Juan Carlos Vidal - Interview
Juan Carlos Vidal is Art Director of the Planetarium of the University of Santiago de Chile. He has collaborated with various artists in the development of visual works in non-traditional formats, including a mapping in CoSM, Chapel of Sacred Mirrors for sighted artists Alex and Alison Gray in 2015. In 2010 he published the poetry book "Desdiosidad", by Editorial Cuneta. In 2020 he directs the fulldome film "Piano Under the Stars" and in 2022 the short film "Cosmic Caverns", the Astro-Art project of the pianist and composer Claudio Recabarren Madrid. Both pieces have been awarded in several VR and Fulldome festivals.
The biggest challenge of being an director is…
To explore the possibility of your own language and connect with the sensibility of the spectators. But it is also a game.
Choose an Actor, Choose an Actress...and now choose a story you would like to direct or play with both of them
It would allow to create two digital characters dialoguing about conspiracy theories, while being modeled in 3D.
Who’s the first Aritst that let you understand you wanted to be an Actor\ director\screenplayer?
The artists who have inspired me are mainly poets, painters and musicians whose list I will omit because it would be too long. And certainly filmmakers and some scientists (physicists, above all).
What really excites you artistically or emotionally?
There is a sense of simultaneous precariousness and transcendence in human beings that is very conducive to good storytelling. And also the mystery.
Marlon Brando said “Never confuse the size of your Paycheck with the size of your talent”. Do you agree?
A haiku.
Have you ever been discouraged by someone about your life\career choices?
I think what can really discourage you is doing something out of obligation or that hurts other people. In truth, I have received more help than I give. I can only be grateful for that.
Do you think is harder for a woman being a Filmmaker?
I think that, not only in this area, women have to deal with things that are beyond mere disadvantage or injustice. It's hard to understand why this is still the case. It is something that has nothing to do with talent or sensitivity or dedication, and in this field there is much that remains to be repaired.
Do you think that Fame and money could easily change your own Vision as a Filmmaker\actor\screenplayer?
I just hope that in a positive way.
Who’s the Movie star that made you dream for the first time?
More than a movie star, I think it was my first experience that I could call "cinematic". I must have been 8 or 9 years old, I think, when they arranged all the students in the gymnasium of the school I was attending and, without warning, projected a movie on a curtain on the wall. I can still feel the impression I had: against a background of stars a gigantic spaceship was crossing in front of us. The movie was called "Star Wars" and for more than an hour we were dazzled by a world full of amazing characters. A dream.
Make a wish about your career...
May it be a happy trip with lots of good company.
Talking about cinema\Showbusiness, how hard is to remain completly honest to yourself as an artist?
Every project is subject to variables that sometimes overwhelm or test us, but it pays to be honest in all trades.
The Film you have loved the most?
Among many loves and lovers: The Godfather, Pulp fiction, Requiem for a dream, Matrix, Twelve monkeys. In animated films: Toy story, Sing (my daughter Antonia's favorite), Tonari no Totoro. And from Chilean cinema the film Machuca.
And now, don’t be shy….the one that annoyed you the most?
Being shy is not always a crime.
Your biggest artistic goal is…
I like to write poetry.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I admire physicists, especially theoretical physicists and their strange ideas about the Universe. Being one of those physicists was a fantasy for some time, a dream with no mathematical basis.
How important is to be rewarded as an Artist?
Artists deserve to work with dignity and their work should be treasured and respected. Awards and recognition can be a great incentive as long as you don't work just to get them.
Do you have regrets?
I am always left with the feeling that I could have made better use of the time to share with loved ones or, in periods of solitude, to embark on more workshops and learn new skills.
What’s the messagge you wanna express through your art?
I do not know if there is a message as such. I don't conceive that this should be established beforehand. I am interested in exploration, in going out to sea or to space, so to speak. Mixing languages and techniques. That's what we do in fulldome films, an immersive journey. That is what we proposed, for example, in our film "Piano under the stars", it is a poetic approach to the Cosmos, from our rites, from our symbology and our ways of feeling and living. Perhaps this type of narrative allows us to delve into the vital principle and the mystery that confronts us and unites us as humans.
