooting the green light shining from the door. I wanted to pay homage to Beetlejuice as best I could, and it was awesome to take a crack at it. All the fog machine stuff was great too. It’s fun working with all that.

Paul Noonan and Nick Albanese in ‘Mob Ghost

6. What have you been up to since releasing Mob Ghost? Do you have any more projects in the works?

I recently put out a blooper reel for Mob Ghost and have another short that’s wrapping production soon. It’s called, “Bathroom Trouble.” It stars the Mob Ghost himself, Nick Albanese, as an absentee father who is locked in the bathroom. He has to get out to attend his kids birthday with the hopes of saving his marriage.

A divorced man hires a cheap paranormal investigator to remove a mobster spirit from his apartment. Watch Mob Ghost on Reveel