Krisztian Egry - Interview
Hungarian director and director of photography with a passion for storytelling through film. He has learned everything he knows about film through hands-on experience, including working as an assistant for one of the best photographers in Hungary. Krisztian's first project, "Memoirs of Métiers," is a documentary series about dying craftsmanhips. The pilot part of the series has been selected for more than 20 international film festival programs and has won 8 gold medals. He finds inspiration in the region's unique cultures and landscapes, and has a deep respect for Buddhism and its teachings. Although as a filmmaker, he prefers to choose dramatic subjects Krisztian considers himself an old child rather than an adult, maintaining a sense of wonder and curiosity that fuels his creativity and keeps him engaged with the world around him. His love of learning through experience makes him looks forward to to continuing his journey as a filmmaker.
What's the absolutely necessary ingredient to be a good afilmmaker?
Adaptable. As a documentary director, I have found it helpful to keep Bruce Lee's wise advice in mind: 'Be water, my friend'. For me this means that you should adapt to the environment and circumstances around you. Although I have ideas at every stage of the documentary creation process, I strive not to become too attached to them. Instead, I remain open to new perspectives and possibilities, allowing the project to evolve and take shape in its own unique way.
First and last cinematographic crush?
The Salt of the Earth. A film about Sebastião Salgado's life and career.
How old you were when you decided you wanted to be a Filmmaker?
I still haven't decided what I want to be. These days, when I work as a documentary filmmaker, it's quite satisfying. I really like my very first documentary project, a documentary series called "Memoirs of Métiers", which is about fading Hungarian craftsmanship. I am learning so much about all aspects of filmmaking. From script writing to sales.
For you a Film is...
For me Film offers a multi-faceted experience of learning, personal growth, and entertainment for both as creator and as viewer as well. Despite the challenges that come with the creative process, I am committed to embracing them as opportunities for growth and development. As a filmmaker, I am particularly drawn to the power of film as a tool for sharing knowledge and bringing about meaningful change.
What do you feel when you're acting/directing/writing?
A little bit of this and a little bit of that. It can change in every minute. As a documentary filmmaker, I often find myself in challenging situations that can have a profound effect on me. Once, when I was struggling with my emotions, a friend of mine gave me some advice. He suggested that I should not judge my feelings as good or bad and avoid identifying too strongly with my emotions. Instead, my friend told me to treat my emotions like guests in the hall of my consciousness. Like guests, they leave and don't stay forever. Since then, I always try to remember this and greet the feelings that come my way with the same 'useful indifference'.
You can go to the Movies with an actor/director/screenplayer that you
love. What kind of movie do you choose and with who you're gonna whatch it?
I re-watched "A Beautiful Mind" with my love a few days back. No director on earth can top Her company.
Audrey Hepburn used to say “Nothing is Impossible”, what do you think
about it?
Although it can be tempting to dream big and pursue seemingly impossible goals, it is important to stay grounded in reality. Achieving our goals requires energy, time, and unshakable faith in our work. However, we must remember that every man made thing that exists today on this earth was once considered impossible. So while we should aim high, it is equally important to be rooted in the present and take practical steps towards our goals. This approach can help us protect ourselves from potential disappointments.
Can you live just of your passion?
No. For now it seems 'impossible' just to make a living out of producing my own documentaries. However, I am doing my best to improve step by step every day. I believe this period of my life requires a humble attitude, slow breathing, and a calm, clear and focused mind.
What's more important talent or luck?
Talent alone is not enough to reach one's full potential; it requires an insane amount of perseverance and dedication to develop it. Moreover, unchecked talent can easily lead to egoism and self-destructive behavior. To use a metaphor, it's like starting a fire with a twig: you must build it up constructively and control it carefully, or else it can easily get out of hand and cause harm. Similarly, it's important to handle our own talent with respect and humility, recognizing it as a gift that must be nurtured and directed towards positive goals. And luck ... I think the definition of luck when preparedness meets opportunity. This will definitely happen sooner or later if someone does his job with enough humility and perseverance. So basically, luck is just a matter of persistence.
You must go to a desert island but you can bring with you just one movie...
Definitely some kind of documentary about how to survive on a desert island.
Have you ever accepted a movie to direct/ a script to write even
if you didn't like the project?
Life ain't no cupcake... Although I may have to take on jobs that I don't enjoy that much, it's necessary to support my own creative projects and that's okay.
What's the best compliment you have received about your Job?
When I finished the pilot part of 'Memoirs of Métiers' I showed it to the protagonist, called Zoli. He is a 44 years old coal burner. He watched the film silently and he said with tearful eyes: 'It is more beautiful than reality'. He was happy.
Are you satisfied about your career?
As I am still in the early stages of my career, it may be premature to discuss it in depth. However, working on 'Memoirs of Métiers' is a truly rewarding experience.
Do you have a good luck charm?
No.
Which is the worst moment on set ?
I do not remember a real bad situation.
How do you feel when a job you've been part of it's ending?
Nothing special. What comes around goes around.
Have you ever lied to get a job?
Everybody lies. I still lie about my drone pilot skills... However, I always get the shot somehow.
If you should win an Oscar your first thought would go to…
As a director, I state that the Oscar is not an individual achievement, but the result of cooperation with a team. I acknowledge and thank all those who worked with me on the specific project for which I received the Oscar. Then I would also thank my parents and, as a tribute to my father's decisive role in my life, I would hand over the award to him. Finally, I would continue to work with the same dedication and focus as before.
Dino Muccio - Interview
In 1996 he moved to Wilmington and pursued a stunt career. Some of the films and TV shows he has worked on are: The Bourne Ultimatum, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Hunger Games, Insurgent...The Vampire Diaries, One Tree Hill, Sleepy Hollow, Eastbound and Down, The Righteous Gemstone. He is a fan and student of Old Hollywood, in particular, the silent comedies. His studies of Buster Keaton (along with some Charlie Chaplin) opened him up to the way they did things back when making movies was in its infancy. Recently, he has looked into the works of Orson Wells and John Ford. In 2018, he decided to try to make his own short films similar to the way they did back then; passionate, simplified, figuring things out as they go, and - PRIMARILY - to entertain an audience.
When did you realised you wanted to be a Filmmaker\Actor?
I was 12 years old when I realized that I wanted to grow up and be a stuntman. I fulfilled that dream at 22 when I started doing stunts in live shows. Finally got my SAG card at age 31 and have been doing stunts ever since. After two and a half decades in the business - and seeing the changes in the industry - I thought I’d see if I could bring back (to a degree) the old way of making movies. Having studied Buster Keaton for the last 20 years, and learning the way the industry worked back then (and the way he did, in particular) I wanted to see if I could bring that to the 21st century. My tribute short film to Buster Keaton, Going Places, was shot much in the way he shot his (based on the information I have available of his time as a director).
Do you remember your first time at the Movies?
Yes. I think it was 1977 or around there. My father took myself and my siblings to see Freaky Friday. But it wasn’t until a year later, when I begged my father to take us to see Hooper, the Burt Reynolds movie about an aging stuntman. I enjoyed that movie so much! it would plant the seed of pursuing a stunt/movie career.
If you should change country where would you like to work?
I'm a homebody, and I love America (with all her flaws). I have no desire to move (I know, sounds boring LOL)… But I would like to work in other countries; Italy, Scotland.
Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…
I don’t know that any film could impact my life in a way that would make it better or worse. I’ve always watched movies to escape reality - to be entertained. I guess you could say that Hooper was the cause of a pursuit of a stunt career. That made it “better” to a degree.… Buster Keaton’s Steamboat Bill Jr. was another movie (which I didn’t see until I was in my early 40s) that blew me away. The scale of the gags in that movie, his athleticism, his timing… those wide shots showing us that he really did do that has impressed me tremendously.
What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?
I have no issues with those schools. I don’t know enough about either to really comment. It seems to me film schools might not be focusing enough on the early days of filmmaking. Instead, they may be focusing on whatever current trend is predominate in movies today - thinking the audience really wants that when, in reality, they just want to be entertained. It is not that I’m against particular styles; the movie going audience is wide and diverse… there’s an audience for every style, I think. I just happen to believe that your average viewer wants their focus on a good story and not have their brains playing catch-up to the shaky/jumpy camera movements and/or the dizzying rapid cuts of the editing.
Have you ever hated your ambition?
I’ve never hated my ambition… But I’ve learned that if you make it your “idol”, other areas of your life suffer.
Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was he right?
I would need more context to that quote. What does he mean by “sick”?
Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?
I see an audience, completely separate from what is playing on the large screen. They are objective observers, not part of the story. They are enjoying the story of other characters who are not part of the real world. I see two hours of joyfully watching a movie that is edited in a way that is comfortable, pleasing on the eye… I see an audience who walk out of the theater believing - and knowing - that this piece of entertainment was made for their enjoyment.
Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?
Buster Keaton (through books and his movies). Growing up in Vaudeville, performing in front of live audiences, he knew what worked and didn’t work as far as entertaining an audience goes. He brought that into his films. He was ahead of his time and, some of his later films went over the audience’s head. But he did it, not to showcase his brilliance as a filmmaker, but truly to entertain.
About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…
After 56 years of life, and after a quarter of a century in the film business, I’ve learned that when one dreams big, he/she often loses sight of more important things. A dream - a goal - is good, but, as my favorite band (Rush) says in one of their songs (Prime Mover) “the point of the journey is not to arrive”. Enjoy the process. Learn from every experience: good and bad. Know that suffering and hardships often lead to a greater character. We often see most clearly after the fog of suffering has cleared… My worst nightmare, I guess, would be to learn that I sacrificed all for a dream and am left with the fulfillment of the dream and an emptiness of hollowed relationships. One can have both (a fulfilled dream and good relations), but it takes momentary surrendering of desires for the greater good of another.
How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?
It’s subjective, isn’t it? What is meant by “good" cinematographic culture? If we’re speaking of “good” as something that is mind-independent, then I say it’s extremely important. If we’re speaking of “good” as relative to an individual, then no so important. In my view, if we have a cinematographic culture who make/enjoy movies for what they were made for (entertainment), then that’s great! Anything for its own sake is, I think, self-defeating. Art for art’s sake is intellectually dishonest. The art of filmmaking is in the filmmaker’s natural and instinctual approach to it, serving the story, entertaining an audience. We go to movies to escape reality. We have enough ups and downs in life, why should we feel the weight of that when we escape into another world playing out on the screen.
What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker\Actor?
