Antonia Economou - Interview
Antonia Economou is a choreographer, director and performer. She focuses on expanding and challenging her expressive means in different creative fields and media involving representation and moving image. She investigates themes such as decadence, decay and the idea of the human mind as a labyrinth balancing between the real and the imaginary. While experimenting with her practice through cinematic means, she created a short dance film titled COMPOSITION: snakes for her (2021), about a woman and her dreams at night that merge with her reality and make it unstable. Her short experimental film I wonder, yes I confess, I wonder was released in 2023 and is currently presented and awarded in film festivals worldwide. Her upcoming short film SCOTÓMA will be released in 2024. https://antoniaeconomou.com/
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screenplayer?
Since I was 8 years old I wanted to become a dancer in theater. Much later I began experimenting as a director behind the camera and as an actress in front of it. I was absolutely seduced by the magic of cinema.
How did your family react?
I was extremely determined from a very young age to go into the arts and I was lucky they were always supportive of my creative efforts.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
Xenia Tabourlou, the performer starring in I WONDER YES I CONFESS I WONDER has been my muse and closest collaborator for the past seven years. My role model as a director is Adrei Tarkovsky.
Who's your biggest fan?
My grandfather.
What brings you inspiration the most?
Observing absurdities and small events hidden in the everyday and the thin line separating/uniting the “real” from the “imaginary”.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
Roy Anderson
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
The Godfather
What's the movie that taught you the most?
It can’t be only one. For me it was “Holy Motors” by Leo Carax, “Playtime” by Jacques Tati and ““Blood of a poet” by Jean Cocteau.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
Almost daily.
On set what excites you the most?
The scenographic work and the process of building sets. The fact that you can gradually construct a reality in small pieces through image and visual detail. Also, I am addicted to the seclusion from the outside world that comes with constantly working on a movie set day and night.
And what scares you the most ?
Time
What's your next project?
Our next film is my first attempt at creating a short film not solely based on movement or experimental narratives. Its title is SCOTÓMA and its a psychological thriller/ dark comedy about a woman shut off from reality suffering from split personality disorder.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
Cate Blanchett
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
Method and practice
For you Cinema is....
The art of concealment. A movie is like a painting, a window to a reality full of secrets waiting to be deciphered.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
The most powerful impact.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
When I was younger, winning an Oscar was a fantasy of mine. But as I am getting older, I am discovering the necessary steps to that goal and now I am more curious and excited with the process.
Do you think you're gonna win it?
Yes, why not?
Robert Kouba - Interview
Robert Kouba was born 1964 in the former Czechoslovakia. His parents emigrated 1969 to Switzerland where Robert grew up. From his early age on Robert was fascinated by movies and cinema. He got his first Super 8 camera at the age of 10 and started immediately making little movies with his friends. Today Robert is working more as a script writer. He already received several awards for his scripts. He has two adult children. His son is also a film director. >
When did you realised you wanted to be a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?
When I was 10 years I wanted to become an actor and a filmmaker. When I had my first Super 8 camera I loved to make my own little films with my friends and parents. But it never became my profession because I studied law and became a lawyer. But now I have again time enough to write scripts.
Do you remember your first time at the Movies?
Yes. I was 7 years old and I went to the Cinema with my father to watch Snow White and the 12 Dwarfs. I was so fascinated by the whole atmosphere of the cinema and the magic of the movie. My father fell asleep during the show.
If you should change country where would you like to work?
I would probably go back to Czech Republic because they have a long tradition of filmmaking and I speak the language. It is my second home to Switzerland. I also like the rich Czech film culture with many beautiful movies.
Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…
One film is Casualties of War with Fox and Penn, directed by Brian de Palma. The story is so sad I had to cry after seeing this movie.
The other is Alien from 1979, directed by Ridley Scott. I went to the Cinema with my mother. We did not expect the Chestburster Scene at all like probably nobody in the audience. It was the first splatter scene I have ever seen and it was quite a shock for me and my mum. But I also remember to have seen for the first time a very realistic Science Fiction movie with a very realistic Alien. The Alien creature was designed by H.R. Giger. H.R. Giger lived in Switzerland and in a small Swiss town there is a H.R. Giger museum with his sculptures and painings.
What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?
They can be helpful. I have never attended such an acting school so I cannot really judge the benefit of it. But they give you certainly the basics of acting. On the other hand there are a lot of natural talented people who can act without having attended any acting school.
Have you ever hated your ambition?
No, not hated. But sometime I was thinking about my ambition and why I did not choose to become a professional filmmaker. I think I preferred to choose a steady job instead of making films.
Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was
he right?
I don't know what Truffaut meant with that phrase. I don't think that Film Lovers are sick people. Movies is just entertainmant like many other things; music, books, theater and so on. You can't judge people by their interests and love for movies.
Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?
I see a wonderful cinema hall and the smell of popcorn. I see people waiting for the movie to start. I see the big screen in front of me.
Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?
I would say Steven Spielberg. He made exactly the kind of movies that I loved. Science Fiction but with this special emotional factor like E.T. I always admired his movies and wanted to do the same films.
About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…
My biggest dream was to make a feature Science Fiction movie on a professional level. I never reached that goal but I helped my son to make such a movie and I am very proud that we achieved this goal. I had some nightmares about my job but that was about my job as lawyer and not filmmaker.
How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?
This is very importent because this has a big influence on the overall environment for filmmaking in such a country. This applies to financial support, to good locations, to film staff and so on.
What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?
I would like to improve my writing skills and discover new topics that I can use for new movies. I would like to improve my writing skills and discover new topics that I can use for new movies.
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?
I am not a big fan of remakes. For example I find it a waste of time to do all the US remakes of succesfull French movies. A movie should remain as it is. Every movie should have their own origial story. There are a lot of old black and white movies I love. One of my favourite is Animal Crackers with the Marx Brothers. I could watch these films over and over again. Their dialogues are so funny and so quick, you can watch it over and over again. I also like all the Laurel & Hardy movies. They are just pure, funny entertainment.
Film Industry it’s a tough place and sometimes is normal to feel lost
and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated?
Well, I think I have to motivate myself because I am not coming from a filmmaking family. My love for movies and cinema give me the motivation I need to do films and write scripts.
Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film you need 3 things: the script, the script and the script". Do you agree with him?
This is absolutely correct! I fully agree. But I would add a fourth point and that is good casting. You can ruin a good script with a wrong casting. I think we all are familiar with the story about Back to the future with Michael J Fox instead of Eric Stoltz. I think this is one of the best examples how you can change a good script into a mediocre script just by having the wrong casting. And with wrong I don't mean a bad casting but just somebody who does not really fit perfectly into the story.
What’s your most ambitious project for the future?
My most ambitious project is to write a new script and produce the film by myself. But the story would need to be simple enough to do it with one or two actors. I am working on a new idea.
Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative?
Sadness can make us more introspective and reflective, which can lead to deeper and richer creative expression. Sadness can also motivate us to seek meaning and purpose in our lives, which can inspire us to create something that transcends our suffering.
What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?
I really wish that my script "Machliar" would find a producer and make this film. This story means a lot to me and is partially based on personal experiences.
Oliver Li - Interview
Oliver (Zhongze) Li is an editor based in Los Angeles. He earned his Master of Fine Arts in Film Production with an emphasis on Editing from Chapman University Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in 2022. Oliver embarked on his editing career in 2019 and has since contributed to several notable projects, including the short films "Strike", "Fading Scar", “The Back-Flow Rain”, "Circus at Dusk", as well as the feature film "Puppy of a Bitch".
When did you decide you wanted to be an editor?
There are several times I feel “Thank God I chose editing to be my career”. I believe the first big moment was when I was in senior high. As our class was preparing for the coming-of-age ceremony, I was tasked with creating a video presentation for my class. I gathered images, captured videos of my peers, and devoted countless hours each day to its creation, even though it was only two months before the college entrance exams. I discovered the magic of integrating images and sound, crafting a narrative more powerful than the sum of its parts. The video was a resounding success at the ceremony, eliciting cheers and applause. After the event, while others departed, the whole class of mine remained, watching the video repeatedly. That memory of bringing joy to others through my video remains etched in my heart, a treasure for a lifetime.
How did your family react?
Luckily my family is always supportive to me and encourage me to make my own choice.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
For character on the screen, I find Captain Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” most charming.
For filmmakers, I admire Taiwanese director Edward Yang.
Who's your biggest fan?
My girlfriend. We share a love for watching films together, discussing them, and she's always the first to see the movies I've edited. I genuinely enjoy hearing her thoughts and feelings about the cuts, and I deeply appreciate her unwavering support.
What brings you inspiration the most?
My life.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
For directors: U.S. director Damien Chazelle, Jordan Peele, Paul Thomas Anderson, The Safdie Brothers, Ari Aster. Denmark director Nicolas Wingding Refn, Korean director Boog Joon Ho, Taiwanese Director Mong-Hong Chung, Chinese Director Dalei Zhang, Chao Yang, Ji Huang.
For actors and actress: Chinese Actor Chuanjun Wang, Yi Yang Qian Xi, Actress Xi Qi, Dongyu Zhou, U.S. Actor Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Actress Jennifer Lawrence, Frances McDormand; also for editors: Tom Cross and Jennifer Lame.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
“2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) by Stanley Kubrick.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
It’s hard to pick one. I’ll list ten here. Before 2000s:
“Notorious” (1946) by Alfred Hitchcock
“Rashomon” (1950) by Akira Kurosawa
“2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) by Stanley Kubrick
“The French Connection” (1971) by William Friedkin
“The Godfather: Part II” (1974) by Francis Ford Coppola
“A Brighter Summer Day” (1991) by Edward Yang
“The Silence of the Lambs” (1991) by Jonathan Demme
After 2000s:
“Inception” (2010) by Christopher Nolan
“A Separation” (2011) by Asghar Farhadi
“Whiplash” (2014) by Damien Chazelle
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
There was a dark time when a cinematographer, an ex-roommate, classmate, and good friend of mine passed away in an accident on a film set in Spring 2022. We collaborated in three films from 2019 and we just finished the shooting of our thesis film “The Last Nora” at Chapman University, and I haven’t finished editing it then. At that time, I’m also suffering political depression due to the pandemic- related shutdown in Shanghai, China. I felt like being an editor is so useless since I could do nothing, neither the death of my dear friend nor the suffering of my friends and people in Shanghai.
On set what excites you the most?
What truly excites me the most are the performances that actors deliver on set, ones that surpass my initial expectations. These performances breathe life into the stories, and I'm aware that we'll have exceptional footage to work with.
And what scares you the most?
Experiencing the loss of footage was a painful setback I encountered in the early stages of my career. It was heart-breaking to lose those precious moments we had created, knowing they couldn't be replicated.
What's your next project?
I'm currently scheduled to edit a feature film titled "The Ballad of Killers." The director is a huge fan of the U.S. filmmaker generation that includes Quentin Tarantino and Paul Thomas Anderson. This film is a blend of crime and satirical comedy, offering intriguing insights into male chauvinism. I'm incredibly enthusiastic about the opportunity to edit this project.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
I would say U.S. editor Tom Cross. It's legendary that his first venture into film editing was a 20-page scene from "Whiplash", initially intended for funding, but it gained outstanding feedback as a short film at Sundance. Moreover, the full-length version of "Whiplash" achieved tremendous success. His prowess in crafting tension and rhythm in editing is truly remarkable.
An Editor is made of…
A set of eyes for seeing. A pair of ears for listening. A mind for thinking. A heart for feeling. Maybe also a pair of quick hands for maneuvering the software…
For you Cinema is....
It's a complex question to answer at the moment. Undoubtedly, cinema was the most influential medium of the 20th century, but it‘s undergoing significant changes due to the rise of online streaming, short videos, and artificial intelligence. Personally, I view cinema as a unique medium with immense potential for impactful storytelling, and I still hold the belief that it's best experienced on the big screens with surround sound in theaters.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Historically, black and white films symbolize a bygone era, often referred to as the "Classic" era of cinema. Back then, films were shown on actual film reels, and the sound systems were quite different from what we have today, offering a narrower range of dynamics and frequencies, no surround sound, and often no location sound. This naturally gives them a vintage and nostalgic feel. In the modern context, when black and white is employed in filmmaking, it often serves to accentuate the contrast, the play of shadows in the imagery, and typically, the simplicity of the story being told. This simplicity can be incredibly potent and impactful.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Sometimes.
