It's madness, mayhem, and a whole lotta fun on BEHIND THE LENS this week!!

And let me just kick off the show by saying - HEEEEEEE’S BAAAACK!!! SIMON PHILLIPS is back with us today for his fifth appearance on Behind the Lens, which makes him the record holder with the most appearances by a single guest in the 11 years of the show. And it looks like he’ll be back one or two more times before the end of 2025. However, adding to the joys of having Simon on board today, his collaborator/partner in production crime, director, cinematographer, editor, and writer, JAMIE BAILEY, is also with us! It’s a real treat to have Simon and Jamie both on the show together, especially as we’re talking about their latest venture - THE OMRO HEIST.

For those of you who know the work of Simon and Jamie, most of their collaborations have a horror bent to them. Just think MOUSE TRAP (and the upcoming MOUSE TRAP 2: WELCOME TO THE MICKEYVERSE), WHAT LURKS BELOW, DEINFLUENCER (which has 2 sequels upcoming this year), and more, which makes THE OMRO HEIST interesting, as this is a heist film with some interesting characters and plot points. No horror. Just heist, madness, and mayhem, but with multiple themes that are set against the backdrop of a heist.

THE OMRO HEIST is the story of a bank robbery that goes wrong in a once quiet Wisconsin small town called Omro. When an FBI agent goes undercover during the bank siege in his hometown, he discovers the robbery is actually an elaborate cover-up orchestrated by a corrupt politician to destroy evidence of his criminal conspiracy. The locals must then stand up to take down an evil gunman who will kill anyone who gets in his way. No spoiler, but needless to say, SIMON PHILLIPS is the evil gunman, and a delicious one at that.

THE OMRO HEIST is directed by Jamie Bailey, written by Jamie Bailey and Simon Phillips, and stars Simon Phillips, Ken Bressers, Anthony Crivello, Damir Kovic, Nick Biskupek, Adam Huel Potter, Al Dias, Heather Arendt, and more.

As mentioned, not only does Jamie Bailey direct and co-write the film, but he is also the cinematographer and editor. The film is shot on location in Wisconsin, in an actual bank, and in its actual bank vault. And this is key when it comes to Simon. As my regular listeners and readers may know, when Simon writes a script, he writes to a specific location. He gets the location first and locks that in, and then writes the script. A very economical and efficient production tactic.

Due to the schedules of Simon and Jamie, we pre-recorded this exclusive interview with Simon and Jamie on July 17th. It was a great birthday gift for me to speak with them that day, but it also allowed Simon to then focus on his impending nuptials and a myriad of other cinematic projects in the pipeline

As you’ll hear, the boys highlight the unique challenges of filming in a real bank. Simon explains how Ken Bressers, a producer of the film and also an actor playing the Mayor, owned a bank in Wisconsin and let it be used for THE OMRO HEIST. It’s a fun story that you’ll hear Simon regale. Among others, Jamie details the improvisational approach to shooting, using minimal equipment, the creative decisions made on set, the importance of the sound design, and Jamie’s editing process. With nothing but praise for the cast, we talk casting and performance at length, including Simon's villainous and fun performance. Peppered throughout the conversation, Simon discusses the themes within the film, notably the emotional depth of the father-son relationship. The conversation also touches on their collaborative process, as well as their upcoming projects.

So, take a listen as SIMON PHILLIPS and JAMIE BAILEY talk/laugh/chortle and delight and have a heckuva lotta fun talking THE OMRO HEIST.