Better skill at screenwriting, improving on directing. Continue -and get better at - making my cast and crew feel (and know) just how valuable they are… that their love and joy at working on my projects shine through. This industry often treats us as cogs in a machine rather than valuable persons bringing their talent to a network or studios project. We work harder - and longer - on sets these days. We don’t laugh as much on set… I work on a TV show and by the third or fourth episode I’m seeing crew people with long faces, tired… Not always, but frequently for sure… For me, the goal is two-fold: make a movie that entertain, and have a cast and crew who truly enjoyed the process; stress-free and laughing the whole time.
A big producer give you the chance to direct\to play (in) the remake of one of your favorite black and white Movie (if you have one)… what film do you choose?
Steamboat Bill Jr.
Film Industry it’s a tough place and sometimes is normal to feel lost and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated?
There isn’t one person. I’m fortunate to have several friends and family members who back my pursuit.
Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film you need 3 things: The script, the script and the script". Do you agree with him?
Yes, but not only that. The script is the blueprint but a good story can be told in a poor way. If we lose the audience then the script wasn’t enough.
What’s your most ambitious project for the future?
Probably my full-length version of my short film MERCY - who is the main character of the full-length version screenplay titled, The Whisper of Caper Fear Island.
Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative?
Not for me, but perhaps for others.
What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor?
That I had the financial ability to put more people to work in doing what they love, to create an environment for them that increases their love and joy of movie-making and working together with others… to make sure they know that their joy and success is more important to me as the success of the film. Although I believe I’ll have a successful film if I have a cast and crew who know how appreciated and valued they are - a cast and crew who know that I have their backs and believe in them
Brandon Trask - Interview
I was never a connoisseur of literature. Instead, I lost myself in the movies. One of my favorite shows in the sixties was “The Wild Wild West.” In my backyard, I constructed small western towns, assembled makeshift gadgets, and pretended to be James West saving the damsel in distress. I always thought I’d find the meaning of life in a movie.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor, director or screenplay writer?
In 2007, my mother passed away from Alzheimer's disease. I dug one of her short stories from a dusty box in her closet with rejection letters paper clipped to it. I spent several years studying the craft of writing, and years later, I adapted it into a screenplay. In 2014, I sold all my possessions and moved to the city of angels to make her dream a reality, and the film "On the Brain" entered the world.
How did your family react?
My father was skeptical and had no faith I could pull off a project with so many moving parts. After I built a team and found a director he admired and trusted, he decided to invest in the project. (gotta believe in yourself)
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
As a kid, I was kicked out of the Cub Scouts for mouthing off, so no, unfortunately. I was a loner growing up, a latchkey kid. I loved dissembling motorcycles and repainting the parts. I always looked inward to build outwardly. I depended on my ingenuity.
Who's your biggest fan?
My betta fish, Harlod. He always gives thoughtful criticism.
What brings you inspiration the most?
The fear of loneliness. I exist vicariously through my characters, often using them to inspire or quell my inner demons. In 2016, I became homeless after overspending on the film "On the Brain." To stay sober and sane while living on the streets, I wrote "Baby Girl," an allegory of my suffering.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
Ummm, so many talented thespians are working today. But, uh, Naomi Watts. She's feral, relentless, and unpredictable. She absorbs her characters. Watch "Adore." Amazing performance.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
"The Outlaw Josey Wales," directed by Clint Eastwood. Based on a book by Forrest Carter called "Gone to Texas." The character construction, through lines and clever dialog, made this a classic. One of my favorite lines from the movie delivered by Bill McKinney is: "Not a hard man to Track. Leaves dead men where ever he goes."
What's the movie that taught you the most?
Recently, I watched the mini-series "Five Days at Memorial," based on a non-fiction book by Sheri Fink. The story follows the doctors, nurses, and patients at Memorial Hospital as they suffer through Hurricane Katrina without help from FEMA, Tenet, the owner of Memorial Hospital, and the local authorities. I felt this gut-wrenching experience viscerally, having had surgery and being incapacitated in a hospital before when the air-conditioning unit wasn't working. I am grateful for waking up each morning.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
No. My most outstanding quality is perseverance. I learned a valuable lesson when I dropped out of high school in tenth grade due to a motorcycle wreck, and that is when I start something to finish it; no matter how hard it gets, the true meaning of myself is within the journey.
On set what excites you the most?
From my imagination to the page, being on the set is an adrenaline rush because the script comes to life and is interpreted in ways by talented actors who bring their own backstories, experiences, and thoughts to the characters, changing them in ways I'd never imagined. A great working set is collaborative and fluid, where all disciplines interact as a unit, from grips to cinematographers to the set decorators and the prop manager. Once experienced, you will be addicted.
And what scares you the most?
Losing footage is a nightmare. On "Baby Girl," we lost all the footage due to a faulty hard drive on the first day of filming. It was a nine-day shoot, and we couldn't reschedule the actors or afford to do a pickup day.
So, the decision was to push forward or scrub the film. We decided to continue, and the film haunts the world today.
What's your next project?
I finished a ten-episode series entitled "Intravenous AP." Logline: A deranged scientist creates an AI synthetic angel by linking a human to God through the pineal gland with an Omnibot to take control of the world.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
I wouldn't want to have anybody else's career. I prefer to earn my way through the trials and tribulations of my creations to become the best human being I can be.
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of...
Hope and Passion. I am passionate about storytelling in hopes of enriching and entertaining the world and having a better understanding of myself during the process.
For you Cinema is...
Sitting in the back of my parent's 66 Continental at the El Rancho drive-ins in San Jose, watching spaghetti westerns with the windows rolled up in the smokey environment listening to the crackling steely speaker attached to the window. Excited, standing in line for the first 1977 Star Wars picture with my dad as indiscriminate chatter filled the crowd and joints were passed down the line. Bonding moments with my parents that have lasted a lifetime.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Absolutely! In 1968, I was seven, crumpled on the couch, hidden under a blanket at 12 am watching "Night of the Living Dead" on a fuzzy antiquated television with rabbit ears as the antenna. Because the film was in black and white, it seemed genuine and was a terrifying experience. To this day, that film still resonates with me.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Certainly! I'd wear a red burgundy vested suit with black Halo sneakers. I'd dye my hair blonde, and my speech would open with, “The only significance of a human is entertainment."
Do you think you're gonna win it?
Yes, I would. Oh, snap! ChatGPT just won the best original screenplay for “Chrono Catharsis.” Oh well, Walmart is hiring greeters. Nope, Elon Musk’s Optimus robots just filled the positions.
Kevin Michael Irvine - Interview
Writer/director/editor THE GREENSTONE NARRATED BY ORSON WELLES (34 minute film available on YouTube). Writer/director/editor THE FIFTH VICTIM WAS TRUTH (45 minute Cinemascope thesis film also available on YouTube). Author, novel “Prince Ric: A Tale of Coming Out" and short story collection "Growing Up Gay Stories" both available on Amazon Kindle. Writer/director/editor AS LONG AS IT TAKES feature now on festival circuit via Film Freeway; awards include Official Selection Orlando Film Festival, Los Angeles CineFest, Palm Springs Divergent Film Festival, Colortape Film Festival, winner Best Editing Los Angeles Independent Film Festival, and Silver Award, International Film Competition Festival. Industry career work: creative advertising executive: Sony Pictures Entertainment and later, Twentieth Century Fox. Currently seeking representation for CRY feature screenplay.
When did you realize you wanted to be a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?
At six. Later in grade school, tried to write a play about the American Civil War. It went over-budget.
Do you remember your first time at the Movies?
BAMBI. Made my mom take me home because there weren't going to be any cars up there.
If you should change country where would you like to work?
London. Already worked at Twickenham Film Studios and would enjoy returning.
Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…
Ben -Hur, El Cid, Mutiny on the Bounty
What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?
Graduate work at Boston University was enormously helpful.
Have you ever hated your ambition?
Never
Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was
he right?
Why would any artist want to sick people as their audience? No, they are not sick.
Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?
The major motion picture studios where I have worked: Walt Disney Studios, Columbia/Tristar (Sony Pictures Studios), Twentieth Century Fox Studios
Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?
Marlon Brando, David Lean, Stanley Kubrick, Orson Welles, Ridley Scott
About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…
Seeking representation. No nightmare.
How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?
Movies speak to the world. The only art form of its kind that reaches so many.
What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?
Write more, procrastinate less.
A big producer give you the chance to direct\to play (in) the remake of
one of your favorite black and white Movie (if you have one)… what film
do you choose?
Maybe YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU. Otherwise, none.
Film Industry it’s a tough place and sometimes is normal to feel lost
and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated?
The man in the mirror.
Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film you need 3 things: The
script, the script and the script". Do you agree with him? What’s your
most ambitious project for the future?
Any of my original feature scripts.
Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative?
Not sure I understand the question. Does melancholy make an artist creative?
If one is depressed, it's difficult to be creative at anything.
What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?
Boston University taught Communication. For me, success means communicating with as many people as possible.
David Lewis - Interview
Actor/writer/producer studied acting at Oral Roberts University. It was there that he met his future wife, Christina, when they both joined a mime troupe led by Wesley Brainard; a graduate of Marcel Marceau’s school in Paris. It was in this troupe that David developed an appreciation for the ability to tell a story without using words. After college, David and his wife moved to Tanzania to start a school for underprivileged kids, after returning to the States, David continued to pursue a career in acting, managing to get a small role on an episode of the SyFy network series “Paranormal Witness.” David and some friends decided to create a web series using the networking platform Zoom. David offered to produce the series, and enjoyed the challenges that producing brings. David has produced several short films and is in post-production for his first feature film “Broken Redemption.”
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screenplayer?
I’ve always wanted to be an actor, well as far back as I can remember. I think watching Star Wars and realizing I can become part of a different world cemented that desire. You know the old adage “what I really want to do is direct?” That was not me, I really wanted to act! As I matured I learned to love directing, directing my first film at 47 years old. As for writing, I took a class in college that helped me realize the joy of creating my own worlds and stories.
How did your family react?
My parents were always supportive of my dreams. When I started working background in film, my Dad worked a few films with me because he enjoyed it too.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
My muse is my wife, the love of my life, she has supported me for almost 25 years of marriage. My role model is Laura Holland, who first taught me screenwriting. Professor Holland is a well grounded person that knows who she is and what she believes. She taught me to stand up for what you believe in.
Who's your biggest fan?
My wife, Christina. Even when I’m down on my own art, she encourages me. Also our 10 kids always enjoy watching me perform.
What brings you inspiration the most?
