A.L. Jobrail - Interview

A.L. Jobrail writes screenplays, short stories, novellas, and poetry. Her scripts have won one or more awards which are mainly adaptations from her eBooks that are available on amazon.com. She likes to have several projects going at the same time. A. L. loves to give stories that Hitchcockian twist. Ana has received over two hundred selections, runner up and finalist and winner awards. Her first award has a special place in her heart. In 2017 she received the Louis Mitchell award for breakout writer of the year at the AOF Megafest. Writing is her true passion. Editing comes second. She has edited books written by Pamela Turner, Missy Goodman, Amy Leigh McCorkle, and Rebekah McAuliffe, of which three have won awards. 2025 will be her breakout year as a filmmaker.

When did you realize you wanted to be a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?

I took a film study class in high school. I think that planted the seed. I was also the stage manager my senior year for the production The Unsinkable Molly Brown.

Do you remember your first time at the Movies?  

The first time I remember was when we loaded up the family station wagon and went to see Lady and the Tramp at the drive in.

If you should change country, where would you like to work?

I would change to two of the countries of my heritage - Mexico and Spain.

Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…

The Women (2008) because it had a female-only cast. I loved that idea. ET because it introduced a new theme that aliens are not evil and out to take over Earth.

What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?

I've never attended one. Everyone is different. Their needs are different. If someone feels the need to take classes to improve their knowledge, then they should. I have never met anyone who regretted taking the program.

Have you ever hated your ambition?

I try not to hate my ambition. Sometimes the finished product isn't what I thought it could be. That just gives me food for thought on how to improve it.

Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was he right?

I don't think film lovers are sick people. I think they are people wanting to enjoy themselves. Movies are just another venue for doing that. Isn't that awesome!  

Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see? 

I see my name on the marquee with the name of my movie.

Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most? 

I haven't made my first movie yet. I have two friends who have helped me - Amy Leigh McCorkle and Thomas Moore.

About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…

My biggest dream is to direct all my movies successfully. My worst nightmare is to never direct any of my movies.

How important is it to have a good Cinematographic Culture?

It is very important. Alfred Hitchcock was a leader in evoking emotion and building tension using lighting and camera angles. Psycho is a classic example. 

What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?

I would like to improve the visibility of women in the film industry. We are half the population, yet severely underrepresented.

A big producer gives 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 choose Twelve Angry Men and give it a different interpretation.

Film Industry it’s a tough place and sometimes it is normal to feel lost and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated?

I have two friends Amy Leigh McCorkle and Luis Garthia. They both encourage me in my personal and professional life. They are my lifesavers.

Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film you need 3 things: The script, the script and the script". Do you agree with him?  What’s your most ambitious project for the future?

Yes! I agree. The film will only be as good as the script. A poorly crafted script produces at best a mediocre film. My most ambitious project at the moment is to do a documentary on El Camino de Santiago.

Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy lets you be more creative?

Sometimes it can. Depends on how deep it is.

What do you wish for yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?

I wish to follow my intuition in how to best direct each and every movie so that the audience is oohing and awing at each one. They leave the theatre feeling animated.

Victoria Napolitano - Interview

Napolitano's visionary approach to fashion is evident in her decision to merge the worlds of fashion and film. She realized the limitations of static runway shows and sought a more dynamic and engaging way to showcase her creations. This led her to embrace film as a medium, weaving narratives around her designs, and creating a captivating experience that transcends the boundaries of traditional fashion presentations. Through her films, Napolitano invites viewers into a world where fashion becomes more than just clothing; it becomes a form of storytelling, a reflection of emotions, and a conduit for cultural expression. Her cinematic masterpieces showcase the intricate details of her garments, the exquisite craftsmanship, and the meticulous attention to detail that defines her couture. Victoria Napolitano spends most of her time traveling and living between New York, Beverly Hills, Italy, France and MonteCarlo.

When did you realized you wanted to be a filmmaker\writer?

The moment I discovered my passion for filmmaking and writing was a defining one in my life. It happened while I was watching the movies and theatrical on PBS, a channel that was truly designed for the artistic soul. I vividly remember being captivated by the way the actors and actresses portrayed their characters, and the behind-the-scenes interviews that gave me a glimpse into the creative process. It was at that moment, at the age of 7, that I realized I wanted to be part of that world, to create stories and bring them to life on screen and paper.

In addition to my love for visual storytelling, I was also an avid and voracious reader. In fact, books became my gateway to the world beyond my own, taking me on countless adventures, allowing me to explore different cultures and experience diverse perspectives from the comfort of my own bedroom. The combination of these two loves – filmmaking and writing – ignited a fire within me that has never dimmed.

Do you remember your first time at the movies?

I will never forget the excitement and anticipation I felt when my mom finally allowed me to go see my very first movie in the theater. It was a special moment for me, and the film that I got to watch was none other than "Rocky" starring the legendary Sylvester Stallone. As a young movie enthusiast, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to watch a classic and iconic film on the big screen.

If you should leave your country, where would you go to work?

If I were to embark on a journey away from the United States, choosing just one country would be nearly impossible for me. My desire to experience new cultures and explore diverse landscapes would undoubtedly lead me to a trio of enchanting destinations: Italy, France, and Monaco. Each of these countries holds a special place in my heart and has played a crucial role in shaping my identity as a filmmaker, writer, and designer

Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse?

When I think of a film that truly touched my heart, "Where The Red Fern Grows" (1974) immediately comes to mind. The emotional journey of the bond between a boy and his two hunting dogs was both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. The deep connection and love portrayed in the film left a lasting impact on me, making it a truly unforgettable cinematic experience.

On the other end of the spectrum, "The Greatest Showman" (2018) was a film that not only captured my imagination but also left me feeling inspired and uplifted. The movie's powerful message of unity and the triumph of the human spirit resonated deeply with me. This was a story that showed how, when individuals come together and work towards a common goal, they can achieve incredible success beyond their wildest dreams.

What do you think about filmmaking schools?

I strongly believe that individuals should not be confined to one specific path or labeled as fitting into a certain category. Take film school for example - while it could be incredibly beneficial and instrumental for one person in pursuing a career in the film industry, it may not be necessary for another.

An example that perfectly illustrates this point is the actress from the popular series "Killing Eve". Despite not having a background in or attending film school, her portrayal of her character is nothing short of captivating. Her ability to convey a story through her subtle nuances, such as her eyes and body movements, speaks volumes and adds depth to her character, often more than the actual words she speaks. This serves as a powerful reminder that there are countless ways to attain success in the film industry, and that traditional paths are not the only route to take.

Have you ever hated your ambition?

Ambition has always been a driving force in my life. I have never shied away from dreaming big and working tirelessly to turn those dreams into reality. However, what I have come to despise over time are the inevitable roadblocks that always seem to come along with the pursuit of ambition.

In essence, it is not my ambition that I hate, but rather the interruptions that threaten to impede my progress. Despite this, I am determined to persevere and continue pushing forward, knowing that each interruption only serves to make me stronger and more determined in the pursuit of my dreams.

Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people” … was he right?

I strongly disagree – I’ll explain: Francois Truffaut was not only a critically acclaimed filmmaker, but also a respected film critic. With his background in film criticism, it is understandable that he may have had a penchant for being a bit pessimistic at times. However, it is important to remember that as a multi-talented individual in the film industry, Truffaut's perspective was likely shaped by the critical eye that is common among those who work in the field.

Ultimately, as with any form of criticism, it is important to approach Truffaut's words with an open mind and a healthy dose of skepticism. Always take the time to study the subject matter at hand before accepting any individual's perspective as the definitive truth.

Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?

When I think about the word "cinema," a wave of excitement washes over me, transporting me to my favorite place in Manhattan. The hustle and bustle of the city, the vibrant lights, and the anticipation of what cinematic masterpieces await me at the theater. The days we spontaneously decide to catch a movie, without any prior knowledge of what was playing. We would walk in without a plan, our excitement palpable as we awaited the surprise of whatever was on the screen. I do it every chance I can get. The Paris Theater, located in Manhattan, is an iconic and historic landmark of the New York City cultural scene. Nestled in the heart of the city, this beautiful theater has been a hub for film enthusiasts and cinephiles for decades. Originally opened in 1948, the theater has continuously showcased a diverse range of films, from art-house and independent productions to foreign and classic cinema. The Paris Theater's grand appearance and elegance make it a standout in the bustling city, with its beautiful marquee and striking architecture. Walking through its doors feels like stepping back in time, as the theater has retained much of its original charm and allure. The plush red velvet seating and ornate décor add to the old-world ambiance, allowing for a truly immersive and memorable cinema experience.

Who’s the director/producer/writer that has taught you the most?

I am incredibly grateful for having such a talented and generous friend who took the time to teach me the ins and outs of film making. From editing to directing to capturing the perfect scene, they imparted their extensive knowledge and expertise on me. I hung onto their every word, absorbing everything they taught me with a fervor and determination to excel in this craft. After months of dedication and hard work, my friend eventually turned to me one day and uttered the words that I will never forget - "You have surpassed me at this point." Those words were music to my ears and the ultimate validation of my efforts. To know that I had reached a level of skill and understanding that even my mentor acknowledged, was the greatest compliment I could have ever received.

About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare.

My ultimate aspiration in life is to see my three literary works come to life on the big screen. "Through Her Eyes: The Victoria Napolitano Story," "Castle Mysteries on the French Riviera," and "The Detail" series hold a special place in my heart, and I have always envisioned them being adapted into visual masterpieces. I am currently in talks for "The Detail" series to be picked up by streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, although I cannot disclose any further details at this time. While this endeavor may seem ambitious, it is the culmination of my lifelong dream, and I am determined to see it through.

How important is to have a good Cinematographic culture?

Cinematography is the art of capturing and shaping the visual elements of a film, and it plays a crucial role in setting the tone and overall aesthetic of the story being told. A skilled cinematographer can use lighting, camera angles, and framing to create stunning visuals that enhance the emotional impact of the film. Whether it's a sweeping panoramic shot of a beautiful landscape or a tense, intimate close-up of a character's face, the cinematography is essential in bringing the audience into the world of the film.

What would you like to improve as a filmmaker\writer?

As a writer, my ultimate goal is to master the art of character development. I strive to create characters that are so well-described and fleshed out that readers and viewers feel as though they truly know them on a personal level. I want my audience to become invested in these characters, to feel their emotions and understand their motivations. This, to me, is the true essence of storytelling.

A big producer gives you the chance to direct\to play (in) the remake of one of your favorite black and white movie(s) (if you have one) … what film do you choose?

When it comes to classic black and white movies, 'High Society' (1956) is definitely at the top of my list for a remake. Starring the iconic Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Louis Armstrong, this film has all the elements of a timeless classic. If I were to remake this film, I would certainly pay homage to the original by maintaining its charm and elegance, while also infusing my own personal touch. Furthermore, if I were to continue my journey in recreating classic films, the next on my list would be 'To Catch A Thief' (1955), starring Grace Kelly and Cary Grant. Much like 'High Society', this film is a true gem and holds a special place in the hearts of many classic film enthusiasts. The original set designs were already quite breathtaking, but with the advancements in technology and filmmaking, the potential to elevate the visuals and bring the locations to life in a whole new way would truly be exciting.

Film Industry it’s a tough place and sometimes is normal to feel lost and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated?

am incredibly fortunate to have a solid and dependable core group of family and friends who I can always count on to keep me grounded. They are my rock, my support system, and my source of strength. Their unwavering love, guidance, and encouragement have helped shape me into the person I am today, and I am endlessly grateful for their presence in my life. One of the ways I find solace and balance in my life is through my second love, music. Music has always been a source of comfort and inspiration for me, and I am constantly amazed by its ability to uplift my spirits and soothe my soul.

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 absolutely agree with Alfred Hitchcock's statement. The script serves as the foundation for any great film, providing the framework upon which all other elements are built. It is the backbone of the entire creative process, guiding the direction of the storytelling and shaping the characters and dialogue that bring the film to life.

What’s your most ambitious project for the future?

My most ambitious project for the future is the completion and release of my 5-part series, 'THE DETAIL'. This project is a massive undertaking that involves filming and producing each episode in a different country. The series aims to showcase unique and diverse storytelling from around the world, with each episode presenting a different cultural and geographical backdrop.

The reason why this project is so ambitious is because it involves coordinating and managing production teams, cast, and crew in different locations, as well as navigating different languages, cultures, and logistical challenges in each country. Each episode will not only tell a captivating and engaging story, but also serve as a cultural exchange and exploration of each country's distinct characteristics.

Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy makes you more creative?

