As the internet grew into the juggernaut of a network over the years, some people got the chance to give there opinions to a larger medium then ever before. Sometimes it was fun to see them simply give there opinions as themselves, playing no real character. However, we actually learned that sometimes it's more entertaining if a character was built for it.

An obvious example is the Angry Video Game Nerd, an over furious reviewer of old video games on Nintendo, Sega, Atari and other consoles that are quote "Shitty as Fuck". Another obvious one is the Nostalgia Critic, a reviewer of bad old movies of Nostalgia feeling from the 80's and 90's. The Critic would launch his own site called That Guy with the Glasses and opened the door for others like him.

One such person is Brad Jones who would build a character around his fandom, and since I'm interviewing him for BthroughZ, you can imagine what he's a mark for. While Brad has made a few characters like Kung Tai Ted and 80's Dan, most will know him as the Cinema Snob, a short tempered critic who reviews the lowest of low films in budget, production and human morals. Since that is what our site loves so much, it's only fitting that he be interviewed at it. So let's get to know the man behind the Snob.

Drew: When did you first have a fascination with Horror films?
Brad: When I was a kid, my mom never really censored what I watched. She wasn't strict with me on movies or television at all, so I was really able to develope a wide taste in movies at an early age. The horror movies were my favorite. In school, there would be me and another a kid who were allowed to watch th stuff, and it was like our thing that no one else in the school had. Horror is very sentimental to me.

Drew: When did you first get into Exploitation films?
Brad: When I first started watching horror, I was really into the slashers, and once I had seen about all of the most popular or notorious of slasher series, I would focus on other elements of horror. One movie would lead to another and I really started getting into true blue exploitation films, whether it was from Bruno Mattei, or the Italian zombie films, or remakesploitation movies, I loved that these movies seemed to have no rules.

Drew: What was your first reaction to them?
Brad: I wished that they were more widely available when I was a kid. A lot of the Italian flicks weren't available around my parts, and when they were, they were most likely cut. Though my video store did have a VHS copy of "City of the Walking Dead," aka Nightmare City, and that was the first Italian horror movie I saw. I was unlike anything I had seen at the time. Loved it.

Drew: When did you first have an interest in film making?
Brad: My friends and I used to make unscripted short films when we were in school. It was our hobby, we had a lot of fun making them. Then I started making some short films of my own, all terrible, but I really wanted to grow as a writer and an actor. When I started making my own full length movies, really I just wanted to make the kinds of movies that I never see anymore. Whether it's a 70s set disco thriller like my movie "Freak Out," or a sleazy 80s cop movie like "Midnight Heat." I make these movies for people who have similar tastes as me and who miss that kind of exploitation flick.

Drew: When did you take your first steps into film making?
Brad: I never went to film school. Film school is great if you want to make other people's work, or just be a studio director. That's never what I wanted. My movies, whether I like the finished product or not, are very personal to me. I love making exploitation films. And I also love writing. So in that regard, I just started making them myself. They're my creations, they're my work. I make them my way, when I have the means to make them.

Drew: Who where your early inspirations and idols?
Brad: As a writer and as a director, my inspirations definitely come from guys like Fulci, George Romero, Bruno Mattei, Tarantino, Scorsese; I've always been a huge fan of people who use soundtracks to tell their story. If you've seen any one of my movies, you can probably tell this.

Drew: You've mentioned before that your favorite film maker of all time was Bruno Mattei, an Italian Director who was known for violent films and un-official film sequels for cash ins, what was it about him you loved so much?
Brad: Because what he does, he does better than any one else in his field. Making cheesy ass, entertaining, unapologetic exploitation films. And he's tackled nearly every single corner of exploitation, wheher it's zombies, nuns, nazis, porn, mondo, cannibals, action films, he has done it. And he does it like a mad man. His movies are what they are, they're not kidding themselves that they're anything different. He and Godfrey Ho are the masters of the true prototype of over the top cartoonish actionsploitation.

Drew: You've also listed the underground cult film "Caligula" as your favorite film of all time, what is it about it that you love so much?
Brad: I just love that that movie exists. The combination of a lush, big budget, star studded Roman Epic, with the same qualities of a Times Square fetish film. I also love Roman History. And "Caligula" goes balls out to take everything sexual an notorious about the Roman Empire, and weaves it into what I feel is a pretty brilliant political satire, and also a study into a mind gone completely mad at the prospect of power.

Drew: Very rarely have you been seen not wearing a suit or at least a suit jacket, when did you start this and why?
Brad: I find a look that I like and I stick with it. I've been wearing suit jackets since long before I started The Cinema Snob. Suits are cool, comfortable, and they make you feel sexy.