My faith. I was ordained as a minister when I was young and am still a follower of the teaching of Christ.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
Denzel Washington, he is a solid actor.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
I can’t say that I have. They are two different styles of storytelling though. Movies allow a group of artists create a world for you to sit back and enjoy. Books allow you to imagine the world you want.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
I think I learn something from every movie I watch.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
I kind of did quit art for the years I worked in humanitarian aid. We did put on a musical one year at the school in Tanzania which was interesting.
On set what excites yuo the most?
Showing up ready to go, I love everything about being on set.
And what scares you the most ?
Not doing my best. I’m always afraid that what I give isn’t going to be the best I can do.
What's your next project?
I’m working on a feature film that deals with a sexual predator that is a “respected member of the community.” I am still in script development because this topic has to be treated well.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
Rowan Atkinson. The man is a comedy genius.
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
Grit and determination.
For you Cinema is....
Collaborative art.
Doyou think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
I love black and white, my family didn’t own a color TV until I was 9 years old. When I was 13 I saved enough to buy a TV for my room, and all I could afford was black and white, so I learned to enjoy things in black and white. The first short i produced, written and directed by Sami Carol was in black and white and I think it really helped bring life to the darker subject of the film.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Of course. During my college years I always talked about “when I get my Oscar.”
Do you think you're gonna win it?
At this point, probably not, but you never know.
Mitsuo Kurihara - Interview
I was born and grew up in Sayam City Saitama Prefectue in Japan. I have started shooting feature films when I was 50 years of age and more recently I started shooting movies using locations around my city of Sayama. There are two important motivations in my movie making. One is to promote my movie and the other is to promote my city of Sayama. My next project will be about a black woman from African continent who came to Sayama city as a refugee and started an IT business in the city.
When did you realised you wanted to be a Filmmaker?
At the time I graduated from the university.
Do you remember your first time at the Movies?
At the time I was in elementary school.
If you should change country where would you like to work?
United States.
Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…
Better : The Pawnbroker
Worse : L'Année dernière à Marienbad
What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?
Maybe I am glad that I did not attend one of them when I was young
Have you ever hated your ambition?
Always
Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was he right?
I don’t think so. I rather enjoy thinking about films. So, I rather think thinking about movies make your life better.
Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?
Nothing.
Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?
Jonas Mekas
About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…
Dream : win a big lottery and make movies I want to make.
Nightmare: lose my incentive to make movies
How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?
Important for myself but not essential for the general betterment of people
What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker?
I want to make movies I want to make, still make some money out of it to further proceed with my movie making.
A big producer give you the chance to direct\to play (in) the remake of
one of your favorite black and white Movie (if you have one)… what film
do you choose?
The Pawnbroker
Film Industry it’s a tough place and sometimes is normal to feel lost
and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated?
Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film you need 3 things: The
script, the script and the script". Do you agree with him?
I think the most important thing in movie making is to maintain incentive to make movies. I agree that the script is important but in case of myself, sometimes I felt good script turned out to be not so interesting as a movie and vice versa. I rather enjoy unpredictablility of movie making.
What’s your most ambitious project for the future?
Make a movie like the Pawnbroker
Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative?
No.
What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker?
I wish I could make movies according to my instinct only.
Debra Knox - Interview
Debra Knox is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, actress, director, and musician. Her film Hearing Voices has won eleven International awards including Critics Choice, The New York Women’s Festival, Italy’s 8 & Halfilm Festival dedicated to Fellini, San Francisco International Film Festival, Hollywood Golden Age, and Fierce Women Festival of Paris, and has been a semi-finalist for 13 International Festivals. Her script Orson Welles Ashes has been awarded 15 major awards including The Golden Palm Award, New York’s Empire Award and The California Award and The Beverly Hills Film Festival. Debra is a long time professional rock musician, theater director, writer, guitarist, pianist and vocalist living in The San Francisco Bay Area.
When did you decide you wanted to be a Filmmaker?
When I was 4 I started directing and putting on musical skits for my father and family! I was addicted to rock and roll and MGM Musicals and wanted to be a star from an early age! By school age I was getting leads in shows and started writing songs and fiction in school. When my son was little I ventured into children's music and directing theater and when my son was grown I went back to acting, writing and making films. I wanted to make sure he had a secure, happy childhood.
How did your family react?
My family is very creative. My sister was a film producer and now has her own winery and my oldest sister was a concert pianist. Although my mother wanted me to settle down and get married she lived her musical passions out through me, as with her generation and Italian heritage this was not an option. My Grandfather and Great Grandfather were guitarists in Italy. She was happy when I started to make a living performing and teaching music and theater.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
Many. Ida Lupino, Al Pacino, Fellini, Hitchcock, Roger Corman, John Waters, Woody Allen.
Who's your biggest fan?
My sister Joann, my son Jon and my Tuxedo cat Sheena!
What brings you inspiration the most?
Nature, hiking, dancing. reading great literature and watching old movies.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
Al Pacino.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
I think the film Wuthering Heights with Laurence Olivier was as captivating as the book.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
Carnival of Souls with it's black and white eerie lighting and low budget magnificence capturing the surreal inner world of a woman who's dead.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
I've quit once after major burn out from directing one show after anther for 17 years. It took time to heal and regain my energy, but I find when I"m at my lowest I conjure up a new bridge to the road to creativity.
On set what excites you the most?
Playing with the lighting and shot angles. getting into the zone of spontaneity. And dinner!
And what scares you the most?
Losing my family and health.
What's your next project?
A film about my dear friend Kevin who passed away in a mini mart. How Awful About Kevin. A look at life, death, love, hate, God and the absence of, culminating in acceptance and forgiveness that this is the only moment we have. It's a dark comedy.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
Hitchcock. As long as I was still me!and don't look like him!!!
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
Guts, courage, fear, insecurity, trauma, tenacity, love, hate and will power!
For you Cinema is....
An epic sweep of visuals and inner emotions that draw the watchers into a world where they can process their emotions.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
I prefer black and white films, loving the extreme lighting, use of shadows and starkness in a sometimes gray, or black and white world.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Everyday. But I realize I must be happy and have a strong inner life and that even if you win an Oscar there is always the feeling of, "Now What?"
Do you think you're gonna win it?
I think if the planets align I will.
Randall Vemer - Interview
Professional Violinist and Painter, Randall Vemer has ventured into filmmaking. His tragedy to triumph biopic MusArt reveals what happened when his ability to play music was taken away. The film is filled with striking oil paintings of musicians from around the world. Hauntingly lovely music is scored and timed, not only to enhance the viewer’s enjoyment of Vemer’s classical style images but also to point out which instrument is highlighted within the rich and ethereal paintings. The film is a winner in over 50 film festivals around the world.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screenplayer?
This film was the result of my wanting to create a multimedia exhibit to accompany my 40 oil paintings Art exhibit entitled MusArt. It also was due to Covid; as I knew few people could physically attend the exhibit! I accidentally met my filmmaker Kevin Hanzlik at Oregon Academy of Art where I teach in Portland. A film was the perfect solution for the 'Black Box' in the Portland 'ArtReach Gallery'; curated by Dr. Sheldon Hurst. The reaction to the film among the paintings was over-whelming for most of the viewers.
How did your family react?
Disbelief!
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
All my wonderful teachers in Classical Violin and Classical Painting. I have to also say my composer Dr. Kira Zeeman Rugen who brought my music themed oil paintings to life; and whose brilliant film score received the Silver Award
Who's your biggest fan?
All my colleagues in the Music and Art fields.
What brings you inspiration the most?
Art forms that combine different disciplines; whether it be an orchestra with film projection, Ballet, Opera, a violinist being filmed performing next to a beautiful stream, or an Art exhibit with multimedia components.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
Being from the classical music world, the Director who appreciates great film composers like John Barry, Hans Zimmer, or Ennio Morricone; to name just a few.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
Probably David Lean's Dr. Zhivago; sweeping Russian history with broad landscape, a love story, and compelling music by film composer Maurice Jarre!
What's the movie that taught you the most?
'Somewhere in Time' is a 1980 American romantic fantasy drama film from Universal Pictures, directed by Jeannot Szwarc, and starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, and Christopher Plummer. Christopher Reeve's character was stopped dead in his tracks by a painting! The film without the music is unimaginable. It's also in a way inspiration for my film combining Music and Art!
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
Never, but I was FORCED to give up my professional career in classical music due to a health issue. This is the core story of the biodoc MusArt, and this no dialogue film explores how I overcame this tragedy.
On set what excites you the most?
Envisioning the possibility of the project to move people emotionally. A joy-ride movie with CGI can be entertaining; but a story told with emotion is gripping. It's the same with Pop music versus Classical music.
And what scares you the most?
Indifference on the part of the viewer
What's your next project?
I never thought this film project would occur, so I'm open to anything. In 2021 I put together a multimedia presentation with images and music entitled 'Ribbons of Witness'. The project was a participatory Art installation of over 300 ribbons honoring those lost during the Pandemic. It was part of an international exhibit for Liturgical Spaces; and I could envision this becoming a short documentary film or even SLOW (Ambient) content.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
The film composer John Williams; who's orchestral music I've performed on stage many times. Imagine his writing orchestral music performed by an orchestra for some 30 Steven Spielberg films!
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
A Director is like an orchestra Conductor, taking multiple fragments (notes) and making a film (symphony) into a believable and compelling whole.
For you Cinema is....
Multifaceted; not one dimensional. The result being pure magic.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Yes indeed. I teach classical oil painting; which demands one looks at a scene and PAINTS it in black and white to match tonal values of lights and darks. This was the power and drama of say a Caravaggio 'chiaroscuro' painting.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Never crossed my mind!
Do you think you're gonna win it?
A real film-maker will; I was merely the catalyst to make the 'tragedy to triumph' biodoc MusArt happen. My composer Kira Zeeman Rugen, film-maker Kevin Hanzlik, poet Christina Chin, and photographer Hector Salazar made my 40 music paintings shine.
Do you have a website?
Bonne Jones - Interview
Bonne Jones is a proud Nganitjidi-Banggarla woman of the Eyre in South Australia. Taught traditional Aboriginal medicine by her paternal grandmother and raised by her business-minded British family, these influences blended with her favourite childhood sitcoms and cartoon shows. By age 12 she wanted to write her own films and animation features. After studying medicine and psychology and working in the health industry for many years, she is now in a position to fulfil her true ambition. Although unique, her comedies have been described as comparable to Larry David/Seinfeld and Ricky Gervais. Using the principles of neuroplasticity and RD Laing’s influence, her adult comedy Folie `a Cinq builds to raise awareness about mental illness and hopefully relieve those who experience emotional anguish.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screenplayer?