As an artist, I've discovered a complex relationship between the emotions I experience and my creative process. While some artists find inspiration in sadness and melancholy, these emotions can sometimes hinder my ability to explore the full spectrum of human experience in my work. It's like my emotional palette is limited to a single shade of gray, restricting the richness and depth I can express. I believe that creativity thrives on a diverse range of emotions, not just those associated with negativity. By relying solely on sadness and melancholy, I run the risk of creating work that is one-dimensional and emotionally unfulfilling.

What do you wish to yourself as a filmmaker\writer?

My passion for travel and meeting incredible people from all corners of the globe has inspired me to continue exploring and drawing inspiration from the diverse cultures and experiences that I encounter. Through these interactions, I have been able to gain a deeper understanding of the world and the people in it, and this has fueled my desire to create work that goes beyond my own individual experiences. I am committed to using the stories and wisdom of the remarkable individuals I meet during my travels as a catalyst for creating impactful and meaningful work that will resonate with others for years to come. By incorporating the perspectives and insights of these inspiring people into my creations, I hope to provide a timeless source of enjoyment and inspiration for others, while also honoring the incredible individuals who have shared their lives with me.

Lazar Karov - Interview

Lazar Karov is a Macedonian writer and actor. From poetry to short stories and plays, novels and screenplays, he keeps his readers attached to his suspense stories where always the moral and the universal love win over ego and wickedness.

Do you prefer Comedy or Drama?

As a writer I got inspired more from drama than comedy on a daily basis, which not necessarily means I prefer drama more. We all want to enjoy our moments with laughter every day, so I would say their impact on me is same.

Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life?

Great question. When we feel discouraged we look for a handle to hold on, and when we feel lost we look for an escape hatch. Either way the handle or the hatch lead to this things called anecdote, saga, legend, info, fable, myth etc. or in one word story, where we look for meanings and after we find them it defines who we are, and when we realise that we see our whole life is a story, we see we are so good potraying this amazing characters. We love it, enjoying it and always want more. Life imitates itself and we are the ones colorising it with our stories we started to call art long time ago.

Which is the best Moment on set?

Picture's up! Quiet on set! Camera rolling! Sound rolling! Aaand action! Those 5 seconds before action the whole world stops, and when you get back after Cut! you find the world better place from when you left it a minute ago because you created life.

Did anyone ever tell you weren't good enough?

A lot. And I'm looking forward hearing it every day because that's the only way to push yourself that extra mile.

How can you stay focused on your goal?

I wake up and do it without thinking whether I feel doing it today or not. Some call it muscle memory, some will power, some hope, I call it passion.

Have you ever had a breakdown because of your Job?

Never.

Talent is a blessing or a curse?

Blessing no doubt.

What would you like to improve about yourself as an actor/writer?

If you stay focused everything improves itself according the knowledge you have in a certain period of your life. When I'm offered to re-write my scripts with a mentor from Hollywood I say never, because a particular work defines my understanding of the art at a certain age. If I change I'll lose the progress I've been tracking all this years.

What's the worst critic you have received?

Don't ever change your style.

If you weren't an actor/director/screenplayer what would you like to be?

I don't think about it and I don't ever want to.

If Cinema was a color what would it be?

I'm not able to put the rainbow in my pocket.

A day without a movie is...

Self-denigration.

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?

Only to help because that's the reason why I do all this. I'll do it only if the production agree to transfer my cut directly to charities, and I'll ghost-write it to avoid fame, because fame is not even the last thing I have on my mind.

What's your greatest ambition?

I grew up learning that when one tries to find himself he'll be able to do it only when thinks out the box, by that I mean no boundaries and the limit is somewhere way above the sky, so I live by this quote of my fellow countrymen Alexander the Great that goes like this: "There is nothing impossible to him who will try."

What's your biggest fear?

No fears, no time to fear, life is short, keep moving, everything always turns for the better.

Does music helps you to play/direct, write?

Always. The music is one form of art of not that many that is able to make us connect to ourselves.

You have the chance to make a Silent movie, what's your message to the audience?

We do need to listen but we are helpless. We do need to speak but we are powerless. At least we can see and that's enough, because there is someone out there that is incapable of even that.

Share your speech if you should win an Oscar.....

I'm glad that I was rejected so many times over the years, if I wasn't I couldn't learn everything I need in order to come here and speak to the world.

Pencho Kunchev - Interview

Born in Sofia, Bulgaria. Graduates at the High School of Applied Arts in Prague, Czechoslovakia, with animated film Sonata Facile (1980). Illustrates a book of Bulgarian fables, published by Albatros in Prague. At Sofia Animated Film Studio in Bulgaria creates The Little Girl, the Kitten and the Wall Clock (1984), presented in Annecy, France, Romance about the Wind (1986), shown at numerous festivals throughout the world and the series Baby’s Adventures (1986-1993) in collaboration with Koliba Studio in Bratislava. Works on commercials and leads children animation workshops in France and Serbia. His illustrations are published in Bulgaria and Switzerland. In 2001 creates Blue Eyed Moon awarded at national and international festivals. Exhibitions of drawings from his films are presented in Serbia and Slovakia. In 2019 finishes Roses in the Night, entirely made with water colors on paper and awarded with Jameson Short Film Prize and other international awards.

What's the absolutely necessary ingredient to be a good actor/director/ scriptwriter?

To be a good director in the field of animation, it is necessary first of all to have a great general culture - to be familiar with the history of animation, with the stylistic currents during its development, with the artistic styles that influenced the design of characters and backgrounds. .It is necessary to be able to tell a given story with the means of the storyboard in a clear and understandable way for the audience. You must, of course, be able to draw, be able to adapt your drawing style to the dramaturgical requirements of the respective film project, be able to search and find your own image style, be able to arrange the objects in the film space, have a sense of rhythm and timing, a sense of color matching both the peculiarities of each individual shot and the color palette of the entire film...And last but not least, you should also have a sense of experimentation to be able to search for new stylistic forms of visual expression.

First and last cinematographic crush?

The first film that impressed me when I was still a child was the Polish feature film "Visit of a President" (1961) by Jan Batory. In the main character (Leon Niemczyk), I seemed to see some very close person who wished me well and whom I dreamed of seeing in real life. And the last, so far, my favorite is the Hungarian feature film "Those who remained" (2019) by Zsuzsa F.Varkonyi, whose characters are a survivors of the Second World War, a girl and a doctor, and their complex and touching relationship.

How old you were when you decided you wanted to be an actor/director/scriptwriter?

I have loved to draw since I can remember. Although during my studying at the Art High School in Sofia I loved watching Bulgarian animated films, my desire was to become an illustrator of books. However later, when I was 19 years old, I realized that animated cinema combines in itself different types of arts, including that of book illustration. And so I managed to successfully graduate from the Higher Institute of Applied Arts in Prague, majoring in Film and Television Graphics. My graduation animated film was Sonata Facile, based on drawings I made in Mozart's hometown of Salzburg. After my return to Bulgaria, I started working in the Animated Film Studio Sofia.

For you a Film is...

A film is a revelation, a way for its author to share with the audience an idea or feelings that excite him. And he would be the happiest man in the world if with his work he could take the viewer away from his everyday life and problems and send him, even for just a few minutes, to the wonderful world created by author's thoughts, pencil and brush.

What do you feel when you're acting/directing/writing?

When I work on a script and storyboard for a new film, I feel that by creating some new characters that will live in a world I’ve created, I seem to find in the universe some unknown star or, like the alchemists, discover a new precious stone... At the same time, I feel obligated to make these characters, their world, and their story convincing enough and as interesting as possible for the wide audience.

You can go to the Movies with an actor/director/scriptwriter that you love. What kind of movie do you choose and with who you're gonna watch it? 

The film I would choose would be Jean-Luc Godard's À bout de souffle (1960) and I would watch it in the company of the lovely Jean Seberg. After the end of the film, in order to calm her down due to the death of Jean-Paul Belmondo's character, I would invite her to a candlelit dinner at the Maxim’s Restaurant in Paris.

Audrey Hepburn used to say “Nothing is Impossible”, what do you think about it?

This thought applies with full force to animated cinema, where the author's possibilities are de facto unlimited. An animator is able to create the idea and story of the film, its characters, backgrounds, color palette, atmosphere and mood... And in this sense I remember a thought of the great Federico Fellini, who says: Cinema is the only means by which we can compete with God...

Can you live just of your passion?

It would be nice to live only with our passion for filmmaking. In this way, we

would seem to inhabit some parallel world created by ourselves, in which

everything would happen according to the directions of our creative intentions and perspectives. Unfortunately, real life excludes our existence solely and only in such a poetic and ephemeral universe, which is why it is sometimes necessary to make compromises in order to survive in the prose of our everyday life.

What's more important talent or luck?

Undoubtedly, the most important thing is the talent, which, however, must be constantly developed. As Milton Glaser said "art is work". It is inappropriate not to work hard enough on ourselves and rely solely on luck to succeed.

You must go to a desert island but you can bring with you just one movie...

And it will be "Death in Venice" (1971) by Luchino Visconti, based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Mann. In this remarkable Italian film, which I have seen more than ten times, almost everything is said about fame and vanity, about youth and old age, about the constant search for true love and unattainable perfection, about beauty and ugliness, about meaning of art and life, about life and death…In this film there is a perfect synchronicity between the great music of Gustav Mahler and the dramaturgy of the narrative. The camera of Pasqualino de Santis "paints" wonderful images similar to the landscapes of Francesco Guardi.

Have you ever accepted a part/ a movie to direct/ a script to write even if you didn't like the project?

Never. It's like trying to fall in love with a woman you don't like. Basically, the idea of an animated film appears in our consciousness like some touch from above, as a result of some divine whisper... Then this idea becomes our complete obsession and we begin to follow it until the moment, when we see it realized on the movie screen.

What's the best compliment you have received about your Job?

I have received various compliments for my films, but there are some, that stand out from the rest. For example, Taiwanese animator Joe Hsieh, author of the remarkable Night Bus (2019) told me, that my cartoon Roses in the Night (2019) is the best animated film he has ever seen. Also when I was once showing my film to my friends, after the screening I noticed tears glistening in their eyes...something that cannot be compared to any compliment or even festival award.

Are you satisfied about your career? 

I'm glad I chose animation. Of course, no one can be absolutely satisfied with his career, as there are always things that he has not been able to achieve. Everyone dreams of making his ultimate MOVIE, but probably not everyone succeeds. John Lennon had said that life is the time during which we make plans for the future.

Do you have a good luck charm? 

I had read somewhere that when Charlie Chaplin traveled somewhere, he always put Max Ernst's collage book La femme 100 têtes in his suitcase. I, in turn, always travel with a small book containing interviews of Françoise Jaunin with Balthus, as well as a small album by the Quay Brothers.

 Which is the worst moment on the set ?  

When, due to some unpleasant, peculiar and unexpected events in your life, you lose the desire to continue your work on the film.

How do you feel when a job you've been part of it is ending?

When I finish my work on a film, I feel as if I am parting with a loved one, that I am leaving a world in which I had a good time, that an important stage of my life is coming to an end...

Have you ever lied to get a part/job? 

This has never happened to me. I think that if I lied, the result of my work would seem to me undeserved and defiled. Moreover, such an act would be extremely unfair in relation to my colleagues.

If you should win an Oscar your first taught would go to…

To my beloved and long-deceased parents, whom I remember with immense gratitude, and who always live in my wonderful memories...and of course to my most beloved being.

Olivia Dunlop - Interview

When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screenplayer?

The Victims of Sundarbans is a Documentary Movie which is extremely close to the heart of the script writer Ms. Olivia Dunlop as she has been doing a great deal of Charitable work for the tiger victim widows and their children in Sundarbans. It has taken her 8.5 years to develop the trust and bond between herself and the victims families. Then in 2023 she wrote the original script, screenplay, acted and produced the Documentary Movie.

How did your family react?

The parents of Ms. Olivia Dunlop are extremely proud of her and her work as a Script Writer, Screenplayer, Actor and Producer of the Documentary Movie know as The Victims of Sundarbans

Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?

Ms. Olivia Dunlop's Muse or Role Models were the strong tiger victim widows who after losing their grand father's, father's, husband's, sons are still staying in Sundarbans ( the largest mangrove forest in the world ) also performing the rituals and go to the forest area in the search of fishes, crabs and honey. They are the epitome of strength, fearlessness, sheer grit who moved Olivia to write the script about their lives and livelihoods.

Who's your biggest fan?

Olivia's biggest fan is her beloved mother.

What brings you inspiration the most?

When Olivia works relentlessly for the underprivileged without expecting anything in return. Her inspiration is herself, who pushes herself to become a better version.

Which actor or director would you like to work with?

Mr. Christopher Nolan

Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?

Yes, The Streetcar Named Desire

What's the movie that taught you the most?

The Pursuit of Happyness & Pay it Forward

About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?

No. Never.

On set what excites you the most?