Do you think you're gonna win it?
Why not?
Viktória Jánoki-Kis - Interview
Viktória Jánoki-Kis was born on March 3, 1982 in Tiszaföldvár, Hungary. She is a novelist and screenwriter. She studied at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics on the Facutly of Architecture and worked as a design engineer for several years, before she gave up her original profession for writing fiction. Her first book of short stories was published in 2021 with the title You Step over the Water with Me (Átlépsz velem a víz fölött). In 2022 she wrote a short drama called The Rocking Chair with co-writer Jenő Hódi about the Ukrainian refugees. In 2023 she was screenwriter and producer of the short drama Online, which is about the online education causing unexpected turns is life during Covid. She lives in Budapest with her husband and two sons.
Do you prefer Comedy or Drama?
Drama. Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life?
Art imitates Life. Which is the best Moment on set?
When the director says “action”, and the actors begin to play. At this moment it seems like the whole crew becomes one person who is focusing on a single thing: to make the take as good as possible
Did anyone ever tell you weren't good enough?
Yes, my first mentor once said, my short story is so weak, that I shouldn’t send it to the editor who asked me to write it. But instead of giving up, I rewrote the story, which was published shortly after in a literary magazine and was also selected into two famous Hungarian annual anthologies. (Magyar Napló: Short Stories Of The Year 2021, Magvető: Panorama 2020-21)
How can you stay focused on your goal?
I studied architecture and worked as a design engineer for six years planning large scale industrial facilites. My profession tought me, that with thoroughness and endurance any problem can be solved and also have to be solved, since the building must be built on time. And although I have changed my full time job seven years ago to writing fiction, I still consider every story like a building, which has to be imagined, outlined, improved and worked out to the last detail.
Have you ever had a breakdown because of your Job?
Yes, working as an architect became a burden for me after some big projects, because I felt that design work will never give me the creative freedom I was longing for. So I left my company and started writing, which was maybe the most risky, but also the luckiest decision of my life.
Talent is a blessing or a curse?
I would say it is a blessing and a responsibility. I honestly believe that one of the most important duties of our lives is to unfold the talent we got from above. We have to nurse our talent just like we nurse a child and give it the possibility to walk its path and find its medium, in which it can be fulfilled
. What would you like to improve about yourself as a screenwriter?
As a screenplay writer I was able to try myself in two short dramas so long. In the near future I would like to make a film adaptation of one of my short stories and also write a feature script. I am really interested in human relationships, how we affect each other lives, and my goal is to represent psychological changes authentically. This is about what I would like to improve myself day to day.
What's the worst critic you have received?
“Your story is didactic like a fairy tale.”
If you weren't a screenwriter what would you like to be?
A mother of ten children.
If Cinema was a color what would it be?
Red.
A day without a movie is...
Sad.
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?
No, because as a writer my job is not only creating stories, which are enjoyable for the audience, but also to convey in what I believe in. If a work does not match the author, the work is lying, moreover it is lying to many people at the same time, which is a sin in my opinion. What's your greatest ambition? Being the writer of an internationally respected and succesful drama feature.
What's your biggest fear?
To lose one of my family members.
Does music help you to play/direct, write?
Yes, but only in the period of thinking, never during the actual writing process.
You have the chance to make a Silent movie, what's your message to the audience?
Human beings are created to help each other on this adventurous journey called life.
Share your speech if you should win an Oscar...
I can't believe I'm standing here. Thanks to the Academy for giving me this honor. Thanks to my dad for always being there for me. Thanks to my family, my friends and my mentors for believing in me, and the filmmakers who made my script into this beautiful movie. Thanks to my mom, who gave me enough love for a lifetime and who is watching my steps from above since she passed away 24 years ago. And thanks to my husband and my two sons for tolerating my crazy passion for writing.
Nadia Guo - Interview
Nadia is a director, screenwriter and producer. “Wish You Well", “Run, Chad Run” & “The Film”, are her first films.
What's the absolutely necessary ingredient to be a good director/screenplayer?
I believe that to become an outstanding actor, director, or screenwriter, two essential factors are indispensable: observation and experience of life, and the ability to understand the script. On the other hand, because the nature of actors, directors, and screenwriters are different, each role has its own focus. First of all, for actors, acting skills are the easiest to learn, but the ability to understand the script, the key elements of characters(belief, want, and need), the understanding of the theme are really important. As for a director, how to use cinematic language to create a world in the film, and how to create and change the audience's emotions through the story can make difference. For screenwriters, being able to understand the director's thinking and mastering the consciousness of montage and film art during the scriptwriting stage can help the writer to communicate and interact better with the director.
First and last cinematographic crush?
"2001: A Space Odyssey"(1968) and"Blade Runner"(1982)/"Blade Runner 2049"(2017).
How old you were when you decided you wanted to be a director/screenplayer?
I entered fortune 500 companies including GE, Sony in public relations and corporate communications area and I moved to film industry in my thirties.
For you a Film is...
I think the nature of a film is creating a world to reflect the real world in a freestyle movement throughout time and space, with cinematographic language of course. For my own part, a film is a mirror.
What do you feel when you're acting/directing/writing?
Exciting, energetic and sleepless.
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?
Well, if I can choose anyone in the world to watch with me, I would invite Ridley Scott, Denis Villeneuve and Christopher Nolan. I wish I can have all of them :). Sci-Fi and films with smart structure design would be my preferred ones.
Audrey Hepburn used to say “Nothing is Impossible”, what do you think
about it?
I believe in that! As an independent filmmaker in China, it takes tremendous patience and strong willingness to move forward in each tiny step. It's very easy to give up but if you think of that line, "nothing is impossible", there would be a chance somewhere as you keep making efforts. I think the result doesn't matter that much, but efforts do makes difference. You can't have everything and you can definitely create something with both a director and a producer's ideas.
Can you live just of your passion?
Hmm, I think passion is the engine, but you gotta learn how to drive. Professional skills, communicational skills, project management skills, director's ideas, psychologic ideas and producer's ideas, observations for life, sympathy for the weak, courage and kindness, all these ingredients teach us how to drive.