Drew: You at one time had an extensive DVD collection that was stolen, when and how did it happen? And did you find out on who did it?
Brad: I was about to move in with a frend of mine, and I had even moved a lot of my stuff over there. Unknown to me though, my friend was a little late on his rent, so his landlord tossed the stuff in the apartment onto the front lawn. He then stole my DVDs and sold them to a local pawn shop.

Drew: While you Write, Direct, Edit and mostly star in your videos, your far from alone, one co-star being Jerrid, how long have you known Jerrid and when did you start working together?
Brad: Jerrid and I have been buddies for probably about five years or so. Both of us have done voice work; myself being a former DJ, and Jerrid benig a former announcer, and we just hit it off. He's one of the funniest and most energetic guys I know, and he's also a good person to have on set during shoots. He worked many years as a news cameraman, and is good to have on the technical side of shoots.

Drew: Another well known co-star is your wife Jillian, when did you meet her?
Brad: Jillian and I dated for a little bit a few years back, but nothing really came of it; but then we hooked up again on the set of my movie "Game Boys." We started dating again, and a couple years later we got married. The first time I ever met her though was whe I was shopping for props for my movie "Cheap," back in 2004. I went into a Hot Topic to look for a nintendo shirt for my character and she was the employee who sold it to me.

Drew: Was weird with her seeing as you where into the films and style that you where?
Brad: Exploitation really isn't her thing. She doesn't usually watch the movies I have to watch for the site. She loves acting though. She never has a problem acting in one of my movies or videos, she has a blast doing it.

Drew: Two other friends of yours who help out are Bryan and Sara, when did you get to know them and when did they begin to help you out?
Brad: I've known them for a few years now, they're two of my best friends. I met them through my friend Bianca, who was my co-star in "Game Boys" and "Midnight Heat." Brian and I have similar tastes to the point to where we're more or less the same person. All three of us watch the same kinds of movies, and hang out about every week. They're also incredibly funny, charismatic, and very good actors, so I love putting them in front of the camera as often as I can.

Drew: How did you conceive of the Cinema Snob character?
Brad: I created the show almost four years ago, and at the time, no one was really spotlighting exploitation films. So I had a lot of free time, and started this show where I play a pretentious critic stuck reviewing cheesy horror flick. The character is inspired by Roger Ebert's review of "Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter," where he angrily over anaylyzed the movie to the point of self parody. I always found it funny when mainstream critics try to review exploitation.

Drew: What are the standards in which a film must have for it to be worthy of the Cinema Snob?
Brad: It must be made before 1995. It doesn't have to be a horror film, but it must have some kind of cheesy or exploitive factor to it.

Drew: What was it like in the early days of doing the episodes, with production, camera and equipment?
Brad: My writing process was a lot different. The reviews were shorter, and were written like a standard movie review. I also had time restrictions then too, with youtube. Now days there's not time restrictions. I'm able to take a lot of notes while watching the movie, and as far as the production side of it, really my shooting and editing process is about the same. Except I have a better camera now. And better lighting.

Drew: How has that change in the time since you started till now?
Brad: I'm more comfortable in the character now. In the beginning of the series, really I was trying to find my comedic voice. I had never really done comedy before I started the Snob. I always played very dark, sinister, and psychotic villains, so playing a comedic role was very new to me. It took me some time to get the hang of it, but I beleive I eventually found my comedic voice.

Drew: What's the theme song you use for almost all episodes?
Brad: It sort of became a trademark for me to use retro television series themes for my shows. To me, it really fits in with the style of the site. The Cinema Snob's is the "Theme From Greatest American Hero," The Big Box comes from "Automan," Kung Tai Ted's is "The Master," Brad Tries is "Newhart," Brad and Jerrid is "Bay City Blues," and Softly From Cable is "Nightman." The only one that doesn't use a tv theme is The Bruno Mattei Show. That theme comes from the soundtrack of Bruno's "SS Girls."

Drew: I mentioned above that Caligula was your favorite film, yet you ripped it for your 100th episode two part special, what was it like ripping on your favorite film?
Brad: I make fun of a lot of movies I like, so I didn't have a problem doing some riffing on Caligula. If anything, that was the easiest review I've written. It's my favorite movie, I've seen it hundreds of times, I practically have it emorized. When watching the movie for the review, I was taking notes on scenes that hadn't even come up yet.