When the Director says, LIGHT, CAMERA & ACTION

And what scares you the most ?

NOTHING

What's your next project?

The next Documentary Movie is on another UNESCO SITE in the districts of West Bengal that is Bishnupur where the originality of the craftsmen are becoming extinct. The need to support and revive the craftsmanship.

You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?

NO ONE.

An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....

The Screenplayer should be a best story teller, and visionary. The Director should be the executor of the Script which in turn the actors would understand and emote accordingly.

For you Cinema is....

LIFE & PASSION.

Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?

YES. Black and White movies are extremely powerful and impactful.

Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?

Yes. Infact for the Documentary Movie that is The Victims of Sundarbans we might be nominated for OSCARS. Praying fingers crossed.

Do you think you're gonna win it?

We are hopeful to win the OSCARS as the original story of the tiger victim widows and their lives and livelihoods along with the children's future aspects has never been told to a global audience. It's an original and organic script with no professional actors or actresses. The roles are played by the tiger victim women and their family members. The Documentary deserves a worldwide accolades and it has got 69 awards till date and still counting.

OSCARS should give THE VICTIMS OF SUNDARBANS a chance to win. Requesting Jury Members for a fair evaluation. The OSCARS would change the lives of the people in Sundarbans the largest mangrove forest in the world. The home of the magnificent ROYAL BENGAL TIGER who have turned man - eaters.

Mia Rivera - Interview

Mia is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, producer, actor and songwriter. Her short, comedic film, Lizzy’s Plan, has won Best Film and Actress and other accolades in countless competitions worldwide. After serving as a Combat Medic in the U.S. Army Mia holds two degrees from U.C. Berkeley, one in Rhetoric and one in English. She was a USC Warrior Bard, active in many veteran-related writers workshops and has extensive training in acting, comedy and improv.

When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/producer/screenplay writer?

I started writing poetry as a very little girl. I was quiet and shy and I felt most comfortable sharing my inner thoughts and feelings with my trusty notepad. From elementary school through college my poems were published. One day, one of my poems had a melody that accompanied it in my mind and it stuck with me. Finally, I thought, “this poem wants to be a song.” Long story short, I became a professional songwriter. The process of creating characters and becoming characters in my poetry, then songs and now for the screen was definitely a process, an evolution.  

How did your family react?

While attending U.C. Berkeley, on the path to law school, I was torn between pursuing songwriting and becoming an attorney. My Dad wouldn’t consider the latter, but I did my research and made the decision that was right for me. I should include that I paid for my education on my own, so that wasn’t a factor. I’d chosen Rhetoric as my major, English minor, because I felt that the analyzation, argumentation and debate skills would help prepare me for law school. They helped focus my lens on everything, in school and out, and ultimately made me a better writer.

As a U.S. Army Veteran, at the tail end of my time in the Army, I changed from being a Combat Medic into a JAG, Judge Advocate General’s Corp, (the military’s Legal branch) unit. This gave me an up close and personal view of what my path as an attorney would be like. It was a tough choice, but I chose songwriting and I never looked back.

 Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?

Every part of my life I have at least one Role Model…

Songwriting: Diane Warren has been my songwriting Superhero my whole life. Her songs got me through some of the most difficult and wonderful times of my life. Many of the songs in the soundtrack of my life are written by Diane Warren.

Acting: Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Meryl Streep. They’re all amazing. When I watch them, I’m not watching actors… I’m watching lives on the screen. I’m so captured by their performances that I never even realize that they’re acting, until the credits roll. They’re incredible.

Screenwriting: Marta Kaufmann (Friends); Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give); Lee Aronsohn and Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men); and the man who taught me (without teaching me) about what’s funny through TV re-runs, Mr. Norman Lear (All in the Family, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons and Good Times). I’m sooooo sad that I’ll never get to meet Mr. Norman Lear, but he taught me through his amazing shows, and school has never been so fun. Thank you, Mr. Lear.

My Life: My Mom is my role model because she’s kind, sweet, beautiful, and very strong. She’s had a difficult life, but she’s not only made it through, she’s the epitome of grace under fire. She’s my hero. I love you Mommy.

Who's your biggest fan?

My Mom. Ever since I was a little kid, my Mom used to say, “we should pack up and move to Hollywood.” I took the “long way” but we did, and here we are.   

What brings you inspiration the most?

Real life. My life. Also, whenever I’m out, I’m listening to conversations all around me. Yes, eavesdropping. Sometimes, I see and hear things that I just couldn’t make up and other times, I just need to add a little twist or answer differently than the real person did to make it funny. In my mind, I play the dialog and laugh to myself. Onlookers probably think I’m crazy. That may be true, but in a matter of 60 seconds, I’ve written the scene, added in the actors, directed it and heard the studio audience’s reaction run through my mind. Huge laughs of course. Ha. Ha. Then I run the movie through my head and into the script it goes.  

Which actor or director would you like to work with?

Actors: Of course, I’d love to work with all of the best. However, there’s an actor who I so desperately want for a role in my half-hour sitcom, “Lizzy’s Plan.” He’s perfect. His name is Austin Pendleton (the stuttering attorney in My Cousin Vinny). Call me Austin. ;) Since I write with the intention of bringing the script to film, I usually write my characters with actors I already know in mind, because I know their strengths, their requests, their BUDGET.

If price and availability weren’t a barrier, for the comedic roles I am working on, of course I’d love to work with Robert DeNiro, Meryl Streep, Carol Burnett, Polly Holliday, Diane Keaton, Vicki Lawrence, Wanda Sykes, Vince Vaughn, Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Morgan Freeman, Ben Stiller, Reese Witherspoon, John Turturro, Marisa Tomei, Joe Pesci and JACK... Jack Nicholson..  Directors: Nancy Meyers, Greta Gerwig, Martin Scorsese. As an actress, I did have the pleasure to work with Michael Spiller, Modern Family, and I would love to have the experience again.

 What's the movie that taught you the most?

Movies that make me feel something, i.e., cry, laugh, think, inspire or just escape are the ones that I like as an audience member and therefore, I aspire to do in my writing, producing. I watch my favorite movies over and over again. Some of my favorites are: The Wizard of Oz, Four Christmases, Wedding Crashers, Something’s Gotta Give, She-Devil, Goodfellas, Casino, Saturday Night Fever, Urban Cowboy, Grease, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, Under the Tuscan Sun, Duplex, Anger Management, Seven, Basic Instinct, The Notebook, and Crazy, Stupid Love. If I was limited to these movies for the rest of my life, I’d be okay.   

About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?

Desire to quit, no. Has the thought crossed my mind? Sure. Every rejection hurts. Every rejection is like a punch in a boxing match… Some make me fight back harder; some make me pause, shake it off; and some knock me down for a bit, but it’s not about how many times I get knocked down, it’s about how many times I get back up, and so far, my record shows that I’ve gotten back up every time. A record of 100% is pretty good, I think.

Life has thrown me a lot of challenges, so I’m used to the odds being against me. I’ve never let that stop me.  

On set what excites you the most?

I just love being on set. When I’m on set, watching how many people are pooling their talents toward one common goal, I’m thrilled.   

And what scares you the most?

As a Creator/Writer/Producer/Lead Actress/Songwriter and all of the multitude of duties, schedules, budgeting, acting, paperwork, etc. that go with that, I’m always worried that any one of the balls I’m juggling will fall. As a writer, I’m always hoping that every joke will work. As an actor, I’m always hoping to give my best performance in as few takes as possible. Even when I’m not the producer, I know the concerns of a director or producer, so I always have those thoughts in the back of my mind. Time is money, so get it right ASAP.

As an audience member, I love watching Blooper Reels, but even then, the producer in me is thinking, “all right all ready, get it together, let’s get this shot.”

  What's your next project?

Ultimately, I’d like to make Lizzy’s Plan into a half-hour comedy series, a sitcom. So, with that project, I’d like to film the next episode. In the meantime, I’m still working on over 30 episodes, so far. I also have a comedic short script that’s been doing well in the Film and Screenwriting Festival circuit, Take This Faux Turkey And Shove It. I’m also looking forward to filming that.  

You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?

I would never want to steal anything from anyone, but I have to admire Issa Rae as she created her own show, starred in it and was the Co-Showrunner of Insecure. Woo Hoo... You Rock Issa.... I’d like to follow in her footsteps by creating my own show, starring in it and being the Showrunner or Co-Showrunner of my half-hour sitcom, Lizzy’s Plan. Are you listening Universe? Just putting it out there.

  An actor/producer/screenplay writer is made of....

Wonder, curiosity, make believe and really hard work.  

For you Cinema is.... 

An interconnected series of entertaining moments. Every scene is a opportunity for a water-cooler moment. I want people to be talking about every scene the next day at work.   

Have you ever dreamed of winning an Emmy or an Oscar?  

Sure. Don’t forget a Grammy while you’re at it…. In fact, I have a bottle of Cristal that my songwriting idol Diane Warren messengered over to me eons ago, and it’s patiently waiting to be opened. Winning an Emmy, Oscar or Grammy would warrant opening it. In the meantime, I just set slightly smaller goals (LOL) and celebrate those victories as they come. Each victory leads to taking the next step, a little higher, a little bigger, a little harder, a lot more work to achieve and the sweeter the victory when it comes.

Lois Banks - Interview

Lois Banks is a mother to four grown children, grandchildren, and one great granddaughter. She is a Woman of God, licensed nurse for 30 years in the state of Michigan, author, filmmaker, and CEO of her company, CCMA Caring Hands Home Care Company where she creates health products to heal the world!

When did you realised you wanted to be a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?

I desired to be a actor as a child and later began to write plays for churches, write poems, and I published my first book, Learn Your ABC’s God’s Way, featuring multicultural images of children from around the world teaching children how to walk with God. The book is illustrated by Hazel Mitchell and has been on the market for 30 years.

  Do you remember your first time at the Movies?  

Growing up, I remember that movies always left messages inside of me to think about topics in a different way, introduce me to knowledge, or entertain me.

If you should change country where would you like to work?  

I currently live in America and changing countries hasn’t entered my mind because I’m led in my heart to live where I am right now. I can work anywhere and I love to travel internationally. I traveled to Paris, France twice as an adult and other international destinations. I spent my vacation in Paris France in 2023.

Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…

Of course the first film that marked my life in a profound way is the movie that the Good Lord placed on my heart to create for the world entitled, Walking With God, based on true events that took place in my life.

The second movie that impacted my life is the, Ten Commandments, because biblical truths touch the core of my spirit which helped develop the person that I am today.

I’m a licensed nurse with a Bachelor and Master degree and I believe in education. Any form of higher learning can be positive. My gift to write films and books is a gift from God that I use in a positive way for the world.

  What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?

Acting and filmmaking schools can be a positive experience to help people prepare for what they want to accomplish in life. I highly suggest that people stick to core principle goals in school and don’t participate in anything that cross core values in life.

Have you ever hated your ambition?  

I currently have four careers and I love what I’m doing. I’m a nurse, author, filmmaker, and I own a company. I love what I’m doing and I encourage people to find out their gifts and do that in life.

Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was he right?  

My movies bring healing to the world spiritually, emotionally, and naturally. My focus is to heal the world. I’m healthy and whole sending positive messages to the world. As a nurse, I have a responsibility to share healing views and to help the world overcome life’s challenges with a positive outcome.

Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?  

When I think of the word cinema, I see more positive movies created through me to bring knowledge, health, and entertainment. I desire to use filmmaking to bring positive messages to the world.

Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?  

The director that taught me the most is God. I ask God to help me with every aspect of creating my film and He was faithful. My movie ideas are directed by God and I can’t take the credit.

God and I work together as a team to accomplish goals for the world. And I didn’t study any director, actor, or writer to create my film. I used my gifts and focused on what I can bring to the table of filmmaking.

About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…  

My mind thinks in a positive realm only. I don’t think negative thoughts. What a person thinks will happen. My dream is to continue to share my gift of creating films and sending positive messages to the world and to continue to grow as a human.

What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?  

Growth is important to me and learning how to film movies myself and edit movies are my new goals in the filmmaking industry.

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 that keeps me motivated is God. I talk to God every day. I separate myself from negative energy and build an atmosphere of faith, all things are possible, and I believe in myself.

I ’m self motivated and I don’t need outside motivation from people. I make a goal and I complete my goals because my atmosphere and environment is filled with God, faith, and positive energy.

  What’s your most ambitious project for the future?

To make a good film to send positive messages to the world, I believe that people need a relationship with the Creator of the Universe, a good script, authentic actors, belief in oneself, and discipline to complete the task and make a film.

My ideas to create movies are inspired by God to help people win in life. I create movies as inspired ideas come to me. My first movie as a first time filmmaker winning awards globally was my first ambitious project. I came out of the gate creating every aspect of my movie from writing, having auditions with actors, to doing voiceovers, to hiring a film crew, to hiring a movie editor, and more.

  Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative?

I don’t operate from sadness or a melancholy position because that is unhealthy. I operate from a position of faith, creative positive ideas, and a healthy mind and body.

I believe in taking excellent care of my health as a licensed nurse by eating right and cleaning out my body. I consume organic food and I don’t eat harmful chemicals in my food that can alter the mind and health of the body.

I also have a active fasting and prayer life where I don’t eat food once a week for 24 hours only drinking distilled water, praying to my Heavenly Father, reading my Bible, and listening to the Old and New Testament through my earbuds awake and as I sleep through the night. I fill up with God and walk in power, health in my mind and body, creating positive movies for the world.

  What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?

My goal is to continue to obey God by creating films that He instructs me to create for the world.

Irina Votar - Interview

Irina Vodar is an award-winning filmmaker and graphic designer with over twenty years of experience in film and Broadcast Design with ABC News. As an Indie Filmmaker, Irina wrote, produced and directed two full-length documentary films. Her debut doc feature Miss Gulag, produced in association with Neihausen-Yatskova Films on a beauty pageant in a Russian prison for women, premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2007 (available on Amazon Prime). Her second documentary Anything You Lose, an insightful portrayal of infertility journey, won funding from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and went viral on the Indie Film Festival circuit with a 3X WIN at IndieFest Film Awards in 2023.

The biggest challenge in becoming an actor/director/screenwriter is… 

For me, the biggest challenge in becoming a director was giving myself permission to trust the original creative impulse and stop second-guessing myself. It’s easy to dream from the original impulse, when colors are vivid and the smells and tempo of the feeling are still lingering in the air, but the temptation to lose that trust comes with giving too much weight to how the film is going to resonate with the audience. It’s similar to telling a story with full abandon, and suddenly getting a sinking feeling that no one is listening. At that moment you have a choice, to stay true to your voice, to trust that somewhere out there there’s a person who’s been connecting with your telling, or to fall back on a familiar cliché that worked for other people. This moment is a true test of the creative power.

 Choose an Actor, Choose an Actress...and now choose a story you would like to direct or play with both of them

Ryan Gosling and Sienna Miller in La Vita Nuova by Dante Alighieri. The untold true story of unrequited love that leads to total transformation of both individuals, seen from the two distinct points of view, Dante’s and Beatrice’s.

Who’s the first Artist that let you understand you wanted to be an Actor/director/screenwriter?

When I was a little girl, I saw recurring dreams, which always had end credits. I think those dreams were mimicking cartoons I watched on TV. I couldn’t tell you if my name was in the credits, it was not important. Dmitri Polonsky was my father’s friend. He was a Russian documentary filmmaker, a stylish gentleman in his forties, a talented accomplished screenwriter who frequently collaborated with foreign film productions. He dressed like a dandy and was married to a brilliantly talented young girl fifteen years his junior. He showed an album page with three photos of her different moods, and said that he was married to three different women. He was strangely casual while simultaneously regarding me as a respected equal. I craved to have his poise and erudition, and loved them both with abandon. Dmitri corrected me that although they were married, it was OK to regard them as two separate individuals.

What really excites you artistically or emotionally?

As you probably know, and I’m just guessing, it is the same mechanism that stimulates artistic and emotional responses. I’m very impressionable. There’s a mechanism in my perception that separates the incoming data into two streams— the everyday mundane that is recorded as inconsequential black and white and deleted within 24 hours, and the vivid color. When my barometer perceives an event in color, it is recorded for posterity. I will recall the event in detail that includes the sense, the vibe, the bigger picture meaning, and how it is woven into the blueprint of my life. In the case of creating Anything You Lose, I had that strong sense of a vivid timing, that this particular time in my life was going to be of paramount importance, but I didn’t know how or why, and simply followed the instructions, whatever my intuition told me. This sense of vivid timing came from one particular moment. At three years old, I woke up in the middle of the night to find myself alone. I got out of bed, searched our empty studio apartment in the moonlight, and found the front door in the corridor ajar. I stepped out on the landing. My grandma’s front door next to ours was also open. I walked into the silent dark corridor, so far away from home, and saw the distant blue shimmer coming from the living room at the end of the hallway. There, in front of the TV, I found my entire family. They stared like zombies at the shimmering screen. A handsome mustached caballero pulled a knife, and then the image cut to a coffin in the ground.

 Marlon Brando said “Never confuse the size of your Paycheck with the size of your talent”. Do you agree?

Absolutely. Some talents work in an established system where paychecks are a reflection of one’s recognition. There are others who push the envelope of boundaries. These talents are by definition discovering new grounds, before the masses may get acclimated. These are imaginers of new frontiers. Sometimes it happens when the original spark is transferred instantaneously into a mass recognition.

Have you ever been discouraged by someone about your life/career choices?

The story of creation of Anything You Lose is the epiphany of being discouraged. The project was in development for fourteen years, an indie film production with ambitions of a serious documentary. My first film, Miss GULAG, premiered in 2007 at the Berlinale 57, so I imagined that my second film would follow in the similar footsteps. I was surprised to see that there was little interest in women’s issues, and that the funder’s interest was easily bumped by any other newsworthy content. Since it was my life recorded in the footage, I had no choice but to figure out a way to persevere and bring at least the film project portion of this timeline to a successful fruition. I had to take many breaks, but each time I picked up and kept on going. I heard that I was not respecting the conventions of the documentary film genre, that I would never get objective about the story and my character. That it could be shown only if someone really-really loved it. Perhaps the COVID-19 time of isolation helped to move the needle and shift perception closer towards empathy as a counterpoint to current stressors. After an early screening at the 2019 Fertility Fest in London, I received unanimous rejections after applying to major festivals, at which point I stopped mentioning that I am a filmmaker. But four years later, in summer of 2023, my intuition guided me to release the project. My plan was to upload it to YouTube and let it sink. Before uploading, I decided to take a final look, and in four days cleaned up the edit, and thus the final version was created. My journalist friend Kasia begged me to wait and try just one more festival. I didn’t want humiliation, but my habit of doing due diligence for the project made me enter the IndieFilm Awards. Shockingly, Anything You Lose was awarded with three wins in three categories. Since then, the film has gone viral on the Indie Film Festival Circuit.

 Do you think is harder for a woman being a Filmmaker?

I am a woman in this incarnation so I can’t tell you personally if for a man the path would have been less difficult. Both sexes come with challenges. This film had to be done by a woman who feels the intimacy of the moment. That was the only way to tell the story while bypassing gridlock of established notions. Anything You Lose is a very special film in my career because it feels more like a mission that I was trusted with to accomplish. Such missions are deeply personal and are equally challenging for men and women.

Do you think that Fame and money could easily change your own Vision as a Filmmaker/actor/screenwriter?

No, it wouldn’t. It would certainly make my life more comfortable and enjoyable, but it would not change the place I occupy in the world according to myself. I tend to value people based on the level of emotional intelligence, and money doesn’t change that.

Who’s the Movie star that made you dream for the first time?

I have a 5-pack of all-time favorite films, and they are Cabaret with Liza Minelli, All That Jazz by Bob Fosse, Midnight Cowboy with Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight, Days of Heaven by Terrence Malick, and Sound and Fury, a cinema verité documentary by Josh Aronson. Each of these films is uniquely different, but each illustrates a peak performance of the human spirit in dire circumstances.

I am enchanted by Joseph Campbell’s Hero with a Thousand Faces book, and find the hero’s journey in this multitude of characters, be it a romantic cabaret singer stuck in Nazi Germany, a Broadway director searching for beauty and eternity, a young southern hustler with a heart of gold surviving New York City, a married woman unable to turn down true love, or challenged kids striving to grow and learn everything about this world, regardless of the circumstances. I love when films appeal to the capacity of human spirit to survive, thrive and get enlightened.

Make a wish about your career...

I want to be in demand as a film director and work with the best talent on this Earth.

Talking about cinema/Showbusiness, how hard is to remain completely honest to yourself as an artist?

It’s an excellent question that echoes the opening of this interview. Staying true to yourself is the most complex challenge, but if you master it, also the greatest gift of an artist. It’s very easy, all you have to do is work through the layers of imprints left by upbringing, societal norms, sense of belonging, status quo, and rediscover your own voice and let it run unobstructed for a while, washing away the rust accumulated during years of neglect. And one day, it starts to ring true. At that point there’s no turning back.

 The Film you have loved the most?

9-1/2 weeks

 And now, don’t be shy….the one that annoyed you the most?

I don’t retain those.

 Your biggest artistic goal is…

To effect a lasting change by creating awareness of infertility prevalence in our society.

 What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

I am a jack of many trades. In my time I’ve played/filled/acted the role of Makeup SFX girl, seamstress, costume designer, set decorator, 3D animator, writer, editor, director, producer, and broadcast graphic designer. I’ve also done construction and landscaping. In recent months I’ve taken on public speaking and modeling. I’m open to suggestions.

How important is to be rewarded as an Artist?

I would say that awards are not as important as the feedback from the viewer. Without receiving feedback, the actual resonance created by your work, expression doesn’t feel complete. A film school friend of mine once acknowledged, “…a good film is like a letter from an old friend.”

Financial compensation is important, because we live in a material world, and have bodies to take care of.

 Do you have regrets?

My only regret is that I didn’t travel to Hiroshima Animation festival when my cartoon was showing in competition. I’ve just returned from a vacation and thought that my workplace would frown upon too much time off. I’ve always dreamed of visiting Japan and going to the Zen Gardens in Kyoto.

 What’s the message you want to express through your art?

I work with the renegade female archetype. I dedicate my work to igniting the fire of enlightenment.

Colleen Fuglaar - Interview

Colleen has published with major NYC publishers 18 romance novels with over a million books in print. She sold her first book herself to Berkeley at 26. After a divorce she moved to LA to pursue her new craft of screenwriting. She collaborated with a professional screenwriter, attended seminars and pitch festivals, landed a manager and took a screenwriting course at UCLA. See the recommendation letter from Hal Ackerman regarding Foster Justice, which she later turned into a novel that was the first of a trilogy for Kensington. Two of the listed scripts at Film Freeway are based on her own published novels, including Michelangelo and Me. She has a 50% selection rate to date with other decisions pending.

The biggest challenge of being an actor\director\ screenplayer is…

Getting produced. I don't have much interest in short films, unfortunately. I also don't want to direct; I want to write and produce. Even as an aspiring novelist I was never into short stories.

Choose an Actor, Choose an Actress...and now choose a story you would like to direct or play with both of them :

My first story choice is Michelangelo and Me. I came up with the book idea over 20 years ago when I was asked to write the launch book, Heaven's Rogue, for Dorchester’s Millennium Romance sub imprint (no longer in business but I own 100'% of the copyrights, film and novel). But I'd prefer to be the only credited writer and perhaps help with producing. In this fantasy-romance-action story the physicality of the stars is critical. Honor needs to be small, blonde and fragile looking because that affects Dom's motivations in taking her back to the Renaissance with him. Dom of course needs to resemble the David. They both need to be in their 20's to make their arcs believable. I'm working on the two sequels now but I believe the first also works stand alone. The second story is da Vinci and Me--based on Heaven's Hero but da Vinci comes forward to our time. In the third, Rafael and Me, Rafe goes to the third millennium to teach our descendants how to fight a ruthless conquering alien race after humanity has moved to the stars. Think a softer Gladiator but all of humanity on the line.

My dream team is below:

PRODUCERS: joint between a large Italian producer/distributor and one Hollywood based

DIRECTOR TBD but I have some ideas

HONOR Abigail Breslin or Anya Taylor Joy

DOM ??? Probably an Italian hunk of the right physical type with great English skills. The only recognized American actor I can think of who might work is Gabriel Basso. He looks a bit like the David and is of Italian heritage. I loved the Night Agent and binged it. Also read the book, of course.

NICK Oscar Isaac. He needs to be dark, intense, a bit cynical and pass for Italian.

RAFE I don't know but if the first film is successful he's very important. Nick and Rafe can be in their forties or thirties.

Who’s the first Artist that let you understand you wanted to be an Actor\ director\screenplayer?

George Lucas, Star Wars. He inspired me to write screenplays though it was years before I started as even in the beginning I had a sense of how difficult they are to do--well. It astounds me how many truly awful films get made. Profitable Storytelling is becoming a more difficult art no matter the format as our attention spans become shorter and internet and technology based. Too many choices, too little quality IMO.

What really excites you artistically or emotionally?