What's more important talent or luck?
Being able to understand the world, reaches to different people, have a sympathy for those who need help, speak for those who are unable to articulate their voices.
You must go to a desert island but you can bring with you just one movie...
That must be "Dune"(2021), Denis Villeneuve is great! :)
Have you ever accepted a part/ a movie to direct/ a script to write even
if you didn't like the project?
Never.
What's the best compliment you have received about your Job?
"I see myself in your film".
Are you satisfied about your career?
In Chinese there's an old saying "Content is happiness", I believe in that and yes I am satisfied with every part of my life, including my career. That doesn't means I just stop here, nope, taking this energies I would move forward to do more films as best as I can.
Do you have a good luck charm?
People always say that Sagittarius have good luck charm, and I think that's true. :) I filmed my first short film "Wish You Well" under the extremely difficult conditions during covid-19. Due to strict government measures and an extremely low budget, my team and I wearing masks along the way, went through all kinds of challenges such as bans on shooting by the locations, quarantines, social isolation, etc, we have only half of a tiny room as our shooting location while half of the actor/actress team are non professionals, but I do managed to completed this short film with director's ideas. With a great luck charm, the film received quite a lot of recognitions from quite a lot of festivals. I really appreciate every challenge and opportunity in life.
Which is the worst moment on set ?
Bans on shooting locations. But opportunities always come after challenges, I face the same situation of almost of all of my projects, mainly due to extremely low budget, but I always find it turns to be a great chance to use director's ideas. What do you want to show to your audiences? What is the emotions you want to create? How would you convey your message and create such emotions? If you can't use this locations, what about the other available and free locations? How can you utilize the available/free locations to convey the same message and create the same emotions? That is more exciting for me.
How do you feel when a job you've been part of it's ending?
Expecting the best result and move to the next one.
Have you ever lied to get a part/job?
Never.
If you should win an Oscar your first taught would go to…
My father. He created every part of me.
Roel Swierenga - Interview
Roel Swierenga is the founder of the Hansa Green Tour Foundation in The Netherlands, filmmaker, energy eco-systems developer and organizer of sustainability events & study trips in Northern Europe. He decided to have these events and study trips documented and filmed from the very beginning in 2011 for personal use and to share with all partners and participants. In 2021 he started to make a first series of short films, to gain experience and learn the art of mobile filmmaking with smartphones, smartphone lenses and drones. With the ambition to grow as a filmmaker and make impactful productions. The short film PUSHBACK shot on mobile phones was his first time entry as a filmmaker in the world of film festivals in 2021 and received multiple awards.
The biggest challenge of being an director is …
To have a good overview of all parties that are needed to make the film a success and make sure that they are all lined up and motivated to get the job done within time and budget.
Choose an actor, chose an actress … and now choose a story you would like to direct or play with both of them
Daniel Graig and Rooney Mara and shoot part 2 of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo!
Who’s the first artist that let you understand you wanted to be an actor/director/screenplayer?
Clint Eastwood. He was great as an actor when I was a kid and then switched to becoming a great director, making amazing films. For me he was like a kind of a role model
What really excites you artistically or emotionally?
When visuals, sound and colors come together in delivering a message that you cannot ignore, a message that penetrates the brain and there is nothing you can do about it
Marlon Brando said ”Never confuse the size of your paycheck with the size of your talent”. Do you agree?
Yes I agree, your talent is something unique to yourself, that’s your gift and it’s priceless
Have you ever been discouraged by someone about your life/career choice?
Sure, when I quit my job working for a large industrial company to start my own new business organizing events and travel programs to raise awareness for sustainability issues and showcasing sustainable solutions…people told me I was crazy to give a good paid job for this and that I should go for the money, not for my ideals. But to me it felt good to do it although at that time maybe I was too early for the market. But I am happy that I did what I did, doing what you really like is the best advice I can give.
Do you think it is harder for a woman being a filmmaker?
It should not be, but to be honest, I think in reality it is as the industry is (still) dominated by men.
Do you think that Fame and money could easily change your own vision as a filmmaker/actor/screenplayer?
For me? No I don’t think so as making money or becoming famous is not my key driver. Doing what I like to do, and to have that freedom, that is what makes me happy. If what I do brings me fame and money for sure it would make me proud and happy, but for me that would be proof that my vision is appreciated and not a reason to change my vision
Who’s the movie star that made you dream for the first time?
Harrison Ford, starting as a young rebel in Star Wars and playing many great roles in different kinds of film. And when he got older using his seniority and fame to address the United Nations about climate change and the need to act. To me that is a very impressive career, a beautiful way to inspire people and showcases both the power and magic of film.
Make a wish about your career ...talking about cinema/showbusiness, how hard is it to remain completely honest to yourself as an artist?
I wish that I can make films with a message that inspires people. Focusing on documentary films for now but hoping to do feature films as well with subtle hints related to sustainability and future proof solutions. Like a big car chase where the bad guy driving an old-school petrol car looses from the good guy driving an electric super car ☺. If I can stay close to what I want to do with film, then I can remain honest to myself and enjoy the happiness that film can bring to me. If cinema/showbusiness does not (or no longer) bring happiness then for me it is time to stop and start doing something else.
The film you have loved the most?
The French film Intouchables (2011), what a masterpiece! A story so touching and acted beautifully by both key actors, one of the best I have ever seen.
And now, don’t be shy … the one that annoyed you the most?
Cowboys & Aliens (2011)! I am a big fan of Daniel Graig, his 5 James Bond movies and Harrison Ford as one of my first movie heroes. But watching Cowboys & Aliens is a total disaster and in my opinion a mismatch with everything they stand for, they are both so much better …
Your biggest artistic goal is …
My biggest artistic goal is to make a feature film with a feel-good message that can be understood in any language or culture so that it can be watched anywhere on our planet!
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I am a dreamer, and as a kid I always wanted to build my own hotel. Building the most sustainable hotel in the world is a profession that is still in the back of my mindto attempt
How important is it to be rewarded as an artist?