I think my initial influence probably comes from my maternal family’s interest in film. I grew up learning about the British and American actors and filmmakers of the 30s and 40s. Since I was a child, however, it was the life and work of Walt Disney that I found most captivating. Even though I was being pushed into the health industry, it was my passion to write and make films by the age of 12.
How did your family react?
Some try to be supportive; some still consider it a hobby the “get a real job” attitude, and others are just hypercritical even though they have never watched any of my work: ahh yes, the joy of family keeping us grounded.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
I certainly do have a muse. I find having a muse inspires me to work to a higher standard. I imagine her in the audience and judging the various aspects of my work; ironically, she has zero interest in my work and never read or watched anything that I have done, which makes me aim for even higher quality writing.
Who's your biggest fan?
I do have fans and appreciate their support. As to who is the biggest, I can’t say. I will say that my friend and peer, Harrison Sutcliffe (professional animator and voice actor) is invaluable with regard to feedback, staying true to the thematics and making the entire process fun.
What brings you inspiration the most?
For the most part, I am socially inadequate and a romantic failure; rather than wallowing in self-pity, I was inspired by the likes of Woody Allen and Larry David to use the experiences as comedy material. The power of laughter with perspective led me to study neuroplasticity and its ability for people to overcome their mental disorders.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
Too easy: David Lynch!!
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
Hmmm, The Unbearable Lightness of Being; albeit I didn’t enjoy either. Perhaps the real answer is that I should read more fiction.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
JFK taught me about corruption.
To Kill a Mockingbird taught me about bravery.
Gone with the Wind taught me that a film doesn’t date if all of the elements are perfectly blended. Blue Velvet taught me that my life wasn’t as bad as I thought, and how terrifying people can be.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
NEVER!! In fact, I have quit lucrative careers to focus on my writing and production.
On set what excites you the most?
When everything comes together and gets the point across as intended. I failed this in the first season of Folie `a Cinq, which irks me no end: the very last scene fails to depict a spoilt child with a lazy parent causing the entire point of season one to be lost.
And what scares you the most?
It depends on the day and my mood: some days EVERYTHING, other days, nothing can touch me. Certainly, repeating terrible mistakes is now present in my mind; although, I guess that is a feeling of aggravation rather than fear.
What's your next project?
The second instalment of Folie `a Cinq is currently in production (there are around 10 of them – so, a 10-year project with one chapter per year). Harrison Sutcliffe and I will also be making the 3D feature of Nutshells, i.e., the show created by the Folie 1 a Cinq main characters. Additionally, the animated series for juvenile people called, The Toadstools is still being produced.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
William Shakespeare (although, I’d want to be alive now, not in smelly old England during the 16th and 17th Centuries).
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
I left this question for last because it made me laugh, and still does. A successful artist is a balance of emotional neuroses. Typically, self-doubts, feelings of inadequacy, day-to-day stresses/struggling, cynicism, etc, are contrasted with passion, the drive to tell a story that reaches a multitude and transforms people. We love it no matter what.
For you Cinema is....
Do I really have to state the obvious? It’s so monotonous. A public theatre showing a feature comprising plot, conflict, theme, narrative, characters and setting. It has no discretion, it can be as low as an Adam Sandler production or the quality of Scorsese, Eastwood, Welles, Lynch etc. The latter 4 make films, to me, the cinema is for films. The cinema is for blockbusters that explode with spectacular visual effects and sound: Inception had it all (in my opinion).
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Hmmm, certainly, Schindler’s List was incredibly powerful. Did have a greater impact because it was made in B&W, I can only say maybe because I have no comparison.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Not that I can remember. Folie `a Cinq has won
Do you think you're gonna win it?
Yeah, sure, why not
Jane Hammond - Interview
Jane Hammond is a life-long environmental activist, an independent documentary filmmaker and freelance journalist. She specializes in stories of environmental justice, action on climate change and social affairs. Black Cockatoo Crisis is Jane’s fourth longer form documentary. It was named winner of the of the 2021 Brian Beaton Award for social impact in recognition of its potential to be a change maker. Jane’s previous documentary, Cry of the Forests (released 2020) was instrumental in changing public opinion on logging in WA. After a strong social impact campaign around the film the WA Government announced that all native forest logging would end by 2024. Jane’s other films include A Crude Injustice (2017) and A Fractured State (2016).
If you should change country where would you like to work?
I love where I live and where I work and I love taking Australian environmental stories to world-wide audiences but I would be happy also to work in Asia, Africa, the US, Canada, Europe, pretty much anywhere.
Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…
I'd have to say one for the worse was Jaws. I watched it at an early age and it effected my relationship with the ocean. For years I feared swimming in the open ocean thinking I was about to be eaten in a horrifying and gruesome way. I still swam though. And I'm now over that fear but it took decades. I realise now that sharks are not about to eat us and that they mostly ignore us. The second influential film, for the better, would have to be Gasland by Josh Fox because it had so much power and really showed the impact of fracking on human health, human rights and the environment. The scenes in Gasland of water being set alight as it came out of the taps in the US fracking fields were unforgettable and helped grow the anti-fracking movement world-wide. It showed what film could do to build awareness and social change.
What do you think about filmmaking schools?
Film schools are key to the future of the industry. They are a short-cut to learning how to tell stories concisely and clearly and to using the language of film.
Who’s the Director that taught you the most?
David Attenborough showed the power of cinematography to bring dramatic and awe-inspiring wonder to our screens and demonstrated how narration could build tension and incredible story lines.
About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…
My biggest dream is to continue to be part of the change that builds communities and protects and restores the planet. I see a future that is positive, just and harmonious. My worst nightmare is that apathy and greed will continue to push life on earth to extinction.
How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?
Very important. Cinema has the potential to take audiences to places and into the minds of people they may never meet. It has the potential to build wonder, empathy, knowledge and awareness and to be an agent for social change.
What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker?
Pretty much everything. There is always room for improvement in every aspect. My filmmaking will be a lifelong journey of improvement and learning.
Film Industry it’s a tough place and sometimes is normal to feel lost and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated?
I am very inspired by David Attenborough and his ability to keep bringing wonder onto our screens and telling the stories that matter. He is also not afraid to speak out about the issues that really confront us all, climate change and biodiversity loss.
Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film you need 3 things: The script, the script and the script". Do you agree with him?
No, at least not for documentary. Documentary is about story and purpose; the script just serves the narration and moves the story along. The pictures, the music, the mood, the timing are all as important as the script.
What’s your most ambitious project for the future?
To continue to make social impact films that matter and that can bring about meaningful social change.
Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let's you be more creative?
I think sadness can drive action and purpose. The state of the world, apathy and inaction are drivers for me, so yes that forces me to look for creative solutions.
What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?
To continue to make films with impact on topics that really matter. Topics like climate change, social justice and our biodiversity crisis.
Paola Fabiani - Interview
Paola Fabiani was born on December 13, 1974 in Manciano, Tuscany where she lives and works. She is a doctor, writer and screenwriter. In 2014 she published her fairy tales THE CAMEL OUT OF TUNE, THE EUGENE’S WEB, THE CURIOUS CLOUDS, THE SHADOW OF THE LYNX,VANESSA VAIN. In 2018 she publishes her historical mystery novel FULL MOON ON THE STACHILAGI ROCK from which her script LUNIMETARIUS is taken. In 2019 she publishes her collection FAIRY TALE JAR from one of which her script THE BRAMBLES EMPIRE is taken.In 2020 she publishes THE TALES FROM THE LOIRE from which she writes the scripts THE SECRETS OF CHAUVIGNY and THE WITCHES OF ANCHENIS.She publishes in 2021 her novel THE CHRONICLES OF DORA MATTEI-The crimson red rose and in 2022 the novel FORLÈNA set in medieval Tuscany, Silver Florin at Florence Award.
What's the absolutely necessary ingredient to be a good screenplayer?
In my experience, the ingredient to being a good screenwriter is being able to immerse yourself in the story so and so much to see and hear what the characters feel: feel their emotions while they try. this in my opinion is the only way to be able to translate them on stage and effectively transmit them to the public. Unlike other colleagues, I believe that a good screenwriter must know how to get excited. Perhaps this is a consequence of being a writer before being a screenwriter. secondly, many they say that any story can be scripted: it is only partially true. in my opinion the basic idea and story remain fundamental
First and last cinematographic crush?
It is impossible to name just one film! I will limit myself to Hitchcock's Vertigo, Profondo Rosso by Dario Argento, The Fly by David Cronenberg and The Name of the Rose by Jean-Jacques Annaud; my latest love, to date, is Catherine Hardwicke's Little Red Riding Hood. I also love Nolan's Tenet, like all his works.
How old you were when you decided you wanted to be an screenplayer?
I have always wanted and thought about making a film, so much so that when I was a child I played at creating theater performances, including the costumes that I sewed, forcing my cousin to be an actor for me and my family members to act as a paying audience: in fact, I also prepared and sold tickets for 50 Italian lire! I am then I became a doctor and for a long time kept my creative side at bay. Until I had the inspiration to write fairy tales and novels, around the age of 35. Around the age of 40, after numerous publications, I felt the inalienable need to get involved starting to write. My screenplays today are all taken from my works.
For you a Film is...
A film is a moment of escape which, paradoxically, compared to other moments of entertainment, can give great answers in unexpected ways for the viewer. I don't really like biographical films, with very few exceptions, and I don't like the excessive tendency to make films that are topical or focused on an intimate everyday vision, not to be confused with spiritual perspective which is instead always essential. To communicate a concept you can and in my opinion you have to take different paths from the flat and banal everyday life, sometimes even irritating, which is already with difficulty we endure every day. This is why I prefer the fantasy genre, perhaps authorial in depth, and mystery.
What do you feel when you're writing?
When I write I am completely immersed in the story and estranged from reality. The sensations I have are alive and strong like those of my characters and the strange thing that happens to me is that I can't tear myself away from writing of the script until the end of the story and the resolution of the tension.
You can go to the Movies with an actor/director/screenplayer that you love. What kind of movie do you choose and with who you're gonna whatch it?
I would definitely choose a mystery ghotic and if I could choose I would go with Kenneth Branagh!
Audrey Hepburn used to say “Nothing is Impossible”, what do you think about it?
It is true. I never give up. My sister often scolds me for being unstoppable and at the same time impatient. Maybe it's a peculiarity of my character increased by the emotions of writing novels in which ones I choose times and ways of actions. This sometimes makes me smile and a little scared!
Can you live just of your passion?