As I say on my script page at my web site my goal as a storyteller is to make 'em laugh, make 'em cry, and make 'em think. Very hard to do all three but if you can you've done your job. I still believe people will pay twelve bucks for two hours in the dark with strangers if the story is good enough. Especially in today's world we all need to do more of the above. The decline in ticket sales alarms me. The only way to get people back en masse is to deliver great films. I can tell you I've had international interest in Michelangelo and Me, festival invites from all five continents and I've been invited numerous times to submit in Australia but I'm getting short on funds.

Marlon Brando said “Never confuse the size of your Paycheck with the size of your talent”. Do you agree?

Somewhat. I think there are many great writers. actors and directors who never make a lot of money but are brilliantly talented, and many hacks who make millions because they know someone and get lucky by hitting the current zeitgeist .

Have you ever been discouraged by someone about your life\career choices?

Family member who pushed me to get an MBA instead of a Master's of Real Estate Development. The writing was always my first choice and I wrote my first short story when I was eight. I plan to be writing until the day I die. If I don't make some money at screenwriting I'll just go back to my novels.

Do you think it is harder for a woman being a Filmmaker?

Yes, but becoming easier. There's a good 'ol boys' club in virtually every lucrative profession, not just film. It's pervasive in real estate development, too. When I graduated from USC there were around sixty candidates in my program and about eight were female.

Do you think that Fame and money could easily change your own Vision as a Filmmaker\actor\screenplayer?

Yes because I'd have more influence to see my visions to fruition. I've been telling stories a very long time and trust my instincts. In various critique groups over the years I've had many aspiring novelists finally sell a book to a major publisher and then tell me they would never have become published without my feedback.

Who’s the Movie star that made you dream for the first time?

Not sure exactly what this means but some of my golden era male fave leading men are Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant. Newer stars who never disappoint are Tom Selleck, Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, and Mathew McConaughey. Female golden era stars would be Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor. and Marilyn Monroe. Newer female stars would be Meryl Streep, Jessica Chastain and Sandra Bullock. Many others too.

Make a wish about your career...

Become an influential producer and storyteller in the next five years.

Talking about cinema\Showbusiness, how hard is it to remain completely honest to yourself as an artist?

Since I like to incorporate both humor and action in all I write, usually along with some history or art as well, my stories are difficult to analyze. It's one reason why I gravitate to critique groups but only with other accomplished writers. One criticism, maybe, two you should listen and contemplate carefully, and three make the change.

The Film you have loved the most?

If you sent me to a desert island and gave me five films, two would be Rear Window and North by Northwest. The last three probably Casablanca, Molly's Game and The Princess Bride. All the ones I list at my web site would be welcome too. I just rewatched The Imitation Game.

And now, don’t be shy….the one that annoyed you the most?

I can't tell you how many times I've searched my six streaming channels for a film to watch, start one that sounds interesting and turn it off ten minutes in. Then I pick up a book.

Your biggest artistic goal is…

At the moment, see Michelangelo and Me produced. Big budget, world wide distribution whether as series or film.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

I still love developing historic properties. I heard Patrick Wilson is going around the US slowly redeveloping and saving old movie theaters and that's right up my alley, lol. I worked on much larger historic properties while in LA and have managed over a billion dollars’ worth of commercial properties. I may contact him one day soon if the screenwriting doesn't pan out. I doubt if he has very many MREDs on his team with experience working with historic tax credits and large projects. I also know of at least two art deco era movie theaters in West Texas that need redevelopment.

How important is to be rewarded as an Artist?

Very. Financially and viewership. Otherwise, what are you creating if people won't pay? That's one of my biggest frustrations-- whether music, film or novels. Maybe it started with Napster but somewhere along the way people thought with streaming, entertainment should be free. It's very costly, emotionally, physically, and obviously financially. I guess we creatives will figure out a way to make it worth it eventually.

Do you have regrets?

When I sold my first book to Berkeley the editorial staff liked my primary secondary characters so much they asked me to do a series of Regencies with them as crime solvers. I declined, not aware at the ripe old age of 26 that's the best way to hit the NY Times lol. I didn't have an agent then either. I didn't want to be bound by one world when I had so many others to travel.

What’s the message you wanna express through your art?

Hope, joy, inspiration, curiosity about our world and history, belief one person can still make a difference and of course, the redeeming power of love.

Emily Kathleen - Interview

Emily is currently working with lawmakers for stalking and domestic laws. She has been stalked for 10 years. "The Stalker" film that she wrote and performed about her dramatic real-life experience is playing at film festivals around the world, including SXSW, NYC, Hollywood, Paris, London, Spain, & Italy.

The biggest challenge of being an actor\director\ screenplayer is… 

I spoke about this a little bit with the New York City Gold Film Festival awards. Any artist, any profession in the arts is going to have its challenges. For me the challenge is that I am always a leader of every single project I'm on. Whether I produce it or not. Even if I'm hired as an actor or singer generally on a perfect , I'm always the lead role... The entire cast looks up to me and expects me to be perfect all the time. My mother was a very cruel women she would abuse me if I wasn't perfect all the time. She pushed me to be the perfect singer behind closed doors she was abusing the shit out of me if I was not the perfect star. I was never allowed to cry. That's the same with my professional life as an artist I habe to be perfect 24/7 or the entire project falls apart. That adds to my depression and anxiety. It's been burnes into me as a young age be perfect at everything or everyone will hate you. I would say that the biggest challenge for me as an artist.

Choose an Actor, Choose an Actress...and now choose a story you would like to direct or play with both of them.

I spoke about this in my other interview I value stories of survivors of abuse. I am currently in thw process of pre production for a virtual play survivor Jennifer Turpin and I wrote together. I will be starring in it and directing it summer 2024. It's a combined story of Jennifer Turpin and myself both surviving horrific child abuse. The project is called: " Finding Love, A Jennifer Turpin story." Focuses on our healing journey through trauma and abuse.

 Who’s the first Aritst that let you understand you wanted to be an Actor\ director\screenplayer?

I spoke about this before how Macy Gray has influenced my life as a kid. She could do it all. She went to film school, makes films, writes scripts and songs. She is my hero. So since a Young kid I always knew I was meant to be a performer like Macy Gray and I look up to her so much.

What really excites you artistically or emotionally?

So I spoke about this in my other interviews. I love Jazz music performing it is my true joy in life. As for me I work daily on healing myself and feeding my inner child. So I LOVE playing with bubbles and listening to Taylor Swift music with a glass of peace Moscato wine. The talking on the phone for hours with my best friend Jennifer Turpin is the best. She just gets me and I get her and she is my sister for life.

 Marlon Brando said “Never confuse the size of your Paycheck with the size of your talent”. Do you agree?

I spoke about this before artists have big egos. Most artists think they can sit back and do nothing be broke and look broke and people are just going to give them money and that's not the way the world works. You have to present yourself with class you'll have to represent yourself like you have money even if you don't. I work 3 jobs 90 hours a week. I dont need the money I make on gigs from singing or acting. Thw fact that artist who are starting out not assigned to a label or have a name for themselves think they can make a living as an artist by being lazy and using people for money is laughable. You have to work hard and even artists who make it have side gigs. No one likes an artist who begs for money. So as I said before Marlon Brando is wrong. He isn't living in reality. No one is going give a broke artist money that's a fact. Work your side hustles even when you get your dreans work your side hustles then you won't have to worry about money or getting a job as an artist jobs will be just handed to you.

 Have you ever been discouraged by someone about your life\career choices?

Everyday I get discourged as an artist. For example when I was opening up for Macy Gray. My band members quit the show a week before the show. Jack, Andrew and Jarrett demanded more money from me and sais I had to have sex with them or they would not do the show. They quit on me 6 days before the show. I hired a new Band worked my ass off to get the show ready then the venues Antone's in Austin Texas and Houstons House of Blues found out I was a survivor of domestic violence and fired me. Macy and her manager Larry are working on a new show for me to open for Macy again in 2024. But my point is even people that claim to be your friends can stab you in the back get jealous of your success and bring you down. Doing this career in the artist you have to be strong enough to tell people who are hating on you to fuck off and keep doing you. Don't change for no one.

Do you think is harder for a woman being a Filmmaker? 

No I don't, I spoke about this a little bit before my other interview. Being a filmmaker regardless of your gender is fucking hard. Regardless of your gender you have to put up with so much bullshit from other people and smile and just take it while doing your job with dignity and being perfect. When you're dealing with Fame and making films and acting in them you're going to get people who only look at you as a sex object a new treat you as such. Male or female it happens to all of us. What you need to do as a professional is shut that shit down. The way to get people to respect you is putting up your boundaries instantly. Anytime I'm disrespected on set or anywhere as an artist I call them out on it and I make it very clear that they are to treat me with respect or to not talk to me at all. My point is being a filmmaker regardless of your gender is hard. You have to be vulnerable and strong and perfect at the same time. It's exhausting. There will be people on your film set that you're acting in or producing or making that will try to destroy you and you have to constantly know what you're doing but everything regarding camera sound like acting etc so that way you can know if something is at a place and someone is trying to screw with you. I know we all like to think that the people we work with will do their jobs if we're paying them but that's not the case with being involved in the fame industry. People are messed up and no matter what your gender is as a filmmaker you have to deal with that and you have to find a way to deal with those people while getting your film finished and maintaining your boundaries. For example the actress Meredith I hired on my film the stalker she had no boundaries she would text me at all hours of the night asking for money for drugs. She was a pathological liar to get attention and constantly tried to exploit me for money. The three months that I worked with her were extremely stressful. However as we can all see from my film The Stalker it turned out to be a marvelous success and that's my point is sometimes you have to just suck it up and do your job and ignore people who are trying to suck the life out of you.

Do you think that Fame and money could easily change your own Vision as a Filmmaker\actor\screenplaye?

I'm famous in my own way and because I work three jobs I have my own money. The only thing about myself that is changed is I love myself more and I'm able to help more survivors of trauma and crimes with my work in the performing arts with Fame and money. That's the only thing that's changed about me is I'm able to help more people and love myself more.

Who’s the Movie star that made you dream for the first time?

Macy Gray

Make a wish about your career...

Tony Award acting on Broadway, win an Oscar for my film The Stalker, and Grammy award for my music album voices natter.

 Talking about cinema\Showbusiness, how hard is to remain completely honest to yourself as an artist?

Since I have my own money I don't look at Cinema as show Business I look at as when I'm doing my art I'm an artist regardless of how much I'm getting paid.

The Film you have loved the most? 

I spoke before about this but I really loved Elizabeth Smart documentary because she won in the end. I also really love the movie Safe Haven, as someone who has been a survivor of domestic violence and being stalked for 10 years across country I long for a happy ending in my own life. One day I hope I'll have that.

And now, don’t be shy….the one that annoyed you the most? 

American Pie

Your biggest artistic goal is…

Have millions of dollars invested into my company so I can help more victims of trauma and abuse through my performing arts projects.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?                 

I would really like to get into real estate one day. The idea of being able to help someone find the perfect home because I've been homeless before gives me so much joy to be able to give someone a home.

How important is to be rewarded as an Artist?

I already talked about this before and the other interview I don't think that we need to be rewarded to be on set to do our jobs. The only reward that I lost is saying that I helped another trauma survivor with my art.

 Do you have regrets? 

The moments that I want my best self.

What’s the messagge you wanna express through your art? 

That despite your trauma and abuse you too can have a good life and that you are not your abuse.

Nancee LaFayette - Interview

My career in acting and singing started as a young girl in Rhode Island. Education in making movies and television shows began at Apache Land Movie Ranch, Arizona. I was dragged up the street and shot five times a day in live street shows; I also worked as an extra and stunt woman for productions that used the Ranch’s town as a location. In this environment, I worked with many Hollywood Legends including Director Sam Peckinpah, who did “ The Wild Bunch”, Elvis Presley and Audie Murphy. Universal Studios was my film school and greatest teacher. This is where I studied the many different aspects of the motion picture industry for thirteen years. All the studio departments (titles, film editing, special effects, etc.) opened their doors and invited me into their domains. It was a great experience to be allowed on sets to watch and learn from many of the great actors, actresses, directors and fine crafts people.

What's the absolutely necessary ingredient to be a good actor/director/screenplayer?

A deep understanding of the human condition, motivations and ability to express in dialogue what each character is saying and not saying. I've been lucky to work with great directors who allow their actors room to express ideas about their characters, they do not stifle, but allow room to create and work with all departments, making a movie is a team effort, a good director needs to listen.

First and last cinematographic crush?

The Wild Bunch, Lucien Ballard, Murder on the Orient Express: Directed by Kenneth Branagh.

How old were you when you decided you wanted to be an actor/director/screenplayer?

I worked at Universal Studios thirteen years and not till I was in my forties did I attempt to write... My mother told me I was not that smart and I could only sing and act! Lucky for me, friends at the studio pushed me to write.

For you a Film is...a journey to explore space, other cultures, fantasy, to learn, to cry, to laugh...laughter is the best.