I think it is very important to be rewarded as an artist, to get recognized for the work that you do. That keeps you motivated and makes you stronger. I think there is an artist in every one of us, but without being rewarded a lot of artists will not touch the surface of what they are really capable of.
Do you have regrets?
Yes and no. Yes in that I should have started earlier making films, but no not in the things I have done in my life. I made my mistakes and can live with that, I am a happy person.
What’s the message you wanna express through your art?
I want to share beautiful images with a message that resonates, tell compelling stories, stories that are worth telling and that make you think and (hopelfully) inspire
Leslie Flannery - Interview
Hey Leslie, share your speech if you should win an Oscar.....
If I won an Oscar for Best Script I'd tell the Academy that I was glad they were finally focusing on screenplays written by me.
Is that because you think your scripts are great?
Yes.
How?
My stories challenge the viewer to think bigger... and getting dumb, ignorant, greedy, ruthless humans to think bigger is no small task.
May Liu - Interview
May Liu is a producer, director, screenwriter, painter & actress. Her career includes: President of Superstar Art Foundation (2019) Jury member of Film Finance Award in Cannes 2012 Vice-chair of the 2018 US-China International Film festival in Texas. Honor Received: The Noble Chivalry Rank of Art & Humanity Consul appointed by the Imperial Order of Culture and Peace.
When did you realised you wanted to be a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?
I never had a moment of realization about being a filmmaker, actor, or writer—I guess I just woke up with these dreams one day.
Do you remember your first time at the Movies?
Hard to say, it's like asking when did I first fall in love with words. It's always been a part of me.
If you should change country where would you like to work?
If I had to change countries to work in, I'd probably choose the vibrant energy of Hollywood. Sure, it's a cliché, but there's a reason it's a hub for the film industry.
Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…
"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" for the better—it's a masterpiece. For worse? Maybe something that left me questioning humanity a bit too much, like "Requiem for a Dream."
What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?
They're like a canvas—you get to decide what masterpiece you paint on it. They can be invaluable if you're hungry to learn and create.
Have you ever hated your ambition?
Nope, never. Ambition is the fuel that keeps this creative engine running.
Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was he right?
Perhaps there's a bit of madness in being so deeply moved by images and stories. But hey, sanity is overrated.
Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?
A tapestry of emotions, a symphony of visuals. It's an experience that transcends the screen.
Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?
There's a bit of Tarantino's wild energy, a sprinkle of Kubrick's precision, and a dash of Wes Anderson's quirkiness.
About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…
Biggest dream: Winning that elusive Oscar. Worst nightmare: A career spent on forgettable projects.
How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?
It's the foundation—the more you know, the higher you can build.
What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?
Always working on the craft, honing storytelling skills, and mastering the delicate dance between visuals and emotions.
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?
"Casablanca." A timeless tale of love and sacrifice.
Film Industry it’s a tough place and sometimes is normal to feel lost and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated?
Maybe my reflection 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?
Yes, Hitchcock is spot on about the script—it's the backbone.
What’s your most ambitious project for the future?
A sprawling epic that blurs the lines between reality and dreams, leaving audiences questioning their own perceptions.
Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative?
Hand in hand. The shadows make the light more beautiful.
What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?
To keep dreaming, creating, and leaving a mark on the world that outlasts the rolling credits.
Gary Mazeffa - Interview
It all started with my father's Argus C2 35mm rangefinder camera. At the age of nine, photography captured my imagination, and so began my lifelong fascination with the art and science of photography and filmmaking. I had the good fortune to experience and work within the dramatic film evolution from light-reactive chemicals to electronic photodetectors, from slides and transparencies to terabytes of storage space and CG. I have produced and directed music videos and award-winning narrative movies, written distinguished screenplays, and continued with my still photography. In short, my love of visual art and storytelling drew me to filmmaking early in my Life. I live in Naples, Florida, serving as a base for Q2 Films, LLC, and my filmmaking.
What's the absolutely necessary ingredient to be a good actor/director/screenplayer?
To have the freedom to dream. To have the freedom to go against convention sometimes for the sheer fun of it. The opportunity to become alive and engaged with Life. It's not just a business.
First and last cinematographic crush?
No doubt. 2001 Space Odyssey. I'm still on Kubrick's trip to Jupiter and Beyond the Infinite.
How old were you when you decided to be an actor/director/screenplayer?
Nineteen. The movie was "The Graduate," directed by Mike Nichols and starring Dustin Hoffman.
For you a Film is...
It is still an Art form imitating Life. And the question of the day is... what is truly real?
What do you feel when you're directing?
As a director, I initially feel like a master in the world I had created, and then reality came into focus. It's not about me. It's about the storyline and the Talent and crew. It's about them and their collaboration. To build and create a new world.
You can go to the Movies with an actor/director/screenplayer you love. What kind of movie do you choose, and with whom will you watch it?
I would go with Bong Joon-ho, the writer and director of Parasite, and watch a Western superhero action movie. I would love to know his thoughts.
Audrey Hepburn used to say, "Nothing is Impossible." what do you think about it?
Nothing is impossible.
Can you live just with your passion?
Yes, passion is a reward of Life, and it's extra special. Money and fame are fleeting and can quickly be taken away. But you can hold your passion close to your heart and never let someone take that away from you.
What's more critical, Talent or luck?
All bets are now off the table, and please check you're ego at the door. It's luck. This perspective keeps you centered and not going off the rails like some people with Talent.
You must go to a desert island, but you can bring just one movie...
It would be a video recording of my life to that point—just time to go back and have the time to relive it all over again.
Have you ever accepted a movie to direct even if you didn't like the project?
Pure fortune, I have been allowed to play in the sandbox of my choice.
What's the best compliment you have received about your Job?
It's time to leave.
Are you satisfied with your career?
Never. My goal is to become the best version of myself—a never-ending dance.
Do you have a good luck charm?
Yes. It's called hard work. It always pays off.
Which is the worst moment on set?
As a director, it's not the Talent or the Production crew. It's when an act of nature of God interrupts the best shot or scene. I guess that is why Stanley Kubrick extensively used large sound stages. You attempt to control the environment and then allow the Talent the freedom to lose control.
How do you feel when a job you've been part of ends?
One milestone is behind, and the next one lies ahead. You keep going.