Yes. And I would if I had the financial means. My passion fills my life more and more and changes me every day. And I like that.
What's more important talent or luck?
It has always been said "talent, means and a pinch of luck" for the great scientific discoveries, such as penicillin, I allow the citation as a doctor! I think the same can be said for art. However, talent remains the foundation
You must go to a desert island but you can bring with you just one movie...
“Vertigo”, "The woman who lived twice" according to the Italian title. I never get tired of reviewing this absolute masterpiece by Hitchcock.
Have you ever accepted a script to write even if you didn't like the project?
I have no experience to answer as up to now I have scripted stories based on my novels and stories. And I love them!
What's the best compliment you have received about your Job?
“I couldn't tear myself away from your book until it was finished”, “I suffered every time to tear myself away from read and resume“, “Your literary and descriptive writing in a world where writers describe less and less it takes me to another dimension". And finally “I feel like I'm there with the characters because you write in cinematographic way": something a reader of mine told me a few days ago regarding my latest novel entitled "Forlèna"
Are you satisfied about your career?
I am happy to be able to write. I would like more and more audiences to know my stories, both for my books and as spectators on the big screen. This is my dream today
Do you have a good luck charm?
I use as a bookmark an access ticket to the Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence depicting the David of Michelangelo
Which is the worst moment on set ?
I have no experience on set as a screenwriter. Fingers crossed for the future!
How do you feel when a job you've been part of it's ending?
I can say that when I'm about to finish a novel I'm moved to tears: this is because I struggle to letting go of my characters, both good and bad!
Have you ever lied to get a part/job?
In order to get a telephone contact with a director's agent, I said I was a journalist: according to Cal Lightman's theories of "Lie to me" I think it can be considered a white lie, after all it is true that I write!
If you should win an Oscar your first taught would go to…
To all the great artists who have obtained it before me and to my sister Patrizia, who supports me with conviction that artists are fragile and courageous beings who must be defended at all costs
Karin Balog - Interview
Karin Balog works with photography, film and mixed media. She studied photography at the Royal Art Academy in The Hague in the Netherlands and is based in Amsterdam. In recent years her focus is more on short films. Some of her work revolves around multi-cultural issues and identity. Other cross over disciplines such as dance and drawing are presented in a new editing schedule. Photography and film are her passions. She exhibited with photo exhibitions in London (Selfridges) , Budapest and Amsterdam. Film screenings took place in Amsterdam, Stockholm, India and Italy. The experimental film Menti Minda Mothertongue was selected for the Stockholm City Film Festival and won some awards in India and Bhutan. The film Errata in blue was the official selection for: The Golden Giraffe International Film Festival in Nice in France in February and won an award for experimental film in Rome
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screen player?
I started with photography at the Royal Art Academy in The Hague and this was an interesting journey. I worked a lot with chemicals. For me it was time for new experiments with moving images and storytelling. As I was always shooting in series, no stand alone solo images, so it was a logical next step. Cinematography has more sides to it, in which you can use light, composition and motion but above all sound, that contributes to the impact.
How did your family react?
Well I was always surrounded and nurtured by art. My father was collecting art, especially from ancient Asia and there are many stories from other cultures that come along with the items, it was always stimulated and accepted to create. Next to the artistic path : I was born the same day as Houdini, they knew I would not be doing anything ordinary, but would take a more experimental steps in life.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
Scientists like Edward Muybridge and Marey who started to document motion, appeal the most to me. I hope to make one discovery one day as well, to actually write with dance in motion.
Who's your biggest fan?
My red-haired grandmother was always my biggest fan. I am sort of a clone of her...
What brings you inspiration the most?
Lately I am working on topics like globalization. First I
made a movie called: 5 directions to my house. I was teaching art classes to immigrant teenagers who couldn’t return to their homeland, it had drawing and animation and was a co-creation between us. After that, I made my film: Menti Minda Mothertongue. It is an experimental film about relocating and insomnia due to travelling in timezones.I am fascinated about individuals in an uprooted society. Is has been playing in Sweden, India, Italy and Bhutan won 7 awards already. It is experimental because I combine different disciplines like dance and drawing. I love to share it with cultures very different from mine (I am based in Amsterdam) to see if there is a universal point appraisal or artistic challenge.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
The late Robby Müller, the cameraman.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
If we stick to the topic of migration I would say: Life of PI, the book by Yann Martell is a close one. It was directed and produced by Ang Lee. An Indian circus family travels across the ocean to start a new life elsewhere and after a storm only the boy and a tiger remain on the boat. Really impressive casting, styling and above all amazing cinematography by Claudio Miranda.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
I think there are many, but they are all bout survival. Those films are the strongest. If you thing of the Revenant, or Cast Away or the Piano or Les Miserables. To outlive in nature with elements, or to prevail your enemy, or to survive as a stranger in a new habitat. To survive as a woman in a certain community is also a fascinating topic. In this case interesting is Spike Lee’s remake of: “She’s gotta have it”. To be a male director and make such a
series about a woman, acting like a man, is very unique thing to do. Also the experimental style of the film with quotes and confusing the audience like there is a documentary going on with interviews, makes it all very special and experimental. However your artistic means , I am more from art than the cinema scene, some topics like survival are universal and appeal to all different cultures.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
On the contrast. No I still have so many plans. It’s more the fear that I don’t have enough time.
On set what excites you the most?
If the light works with the character in a way I was hoping. There is always a difference of what you have in mind or drawn on a storyboard and what in the
end will be the result. This friction is good and there should be a place for the unexpected and some serendipity. If you find a happy accident, it is most exciting. You cannot always write and predict everything from your desk.
And what scares you the most?
What freaks me out, is unstable software when editing, sometimes you have a very delicate balance of a view seconds you replaced with special filters
and BAM it’s all gone. Having an experimental work style I cannot always recover what I did. I although you have enough memory, it can happen that you need to restart your systems without being able to save it first.
What's your next project?
Errata in blue is an experimental short film about hot and cold in the city. It involves dance and was used in a project to bring water to the desert in Santa Fe. Also in the Rajasthan desert it was playing. I am working on a project with : écriture automatique as well, founded by André Breton, from the surrealist time. It is a sort of concrete poetry, in which sounds are produced, which later will be canalized in a film. Many languages are involved talking about insomnia.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
Jim Jarmush
An actor/director/screen player is made of....
Blood, sweat and tears
For you Cinema is....
A way to find a translation for or escape from certain time- or place related phenomena’s in society. Poetry in motion also.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
I think so, they are my favorite. Everything has more impact; there is just light, sound and form. If I think of beautiful black and white movies like: The insect woman by Japanese director Shōhei Imamura from the Japanese
New Wave or about: The woman in the dunes by Hiroshi Teshigaharaall, about female protagonists who were strong individuals. They are amazing and stylish. But also a video clip by Snoop Dog:” Drop it like it’s hot “is my all time favorite, made by Paul Hunter.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
No
Do you think you're gonna win it?
No. Its good the world is ready for more experimental films , we and see this because EEAO has won!
How can people find you online?
Gaston Boulanger - Interview
Gaston studied Medical Biology and Medicine in Utrecht. In 2017 he founded Under The Trees Music and Arts Festival. For the festival he initiated the Filmmaker Master Class. Where he met first time actors Elisa Belando and Luiz Alvarez. Gaston has been a GP for 20 years. He plays in bands, paints and has now a new hobby. The Silver Bullet is a no budget film. The film is shot on a mobile phone and all people involved volunteered their time. The project took almost two years to be completed. Only one scene has spoken words. The language is Spanish. The scene is so powerful that subtitles are not needed. The score is made by Aria Award and World Film Festival Cannes Award winner Tony King.
Tell me something about The Moviemaker master class you have organised...
The Moviemaker master class is a part of Under The Trees Music and Arts Festival. I organised the masterclass especially for teenagers. They are glued to their mobile phone, and I believed that teaching them how to make a movie would bring some creativity in their lives and have them use their phones as a creative tool instead of consumers device. The inspiration was to make a film to inspire teenagers to also make a movie. To show that you can make a film with a mobile phone and a PC at no costs. During the class I was shocked by the enormous amount of work that goes into making a movie. Fortunatley I met Elisa and Luis who were very enthusiastic and also wanted to make a movie. Straight away they became my Muse.
Who's your biggest fan?
My children!
What brings you inspiration the most?
As a songwriter, painter and now, moviemaker, I have always been lucky that inspiration hits me in the face. The trick is when inspiration comes to recognise it, and then cherish it, and start creating a work of art. It does not matter if it takes years to complete. If it is a good idea, it will stay a good idea.
What can you say about your movie "The Silver Bullet"?
The idea of the Silver Bullet came when I examined a CT scan of a patient. I wont say too much, no spoiler alerts. Once the idea was born, I drafted the script and story board and with the knowledge from the course we started filming and later editing. My good friend and Aria award winner Tony King helped with the score. The Silver Bullets is a movie with many layers. I hope it will start a dialogue about women power, domestic violence, alcoholism and gambling.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
...no
What's the movie that taught you the most?
I have seen my live many movies and I guess from very movie, good or bad you learn something. The Movie Makers Master Class tought me to look at films from a different perspective.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
Every day, I have that desire.
On set what excites you the most?
Beauty
And what scares you the most ?
Beauty!
What's your next project?
A Film called: The Postman
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and a few other elements.
For you Cinema is....
A form of art.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Yes, they do. I made a series of Nursing Home patients Portaits in Black and White. The higher contrast shows the beauty of the elderly.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
No
Do you think you're gonna win it?
No
Kathleen Welton - Interview
Kathleen Welton is an award-winning editor, publisher, and writer. In addition to screenwriting, she is an independent publisher and supports organizations that advocate for beaches, birds, and wildlife.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/screenwriter?
I enjoy immersing myself in a craft that continually teaches me life lessons. Writing screenplays can teach you how to connect to yourself and to connect with a larger audience. Becoming a screenwriter has been a dream come true.
How did your family react?
My colleagues and instructors in the Feature Film Writing program at UCLA Extension have been my “family” for my screenwriting projects. I owe everything to them for their support and wise counsel.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
I have always been inspired by people who live the lines “To thine own self be true.”
Who's your biggest fan?
My father gave me some brilliant insights and ideas for my first screenplay.
What brings you inspiration the most?