What do you feel when you're acting/directing/writing?

Constant battle between me and the characters I'm creating, I want them to do one thing and swear they don't want to do it...eventually I find what works best in each scene and go on till everything gels. Right now I am writing a story about a Samurai in the Edo period... I have to immerse myself completely in that time, I have traveled to Japan several times and hope my story will be romantic and entertaining.

You can go to the Movies with an actor/director/screenplayer that you love. What kind of movie do you choose and with whom you're gonna watch it?

The Lord of the Rings, and watch it with Director PeterJackson.

Audrey Hepburn used to say “Nothing is Impossible”, what do you think about it?

I adore Audrey Hepburn...in her bio she was one strong young woman carrying information past Nazi soldiers...she is right, if you have the knowledge and the right people...We went to the moon...who knows...

Can you live just on your passion?

No, passion must be balanced as all things in life...too much food, FAT, too much drugs, Brain Freeze...you need passion it gives you the fire in your belly to push on.

What's more important, talent or luck?

Talent, you must be ready to be Lucky...I've seen so many people more talented than many who are celebrities today, yet self doubt, not keeping up their health, you have to be very strong and healthy to be an actor in a TV series or an action movie.

You must go to a desert island but you can bring with you just one movie...

All about Eve, starring Bette Davis

Have you ever accepted a part/ a movie to direct/ a script to write even if you didn't like the project?

No...If I cannot identify with the work I cannot do the project. It's not about money, it's the work.

What's the best compliment you have received about your Job?

Winning over 30 awards for my writing in many international contests.

Are you satisfied about your career?

Yes, I Have been so fortunate to have a husband who helps me create and travel to do research for my work.

Do you have a good luck charm?

My faith, my family and the recent loss of my beloved dog Rollo.

Which is the worst moment on set ?

Disagreements between producers, directors and actors who get a God complex.

How do you feel when a job you've been part of it's ending?

Sad, you become very close to the people you work with.

Have you ever lied to get a part/job?

Yes, when I went to Universal Studios for a studio guide job. I was asked about my education and was afraid to say I didn't go to college. I hate lying, I got ill... I got the job after the man who interviewed me saw me dance with Dean Martin at the Airport party. He thought I was a friend of Mr Martin, I don't remember what Dean said to me, I was concentrating on how to bring home some food. I was working at the Cinerama Dome as an usher at Airport 's prememre...I told Mr. Martin to put out his cigarette. He thought I had guts and left tickets to the party for me and Rosie.

If you should win an Oscar your first thought would go to…

My family and all the people who helped me grow into the person I am now

Chris Angus - Interview

Chris began dabbling with animation in 1993 as part of the commercial arts course that he was taking at that time. Becoming fascinated with the animator’s craft, he began attending workshops held by the Manitoba Society of Independent Animators (MSIA). Chris received funding from MSIA in the form of space and equipment usage and set up shop in MSIA’s studios working on his first film the Urge when time permitted. The Urge was completed in the spring of 2001. His next film, Futureworld won over 13 awards in “Best of” categories, as well as various other awards. Hinter-Land, his most recent film, is now beginning its film festival run and has already won several awards. While working on music and sound for Hinter-Land Chris began animating the vignette - Healing for the Nations. Currently Chris is in the animation stages of his next film.

What's the absolutely necessary ingredient to be a good actor/director/screenplayer?

Strike out in the direction you want to go and don’t quit.

First and last cinematographic crush?

The first was Star Wars. Last is, whatever is the latest Criterion Collection film I’ve viewed

How old you were when you decided you wanted to be an actor/director/screenplayer? \

For you a Film is...

Storytelling and art which is one of the key ways, in the modern world, for us to understand ourselves, our cultures, and existence in general.

What do you feel when you're acting/directing/writing?

I usually feel pleasure. I enjoy the process.

You can go to the Movies with an actor/director/screenplayer that you love. What kind of movie do you choose and with who you're gonna whatch it?

I would go to an animation festival with an Independent Animation Director and watch a screening of short films.

Audrey Hepburn used to say “Nothing is Impossible”, what do you think about it?

It’s a partial truth of course, but encouraging words. Obviously, some things are impossible, but there are certainly dreams within one's reach.

Can you live just of your passion?

I can at this point. Although It took years before I could.

What's more important talent or luck?

Talent.

You must go to a desert island but you can bring with you just one movie...

Stalker, by Tarkovsky. A person can watch that film endlessly and still find new ideas, perspectives, and insights to chew on.

Have you ever accepted a part/ a movie to direct/ a script to write even if you didn't like the project?

I’ve done stuff I didn’t really want to do, but never anything I’ve hated or had moral issues with.

What's the best compliment you have received about your Job?

When people say they are touched, moved, or provoked to thought by my films.

Are you satisfied about your career?

Yes. But a person can always work towards more.

Do you have a good luck charm?

How do you feel when a job you've been part of it's ending?

I’m already gearing up for the next project and pretty much ready to move on.

Have you ever lied to get a part/job?

No.

If you should win an Oscar your first taught would go to…

If I ever win an Oscar it will be years from now, and I will be in enough of a different head space that I have no idea.

Nathan Taupez Scinto - Interview

Nathan Taupez Scinto, founder of Think Global Media Group (dba Global Filmz), started his journey as a Producer in 2001, producing 16-episode TV series on a Fox affiliate. Nathan established his team of creatives in 2015 and Think Global Media was officially founded. By 2016, Nathan Scinto opened his first Global Filmz production office in Brickell Miami now known as Global Filmz (HQ) Miami Branch. By 2021, Nathan launched a Global Filmz NYC Division opening an office in New York, NY in the World Trade Center. Since then Nathan has opened two more production branches in Washington DC & Virginia. TGM is a full-service film production company employing over 40+ filmmakers worldwide that specializes in all aspects of preproduction, onsite, and postproduction for film, TV, and documentary films.

The biggest challenge of being an actor\director\ screenplayer is… 

The biggest challenge of being a director/producer is the constant pressure to deliver exceptional performances or create compelling stories.

It requires immense dedication, creativity, and the ability to handle multiple responsibilities simultaneously.

Choose an Actor, Choose an Actress...and now choose a story you would like to direct or play with both of them

For the actor role, I would choose Leonardo DiCaprio, and for the actress role, I would choose Mila Kunis. The story I would like to direct with

the both of them is a psychological thriller, exploring themes of identity and power dynamics.

 Who’s the first Aritst that let you understand you wanted to be an Actor\ director\screenplayer?

The first artist who made me understand that I wanted to be director/producer was Quentin Tarantino himself. His unique storytelling style

and bold approach to filmmaking inspired me to pursue a career in the industry.

What really excites you artistically or emotionally?

What really excites me artistically and emotionally is the power of storytelling to evoke strong emotions, challenge societal norms, and

provoke thought-provoking discussions.

 Marlon Brando said “Never confuse the size of your Paycheck with the size of your talent”. Do you agree?

I absolutely agree with Marlon Brando's statement. The size of one's talent should never be measured by the size of their paycheck. True

talent and artistic abilities cannot be quantified by monetary success alone.

 Have you ever been discouraged by someone about your life\career choices? 

Yes, there have been instances where people discouraged me about my life and career choices. However, I believe in following my passion

and staying true to my artistic vision despite any negativity or discouragement.

Do you think is harder for a woman being a Filmmaker? 

I believe in promoting inclusivity and providing equal opportunities for everyone to showcase their talent. I don’t believe it’s harder for

woman, if you have the resources to create, just let your work speak for itself. I think we as creator are judged on our work not our sexual

orientation and I have always gone by a saying: I am only as good as my last project, and this allows me to stay humble and elevate myself each

and every project I am involved in.

Do you think that Fame and money could easily change your own Vision as a Filmmaker\actor\screenplayer?

Fame and money have the potential to influence one's vision as a filmmaker, actor, or screenwriter. However, it is essential to stay grounded

and true to one's artistic integrity, regardless of external factors.

 Who’s the Movie star that made you dream for the first time? 

The movie star who made me dream for the first time was Leonardo DiCaprio. His performances in films like "Titanic" and "Basketball Diaries"

left a lasting impact on me and fueled my passion for storytelling.

Make a wish about your career...

My wish for my career is to create meaningful and impactful films that resonate with audiences worldwide. I aspire to inspire and make a

positive difference through my craft.

 Talking about cinema\Showbusiness, how hard is to remain completly honest to yourself as an artist?

Remaining completely honest to oneself as an artist in the world of cinema can be challenging. The industry often demands compromises,

but it is crucial to stay true to one's artistic vision and values.

The Film you have loved the most? 

The film I love the most is "Pulp Fiction" directed by Quentin Tarantino. Its nonlinear narrative, memorable characters, and engaging

dialogues make it a timeless masterpiece.

And now, don’t be shy….the one that annoyed you the most? 

The film that annoyed me the most is subjective, but I believe that every film has its own unique qualities and appeals to different audiences. As a filmmaker, I appreciate the diverse perspectives and styles that exist in the world of cinema.

Your biggest artistic goal is… 

My biggest artistic goal is to create a body of work that leaves a lasting impact and contributes to the advancement of the art form.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

If I were to attempt another profession, I would be interested in exploring the field of photography. Capturing moments and conveying

emotions through visuals is something that fascinates me.

 How important is to be rewarded as an Artist?

Being rewarded as an artist is important as it validates and recognizes the hard work, dedication, and talent that goes into creating art. It can

serve as motivation to continue pushing boundaries and striving for excellence.

 Do you have regrets? 

Like any artist, I have had moments of reflection and introspection that led to regrets. However, I believe that regrets are opportunities for

growth and learning, which ultimately shape us as individuals and artists.

What’s the messagge you wanna express through your art? 

Through my art, I aim to express a message of empathy, understanding, and the exploration of the human condition. I want to challenge

societal norms, provoke thought, and contribute to positive change through storytelling.  

Mary E. Weems - Interview

Do you prefer Comedy or Drama?

Drama, preferably with comedic moments to give the audience a breath or break from the seriousness of the plot. Especially important currently when so much of the programming including films streamed, featured on cable and/or in the theater is about either mass killing, individual revenge and/or justice killings, serial killings, and violence in the streets. As for comedy as a form of entertainment, I’m more of a standup comedy person than funny films per say with a few exceptions.

Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life?

Art imitates life. It’s not possible for ‘Life’ to imitate something that doesn’t exist yet and while the work of all artists regardless of medium is informed by their experience and/or interpretation of various aspects of life, our creations are each unique just like our fingerprints. In my case, I feel a strong connection to the Creator/God when I write almost as if I’m writing in-between my conscious and unconscious, from a uniquely spiritual loving space.

Which is the best Moment on set?

Socks is the first time I’ve executive produced a film of one of my plays. I worked with Ashley Aquilla, a Black woman director who has directed several of my plays (including her first directing gig) over the years and Lonnie El of Angel Touch Films as my Cinematographer, Editor and Sound Tech. Once we located space in a friend’s huge house that felt right to Ashley, I met and hired the actor she selected, watched one rehearsal in the space, gave Ashley my notes, and left the three of them to do what they do. So glad I did. They were able to go right from my play script to rehearsal to filming.

Did anyone ever tell you weren't good enough?

I grew up with low self-esteem, being teased about my hair, large feet, being tall, and love of reading, but not when it comes to my writing including my ability to make up a story in the moment. When I was in k-12 ‘all’ of my teachers acknowledged that I was a good writer and while pursuing my B.A., M.A. with an emphasis on Creative Writing and Ph.D. in the Social and Cultural Foundations of Education, this was repeatedly reinforced. Writing is and has been my passion since I was thirteen years-old, always coupled with reading and later teaching and performing. I had occasions during my M.A. journey when professors would tell me a poem or essay I’d written was not-good, but while I always listened to and applied useful feedback, when I knew it wasn’t true, I didn’t believe them.

How can you stay focused on your goal?

Writing is my passion, the majority of my work including Socks is created about social issues (in this case Human Trafficking), and my goal is to educate while entertaining in hope of sharing something about the issue which will prompt people to think more critically and ultimately to act. My desire to positively affect the world helps me stay focused.

Have you ever had a breakdown because of your Job?

Never. And I’ve had a few jobs, including twelve years and eleven months in a car manufacturer’s Zone Sales Office as a secretary then clerk, professor positions in the academy, working for a private Black law practice and the local Air Show—my favorite jobs being the brief years I spent as a Page in my local library from 16 to 18 and my first full time job in another branch as a Desk Clerk. In all cases though I’ve always worked to live, never lived to work. I started my own business “Bringing Words to Life,” right after I earned my Masters’ Degree.

Talent is a blessing or a curse?