John Kestner - Interview
John Kestner studied Film at Wright State (OH) and Literature at Ohio University (Athens), had two novels published (Vegas Working Girl, Yesterday Rules), and has won nearly one hundred awards for four short films in the past three years. He continues to produce shorts and is working to get several features made.
Do you prefer Comedy or Drama?
I prefer Comedy and I'm alarmed that it's becoming a lost art. I went to film festivals in LA, Houston, and elsewhere and I was shocked at the lack of good comedies. I asked one programmer why the comedies were so unfunny and he said that nobody is making anything worth seeing (that festival received 4000 submissions!).
Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life?
All of the above.
Which is the best Moment on set?
So far I've enjoyed every moment on my sets. Each film has its own unique challenges, but even those are a rush and a great memory. Having the right people makes all the difference in the world.
Did anyone ever tell you weren't good enough?
Early on. And it was important to hear that. You have to hear that and then decide that, even if it's true, you WILL be good enough and keep going.
How can you stay focused on your goal?
Because I tell everyone in making a film: "The only thing that matters is what goes up on that screen. Everything else is just an obstacle."
Have you ever had a breakdown because of your Job?
I've been blessed enough to have a real job that I don't hate, and it doesn't interfere in my creative life, so...no.
Talent is a blessing or a curse?
It's a blessing because I've never sought it through alcohol or drugs, so I never let it destroy me.
What would you like to improve about yourself as an
actor/director/screenplayer?
That I could market myself as diligently as I write and direct.
What's the worst critic you have received?
A Film Professor in college. He violated the first script I ever wrote and he was absolutely right. It was terrible in every way (160 pages!) and took a sadistic delight in ripping on that script. I left his office and thought to myself, "Well, I can do this now, because no matter what anyone else says after this, it will never be as harsh and painful as what I just endured from that guy!" And I was right. No one has ever been so happily cruel.
If you weren't an actor/director/screenplayer what would you like to be?
There's been no Plan B.
If Cinema was a color what would it be?
It would be a kaleidoscope in motion.
A day without a movie is...
A connection to everyone in the world.
If someone offered you to play/direct/write in/a movie that you despice
but that for sure will make you rich and famous...would you accept the job?
I would be rich and famous if I'd done that, but I haven't done that.
What's your greatest ambition?
To be sitting in a theater and it's still dark and I've just seen a feature film that I wrote and directed...and it works.
What's your biggest fear?
That I'll make a mistake that lets an actor or anyone on the crew down.
Does music helps you to play/direct, write?
Yes, definitely.
You have the chance to make a Silent movie, what's your message to the
audience?
That a strong, compelling story can be told without a word of dialogue.
Share your speech if you should win an Oscar...
I'd like to dedicate this award to everyone who helped or encouraged me but aren't with us anymore. You believed in me, and I will always be eternally grateful. And I miss you all.
Andrew Wallerstein - Interview
Andrew was born April 27, 1971 in New York City. At the age of five he was selected to appear in a Merchant/Ivory documentary, the experience of which changed his life forever. After falling in love with acting while attending the Collegiate School in New York and filmmaking at Vassar College, Andrew was offered a scholarship to the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, which he promptly turned down to begin a twenty-year odyssey through as many creative disciplines as he could get his hands on. From typography, visual and forensic design, and six years as an intelligence and counter-espionage contractor, to animation, commercial voice work and direction, his unprecedented apprenticeship would lead him right back to where he began... Only now he was the documentarian rather than the subject.
When did you realised you wanted to be a Filmmaker?
Since I was a kid in the early 1980’s, making videos with friends. But it all crystalized my senior year of high school, when I was both acting on stage and studying film in the first film class I ever took. The following year I was enrolled in the film program at Vassar, cutting actual film and editing on Steenbecks.
Do you remember your first time at the Movies?
No, but I do remember some very early experiences: The Island at the Top of the World (1974) an obscure Disney film, Chariots of Fire (1981) with my Dad, and Oklahoma! (1955) at Radio City Music Hall, the movie not the play – I did not enjoy it, and still don’t, but seeing a movie at Radio city was an absolutely magical experience.
If you should change country where would you like to work?
I have a lot of friends in the UK. They love it there, and the domestic film/entertainment industries are super professional. I adore Jamaica and the Netherlands and visit both every chance I get, but something about London speaks to me. I love great cities.
Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…
Sweet Sounds, a short documentary made in 1976 by the great filmmakers James Ivory and Ismail Merchant, of which I was privileged to be a part at the tender age of 5 here in NYC – it set the stage for everything that has followed since. And my own first feature, Spymaster – on the one hand it was my first film and a resounding success on the international festival circuit in 2022-23. On the other, it was the last movie my mother ever watched. Bittersweet.
What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?
I have mixed feelings. I Have learned as much about film outside of film school as I have within it, and both have individual merits. But the pace at which I learned in an academic environment was vastly accelerated. This is a simple statement of fact. Conversely: I have also turned down some of the finest academic environments and programs (the old Strasberg Institute in NYC comes to mind) when they appeared to be more of a detour than a shortcut to my personal ambitions.
Have you ever hated your ambition?
Never. Not even before digital, when the logistics and cost to realize one of my visions was prohibitive. After all I think the only thing to ever hate about one’s own ambition is if it is unachievable. Or, of course, if your ambition hurts anyone.
Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was he right?
Yes, and in a whole slew of ways. For example, we are escapists and voyeurs of the first order. (I’m actually watching Michael Powell’s 1961 cult thriller Peeping Tom as I answer these.) We fall in love, both platonically and sexually, with people who in life would be absolutely terrible for us in life. And we willingly suspend our disbelief and open ourselves up to emotional manipulation at the hands of the most manipulative people on earth: actors and directors. Should I go on?
Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?
Art, in its broadest and most inclusive form: images of action and adventure, crime and kindness, love and loss, tragedy and truth.
Who’s the Director that taught you the most?
Stanley Kubrick is the real standout for me. He came from a print design background as photographer for LOOK magazine and his first very film was a self-financed documentary about a boxer. Both are close to my own experience and therefore dear to my heart. But the best example he provides is his mastery of all aspects of the craft such that he was actually able to keep production costs down by doing work himself that would normally be hand off to an AP or EP.
About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…
I meet Ridley Scott or John Carpenter (additional candidates for the title of ’Taught Andrew the Most’). They take one look at me and say, ‘I know your work. Not a fan.'
How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?
It’s essentially. The great cinematographic populations (The UK, France, Italy, the United States etc.) have long fostered and grown their own culture through journalism, film schools and other means, and this decades-long process has been an essential part of their success and dominance.
What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?
I would like to keep improving in every aspect as a filmmaker, but if I had to pick one area that I think needs dramatic improvement it is networking. My style is a very isolated one, working with very small teams of collaborators for prolonged periods of time – not exactly a recipe for making new acquaintances.
A big producer give you the chance to direct and play in the remake of one of your favorite black and white Movie (if you have one)… what film do you choose?
What a privilege. Impossible for me to pick just one here, so I’d throw the following at the producer and see which one he was willing to throw the most money at: Mr. Arkadin (also Confidential Report, Welles, 1955), Curse of the Demon (Tourneur, 1958), High and Low (Kurosawa, 1963), and Alphaville (Godard, 1965). If you were the producer, which would you pick?
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 have a great support network when I need it and many influences, but my prime motivator has always been me. First off, who else is going to want that job 24/7? (Trust me, absolutely no one.) More to the point, who else is going to be there when you’re bent over a DAW or editing suite at 3am, when you need it most and there’s no one there to coddle you? Best to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, which actually is possible with the right combination of confidence, humility and experience.
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 he is oversimplifying matters for whomever his audience was that day. You film will absolutely suffer to the point of falling apart if your script is lousy. But so too if your score works against the picture, you have a cinematographer who doesn’t understand their craft, or you pull a string of bad performances out of your actors. To name just a few of the myriad factors that can really make or break a film.
What’s your most ambitious project for the future?
There are two projects in immediate development, neither of which I am at liberty to discuss at this time.
Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative?
They certainly provide excellent fuel, there’s no doubt about that. I’ve absolutely found that to be true. But without a balanced emotional spectrum things like humor and joy become somewhat alien and difficult to write about.
What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?
I’m not bad. But we all need work, and the day I stop believing that is the day I start making bad movies.
