Eight questions for Chris Waitt, director of the documentary short, Heavy Metal Jr., which follows a band of Scottish pre-teens as they try to rebel against their overly-supportive parents and a world that thinks they’re cute. Watch a clip from the film above.

1. How did you find out about Hatred? Were you a Satanic metal head? Are you now?

Chris Waitt: I am a metal fan, yes, but that’s not how I came across the band. I met the lead singer when I was making another film, a fictional one, and happened to be casting at his school. He was perfect for one of the roles but his hair was pretty long, which was wrong for the part as the film was set in the 1930s. I asked him if he would cut his hair for the role. He said never. I asked him why not and he explained that he was in a metal band. When he told me the band’s name I was blown away and knew I had to make a film about them.

2. What drew you to them as a filmmaker? Were you ever in a band as a child? (Did your parents allow you to rebel, or did they also attempt to co-opt your own efforts at rebellion in order to vicariously salvage their own failed-dreams?)

CW: I was in a number of useless bands when I was young, and am still in a semi-useless band now. The main thing about being in a band when you’re young is to play loud. My parents have always been very encouraging, and my Dad taught me to play guitar - so actually I didn’t have to do much rebelling in that area.

3. How long did you film?

CW: We shot for 10 days, spread over the course of about 3 months.

4. Did you ever get involved in the band drama? Like, did you weigh in on whether it should it be Satan Rock or Satan Rocks?

CW: I tried not to, but they asked my opinion a lot, and got me to help out with riffs and chords. My vote went for Satan Rocks, for sure.

5. We found this comment online, posted by Hatred’s lead singer, Paul McArthur on 4/3/2007: “Hey Everyone, looking back on hatred it seems so funny now lol, im now persuing my solo career, but dont worrie, i am much better than 2 years ago, watching the documentary now makes me cringe , and to think that its STILL going round the globe ha!. well add me if you want people and thanks for being so loyal to hatred/ heavy metal jr.”
Is this true? Did the band break up? What caused the break up in your opinion?

CW: I’m not totally sure they actually broke up - I think they just went to different schools. But, yes, essentially, it is with great sadness that I confirm that Hatred no longer exist. By the time the documentary was finished it was clear that some of the musical differences between the band members were reaching breaking point. As far as I know, at that time, two members of the band were sacked and Hatred renamed themselves Fusion and went down a more soft rock / eighties Power Ballad path. I also received a disturbing and, for me, sad phonecall from Paul’s mum to say that he had finally had his hair cut short.

6. Where can we buy a Hatred cd?

CW: I’m not sure you can. Hatred were an unsigned band and so never had any official releases. However, I can burn CDs of their music at a very reasonable cost to those interested.

7. I’ve heard you are a bit of a recluse, true? Care to talk about it?

CW: I’d like to know who said that. It’s not entirely true. In fact, I often go out - generally at night, walking the streets alone in a long cloak.

8. Americans these days always talk about “British humor,” what is Scottish humor?

CW: I’m probably not qualified to answer that one, as I am an Englishman who happened to live in Scotland for a few years. Scotland is cool but I’m not sure that the film is a great example of Scottish humor. I’d like to think that the eternal struggle to rock like satan is a universal theme.