Talent is always a blessing. The distinction being whether the person with it recognizes it as talent and decides to do something productive and positive with it. I’ve lived long enough to understand that it takes more than talent to use it—you have to put in the work, be open to help and critique ‘and’ be lucky.

What would you like to improve about yourself as an

actor/director/screenwriter?

While I am a performer and have been for years, I have no interest in earning my acting chops, I dislike directing because I have no patience for all of things that tend to come up during every production, I’ve ever been part of or heard about. I’d like to and plan to learn how to use Final Draft so I can begin writing new work as screenplays rather than adapting plays I’ve created for the stage.

What's the worst critic you have received?

I sent MEAT, the play I was ultimately Awarded a Cleveland Arts Prize for, to the Artistic Director of a major theater in town at the recommendation of the nationally recognized choreographer who choreographed my play Closure at Karamu, the previous year. He called and asked me to meet him on the first floor of the building the theater was located in to tell me it was a piece of crap and to ask me why I “wasted my time, writing it.” I immediately felt as if he was trying to take me down a peg or two, that he was wrong, told him I didn’t agree and left. But, make no mistake--it hurt.

If you weren't an actor/director/screenplayer what would you like to be?

I am blessed to be everything I would like to be. A poet, playwright, artist-scholar, performer, educator, author—lover of people.

If Cinema was a color what would it be?

Red! For Passion, fire, the red of living and what it means to be human.

A day without a movie is...

A day without an addition to my visual creative library.

If someone offered you to play/direct/write in/a movie that you despise

but that for sure will make you rich and famous...would you accept the job?

No. Not for any amount of money. My character and integrity mean a lot to me and it’s not and never has been for sale. I’ve always worked to have enough and sought and cherished spiritual wealth, and I have that.

What's your greatest ambition?

For my creative work to be remembered long after I’m dead and to see former students exceed my degree of success, to see them become even better writers, etc.

What's your biggest fear?

Not seeing and being with my daughter (Michelle E. Weems, 3-4-83 to 1-3-2017) after I die.

Does music helps you to play/direct, write?

Absolutely. Specifically, I’ve written more work listening to Miles Davis’s “My Funny Valentine,” than any other song.

You have the chance to make a Silent movie, what's your message to the

audience?

STOP hurting and hating and killing each other. Like James Brown once sang Please, Please, Please give peace, respect and love a chance and help each other when you can.

Share your speech if you should win an Oscar.....

Would somebody please come up here and wake me up?!

Maggie Nightingale - Interview

I’m based in Margate and am an independent mixed-media artist and writer, with an interest in visual narrative. I graduated with an MA in Sequential Art & Design from Brighton University in 2001. Since then I’ve been working on my own short animations, while also engaging with various schools, community groups and gallery/arts organisation projects. I’m now developing more ambitious longer narratives, and have developed a small setup that enables me to explore some thoughts and visual ideas independently. My work is a visceral, and humorous play on ideas around authenticity; the transient coalescing of the ego into adaptive identities; the precarious individual relationship with culture; fear, humiliation, violence, horror and loving empathy.

Do you prefer Comedy or Drama?

Comedy

Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life?

Life is the thing we all experience differently, with some commonalities - if we’re lucky - we experience deep but occasional emotional, spiritual and intellectual commonalities around our perception of the world, other people and what’s true and not true. We can only really temper our subjective experience of life with evidence, experience, and our senses, influenced and informed by the experience and senses of other people… I would say art imitates what we can make sense of in our subjective experience of life… I think art imitates our fragile understanding of what life is, but the way we experience and perceive life is a kind of art.

Which is the best Moment on set?

Flow!

Did anyone ever tell you weren't good enough?

Yes - frequently and for many years. It was confusing because at the same time, other influential people in my life were overblowing my accomplishments. It helped me to realise that all that noise is pretty meaningless, but I do still have to challenge the inner ‘what’s the point’ voice every day.

How can you stay focused on your goal?

I’m quite dogged around my ideas. I can be a bit obsessive. I don’t have trouble focusing on a goal, but I’ve had to work very hard to organise a rational and consistent path towards the goal. I get extremely frustrated by not having the required skills to do exactly what I want at any point in the process towards fulfilling a goal. I do think it’s important to stay enthusiastic about what you’re doing, and to be humble and not precious about your ideas & methods. Using new information & skills to reframe a goal when needed is just as important as focusing on it.

Have you ever had a breakdown because of your Job?

Like most artists and writers, I have a day job. My job took up most of my time up until recently when I decided to make a change. I have been extremely unhappy at work, but managed to be pretty successful despite that. Being successful actually made me feel very trapped and there were definitely times I felt like I might break down. I was envious of those artists who said they were crap at everything else so had no choice! Part of my obsessive nature kept me going, and I did always ensure I could spend at least some of my time focusing on my creative work. When I was younger, and working alone as an artist, I was very stressed and lonely. Nobody really supported my decision to be an artist at the time, and I was too impatient with myself, having to learn and having to do uninspiring artwork for commission. Honestly I think I’ve needed all this time to develop my voice. I’m actually glad I’ve avoided being stuck in commission-land as I’ve had more time to be playful and weird without having to worry about profiting from it.

Talent is a blessing or a curse?

It’s a big curse when you’re young to be called talented, because you’re taught that knowledge and skills just happened to you. Whereas, any skill I’ve gained has been through being enthusiastic about it. Developing a talent requires practice, that if it’s fun you won’t see as work. A lot of super talented people I know feel like a failure if they have to try at a task, or if they make a mistake. That’s death to real development of a practice. Having said that, I have always been very imaginative, which could be called a kind of talent. I can imagine pretty much anything, and see it in my mind’s eye quite clearly. When I was a young child, my imagination was a curse. I was terrified of the supernatural. Now I find it a huge asset in everything I do. My work has involved using my imagination to run various scenarios to see what different outcomes might occur. That’s useful!

What would you like to improve about yourself as a director/screenplayer?

I wish I was more disciplined. I start with such good intentions - timetables, mini-goals, rewards for reaching a certain point at a certain time, but sometimes I just need to plant my face into the floor and stop. It feels awful to have a wasted day, but it’s not wasted. You have to recharge your batteries, and take care of your needs as a living organism!

I would like to have the ability to rest my mind instantaneously, and sleep really well. I wish I didn’t need to spend so much time thinking rather than doing, but it is important.

What's the worst critic you have received?

‘Why bother?’ A handwritten note on my visitor’s book for my MA degree show.

If you weren't an actor/director/screenplayer what would you like to be?

A stand-up comedian

If Cinema was a color what would it be?

Cyan

A day without a movie is...

Harshing my vibe

If someone offered you to play/direct/write in/a movie that you despise but that for sure will make you rich and famous...would you accept the job?

No, because I cannot hide my feelings at all… I wouldn’t be able to get anything done for it!

What's your greatest ambition?

To be relaxed

What's your biggest fear?

Bad people who are certain they are good.

Does music helps you to play/direct, write?

The right kind of ambient or classical music. I use ambient music to get me started and less distracted sometimes, then work best in silence after I’ve warmed up.

You have the chance to make a Silent movie, what's your message to the audience?

What the hell? You’re alive! But purely in facial expressions.

Share your speech if you should win an Oscar.....

I’m so blown away that people like my crazy work! And I am so grateful that so many people in my life have shown me patience, and unconditional love and support, without which I would never have been able to make space to play, make mistakes, take risks, do things I’m proud of and very often, fail miserably.

To succeed at anything - and for me that’s meant different things at different points in my life - I’ve had to allow myself to be supported and loved, fight my comfort zone, challenge my perceptions, and habits, be painfully honest with myself about my inadequacies, failures and limitations as well as assets, be grateful for what I do have rather than upset at what I don’t have, be super brave, sit with enormous frustration and self-doubt, and keep sticking my neck out anyway. Just putting pen to paper, and just making art for me. let alone sharing it with people, has felt very very brave.

Leslie Flannery - Interview

PMA: What motivates you to write?

Leslie: In my religion I write the screenplays that right the wrong. Naked on a chaise and armed only with a computer, I am single handedly victorious against injustice.

PMA: Does your writing reflect you personally?

Leslie: Always. Alone in my backyard, relentlessly God X-rays my mind for humanity’s challenge.

PMA: So you feel your writing is divinely inspired?

Leslie: Amen.

PMA: Do you always hear the Word?

Leslie: If I struggle to submit to the Word I wear jewels to channel my inner priestess. Draped in Walmart sapphires and primed with a Mojito I can write anything, anywhere, anytime. I create what wasn’t, what is, and what will be.

PMA: Just like the bible?

Leslie: Exactly.

PMA: Are you a Prophet too?

Leslie: Of course. I’m practically a magical writing Genie. Rub my lamp the way I like and I will write for you.

PMA: So you’re saying you’re one of the greats?

Leslie: Most days. There’s Mathew, Mark, Luke, John…. And now we have The Seven Feature Gospels of Leslie. It was prophesied to me that a person of greatness would come from across the land to tell my gospel in theaters so that my brethren might become less stupid, less greedy, and more like dogs.

Janet Walker - Interview

Janet Walker, a 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.”  Q.

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 spoke of. 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 in other 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?

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. 

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.  Q. 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.

Yankee Zhou - Interview

Yankee Zhou or Yankee Zhou Yanz wears two hats: a poet and a filmmaker. He moved from Taiwan to the U.S.A. permanently in the beginning of 2010. He began to formally write and publish free form poetry in Chinese in his twenties. He developed a 13-verse format for his series “Expression of Depression” and other poems in Chinese and English during the past decade and a half. He is also a prolific filmmaker, and owns a non-profit organization, Memory Community , https://memorycountry.org.

When did you decide you wanted to be a screenplayer\filmmaker?

  Since when I was in the third year, if not a little bit earlier, in college, I began to love cinema over drama which I had embraced and wanted to be a part of it after graduation thanks to a Canadian professor teaching a very good class. After having watched some numbers of films, I began to try my guts in writing about them. I have always excelled in writing, so my pieces began to be published in major newspapers and that accomplishment at such a young age strengthened me up even further so as to entering New York University to major in Cinema Studies.

Then I began to continue writing films and got published sort of all over the place. Meanwhile, I got invited to give speeches on cinema art, to give interviews by magazines and newspapers, join film awards jury panel, appear on TV shows, translate cinema-related books and articles, and enter universities and colleges as a lecturer, and so on. I became known as a film criticism young star in Taiwan, but I always knew that I wasn’t imagining of my cinema career as that, and I aimed in being a director or a writer/director. I thought, as a director who would be more authoritative, I could, in my own way or power, change the Taiwan film culture which had long been dominated by “commercially minded and sociable” filmmakers. I was totally unlike any one of them. I was and have been an introvert, but even though my road to directing was pretty tough, I eventually made it and the industry saw me as fresh air and an honest director.

How did your family react? 

When I decided to pursue cinema, my parents were supportive despite being a little concerned about my future and the general “not that respectable” perspective towards the Taiwan movie industry. Some relatives of my parents and friends of my father would even say why I don’t choose the computer rather than the cinema. In Chinese, computer, and cinema both start with a word that means electricity; so, computer is “electrical brain”, while cinema is “electrical shadows”. The concept behind those comments which were out of care was understandable even back then where studying computer science would pay off and later help you make money while studying cinema would not guarantee a future well paid job. You know, the ever-upholding reality: being an artist can easily put you into a less fortunate social and economic hierarchy.

 Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?

My muses are poetry, music, cinema, and my dreams. I dream of movies in my dreams a lot. Not any movie that has ever existed. They are my original film-in-dream. The characters are always played by people whom I know, family members, friends although some are unknown. They play out a long duration of episodes, unlike fragments in a typical dream. I am drawn into my own lengthy dream which is so much of a film I would make in reality. My role model is hard to find if I can be a little blunt but straightforward. I admire certain film directors’ work, and allow myself to aspire to them; works not the person per se. For me, the role model is their work.

Who's your biggest fan?

I am my own biggest fan. All the time I have this acknowledgement that I am the only one who gets me throughout my entire universe of mind, which is not a fully true statement, of course, because sometimes we simply realize that we don’t understand ourselves as we have thought all the time. It’s a reaction of mine to the outside world’s perception of me and my work.

I have some weird or uncommon streaks in my creativity, and they are usually going away from the mainstream standards. So, I am more appreciated by fewer audience. It’s much like myself as being a person who’s not appealing to everyone, rather, a group of bosom friends.

  What brings you inspiration the most?

When I close tight my eyes (not in sleep) and place myself in a meditative state (not meditation in the sense of Chan), I incur some best inspirations in my head. This psychodelia not only relaxes my body so that it can float, but also anchors my boat of ideas so that I can settle down where I am supposed to be to exceed cliché or whatever would be anti-creative.