Ilkka Ilmari Levä - Interview
Ilkka Ilmari Levä (b. 1967) goes by the artist name "bloom." He got his PhD in history at the Helsinki University in 2008 in Finland, Europe. Since then, he started to make films. Recently, he gained a reputation as an acclaimed indie filmmaker and a committed communist in the sense of Marx and Engels' German ideology. Inspiration for him comes from the philosophy of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, as well as the Tiqqun collective. His films explore zones of indeterminacy, meaninglessness, and the threshold of meaning-making in human action through tragicomedy and schizoanalysis. He suffers from the Willebrand disease, which has affected his worldview greatly by opening him to the multiplicities and varying potentials of life.
When did you realised you wanted to be a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?
I was watching Stanley Kubrick's film 2001 when this lightning struck me and I got so electrified in my body. I was 11 at that time.
Do you remember your first time at the Movies?
To be honest I cannot recall the actual first time but I know that it has to be around four years old. It was (surprise surprise) some Walt Disney animation film matinee.
If you should change country where would you like to work?
I would like to work in both North America and South America.
Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…
1. Irreversible by Gaspar Noe
2. 2001 by Stanley Kubrick - both for better.
What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?
Nothing against them if they try to remember the best of the students.
Have you ever hated your ambition?
On a daily basis, however, after shooting, editing, and watching films, you forgive yourself and try to fail again, but this time with a bit better results.
Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was
he right?
Yes, because one can use films in many different ways. They can be used as surrogates for real life but they can also be used as a potential for new life.
Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?
I see the imagination of something new, images of free, images of movement, images of time liberated in their own being to become in a way unexplored.
Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?
I guess it has to be Gaspar Noé.
About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…
My biggest dream is to make a film of 17 hours. My worst nightmare is to be making that film.
How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?
That could be called the basis of filmmaking. We cannot do without a person who can imagine new ways to frame, illuminate, and draw something unimaginable with the fluctuation and movement of light.
What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?
That everyone should get paid properly in the film industry.
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?
That would be Bela Tarr's Sátántangó.
Film Industry it’s a tough place and sometimes is normal to feel lost
and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated?
David Lynch, without a doubt.
Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film you need 3 things: The
script, the script and the script". Do you agree with him?
Naturally, however, it's also about cinematography.
What’s your most ambitious project for the future?
That 17-hour-long film...
Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy lets you be more creative?
I have understood from my own experiences that these things play a role, however, it is a subjective experience and feeling, and it depends on the experiences of this certain filmmaking body (as a person). So I really can't answer, than to tell my own view on this thing. You do not necessarily have to be traumatized to make a good film. I have found that it surely helps.
What do you wish for yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?
To be able to make that 17-hour-long film before I die.
Yvonne Condrau - Interview
Yvonne Lucrezia Condrau was born, grew up, and lived in Switzerland until she made her way to New York City in 1993. Yvonne works in five Languages fluently and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management & Office Supervision from Switzerland and New York University, NYC. She worked as a Language Instructor, cross-cultural Advisor, and Translator for a Nickelodeon/Viacom TV documentary. Yvonne also gained great insight into the industry as a featured Extra in numerous well-known movies/TV shows such as “The Manchurian Candidate,” “The Interpreter,” “Stay,” “Law & Order CI,” etc. Some years later, Yvonne decided to study Advanced Screenplay Writing at New York University, NYC. She marks her debut with the Silver Award at the New York Movie Awards (July 2023 competition) and as a ten-time Award-winning screenwriter for Best Unproduced/Adapted Feature Screenplay / Best Female Protagonist with her project “A Scottish Gem,” (Drama/Romance) which is based on a compelling true story.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screenplayer?
I have been a storyteller since childhood and captured my audience with compelling stories. During my years attending Highschool, and College, all my teachers were fascinated by my stories and writing skills. And then, life got in the way. Several years ago, my wonderful father’s passing was a wake-up call. It triggered a deep yearning to find my real purpose in life. After I lost my dad, I realized that we both shared the same passion: storytelling and writing. It took me a few more years to find the courage to follow my childhood dream of becoming a writer.
How did your family react?
My entire family and all my friends have been very excited and supportive, especially my almost 94-year “young” mother in Switzerland has been rooting for me from day one. She is very determined to stay alive to see me succeed!
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
The amazingly talented, brilliant actress, writer, and director, Bryce Dallas Howard has become my Muse and role model.
Who's your biggest fan?
My # ONE fan is my wonderful Mom.
What brings you inspiration the most?