Have you ever lied to get a job?
No. But we always blend the colors and bend the shape to fit the part/job. If not, you're out of work. Because as I stated earlier, Life is a dance.
If you should win an Oscar, your first thought would go to…
Call everyone associated with the performance/movie and invite them to the stage if possible. It's never about you. As Charles De Gaulle, prime minister of France, during the 1960s said...."Graveyards are full of indispensable people.
Nelson Santiago Beltran - Interview
Nelson Santiago Beltran is a professional actor, screenwriter, and film editor with an interest in Coming of Age, Romantic Comedies and Dramedy. He attended the Elmore Leonard Film Festival in 2011. Speaking with Elmore, he was inspired to become a writer. He recently graduated from Siena Heights University in May 2023 with degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Psychology. He is proud father of a registered nurse, Natalie in his free time, he is learning Tang Soo Do at PKSA Karate in Flatrock, Michigan. He likes to Salsa dance and attend Film Festivals. Nelson is also a Life Coach. He recently wrote an article with Actor and Producer Garret Thierry of Savant Films called “Heartbreak to Healing: 27 Films to Heal a Broken Heart.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screenplay writer?
I completed acting school with Dramatic Arts studio with Chris Bondy, Michael Lomas, and Pat Caporuscio in 2008. I had no idea after meeting Elmore Leonard and Jim Bernstein in the summer of 2011 at the Elmore Leonard Film Festival in Michigan that I would choose to become a WGA screenplay writer. Elmore Leonard saw that I had many questions, he was 83 years old at the time Screenwriters At his film festival, Elmore Leonard and Jim Bernstein presented a roundtable on how to become a working writer and sold screenplay writer. I attended with one hundred other Michigan Filmmakers. Elmore spent 25 minutes talking to me in person and convinced me to become a writer. He was funny, happy, motivating and very encouraging to me. I also had training as a motion picture editor at the Unity Studios in Allen Park, Michigan with Paulette and Jimmy Lifton, that’s when I was also going to acting school and got trained as an Actor with Christopher Bondy, author of the book, “What is Effortless Acting” I was heavily trained in Improv by Michael Lomas and Pat Caporuscio of Dramatic Arts Studio. I ran an IMPROV Troupe called Comedy Mart at CMN Television with Jessica McLarty, Art Surprenant, Jeff Dameron and many others for 7 years. I was very lucky to be a part of The I Group with my agent Tony Dimambro and Olga at Productions Plus and Talent Shop in Michigan. We also had a film, One Shot that was entered into the “48 Hour Film Challenge” in 2008 which was run by my good friend, Frank Casacelli. One Shot was produced by Charlie Ploughman, and I am very thankful to work with actors: Tim and Chris Courtney of Central City Films. I loved working and writing One Shot with Linh Chi Ho and Dan Ottney in 2008. We had an amazing editing team with Darren Clark and Lauri Rodriguez. One Shot was my 1st script which won “Best Graphic Film”
How did your family react?
Family is Everything. This is a good photo of my family. My family reacted very well when I shifted to the film industry, I am incredibly lucky both of my parents have been supportive of me around all my career choices. Life is not perfect hence the word WABI SABI in Japanese, means finding the perfect in the imperfect world. I am also sure not everyone’s family are supportive of anyone going into a high-risk career. My father always wanted me to work as a computer engineer in the car industry, and I have already done what he asked of me, I did that for 25 years before going into the film industry. My mother is a retired clinical psychiatrist from the VA Medical Center Hospital in Detroit. She always supported my work in film. I want to acknowledge my parents powerfully for sticking a Sony video camera into my hands, and also teaching me how to shoot photographs with a 35 mm Camera. I remember back in the day; my dad bought a JVC videotape machine and so my brother and I were tasked with Videotaping some of our cousin’s weddings while growing up! Family is Everything is one of my core values.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
I have too many role models! Hahaha. Today my role models are Steven Spielberg, John Hughes, Bradley Cooper, Paulo Coelho, George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Ajit Nawalka of Evercoach, Sadghuru of Isha Kriya, Todd Herman, Shakespeare, Leslie Dixon, Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Richard Bach, Daniel Chou, Nathan Bokkers, Tai Lopez, Vishen Lakhiani of Mind Valley; Robert M. Pirsig, Ron Howard, Lawrence Kasdan, Leslie Dixon, David Lynch, JJ Abrams, Dr. Andrew Barclay, Dr Ruth, Dr. Kyron Harvell, Albert Emery, Tami and Chris Huvaere, Jeff Juterbock, Dr Eden Santiago, Dr. Erik Erikson, Tony Robbins, Elon Musk, Thomas Leonard, Robin Williams, Sting, Matthew McConaughey, Keanu Reeves, Godel, Escher, Bach, Dr. Abraham H. Maslow, Dr. Magdalena Beltran, Benedicto C. Beltran (my parents), Peggy McComb, Meekhan, Pastor Brett Kays of Southpointe Church, my brother Vladimir Beltran and David O’ Russell. IF I had a muse, it would most likely be Marilyn Monroe for old school Hollywood. Today if would probably be extremely hard to choose because there is Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Jennifer Aniston, Sydney Sweeney, Emilia Clarke, Uma Thurman, Anya Taylor Joy, Jennifer Lawrence, Gal Gadot, Hailee Steinfeld, Tove lo even Kiernan Shipka, so many beautiful and talented artists.
Who's your biggest fan?
I wish I had even one. Lmfao. I think it would be my daughter, Natalie, and my special lady Alexis. I think in terms of film festivals, New York Movie Awards film festival is my biggest fan, I want to thank you for voting our screenplay, Motor City Steel, and our Karma film as Award Winners. I am grateful and thankful this extraordinary honor. What brings you inspiration the most? I love seeing people overcome their problems, working as a counseling psychologist doing telehealth brings me the most inspiration because I am actually making a difference, and if you are talking in terms of film. I love writing each screenplay and collaborating or cultivating new screenplay writers the most. I love writing transformational romantic comedy or coming of age dramedy screenplays!
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
Steven Spielberg or even George Lucas, of course if he were alive today, I would love to work with John Hughes. In reality, David O ‘Russell, I will settle for David. Who can forget his hit? “Silverlinings Playbook.”