I have always liked the outdoors. Growing up in Southern California the beach was always my go to place. It still is.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
Steven Spielberg. West Side Story and War Horse are two of my favorites. I am impressed with the attention he and his team put into the entire process--from putting together a first-rate cast to putting a spin on difficult subjects.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
Coming from a book publishing background, I am always interested in films based on books. It can be difficult to translate the original intention of the author. In my opinion, the best films keep the integrity of the original story.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
It would have to be National Velvet. For the dialogue and the empathy portrayed by the characters.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
Never. Words can wrap around the mind and the spirit. I am grateful that I came to screenwriting from a career in book publishing. I have enormous respect for the creative process and for the people behind the scenes.
What's your next project?
I am working on an environmental screenplay inspired by “The Starfish Story.” Hopefully “it will make a difference to that one.”
Tyler Waters - Interview
Producer and writer, Tyler Waters lives in Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Tyler’s early childhood was in the country, constantly moved in adolescence because of his father’s work. Tyler’s desire for storytelling was always there since childhood. Written stories, old VHS recorders, handy digital cams and mobile phones. Any way Tyler could capture stories is how he expressed himself. Over the past ten years, Tyler has worked on a feature film and many short films and TV pilots as Director, producer, writer, clapper, and cameraman. Tyler’s latest project, “Unbroken”, is receiving much recognition worldwide in film festivals. The goal is to produce a local documentary series showing the struggles and discrimination within the LGBTQI community to break the associated stigma and address ignorance of society.
When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
From a young child I was always creating my own adventures. I was a loner because my family was not close so I always made my own adventure. I always wanted to be a actor and had a couple of roles in a TVC, feature film as a background character, supporting actor fora pilot tv show and other short films I created. Of all these roles the TVC was the only paid role and the industry was just too hard to break into so I just produced and directed my own short films.
How did your family react?
My family are not that close unfortunately, but my dad was a career man so I followed that path for many years making money to pay for my short films. My latest film I showed them recently and they liked it, but to gain an artistic point of view for my films was never going to be found in my family but within like minded people of other creatives industries and people whoo are close to me and know my journey.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
Myself really. There’s a lot of great stuff in this brain and I finally am not afraid to let my stories be heard. But i also have to say my director on this film Kathy Moore is also very inspiring to me, she wanted to direct Unbroken when I talked to her about my story and played her the song I wrote. Kath has been a wonderful role model for helping me to see the vision for screen.
What brings you inspiration the most?
Being creative is always inspiring. I don’t get the chance to do it as much as I would like to as paying the bills and having a job always comes first. The film industry is very cut throat, and who you are has preference to who you’re not unfortuatley. These days my inspirations come from the struggles, bravery and strength I've seen in the community struggling with their gender identity and needing a voice to be heard.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
I would love to work with Cate Blanchett. She is one of the most versatile actresses I've ever seen on film. Ive part written a feature film many years ago and one day I hope I can get the financial support to create it. Cate would be amazing for it. Until then , Cate has always been someone I have admired and respected as an actress especially in the movie ‘Carol’. I learnt more about Cate in 2011 when I created a short film for Tropfest ( I didn't get selected , boo). I had a fateful meeting with a writer when I offered to drive her to a film and screen discussion through a ‘looking for divers ‘post online. I had a copy of my script and had 55 minutes discussion time, I networked my backside off . Alexandra Long after reading my script and hearing the comedic story immediately wanted to play one of the lead roles and who was I to say no to that. Through conversation I also found out that Alexandra wrote the screenplay for ’Thank God He Met Lizzie’, which in the United States was released as “The Wedding Party’. This 1997 Film launched Cate Blachetts career on screen and I've been following her career ever since and wow, what an amazing , skilled and honed actress.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
I don’t read books unless I have to so I can’t answer this one but my friends tell me the ‘Lord of the rings books are better than the films.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
All movies convey so many messages that I have gained something from. Choosing just one is hard, but I would say The Danish Girl. Wow, I mean the underlying distress and pain of the characters trying to accept each others obsessions into their marriage as a new normal for them to only be confronted with the truth of gender identity. This true based story tells a pinnacle time of the first person to undergo gender confirmation surgery in 1930 knowing that it may also kill them. I love true story as I learn so much that has not been told in the mainstream education.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
I did about 10 years ago, sold all my gear and got a real job ( well a paying job). The film industry is fickle at times and extremely competitive. Its who you know in a lot of circumstances to get anywhere and that is what disheartening about the industry as there are many film makers out there who have amazing stories to tell and are not given the chance.
Last year after finally completing my song after 7 years of waiting for the final verse to appear, don’t rush things, I jumped back in boots and all and was determine to create something that will stand up and say something for humanity even though it cost me an extreme amount of all my savings. When you believe so whole heartedly in something the only thing to do is to make it happen. My hope that the recognition is received to give a chance to continue the Unbroken journey, find funding and keep unfolding conversation of real world stories bringing into the light today’s untold stories giving a voice to those who have not been able to be heard for so long.
On set what excites you the most?
That it’s finally happening. The rush you feel seeing you story come to life is incedrible I have an exceptional crew that I have worked with on most of my short films and they have stayed with me to this day. Seeing the whole team come together on the day and go above and beyond to make it happen is inspiring. Every successful film is because of every crew and cast member, we are all equal and play a part whether big or small. I would like to give a special mention to my key crew who have never let me downing involved in my projects since the beginning many years ago. They don’t get enough credit for what they do behind the scenes. Mon Bailey- wardrobe and set design has created amazing set props over the years with eye for detail and vision I've seen in no one else. Monn created our lead actressess floating sheet gown and the spectacular wings in the scene for Unbroken. Monn used real ostrich feathers which I sourced from our local drag queens stash ( Newcastles original entertainer) Miss Glenda Jackson. Layered meticulously onto a timber expansion frame that created movement to the wings, just beautiful work. Paige and Cherie Freeman, mother and daughter make up artists, hair and special effects. The ability to always do exactly what is desired is incredible and skillful. There is no end to their commitment, these two beautiful ladies are family to me.
And what scares you the most?
It scares me that after all this sweat and tears developing this story that it does not help to get funding for my next project. Life is short and after my dad passed in 2020 during covid times mortality is more real to me. I need to leave behind something that will hopefully help to create change, awareness, hope and justice for our marginalised communities. I don’t want to die with nothing achieved, I want to be remembered for something that gave the next generation hope for wholeness, that their life is worth living and they are not broken.
What's your next project?
My next project is to produce and series in the LGBTQI community. Each 45 minute episode will follow an identified gender and sexual preference to create voices that have not had the chance to be heard. To show mainstream viewers real people, with real experiences but with one difference, discrimination for being different. To many great people are losing their lives after many years of being in the public and day to day life and none would have know they were there or what they may have done to help someone.
We don’t want to stylise our documentary series we just want to tell the truth, show raw and real, give voices to those who have something to say.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
I just want their pay check lol Brad Pitt. He plays some great diverse roles and has beautiful leading ladies, so yeah ill have that thanks.
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of….
Drive and vision number one. The ability to tell a story visually and portray that. Convincing the audience to engage emotionally within your film to look them into the journey you are taking them is a real art. Many films have done this and a lot have not. I hope to be one of those who is able to connect with my audience and give them a beautiful experience. There is so many emotions that is experienced by us all, love, hate, sadness, trauma, death, sex, grief, pain to name a few. Therefore the ability to bring into film emotional connections is already there. Its the ability to create a story around those that make it believable and therefore taking the viewer on that ride.
For you Cinema is….
Cinema is a miracle of engineering. The big screen has more ability to give your images a realism that heightens the emotions of the viewer. One day I hope to have a film on the big screen but until then , one step at a time. Mind you by the time it happens we all will probably have identity chips in our skin that can upload something to watch through our minds eye. Capturing a beautifully filmed scene in the right way is the beauty of cinematography and I am so proud at the job my DOP Aaron Haberfield has done for Unbroken. I trusted him with my baby and he delivered capturing sensational footage that was edited beautifully by his editor Nick Kuilder at Toybox Films Newcastle.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Off course. The first projected moving picture were by the Lumière brothers in Paris in December 1895. They made mainly documentaries shooting on location outside and composed of a single unedited shot. (Wouldn’t that give todays actors a run for their money, one take per scene ). There was no sound as sound was used seperatly at times. Thomas Edison invented the Phonograph in 1877 providing an accompaniment to the brothers cinèmatographer. Over the years generations of filmmakers connected with their audience through invention, finding and igniting visual interests that has expanded and grown over time. Isn’t history amazing. I think the impact of cinema has helped to create the drive to become more and more real so that the viewer can actually emerge themselves into the scenes and connect enough to become almost a part of what they see. Saying all that, does it ever end, can we still always get better? Sometimes I think the assault on our sensors does more harm than good and now and then a silent black and white film will help to bring our minds back to connect and rest within a simple and lighthearted short visual followed by a scratchy sound track.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Oh hasn’t everyone. To win something on a larger scale would be the drive of any great filmmaker. Im not among the greats but nevertheless I still have a dream, a passion, a drive to give all that I can to make it happen. Film is an amazing story outlet and so is music. Both together is a beautiful thing. That’s what when I wrote my song it was important that every word could capture emotionally in film the journey and struggles within. All credit goes to my amazing friend Caitlin O’Reilly who was my songbird, delivering a beautiful, gritty, and emotional recording for my film. I managed to squeeze in some vocals as the spoken voice in the last verse with some accompanying harmonies.
Do you think you're gonna win it?
To win would be a life dream. I don’t know if I will win, it’s really up to the amazing judges. What I think may be brilliant piece of film may not be to someone else. So really, I've one in my heart, and I know it is good. The rest of the world has been noticing as we have won 12 awards certificates in the last three months. The hope is always that my chances of higher recognition through monitory awards and oscars would be a wonderful win. To be able to use that to help with developing more honest and real stories in the future will help keep the dream alive and give the chance needed to be made.
Dustin Detore & John Rifici - Interview
Co-writers and directors of “Reel Life”, international award winning TV pilot and potential web series that’s looking for a home. New Jersey born and raised, two best friends that couldn’t be more different always come together for the pursuit of good storytelling.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screenplayer?
John Rifici:
Dustin and I have very similar stories, but we didn’t meet until we were already adults. In my case, I decided I wanted to be a filmmaker when I was around 12. I asked my mom for a Digital Blue camera - It was a cheap 20 dollar camera that shot in resolution: potato. By the age of 14 I already wrote my first feature length script. It was garbage. Me and my younger sister made a bunch of little skit videos before we even knew what Youtube was going to be, and at the time we didn’t know what to do with them, so when Youtube came out it felt like divine intervention. I realized quickly that filmmaking was my first love.