I draw inspiration from my vibrant imagination and execute my creative vision with a keen eye for detail. I often take long walks in beautiful mother nature which always has been very creatively inspiring, read scripts from talented fellow writers, and watch movies I love over, and over again.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
I would like to work with Bryce Dallas Howard. She is not only very talented but also versatile and able to slip into any given role.
The # ONE director is Ron Howard. The interesting fact is that Ron Howard never directed his daughter, Bryce. I would love to be the one who combines these two amazingly gifted human beings in my movie “A Scottish Gem!” But now, I am in trouble because Bryce is a splendid director as well.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
To Kill a Mockingbird (1963)
The Graduate (1967)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Forrest Gump (1994)
What's the movie that taught you the most?
Since I am a hopeless romantic, I decided to go with “Splendor in the Grass!” Besides the incredible cast, a story of passion, compassion, forgiveness, and growth in life, this film, directed and produced by the great Elia Kazan, is a true masterpiece just like so many of Kazan’s movies like “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “East of Eden” and “On the Waterfront.”
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
About a million times… Aren’t we all in the same boat? Today, we believe that we can move mountains and tomorrow we feel like “No way I can do that!” But I am not a quitter and just keep going, focusing on the big picture and the light at the end of the tunnel.
On set what excites you the most?
Challenging creativity and bringing out the best in every scene and everyone, teamwork, and being one big family. And eventually when “it’s a wrap!”
And what scares you the most?
I can’t think of anything that would scare me on set except that someone might get hurt.
What's your next project?
I am thrilled to write my second, but this time original feature screenplay “Double Vision” (Drama/Mystery). And since the story’s sub-genre falls into the category of “Mystery,” it will remain a mystery to the readers for now.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
Bryce Dallas Howard, no doubt. She is the real deal: brilliant acting, writing, directing, following passionately her instincts, and daring to be bold and brave in life.
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
Passion, inspiration, creativity, a keen eye for visualizing, imagination, and uncovering true talent.
For you Cinema is....
Open the magical door into another world of thrill, twist, imagination, and joy, maybe even reflecting on one’s own life and being grateful for the life we created to live in. We don’t just crave entertainment or escape; we want our lives changed forever.
Do you think Black and White movies have a powerful impact?
Yes, I really love black-and-white movies and film noir. All those great, old classic films are so much more intriguing than in color.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Yes, I do. Honestly, I think that everyone dreams of winning an Oscar, right? It seems that every year the Academy Awards often surprise the audience with unexpected so-called” underdog” winners. Look at the amazing director, Martin Scorsese who had to wait until 2006 to win an Oscar for his movie “The Departed.”
Do you think you're gonna win it?
After holding eleven major awards in great Screenplay/Film Competitions, yes, I am ready to win my very first Oscar! I hope that the Academy Awards are ready too because the story of Carole in my feature screenplay “A Scottish Gem” needs to be told. Gripped by the arc of her radiant life, delicate, heartbreaking, and still full of humor this compelling, true story, with a strong female lead of indomitable spirit and working her magic has all the hallmarks of an emotional drama and great romance that will leave audiences spellbound and touched by sentiments. It is a story that people can relate to on some tangible and emotional level.
Dean Morgan - Interview
Creator of Sheldon Mashugana. Actor, writer, producer, and director. Won 275 film awards for Best actor, Best director, Best International film, Best Short Film and Best Comedy short. Played Hoffa in Hillary's America. I am a Rabbi and did a Netflix wedding from Delerium TV. Mostly play policemen in the over 100 films I have done in the past 10 years and comedy is my main thing people hire me for the most. I also direct movies and TV. My agent is Beverly Brock and my manager is Icon studios and my publicist is RJ Garis. Dean Morgan owns Standard Medical Co-Op, the real healthcare company at a fraction of the cost. America's Commercial Agency, selling business and commercial insurance, and Baby Boomer Buddies non emergency transportation company. Mashugana Production, film company making Sheldon Mashugana and The Macher films.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screenplayer?
When I was 19 years old I tried out to be an actor on stage at second city. 1979
How did your family react?
Very surprised, since my brother was already acting, they had no idea that I was interested
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
I loved William Shatner all these years so I was always thinking about him.
Who's your biggest fan?