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
I have to say “Silverlinings Playbook” book by Matthew Quick, so the film directed by David O’ Russell was better than the book! I loved watching the relationship unfold between Tiffany and Pat. Everyone needs a second chance at love and sexual relationships. Divorce I think is the most dangerous problem in America and in Europe. We need everyone to be unified in love, romance, and sex. We need everyone to reach or attain their self-actualization and transformation to become their best self! We all need love not war! We need love not aggression. We need love not hatred.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
“Limitless” taught me the most about life lately. Everyone has taken a pill to remove their pain. I love that this film is about a writer, a down and out writer who makes it regardless of the danger, the enemies, the evil corporate raiders, and CEO’s existing in the world. Eddie Mora played by Bradley Cooper teaches us that we all have a choice to make, and he chose to take a risk in life. I have learned from this film to take risks and to practice my skills. We can be real life “Limitless” by making an effort and taking effective action towards our goals. We can master languages. We can master martial arts. We can drive high performance cars. We can create medicines that can extend our lives or make us tap into our super brains. We can create beautiful relationships and use our intuition from our super brains to create cashflows and invent abundance. I love the scene where Eddie writes his first novel in one day and hands it to his editor. Today, people are doing this with ChatGPT or Artificial Intelligence software. I also loved the scene where Eddie is ordering Italian food in Italian with his date. Limitless teaches one the value of creating your best alter ego. We need films that transform and Limitless had done that for people.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
Oh Yes when I began as an extra and then soon after my first speaking part in Director Josh Becker’s indie film, “Morning, Noon and Night.” He is a rigorous director and I learned quickly to channel my lines. YOU must master your lines. You must master your screenplays. This indie film taught me to never give up! Josh was so amazing in directing me, I felt I could do anything after this experience. He taught me to never give up. I transformed into that crazy Japanese boss named “Mr. Miura”
On set what excites you the most?
I love the costumes, I love seeing everyone wearing their costumes and seeing people deliver their best acting performance just like in my comedic drama film, “Karma.” I think when people see Actors and Actresses create love relationships on film this excites everyone. Everyone loves a “true romance” Noone dies from love onscreen.
And what scares you the most?
This is the same fear every filmmaker or writer who has finished and submitted their screenplay has thought “My screenplay will never be film, produced, financed and distributed.” This is my basic fear that my screenplays will never get funded and produced.
What is your next project?
As you know we are all waiting for the SAG AFTRA and WGA Strike to be over. My next project is to keep writing, writing, writing more award-winning screenplays with Albert Emery, Ebitari Burutolu, Jeff Juterbock, Thomas Laing, James Nalepka, Carey Shawn Lee, Joy Lupo and Garret Thierry. I LOVE submitting brand new screenplays to film festivals. I LOVE attending film festivals near me or being able to travel to one in New York, Texas, or Los Angeles. You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose? I am the biggest Keanu Reeves fan, now who would not want to be Keanu? I admire him for his acting work on The Matrix trilogy.
An actor/director/screenplay writer is made of....
The elements of unlimited LOVE!
An Actor is made of energy and love. An actress is made of energy and love! A screenplay writer is made of the elements of unlimited LOVE! Dr. Love once said, “Love is a high frequency wave impacting your space unexpectedly.” For you Cinema is.... Cinema is sharing a transformational story that lasts forever!
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Yes. Casablanca stars Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in 1942 and classified as a Romantic Drama. This film had a significant impact on how stories are told today!
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Yes, has not everyone had a lucid dream? I would welcome an Oscar for Best Screenplay someday!
Do you think you are gonna win it?
I think if Disney, Sony, Netflix, Hulu, Warner Brothers, Lucas Films, Relativity Media, Lions Gate, Bad Robot or Amazon Studios produces my screenplays and I am able to work with creative artists with a highly effective production team with a reasonable budget, I think I have a shot at winning and earning an Oscar! Anything is Possible! Give me a real agency to be a part of such as United Talent Agency or William Morris, I have One Shot. This Year Will be different!
Always depends on Karma. I have amazing Karma to win an Oscar!
Janet Walker - Interview
Screenwriter, journalist, beat writer, photographer, and creative is the founder and Publisher of Haute-Lifestyle.com. She has completed five award-winning screenplays, "The Six Sides of Truth," a cerebral espionage thriller, “The Wednesday Killer,” a riveting, crime drama, "The Manhattan Project," a tale of greed and corruption, "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," an edgy crime thriller, and the white-knuckle sci-fi thriller “Project 13: The Last Day.” She has been a credentialed member of the media for top industry events including The Academy Awards (Day of Show Winner's Room), AFI Film Festival, and Denver Film Festival, as well as an invited member of the press for Hollywood premieres, media junkets, and film screenings in New York, London, and Los Angeles. She earned her B.A. from New York University, and graduated, respectfully, with a major in Journalism and a minor in American History.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screenwriter?
My journey to becoming a screenwriter began with my desire to be a great American novelist. For about two years I explained to my sister, Debbie Walker, that I was a writer. And finally, she explained, gently, “writer’s write.” So, my journey from pen to paper began then. For many years that followed my writing was abbreviated creative shorts, ideas that just didn’t become fully fleshed out. I decided to take a college creative writing course, which led to a journalism pursuit and where I began pursuing other writing genres, from creative writing to journalistic pursuits to poetry and journals, movie reviews, and now screenplays.
For me, the pandemic provided the missing element needed to concentrate fully on screenwriting. The lockdown allowed me to devote 100% of my time to developing an idea that had been simmering for about for a decade. I took an online class and it helped clarify the specifics of what I felt were areas of weakness.
My screenplays imitate life with cinematic value added. Obviously, there is not an exactness to what I write, however, I did live and work in Manhattan, and experienced victimization and severe repercussions for seeking justice which became a source of inspiration. The screenplays are my way of exposing the individuals for the heinous criminal actions and the system for its coverup. I often joke that my first screenplay, “The Six Sides of Truth,” took 10 years and three months to complete. After that, as I felt like anyone can write one screenplay, I felt personally challenged to write a second screenplay, which is “The Wednesday Killer,” and then felt more secure in my writing, so I wrote “The Manhattan Project.”