Drew: You've also done several Bruno Mattei films, does feel bad ripping your favorite director's work?
Brad: I don't really do that anymore since I have The Bruno Mattei Show, but I didn't really have a problem with it before. They gave me a lot of material to work with.

Drew: Caligula aside what are you favorite films you've reviewed as the Snob?
Brad: Probaly "Riki Oh," "Lady Terminator," Bruno Mattei's "Terminator II," "New Year's Evil," "Troll 2," "Impulse," to name a few.

Drew: What are your least favorite films you've reviewed as the Snob?
Brad: The worst movie I've done on the Snob is "Las Vegas Bloodbath." Other than that, I've watched quite a few that have made my IQ drop. "Chatterbox," "Superman The 1975 Musical," "Crazy Fat Ethel II," "Black Devil Doll From Hell," and the first "Troll."

Drew: Aside from violent horror films, you've also done occasional Porno films (thanks by the way for letting me know they showed ET getting fucked, makes me sleep well), what standards would it take for a porno to get the Snob treatment?
Brad: As long as it gives me plenty of material to work with, whether it's because it's an incompetant spoof like "Super Hornio Brothers," or just plaine bizarre like "ET The Porno," its gotta have some stuff in there to make fun of.

Drew: You've made references to names and other things that I'll admit I don't know, maybe its cause I'm only 24, is there a specific source you use?
Brad: Nope, all those obscure reference just come from me. Like I said, I started watching these movies when I was a kid. I've broaded my jokes a bit since the show first started, but I still love throwing in obscure movie jokes.

Drew: It was the Snob that got you on that guy with the glasses, how did you get on the site?
Brad: I just simply applied. I wanted to get my site bult before I applied, so I created all of my other shows, and once I had some episodes made of the side shows, I applied. About a week later I got picked up, I was very happy!

Drew: For last Halloween, you hooked up with the site's main man Doug Walker AKA the Nostalgia Critic to review Leprechaun, how did this happen?
Brad: Doug and I were both at a convention last April, where we shot the Mimes video, and we bounced back and forth ideas on what to do fo r a crossover episode. I can't remember who threw out this title first, but we both thought "Leprechaun" would be an awesome one to do. We had a lot of fun doing that episode. I hadn't seen "Leprechaun" in years, it really is a fun movie.

Drew: How was it working with him?
Brad: Doug is one of the nicest, funniest guys to work with. As a director, he's very laid back, he doesn't lose his temper, if he needs you to say a line in a different way, he tells you and is very specific. He knows exactly what he wants as a director, and gets it done, no matter how tight the schedule is. Hanging out with him is always a blast as well.

Drew: You and a fellow reviewer named Phelous did a mock review in which you discussed (or tried at least) Troll 4, how did this come about?
Brad: Phelan and I had both done the Troll series on our own shows, and we hit it off really well in when we met on Kickassia. He's a great guy. And given that we both watch similar movies, we had a lot to joke about. We wanted to do a crossover, so we liked the idea of reviewing a fake movie (Troll 4) that would suit our own shows, and also do sort of a spoof of cameos by having people randomly come out the elevator for no reason.

Drew: Have there been any other cross collaborations with reviewers from TGWTG?
Brad: Film Brain and I did one on the Christopher Walken movie "McBain," which we had a lot of fun doing. Bennett and I recently did one on "The Human Tornado" since we both did the first "Dolemite" on our own shows. I had several of the guys on a Brad Tries with me. Ed Glaser and I love working together, he played Master Kempo Dojo on Kung Tai Ted, we both love cheesy action movies. LordKat also played Uncle Lino in an episode of The Big Box.

Drew: If a fan had an idea for a film for you, how would they go about suggesting it?
Brad: They usually send my a plot synopsis to my email address. Some are quite good!

Drew: How did you create Kung Tai Ted?
Brad: I was trying to think of a pretty far out, silly show to do, and for some reason the image of me in a karate outfit stuck out. So I wanted it to be like those really bad martial arts instruction videos, where the host doesn't really know martial arts, but thinks he does and gives horrible advice. And it gave me an opportunity to spotlight some chop socky action flicks, which I love.

Drew: The point of KTT is to focus on corny fights from films, have you always been a fan of low budget fight films?
Brad: Ever since I was a kid. The low budget or 70s to early 90s martial arts films are the best; those are the ones where it actually looks like they're fighting. Never been a fan of the wire-fu stuff.

Drew: Was there a movie you had in mind when you created this series?
Brad: I definitely wanted the first episode to be on "Undefeatable." It's notoriously knows as having the worst fight scene ever. I disagree with it being the worst, but it is one of the funniest.