Not sure how to answer that, I have over 1 million plus fans and they are all important
What brings you inspiration the most? I enjoy being creative with any part I play, write or direct, Its just in my blood I guess.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
I found out the Steven Spielberg and I have a lot in common when it comes to directing. I also have spoken to Morgan Freeman, and hes a really nice guy.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
This might be silly, but I don't read books, I ready screenplays. My wife and kids usually say the the book is better then the film.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
Now when I watch film I see how everything is done back stage and behind the scenes. I'm a business man first, so I do research on all aspects of film, directing, writing and acting. So every film I watch teaches me new trades of the business.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
I can say I always try things until they don't work any more, or change. Never quit.
On set what excites yuo the most?
People playing the roles and getting into character.
And what scares you the most ?
People being late and not showing up when we shoot.
What's your next project?
I have 1 Macher film we are shooting in Oct. over 239 million people love this character, so we are doing a film for him. We also have 3 Sheldon Mashugana full length in theater movies we wrote, we are working on funding for those.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
Jerry Lewis is very close to what Sheldon is.
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
A person that looks beyond imagination of things that they have never done before and probably would not have done in their real life.
For you Cinema is....
Artistry of film, telling a story you have already seen and make it your own, or making up something that you enjoy personally.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Yes I made one call Picture me This. Short film about Sheldon running after James in a mall taking his picture, even knowing James does not want his picture taken. I also was in 1984 movie, drama. it really powerful the black and white colors really come out
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Well everyone does. I have a short film equivalent already from Global film festival in Hollywood, the statue, or star is from the same place they make the Oscar.
Do you think you're gonna win it?
Well in the comedy world, there are not to many actors winning an Oscar, not unless the comedian does something dramatic, like Tom Hanks and wins one, I would like to win an Oscar for directing. That would be cool.
Laura Burnett - Interview
Laura studied Strasberg and Meisner and was in indie films and national commercials. After 10 years, in 2001 she switched gears and went into production which landed her a job on the Dick Wolf true crime series, “Crime and Punishment.” From there, she freelanced and worked in different areas of production on network tv shows for FOX, NBC, VH1, MTV, A&E, Science Channel. She has been a producer for the last 13 years for the Warner Discovery documentary true crime series, “On the Case with Paula Zahn.” She also worked on "True Conviction" for 4 seasons concurrently for the same company. She oversees her department on multiple series. Other producing credits include Discovery documentaries; “Counter Terror Intel, Nuclear Nightmare: Japan in Crisis, and Spies in the Sky.” Laura has written, directed and produced three music videos;“Blind Truth” is her first film and her directorial debut. The film has won 354 US and International awards so far and has had 12 nominations.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screenplayer?
For acting, I was probably 6 or 7. My cousins and I would do skits at holiday parties and my mother told me that she felt I had talent in that area and should pursue acting. I studied for over 10 years in LA, but despite multiple agents, being in the union and multiple headshots, I didn’t get many auditions. So, to make a living, in 2000, I decided to go into production and later directing, writing and filmmaking.
How did your family react?
Well, my mother was excited in the beginning because the idea of entertainment was great when I said I wanted to pursue acting. When I was pursuing acting and not getting any paid work or many auditions, I had a hard time financially with side jobs and waitressing etc. So, like many concerned parents, they desperately wanted me to get out of it and get a 9-5 job as a secretary or receptionist. Freelance work with no pay sometimes to build a reel and zero benefits made no sense to them. They pleaded with me to do something else with my life. I changed gears and went into production but it took a decade for me to make stable money even in production. When I got a stable job on a series with a paycheck every week, they finally felt better but were shocked I had no health or any benefits, vacation or 401K etc. as full time permalancer. I understand their concern. As far as screenwriting and directing, my mom and dad passed away before this film received awards so I don’t know how they would feel about writing and directing. I never got to show it to them.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
When I was younger around 7 years old, David Bowie was a role model. He would probably be my biggest one.
Who's your biggest fan?
When I was talking acting classes, my acting teachers were my biggest fan. They all thought I had so much talent. Other than that; my agents now and the nice film festivals that have supported my film.
What brings you inspiration the most?