Dustin Detore:
I also received a camera for Christmas when I was probably ... 9? Unlike John I didn't ask for it, but once I started using it everything came alive and I learned over time that I wanted to be a filmmaker. I had one friend I used to film with - we made silly short films - and when I wasn't doing that I was recording my family's every move like it was a reality show. By high school I was sure that this was what I wanted to do.
How did your family react?
Dustin Detore:
My parents were musicians professionally, and my father did make films when he was my age, so they were already very creatively-minded people. So naturally, as my interest grew, they were very supportive and I appreciated it. My grandfather was a dean at a photography school, and he always wanted me to go to college for filmmaking. I was always very uncertain and ultimately I ended up not going. I always regretted it until I met John! At the time it felt like something I was supposed to do, because that ‘s what I was told in school. John made that okay by helping me appreciate all the hard work I had done without school, and all the progress I made along the way.
John Rifici:
I on the other hand came from a very business-minded family. I played ice hockey for many years, and they were more interested in my athleticism than anything creative. By the time I was ending high school, my gpa was a 2.2. At that point, I knew I wanted to go to college, or at least learn as much as I could about filmmaking, and through the hard work that I had done when I was younger with my sister and friends, I got early admissions into the college that I attended. Even to this day my family believes that I should do something along the lines of engineering or web development, but I know I want to be a storyteller.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
Dustin Detore:
I think it's really hard to pick just one role model. I definitely admire the expansive visions of Dick Wolf and Jerry Bruckheimer, and I like the tone and writing style of Joss Whedon, but actually the first person that came to mind as a role model was Trent Reznor. Now, Trent Reznor is obviously a musician and not a filmmaker, but there are two things that I admire about him. The first is that he started with very little but had a big vision, he did everything he could to achieve his vision, and I think that he more than succeeded. The second thing is that he knows the rules but chooses to break them anyway - it takes you outside the box and makes the creative process feel more freeing without trying to squeeze your big ideas into a conventional mold.
John Rifici:
I’ll say I have role models that I really look up to - James Gunn, P.T. Anderson, Nolan, Fincher, Tarentino - the list could probably go on longer. In my personal life, my grandfather taught me a lot about work ethic. but really i think everyone’s muse should be their own life experiences. Not that you should be self centered or egotistical but the things that influence your art should be unique, pure, and personal.
Who's your biggest fan?
John Rifici:
I would say that my dad is my biggest fan. Even when I was young, 14, and I had a terrible 1980s style action film that I wrote, I showed him knowing it was hot garbage and he still supported me, and believed in me, and pushed me to move forward with my dreams.
Dustin Detore:
I would have to say, for one, John. And for another, one of my other best friends, Darcie. I’ve written a great deal of stories with them, but I know that every time I describe an idea or a concept they’re always 100% right behind it if it’s good, and if it’s not good, they’re helping me make it better. I always leave a conversation about something creative with them feeling inspired.
What brings you inspiration the most?
John Rifici:
The biggest inspiration in anyone’s life should be life itself. Movies shouldn’t inspire other movies, otherwise there becomes an incestuous relationship between storyteller and story. Outside forces should breathe new life into an otherwise often-retold story.
Dustin Detore:
I 100% agree that inspiration comes from life experience, or at least it should, because that’s how your ideas stay unique. If you watch a movie and you feel inspired, it shouldn’t be the movie itself that you want to emulate, it’s the feeling or idea you got from the movie.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
John Rifici:
Obviously I would love to work with a bunch of people, but from the work that I've seen from Tom Pelphrey, I'm amazed at his range and I'm upset that not enough people have acknowledged his prowess as an actor. I genuinely can’t think of a role he wouldn’t be good at or wouldn’t bring a new spin or soul to.
Dustin Detore:
I would love to work with James McAvoy. I think that aside from being a phenomenal actor, there isn’t a part he can’t play. I would feel safe thinking that he could pull off any material imaginable. If you need an example of his acting range, just watch Split!
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
John Rifici:
The Godfather. I do not know how they extracted a classic film out of that book, because it is gross and at points genuinely incoherent. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don’t remember there being a California plastic surgeon in the film. And I don't know why there was a part for that.
Dustin Detore:
Again, I’ll go with a TV show. I haven’t read all the books, but it seems like Dexter the TV show is better than Darkly Dreaming Dexter and the books that follow.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
John Rifici:
The movie that taught me the most was “Super” (2010), directed by James Gunn. It takes every genre of filmmaking and makes it relevant to the greater narrative. Action, romance, drama, comedy, horror, even tentacle porn. Not a joke. It’s packaged inside a nice little morality tale with a wholesome message while also being incredibly grounded and relatable.
Dustin Detore:
“I’m going to say a TV show for this one, and that would be C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation. Not only was this a groundbreaking entry into the procedural genre, it’s also one of the first ones I got really interested in, and the reason was that it always had an amazingly good plot, it had interesting characters, and it developed a formula that could be repeated endlessly while still managing to be unique. I saw this first when I was very young, and as soon as I watched the first episode, in my head something clicked - I thought “I want to make something like this some day.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
John Rifici:
Every day. I wouldn’t wish this passion on anyone. Though, for the people born with it, you’ll love the pain it brings you and you won’t be able to tell anyone why.
Dustin Detore:
There have definitely been times where I thought about what it would be like if I just quit everything and started doing something simpler. But I know in my heart that I wouldn’t be able to go through with that, because even though what I do can be stressful, sometimes unrewarding, and exhausting, this is what I’m here to do.
On set what excites you the most?
John Rifici:
“The thing that excites me the most on set is when an actor or a member of the crew introduces a new concept or method to enhance the material presented to them. The minute details can be exciting, playing God and telling actors what to do has its kicks, but somebody transcending even your own understanding of the material is a high unlike any other.
Dustin Detore:
“For me, there’s no way to accurately describe how amazing it feels when you’ve worked really hard on a piece of material and then the day of shooting comes around, and all these people are here to make this material the best that it can be. It’s also really important to me that everybody wants to be there and they’re not just there because it’s a job. When everybody wants to be there, that’s when your work truly comes alive.
And what scares you the most?
John Rifici:
“What scares me most on set is reaching for a goal and the threat of falling short. For example, on the set of our Reel Life TV pilot, there was a dramatic scene between the two leads that I wasn’t certain we could successfully capture. Luckily, both cast and crew all did their jobs well without even needing me there.
Dustin Detore:
When I first started taking filmmaking seriously, I was still in high school, and I didn't necessarily have a cast of people who all wanted to do the same thing as me - I just had friends. While they were great, they weren’t all as invested in it as I was, and that’s okay! But I'm very passionate about the things that I work on and my biggest fear is that I’ve been pushing somebody too hard. A lot of the time when you’re wrapped up in all the things that come with running a set, it can be easy to lose focus on the smaller things, like how somebody’s feeling about something.
What's your next project?
John Rifici:
My next project is a feature-length documentary called “Crescendo” that explores the difference between on-and-off-stage personas of musicians, with the focus being on John E. Mendell, an indie musician and close personal friend of mine who, at the same time, both lost his father and his ability to sing.
Dustin Detore:
John and I have a lot of material started, but we’re most excited about a TV series called “Neon Trash.” The series is about a fictional town set in an absurdist microcosm of society’s extremes and the people that live it. It has roots in the 80s action and crime thriller genres, with a childlike con-man at its heart.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
John Rifici:
Quentin Tarantino. Because it seems he can do anything he wants, and may be the last vestige of high-profile auteur filmmakers.
Dustin Detore:
I would steal the career of Dick Wolf. I’m still amazed at the number of shows he has running all over television, that take place in the same universe and cross over with each other. That’s not easy to pull off by any means, and if I could have the ability to do that I would love it.
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
John Rifici:
A filmmaker is made of the creative material they ingest; if a writer only consumes bad media, they won’t have a frame of reference to create anything better. In order to succeed as a filmmaker, they should have a wide range of quality films to use as a metric they can measure their own work against.
Dustin Detore:
45% compulsive passion, 30% perseverance, 20% adaptability, and 5% tears.
For you Cinema is....
John Rifici:
Cinema is the peak of visual storytelling. There are flicks, like anything the Asylum has done, and there are movies, which are warm and pleasant like Mrs. Doubtfire. There are films, like The King’s Speech, that have something unique to say. And then there is cinema, which transcends race, creed, and time, like Casablanca.
Dustin Detore:
Cinema is one of the most important things in my life.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
John Rifici:
I believe that any and all movies can have a powerful impact as long as they contain truth.
Dustin Detore:
Yes. They’re a very important part of the evolution of cinema.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
John Rifici:
When I was younger I had dreams of doing many big, important things, but as time goes on, the things that matter most are myself and the people closest to me being content with the work we’ve made.
Dustin Detore:
Of course I would love to win an Oscar, but I’m not really in it for that aspect. I would just like to make a good film, and have people appreciate it.
Do you think you're gonna win it?
John Rifici:
It would be nice one day.
Dustin Detore:
If I’ve truly earned it, I’d like to think that I would receive it.
Daniel Holland - Interview
Writer, director and producer, Daniel loves stories and one could say that he has majored in the art of story for most of his life. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing and is an award-winning screenwriter, as well as a director and producer. His first feature film, “Reclaiming Friendship Park” screened at numerous festivals, was distributed by Dreamscape, and notably won a Best Actor Award. Currently, he is most excited about “Moon Students”, which has amassed 8 festival awards, including two Best Narrative Features, two Best Original Screenplays, two Best Directors, a Best Actor and a Best Ensemble Cast. This feature drama is about a group of college students who find their callings and their voices during the pandemic. This coming-of-age story is about finding hope when the chips are down.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screenplayer?
When I was eight, I watched a David Lean movie called “The Bridge on the River Kwai” and was blown away by the sheer spectacle and tragedy of it. A little later, I saw Steve McQueen in “The Great Escape” and wanted to try my hand at jumping barbed wire fences in Nazi Germany. My need to write has been with me since I could talk, but I wanted to become a screenwriter after I watched Paddy Chayefsky’s “Network.” The words he put in those character’s mouths were so stunning that they felt revolutionary.
How did your family react?
My parents were middle-class people who didn’t have a deep connection to the arts. When I handed my dad my first published story, he dropped it on an end table and used it for a drink coaster.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
My role models are those artists that make their own paths and aren’t afraid to challenge their cultures a little. They look to the inner muse and have a fixation on the truth rather than banking on the outer reward. People like the great Irish writer, James Joyce, or civil rights activists like James Baldwin. In terms of muses, I rely on the ear and heart of one Monique Hansen.
Who's your biggest fan?