Drew: How did you create 80's Dan?
Brad: 80s Dan was supposed to be just a one off joke for the "Caligula" episode. All of my other characters popped up in the episode, so I thought it would be funny if a character who doesn't exist pops up, then disappears when that fact is brought up. I'm an 80s freak, so an 80s centric character was the first thing I thought of when I was brainstorming.

Drew: I've only seen 80's Dan once, is he meant to be a character used from time to time?
Brad: He'll have his own show. Like I said, it was only supposed to be a one off joke, but the reaction to that scene was so positive, that I decided to branch it out to its own series. It'll be coming soon. I already brought him back in my "Brad Tries New Coke" episode.

Drew: This has become pretty much your second most popular series, how did you come up with it?
Brad: I needed a filler video. I was behind on some of my editing, and wanted to get something put on the site, so I did a vlog of me trying out a new Mountain Dew. The reaction from that vlog was so high that I did a couple more vlogs like that. Reactions kept getting stronger, so I turned it into its own series. I really love the history of discontinued and rare sodas, I've always been kind of a geek about that kind of stuff. So now I get to talk about them on the site, then try them out.

Drew: In this series, you try random things you haven't tried before or haven't had in a long time, is there a specific food or drink you stick too?
Brad: I'll try any discontinued beverage. I'm more interested in the sodas than the foods, since I'm more of a soda geek, but I definitely get the appeal of the food episodes.

Drew: With this series, you've shown a love for the long lost Crystal Pepsi, so much so that you tried campaigning to get it back, do you think it'll someday back?
Brad: I hope so. I think it would go over swimmingly if they brought that back. But, unfortunately, I don't think they have the balls, which is weird because Pepsi takes a lot of risks with their products. There are other clear colas you can find though, on different obscure soda sites. Also, 18 year old Crystal Pepsi from ebay...still surprisingly good!

Drew: What's the best thing, besides Crystal Pepsi, that you've had on this show?
Brad: Of course, the Surge from Norway was great, also the different fairfoods we had were delicious, like the cheesecake on a stick.

Drew: What's the worst thing you've had on this show?
Brad: The Brussel Sprouts Soda. That was worse than the insects. It tasted like carbonated old butter. It's the closest I came to throwing up on the show.

Drew: If someone has something for you to try, how can they go around getting it to you?
Brad: People email me about stuff hey have to send it to me, and if it sounds like a great product to be featured, people will send items to my mailing address.

Drew: This is a rather unique series, how did you come up with it?
Brad: Even when I was on youtube I wanted to do a series that spotlights Big Box VHS. I never really got around to it, but when I started my site, the perfect opportunity arose. I wanted to make it sort of like a sleazy infomercial for not only the movies, but the tapes themselves, while also providing a little history on the companies that released them.

Drew: In this, you use a heavy accent, was there any inspiration for it?
Brad: The Shamwow commercials were getting big around the time I created it, so the Vic voice is basically a tweaked Vince Offer impression crossed with a little Bugs Bunny.

Drew: With this series, it's actually Jillian that's the star as she she's the one promoting the big box with a rather...interesting close up, was this hers or your idea?
Brad: It was my idea. Using sex to promote VHS tapes I thought was a funny idea. And if you already can't tell that I started out making exploitation films, definitely check out The Big Box.

Drew: How do you find Jillian's outfits for the show?
Brad: They're her own clothes. I'm a very lucky man =)

Drew: You've also made several films as well, what was the first film you made?
Brad: The first full length movie I made was "Freak Out." I wanted to make a dark 70s era thriller that was also inspired by a true story. The story and characters in the film are loosely based on the Dean Corll case from the early 70s.

Drew: What was it like making it?
Brad: It was pretty easy actually, very laid back. The movie isn't all that well made, but it was my first movie and shot on an extremely limited budget. I did a lot of things in making that that I would never do in later movies, such as having the music actually playing on the set in scenes, but like I said, it was my first movie.

Drew: On your site, you can find a couple of your films, what films do you have there and what are they about?
Brad: I did a movie about snuff films called "Cheap," which was definitely a learning experience. It was my first time editing a movie. After that I did "Midnight Heat," , my 80s cop movie, which isn't on the site yet. Then I did my comedy "Game Boys" about two video game geeks who hold a Custer's Revenge competition.

Drew: In it, you and everyone else play almost parody like versions of yourselves, how was it playing a different Snob?
Brad: I basically approached the role as if I was playing myself, since I more or less was. Notice how the character looks more like me than the Snob does. At the beginning of the film, it shows the Snob taking off his glasses, then my regular glasses are put on. As if I'm transitioning back into being myself, out of character. The main reason for this is I couldn't have kept my hair slicked back in the desert without it looking wild and crazy.