Creativity, art and music.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
Wow, I would be happy to work in general doing what I love; so, working with any great actor or director would be a huge honor. I would be happy to work in scripted.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
I haven’t read as many books as I would have liked, so I would say I can’t answer that honestly, but I will say Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy was fantastic.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
I will choose ones that I saw as a child that influenced me in life. Star Wars IV, V, VI. Also, Requiem for a Dream and Sid and Nancy taught me to stay away from drugs.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
Yes. So many times, I can’t keep track. I had so many roadblocks and had to keep changing course to stay afloat. I took me decades to get to a place that some have gotten to a few years out of college.
On set what excites you the most?
Just being on set. I love it!
And what scares you the most?
Nothing scares me about being on set.
What's your next project?
Making my short into a feature and pitching a true crime scripted project and a documentary project.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
Well, I know this is literal, but I wouldn’t because that is theirs., I can’t pick one artist because I admire so many, but if I am talking about filmmaking; anyone who has had great success as a writer, director, actor, producer for film and tv.
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
Talent , creativity, vision, discipline and determination.
For you Cinema is....
A way to tell stories and impact audiences with a creative moving art piece.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
I love black and white movies. Yes of course. I love film noir. Think of all great black and white old classic films that have remained timeless or more recently Schindler’s List and so many others.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
When I was just starting out and pursuing acting I did here and there. But for decades, my thoughts have been on working and more tangible goals.
Do you think you're gonna win it?
If I ever worked on a film and it or I was ever nominated or if this ever happened, it would be a great blessing.
Kristina Schippling - Interview
Kristina is the director of "FINDINGS" a short film about the search of the inner self. It asks the question: "Who am I?". The young woman goes on a search for identity. Her path leads her out of the old familiarity, which no longer fits her, into the open, into an unfinished search for herself. She sends a message in a bottle, a message into the void and finally metaphorically dives under water. The young woman simply dives away before she has looked at snail shells and dead leaves in nature. She crawls away, because she finds no new life, no new identity after breaking out of the little doll's house. So she returns to her doll's house. And although she no longer fits into it, she takes it with her. It is the only home she has. An impressive short film with a profound narrative and a strong camera.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/screenwriter?
I was already drawn to acting as a child. I did my first plays at school and later in the children's group at the Thalia Theatre in Halle, my hometown. But even before the passion for acting, the desire to write arose in primary school, and this has remained until today. Before I could write, I wanted to be an inventor.
I directed my first play at the Free Theatre in Halle in my first semester. In 2006 I played the lead role in a short film for the first time, and in 2010 I shot my first short film.
How did your family react?
My parents always thought I wouldn't make it through my studies because of getting distracted with all my projects, and then later they were very amazed at my successful graduations and my art.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
I like to be inspired by philosophical texts or by topics that interest me.
Who's your biggest fan?
Malin Hase is definitely my biggest fan, but she is also an artist, a painter, illustrator and friend.
What brings you inspiration the most?
The question is rather what blocks my inspiration, because basically I am always inspired. I used to be blocked by my self-doubt and fears about whether what I was doing was any good. And I let myself be blocked by the criticism of others.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
It might sound a bit boring, but I prefer to work with people I get on well with and can have fun with, people I can rely on. That's the most important thing, but also with people whose skills I admire. I basically already work with these people, and I also stay with those that are both talented are fun to work with.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
Films that make me forget that they are films and immerse me completely in the story.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
Yes, more than one time. I didn't go to Cannes once when my short film was in the ShortFilmCorner. I really wanted to quit. But here I am, making movies.
On set what excites you the most?
The best thing is when working with the team feels like a family. You do a big project together, you believe in it, you have a common vision. You get to know people differently when you create such projects with them. That creates a bond and is something special. That's what I find most beautiful about filming.
And what scares you the most?
It depends on the activities. A lot of things demand the utmost concentration. As a camerawoman, I just shot a take where there was only one take, and no repetition was possible. There is a lot of pressure, and you are very nervous. Because this one take must work.
What's your next project?
I always have several projects that I work on in parallel.
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
... one thing is certain. Besides talent, he or she has an incredibly strong will that lasts for years. The most important and decisive thing is the will. Your life will have both successful moments and devastating defeats. You must be a very strong person.
For you Cinema is....
A dream world, a world of fantasy. But also, a world of extremes. And a medium in which many arts unite. A way of life.
Do you think black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Why not? If they are good
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Of course, I did!
Do you think you're gonna win it?
I hope so!