My mom, Carol Lamkin Holland, who as another role model, knew a lot about life, and wasn’t afraid to tell you when you got it right. She didn’t have creative leanings, but she supported me in every other way I could imagine.
What brings you inspiration the most?
My Inspiration comes from hanging out with like-minded people who enjoy digging into the crazy happenings of this spinning world. I also try to keep abreast of the news, watch a hell of a lot of films, and read when I have a minute free. But inspiration is like life, it happens while you’re doing other things.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
Who wouldn’t want to work with Kate Blanchett? She plums the depths of the human condition each time out. As for directors, I would have to go with Paul Thomas Anderson, though I would just watch him work. The man has a way with actors. A close second call would be the indie master, John Cassavetes.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
David Lean’s version of “Great Expectations” could give Dickens a run for his money or Anthony Minghella’s “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” It takes a director who instinctively understands the material.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
For pure movie-making chops, I could watch Hitchcock’s “Psycho” every day of the year. It is an explosion of filmmaking and storytelling technique. The man knew everything there is to know about the movies, and we are still trying to catch up.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
I have never wanted to quit inventing stories. My mind won’t let me. Have I ever thought that this industry gets a little tiring? Yes, but then I find myself running towards the next opportunity like a mad man.
On set what excites you the most?
Collaboration. Mixing it up with a talented creative team and having to make tough filmmaking choices as the sun is going down on set. Something about that under-pressure dialogue is life-affirming to me. It’s damn addictive.We had a lot of that going on when we shot "Moon Students." That team of people and that team alone could only have made that movie. Each set is as unique as the people who make it up.
And what scares you the most?
Not being able to tell stories. Period. That and being trapped on a sinking boat with the Alien monster.
What's your next project?
My next project is called “The Paradise Walk.” It’s about an ex-CIA interrogation specialist who is hired to find a missing college girl. She becomes obsessed with the case and begins using the same “torture tools” that ruined her career and torpedoed her life. It’s a high-stakes story about having to live in your own trauma in order to rediscover the place where you truly belong.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
I’d probably go with writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson, who gets to swing by his own story-telling rope. He can deep dive into all these wildly different worlds, from “The Master” to “Mystic Pizza,” and bring them to such a completely vivid life.
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
Curiosity and tenacity and stupidity. You must have an insatiable need to tell stories, be dogged enough to find and fit all the pieces together, and be dumb enough to keep going when people shrug your ideas off daily.
For you Cinema is....
Like all the creative arts, cinema is an investigation into life. Filmmakers, like painters, writers, and sculptors, just want to figure out how the watch works. There are those that just want to make money too, but I don’t work that side of the street.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Absolutely. Look at Robert Eggers' “The Lighthouse,” which is even more eerily effective because of its muted colorlessness. Some stories are more vivid when the rainbow of hues is taken off the table.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Maybe. I’d rather not say on the grounds that it may incriminate me. Heha.
Do you think you're gonna win it?
Hope is all we ever have, so hell yes!
Diego Zamalloa - Interview
Born in 1989 in Stonybrook, Long Island, NY. I went to school and in high school I got into art and making art as an artist. I liked drawing and painting mostly. I went Norwalk Community College where I took art classes. I dropped out of school to study yoga and meditation on my own. I studied that for about 10 years. I would make art and write as a pass time too, during that time. I think it helped me reflect on ideas that I was thinking about as I was studying yoga. I wrote some stories, and then I wrote three screenplays. Automate was my first screenplay. I went back to school in Fall 2020, feeling that I had studied enough meditation and yoga and I should be back in the world and make a living. I am studying graphic design for my Bachelors degree.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screenplayer?
I always liked to write, when I started writing stories for books and screenplays, I thought I might be able to produce it myself and act in it as well.
How did your family react?
They were always open and let me do what I want. They like the ideas I have, they see I work on things when I set my mind to them.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
I look to things already made for inspiration to find my own voice. Some of them, Guillermo del Toro, Donnie Darko, M Night Shyamalan.
Who's your biggest fan?
Friends
What brings you inspiration the most?
History, I spent my life visiting my family in Peru and going to the ruins there a lot. History sure does live in those ruins.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
Guillermo del Toro.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
The Lord of the Rings movies were better than the book I would say.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
Donnie Darko reflected a lot of things I was thinking about and how I felt.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
No, my inspiration always turns to a different art form if anything. I like to do everything, choose from any art form.
On set what excites you the most?
Being able to be a part of the story that is made up and coming to life on the set.
And what scares you the most?
Time constraints, not being able to work deadlines.
What's your next project?
Going to start painting. I want to do some architecture landscapes.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
Wes Anderson
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
A deep reflection inside themselves, a narration that doesn’t have a voice.
For you Cinema is....
Flying.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Yeah they can have an impact. I haven’t seen any though being born in 1989.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Yes.
Do you think you're gonna win it?
I do think it is possible, but I have to be able to see and do the work I feel I need to do.
Glenn McBride Jr - Interview
Glenn McBride Jr is a actor, writer and director based in Long Island, NY. He’s buddy comedy web series “Supply&Demand” has won muiltple awards.This year he is teaming up again with fellow writers Jimmy Kelly and Bannon Brass. A romactic Christmas comedy titled “Pull Out”, about a boring, lazy husband has an affair at a strip club for some excitement and manages to get his wife and mistress pregnant.
When did you decide you wanted to be a Filmmaker?
I knew I wanted to be a filmmaker at the age of seven. After watching the Robert Townsend film "Hollywood Shuffle". I wanted to direct, write, produce, star in my own comedies like him.
How did your family react?
My parents are super supportive. Even when I cost them a $900.00 phone bill when I was twelve years old. I was calling every movie studio in Hollywood. Trying to pitch my first script. I was grounded for a month!
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
My role models have always been my parents. When it comes to heroes in the industry. It's always been my top three that inspired me as a kid. Robert Townsend, Eddie Murphy and Keenan Ivory Wayans
Who's your biggest fan?
My nephew Elijah. He loves my movies lol
What brings you inspiration the most?
It's funny. But when I'm feeling low. To give me inspiration I'll watch the movie "Bowfinger". Starring Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin. I love how it's about a bunch underdogs coming together to make a movie. Love it!
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
I would love to work with Eddie Murphy, Kevin Smith and The Wayans Family.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
Yes. "Jackie Brown"! Elmore Leonard's book "Rum Punch" is great a book! But Tarantino took it to another level when he turned it into "Jackie Brown".
What's the movie that taught you the most?
The movie that taught me the most is Robert Townsend's documentary 'The Making Of The Five Heartbeats". Just seeing his journey on how he made the movie "The Five Heartbeats" It taught me that you can never give up. Your dreams are connected to other people dreams. You can't throw that away.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
Yes. Especially as an indie filmmaker. It's tough. You have to have strong will power to go through the storms of getting your vision to the silver screen. It's not easy. But I love making movies. So, it's worth going through those hard times.
On set what excites you the most?
The first day of filming. After all the rewrites, location scouting and rehearsals. To finally get on set and finally start filming it is great. Also was great is I love the cast and crew that I've grown a deep friendship with. People I continue to work with for eight years now.
And what scares you the most?
What scares me the most is not trying. You have to keep trying. No matter what obstacles get thrown your way.
What's your next project?
We just finish filming a Christmas romantic comedy starring Brannon Brass, Jean Marie Neave and myself titled "Pull Out". About a boring, lazy husband has an affair at a strip club for some excitement and manages to get his wife and mistress pregnant. I start filming a heist buddy comedy with actor/comedian Eugene T. Barnes and myself. We have great supporting cast as well ! The movie called "The Come Up".
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
I love Kevin Smith. I love how he has created this universe around his movies and his fans. He just has this wonderful connection with us indie filmmakers. He makes you feel that you too can make a movie.
A filmmaker is made of....
A filmmaker is made of pure determination!
For you Cinema is....
Cinema for me is that love you can't let go. Even when it gets on your nerves. You are reminded why you fell in love with it in the first place.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Yes! Kevin Smith's "Clerks" and Spike Lee's "She Gotta Have It"! Those two black and white films had a powerful impact on me.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Sure. I think we all do.
Do you think you're gonna win it?
If I do that would be great. If not. Cool. I'll keep making movies either way.
Dylan Montalbo - Interview
Born in Manila, Moved from island to island, spent a majority of the time studying 2D Illustration and Animation in order to self-produce and create bodies of short-films and possible features. Worldwide selected to various film festivals and have been nominated and won various awards.
When did you decide you wanted to be a filmmaker?
This probably started when I was a young boy and I first watched the film "The Mummy". It was the 1999 remake of the 1920's Universal Studios classic feature. It just caught my attention just right from the start. The aesthetic, the story, the special effects and overall execution which later on in my life prompted me to watch the film over and over again till adulthood, had the biggest influence on me becoming a filmmaker.
How did your family react?
Like any family, I was met with a lot of resistance. Understandably enough, knowing the situation of the world and expectations surrounding around me, I was continually pressured to do "what was necessary" or considered to be "the right choice" of career paths rather than what was most passionate to me. It took a lot of time and effort, but in the end I was successful in convincing them of what I really wanted out of life and what I wanted to do with it, despite the consequences or hardships that may come my way.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
That role model would definitely have to be Robert Rodriguez.
Who's your biggest fan?
I don't one particularly at the moment, but if I have to say. My family.
What brings you inspiration the most?
Mostly the ability to try new things and execute them as closely as possible.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino, James Wan, Tom Savini many more others that I can't name at the moment.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
Probably be either Hunger Games or Harry Potter, based on reviews of it.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
Evil Dead 2
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
Many times during the struggle of creating a film I've had thoughts about quitting or cancelling the project entirely. What mostly gets me through and away from those types of thoughts is just imagining the sheer response from the audience when they get the chance to watch my project.
On set what excites you the most?
being able to start the project.
And what scares you the most?
Not having all the necessary materials to get the project started.
What's your next project?
Right now I am doing somewhat of a motion-comic style animation that is in between 15-20 minutes that tells the story of two best-friends discovering a centuries old artifact within their school grounds that unleashes a terrible curse upon them.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
Robert Rodriguez
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
integrity, patience, understanding and perseverance.
For you Cinema is....
Life in a much more entertaining way or rather an escape from the dark reality we are in.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Yes I do I really do. It has the ability to take away all of the distractions that many colored films has on the audience, and places the focus on the action, movement and seriousness that many entertainers have in the film.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Someday maybe, someday.
Do you think you're gonna win it?
That honestly depends on just how far I'm willing to go with my career, but I guarantee that because I do things without ever the lack of talent, I will no doubt in my mind win one.