Drew: You've been known as a fan of Manimal, when did you discover the show and why did you love it?
Brad: I love 80s television, it's what I grew up on. I also love the short lived retro gimmicky shows like "Manimal." And "Manimal" is one of the most entertaining. I first saw the series when it was reran on some channel in the late 80s. Dr. Jonathan Chase is one of the most charismatic, lovingly smug charcters on 80s tv. I wish it lasted longer.

Drew: While you do have a section of reviews that are just you talking about films you've seen in theatres or rented just as yourself with no character, however you've actually had a rather comedic couple of reviews of you and Jillian (mostly Jillian) talking about the Twilight films, how did these come about?
Brad: When New Moon came out, I thought that was a funny idea for a "review." As lambated as that series is, I wanted to do something special like that, then when "Eclipse" came out, I decided to do the same type of thing. I wanted to spoof the whole image of the Twilight fangirl and her disinterested lover.

Drew: You've watched some of the most vile, graphic, disgusting films of all time and it seemed like none of them had bothered you, until you watched a Serbian Film which did what no other film had done, pushed you beyond your limit, what exactly was it that made this film the worse? And unlike the video, you can talk about it here.
Brad: The movie has sequences in it that are more or less child porn (fake obviously, but done realistically). No other way to put it really. All of the other gore and debauchery in the film I didn't have a problem with. It was what it was. But then, suddenly, a newborn baby is raped right on camera. I'm sorry, no. I don't want to see that.

Drew: There was a series on this site called Sick Fucking Films by Patrick who over several issues talked about the sickest films in an attempt to find the sickest of them all (most of them being up your ally) and the one he called the Sickest of them all was Japan's first Guinea Pig film. Having watched A Serbian film, what's you stance on that?

Drew: In the Nostalgia Critic's recent Christmas Special, an alternate you was actually a Porn star and Jillian was none other then your anxious co-star (must be fate), what would you name your own Porn?
Brad: I'd make a Caligula style historical epic on Sodom & Gomorrah. Or a 70s cop porno called "Hot Karl," featuring detective Karl Kox.

Drew: For the record, I was going to call it the Big Box, what do you think?
Brad: I love it!

Drew: Do you have any Long term ambitions or goals?
Brad: I love acting. I know the Snob thing isn't going to last forever, so I'm hoping I can start acting in more low budget movies over the years.

Drew: Any Advice for someone who wants to do what you do?
Brad: If you love what you're doing, stick with it. If people aren't watching right away, don't let that bother you. Just have fun making your product. And if your product is great, the audience will find its way to you.

And as usual in my reviews, I do random questions for fun

Drew: Food you could live off of till you die?
Brad: Chinese Food

Drew: Favorite Alcoholic Drink?
Brad: The Shatner. It's Crowne Royal, Ameretto, and Bailey's.

Drew: Favorite Non-Alcoholic Drink? Besides Crystal Pepsi.
Brad: Coke made with real sugar.

Drew: Favorite Game Console and game for it?
Brad: The Sega CD. It combines my love of two things. Cheesy B-movies and retro video games. Surgical Strike is a great game for it. I love any game where when you lose someone yells at you.

Drew: Favorite film besides Caligula?
Brad: My other favorite movies include "Blue Velvet," "A Clockwork Orange," the original "Dawn of the Dead," "The Toxic Avenger," "Vice Squad," "The Great Race," "The Hollywood Knights" etc.

Drew: Place you want to visit before you die?
Brad: Probably Vegas.

Drew: Favorite Music genre and band in it?
Brad: 80s New Wave. I'm a big Pet Shop Boys fan.

Drew: Current Religious Stance?
Brad: Agnostic

Drew: Favorite TV show?
Brad: Mystery Science Theater 3000

Drew: Favorite Swear word? (I have a strong feeling it'll rime with duck)
Brad: I tend to say the term "fucking Christ" a lot.

Drew: If you could do something else then make movie or videos, what would it be?
Brad: I'd run a video store.

Drew: You eying my lemonade?
Brad: Yes, you crazy old lady, I am eying your lemonade! It's really hot out here, and I am incredibly parched!

Drew: And finally, anything you would like to say to your fans?
Brad: Thank you so much for sticking with me over the years and for being nothing but supportive. For those who have been here since the beginning, I'm so glad you've stuck with me for nearly four years. And for all my new fans, I promise things will only get crazier.