How did your family react?
The arts aren’t practical and, even with my NYU education, I majored in Journalism, as a writer first, my family, I don’t think, saw the pursuit of artistic expression as practical. I don’t blame them, I come from a small town in Ohio, and while my family was clearly dramatic, they had no professional creative pursuits that they told me about. We’re practical people. So, the practical application of a craft allows the imaginative application to be realized and whether by coincidence or design, the ability to earn a practical living iother industries as a writer was withheld which postponed the imaginative expression. They weren’t happy that the heavy investment I made in my future didn’t deliver. It’s been challenging to explain that attending NYU wasn’t a waste of time and resource when nothing came out of it.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
A. When I’m writing screenplays, I often think of characters I’ve seen in films that are close to the character I’m creating and say to myself what would this character say, or how far would this character go, at this moment? I’m informed by what I see, experience, study so, as far as a muse I would say writers and screenwriters are my role models.
Who's your biggest fan?
Myself. I don’t think I have a biggest fan (at least I hope not, in our current society a biggest fan can be dangerous).
What brings you inspiration the most?
Nature. And I have religious beliefs so when I am awed by nature, I think of God, so the handiwork of God through nature.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
The talent pool available is so vast, with many, many talented actors, and directors, so narrowing it to one would be a challenge.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
Yes. I want to say every film has the potential to be better. Q. What's the movie that taught you the most?
The Godfather trilogy, Goodfellows, Scarface that genre.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
Yes, honestly every day. I am compelled to write; I write as I breathe and unfortunately, I have been victimized by those who are unable to creatively develop anything. So, the suddenly creative seem to benefit more from my work, than I have, which creates more obstacles and increases the desire to quit.
On set what excites you the most?
The process.
And what scares you the most?
On the set? Nothing. In life, being caught up in a mass shooting or terror attack. Trust me, I’ve already confronted mankind’s worst behaviors so the depth of humanity’s evil does not surprise me, it’s just the randomness, and unpredictability of evil.
What's your next project?
Well, besides working on moving the screenplays into production. I’m writing another screenplay.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
I would want to create a super talent so someone like Betty White or Norman Lear because of their longevity and Robert DeNiro and Meryl Streep because of their depth – it’s like a recipe, take a little of this and a little of that and create a super talent.
An actor/director/screenwriter is made of....
Determination, grit, depth, vision.
For you Cinema is....
A learning platform.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Yes.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Yes. Having been to the Academy Awards as media many times, and having studio access, the idea of winning an Oscar isn’t foreign. It’s an attainable goal, I believe, and so I visualize it. Some days my confidence is higher than other days.
Do you think you're going to win it?
Yes. (Today).
Mohamed Maged - Interview
Mohamed Maged is a founder of DASH Group media & film production. An international award-winning creative and film director. One of the Notable Alumni of the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, USA, and a graduate of The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York, USA. Achieve his Bachelor's and a postgraduate degree in filmmaking and cinema studies from the Academy of Art in Egypt. Worked in advertising, animation projects, TV commercials, and films, as a creative, copywriter, animator, and director. participated in most of the various hit campaigns, branding, and TV commercials in MENA over the past decade. Winning and nominated for over 75 international and regional awards from different films and advertising festivals.
When did you realised you wanted to be a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?
I realized I wanted to be a filmmaker, actor, and writer at a young age. My passion for storytelling and the magic of cinema began to take shape in my early teenage years.
Do you remember your first time at the Movies?
I vividly remember my first time at the movies. It was a family outing to see a classic Egyptian film, and the experience of being transported to another world through the silver screen left an indelible mark on me.
If you should change country where would you like to work?
If I were to change countries to work, I would choose a place that offers a rich cultural tapestry and a vibrant film industry. Locations like France, Italy, and Egypt for sure have always intrigued me.
Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…
Two films that have profoundly impacted me are "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Godfather." The former for its themes of hope and resilience, and the latter for its masterful storytelling and character development.
What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?
Acting and filmmaking schools can provide invaluable knowledge and networking opportunities. They offer a structured environment for learning and honing one's craft.
Have you ever hated your ambition?
There have been moments of doubt, but I've never truly hated my ambition. Challenges and setbacks are part of any creative journey, and they often fuel growth and determination.
Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was
he right?
Francois Truffaut's statement about film lovers being "sick people" is a playful observation. It's a testament to the deep emotional connection many of us have with cinema, and in that sense, he might have a point.
Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?
When I close my eyes and think of "Cinema," I see a darkened theater, the glow of the screen, and an audience collectively immersed in storytelling.
Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?
The director who has taught me the most is Akira Kurosawa. His mastery of visual storytelling and exploration of complex human emotions have been a profound influence.
About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…
My biggest dream as a filmmaker is to create a film that resonates with people on a global scale, inspiring thought and emotion. My worst nightmare is a project that doesn't reach its full potential due to unforeseen circumstances.
How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?
Having a good cinematographic culture is paramount. It allows filmmakers to draw from a rich history of cinema, learn from past masters, and innovate in their own work.
What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?
As a filmmaker, I aim to improve my ability to connect with audiences emotionally and to tell stories that provoke meaningful discussions. As an actor and writer, I seek to refine my versatility and adaptability.
A big producer give you the chance to direct\to play (in) the remake of one of one of your favorite black and white Movie (if you have one)… what film
do you choose?
If given the chance, I would choose to remake the classic film "Casablanca." Its timeless themes of love, sacrifice, and moral choices remain as relevant today as they were in the past.
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 person who keeps me motivated in the tough film industry is mainly my two brothers and for sure my family, and my friends. Their guidance, wisdom, and unwavering belief in my potential are a constant source of inspiration.
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 wholeheartedly agree with Alfred Hitchcock's statement about the importance of the script. A strong script forms the foundation of any successful film.
What’s your most ambitious project for the future?
My most ambitious project for the future is a screenplay I've been developing for years, which I believe has the potential to be truly transformative.
Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative?
Sadness and melancholy can indeed inspire creativity by providing a depth of emotion and introspection that can infuse art with profound meaning.
What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?
As a filmmaker and writer, I wish for the opportunity to continue telling compelling stories that resonate with audiences and contribute to the art of cinema.
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!