In terms of “the most”, it’s hard for me to provide an immediate answer, but generally speaking, I can get powerful inspirations by a flower by the roadside, a sad or sentimental song, or an underprivileged immigrant facing language barriers. More of matters or persons in that vein. I am inclined to side with the lesser-fortunate whether it be of societal, economic, political, or even artistic status. For example, I have been enjoying YouTubers uploading so many unknown to lesser-known albums by so many unheard of or lesser-known musicians who certainly deserve better status.   

Which actor or director would you like to work with?

First of all, I would like to work with myself as a director for a screenplay I write. Once a big studio in Taiwan offered to buy my screenplay for a director, whom they did not let me know, or perhaps they had not hired anyone yet, nevertheless, it was a good temptation for me as an establishing director, but I ended up not selling my screenplay without me directing it. Not surprisingly, the deal wasn’t made. I think I am the type of writer/director, all the more so now after four decades in the profession.

Actor-wise, I have been working with many of the top talents who were celebrities in Taiwan or Hong Kong, so I have this background to work with heavy-weights. As for “Signed, Baba”, I plan to use more non-actors or lesser-known ones, not excluding one or two international stars as long as my budget allows.

  Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?

I can hardly think of any. In fact, in recent decades, I am a strong critic of the “book to film” concept and practice which has lasted as long as people can remember. I think that cinema should no longer rely on literature since it has existed for over one hundred years. Having said that, the real problem lies with the content creators who, for whatever reason, adopt adaptations as a taking-it-for-granted tool. Lots of well-known, successful, and imitable directors take this path repetitively as it seems an obsession, or even worse, they are not as original, creative as they present themselves. I do not need to name them because their names and their list of work can easily tell anyone concerning that what I say is proved. I don’t mind an emerging director using an adapted screenplay, or even an established one using adaptation once or twice; however, if one established director keeps using the same formula without being able to write their own scripts, or without a mind to write the script which later they will direct, and then having other screenwriters’ work in place as the solution for their creativity, I must deny their glorious titles such as master director, auteur director, or even award-winning director. I truly doubt that this taken-for-granted practice will continue to benefit cinema art at large to become truly an independent art form.   

What's the movie that taught you the most?

It's a question, and its variations, you get asked a lot being a director. I honestly don’t have a convenient answer to “the most”. I can say that I have learned a lot from a lot of excellent movies, even bad ones, produced by lots of different cultures. I like international, or foreign films, not just Chinese-speaking or English-speaking counterparts.

Recently, a Facebook friend inquired of my interest in making a film in his country, India. His passion was obvious, and his rationale was that it’s much more affordable to make films there today. He got so far as to telling me to meet and talk with Aamir Khan, one of the biggest movie star in today’s India movie scene, with whom he had a direct connection, about a film project. I almost wanted to give it a try because I thought that would be an opportunity to craft my directorial skills through working with Indian filmmakers in India. By telling this tale, I mean to say that even though there’s no “the most” for me, I can learn and absorb lessons from more than “the most”.   

About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?

A few times. The most significant one was during the period before and after my permanent departure from Taiwan. While I still had some days there, I told my respectful senior director, Hsing Lee, of “Execution in Autumn” fame, that I had to resign from his then several active projects in which I was on the production team for the sake of the soon-to-be-due USA immigration visa. From that point on, I knew I was not going to filmmaking anymore since I had chosen a new direction for my later life. After my settlement in my adopted country thanks to my older sister and her family, I kept reminding myself of no need to rekindle the cinema love because things all had changed around me. So I quit cinema for good, and somehow, I felt content, or even relieved (you know how filmmaking can be a pain), and I started finding a way for my future. Not long after, I started a non-profit organization, Memory Community, (being non-profit was my brother-in-law’s great advice) to film seniors for their memorable life story.

So you see, I turned around some roundabouts only to return to filmmaking. But this time is different, I do the filmmaking independently. That makes me feel free and gives me joy.

  On set what excites you the most?

It could be anything on set. What would not excite me at all on set is that I lose focus on how to make a scene or a demand work as I originally visualized. That can be triggered also by anything on set, such as an actor is running late, a crew member is not cooperating, or the cameraman assumes the “Camera!” and “Cut!” calls without consulting me.

Usually you would get excited when the shoot has been complete after a long time of hard work and the fatigue it brings to you. Not really for me, however. I get excited on set the most when all the responsible cast and crew go far and beyond to register anything crucial in my script into the camera, rather than asking me or my assistant director if they can change my plan.   

And what scares you the most ?

So, like I said in the last segment, I do not enjoy it at all when people on set bump their heads to want to change my demands. A little improvisation is what I like, but if it stems from the lack of confidence in executing the original calls from me, it simply will scare me and lose trust in the possibility of making a great work accomplished by all of us on the team.

I have had crew members on set chatting and laughing so loud as I was trying to shoot a shot that we had to raise our voice to tell them to shut up or leave the set right away. That is what I am scared about on set too because it’s a demonstration of unprofessionalism.

I am scared about the most on set when being told that I am behind schedule, which means the producer is losing money every minute I insist on making a shot, a scene to my fullest satisfaction.   

What's your next project?

“Garden Court Guardians”. The concept stems from where I live now in this first incorporated town of Washington State of USA, called Steilacoom, and from my almost thirteen years’ experience with Memory Community and its movie memoir project. The story is an extension of what I have been doing with Memory Community in those years; namely, making movie memoirs for older adults. Today, those who are older, and more frail are still a rarity in fully fledged film narratives, or narrative films, however you want to put it. “Garden Court Guardians” will shed a different light on this unignorable age group. I can’t wait to finish the screenplay.

  You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?

Again, this is an uneasy question. Or it’s not; on the contrary, it is easy to give my answer: probably no one. That means I have my own career as an artist no matter how it goes or what it is like. I might have given out a name or two to this question when I was a young director or a young poet. Now I am older, and I have tasted lots of sweet and sour or bitter fruits that only I can own up, so I won’t be able to choose a certain one or two artists. I see that my long-stretched career in cinema and my other identity in poetry (I write English poems under Zhou Doubt) as a mix bag of this and that, so I have difficulty to single out anyone.   

An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....  

They are made of perception, pretension, perseverance, powerfulness, pettiness, playfulness, and perfectionism.

For you Cinema is....

Cinema for me is where I can shine for a long time, even in my own comfortable zone. Cinema for me is a place I can hang out in for a long time, even with myself. Cinema for me is an aroma in sight and sound that can be pungent or subtle, so you can smell it even though you can’t – at least at this stage.

  Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?  

It depends. But in general, I think so. “Signed, Baba”, the screenplay, will be made into a B/W film because I want the film to have more impact on the audience and also on the characters in it.

Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?  

Not really. I mean, I haven’t taken the Oscars seriously enough to dream about my work winning one of them.

Do you think you're going to win it?

If the Oscars favor art films in the highest form, and do that consistently, “Signed, Baba” might have a great chance to be appreciated and stand out.

Randall Vemer - Interview

Professional Violinist and Painter, Randall Vemer has ventured into filmmaking. His tragedy to triumph biopic MusArt reveals what happened when his ability to play music was taken away. The film is filled with striking oil paintings of musicians from around the world. Hauntingly lovely music is scored and timed, not only to enhance the viewer’s enjoyment of Vemer’s classical style images but also to point out which instrument is highlighted within the rich and ethereal paintings. The film is a winner in over 50 film festivals around the world.

When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screenplayer?

This film was the result of my wanting to create a multimedia exhibit to accompany my 40 oil paintings Art exhibit entitled MusArt. It also was due to Covid; as I knew few people would physically attend the exhibit! I accidentally met my filmmaker Kevin Hanzlik at the Oregon School of Art where I teach in Portland. A film was the perfect solution for the 'Black Box' in the Portland ArtReach Gallery; curated by Dr. Sheldon Hurst. The reaction to the film among the paintings was over-whelming for

most of the viewers.

How did your family react?

I had been a musician and artist; they couldn't believe I produced a successful film! In reality, it wasn't me; it was my team that deserves the credit. Film is the ultimate collaborative venture in the Arts.

Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?

I would guess it would have to be Euterpe: the Greek Muse of Music! My mother put a violin in my hands as a kid, and it changed the course of my life. Music eventually led to Painting, and then to this crazy adventure of producing a film about it all.

Who's your biggest fan?

Hopefully those who watch the film MusArt; and see the magical connection between Music and Art. In addition to the music and the paintings, as one critic describes; they might even experience 'a gentle nudge in the feels'!

What brings you inspiration the most?

For me a live symphony orchestra concert with a hall full of people. Experiencing good music to a film in a darkened movie theater is a close 2nd!

Which actor or director would you like to work with?

Being from the classical music world, the Director who appreciates great film composers like John Barry, Hans Zimmer, or Ennio Morricone; to name just a few.

Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?

Not really; as they are two completely different mediums. That being said, sometimes a novel is too long, and a film is too short!

What's the movie that taught you the most?

The first movies I saw were probably musicals; Sound of Music, Carousel, Music Man etc. Though musicals can become dated, the talent of actors who act but at the same time sing and dance is extraordinary! When it works, it's magical. Sadly few film musicals are being produced today; likely because it's hard!

About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?

Never, but I was FORCED to give up my professional career in classical music due to a disability. This is the core story of the biopic MusArt, and this no dialogue film explores how I overcame this tragedy.

On set what excites you the most?

My film was made during the pandemic, so the 'set' was discussing ideas virtually via email/text. Once the concept was derived, countless correspondences allowed the film to take shape organically. This is unusual for me, as I usually plan everything out to the T. Fortunately a lot of the content had already been created, as this project is a no-dialogue film with high quality images, oil paintings, and original film music.

And what scares you the most?

Mediocrity promulgated on social media, since everyone has a camera and microphone on their phones! As people increasingly don't see films on large screens and Dolby stereo in theaters, the standards are lowered. It's the same thing in classical music, and some will never experience the magic of authentic theater and music.

What's your next project?

I have never 'searched' for a project, whether it be in Music, Art, or in this case Film. Whatever I do next however is likely to be multimedia; as traditional presentation of the Arts seems lacking in some way.

Where can we find you online?

www.VemerPainter.com

Kain Baigent - Interview

Kain Baigent is a filmmaker, actor and writer. "A piece of work is man" is the title of the film he directed with Stig Wemyss.

When did I become a filmmaker?

2010, I was bored with my life and wanted to combine my passions.

Do I remember my first movie?

No, but I watched movies from a young age, immersing myself in another world to escape reality.

If I should change countries, where would I like to work?

France specifically. Europe in general.

Two films that have marked my life, for better or worse?

My father in the Australian films: Mad Max 2, and Gallipoli. (Marked me for the batter!).

What do I think of film making schools?

They serve a great purpose to help focus people in a craft, and give them condensed knowledge in a short space of time. And the prestige of the school's name help pave the way.

Have I ever hated ambition?

No.

Francois Truffaut: "Film lovers are sick people"...

No. his story is one of many in the world, not unlike mine. A troubled family life. Film making/writing/acting allows a person to escape reality. And, to watch reactions from people viewing your work-too be accepted in life.

Close my eyes, and say cinema?

Colour/movement, expression, power.

The writer that taught me the most?

Michael Garret. (He edited Stepehen King's first novel)

Acting?

Richard Sarell. (Australian Director & teacher). And. Myself-on stage.

Film?

Watching MANY filmmakers make films, I have been an extra, character, or lead actor in.

Your Biggest dream?

To make a living as an artist in France.

Your Worst nightmare?

Making mistakes wearing all the hats as an independent filmmaker. Many mistakes are made dealing with so many variables-people, and myself.

How important is good cinematic culture?

It is what people see-your audience. Images can make you gasp with unexpected surprise, or make you cringe with bad results.

What would I improve as a filmmaker?

My dependence on mundane work to support one's passion-FILM/WRITING> And. To produce exceptional work in the future.

Which remake of a black & white film would I like to be involved as a director/actor?

'The Godson'

Who keeps me motivated?

Me.

Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film you need 3 things: The script, the script and the script". Do you agree with him?  

Hitchcocks answer to good film making is correct. A crap script is useless.

What’s your most ambitious project for the future?

To improve my writing. To make a feature I wrote with an investor/producer.

Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative?

Sadness or melancholy can add creativity, but it is also dangerously bad to over do it.

What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?

To be given an investment to make a feature from my writing.

As an actor, to act in Europe.

As a writer, to write for Europe.

A.L. Jobrail - Interview

Victoria Napolitano - Interview

Lazar Karov - Interview

Lazar Karov is a Macedonian writer and actor. From poetry to short stories and plays, novels and screenplays, he keeps his readers attached to his suspense stories where always the moral and the universal love win over ego and wickedness.

Pencho Kunchev - Interview

Olivia Dunlop - Interview

Mia Rivera - Interview

Lois Banks - Interview

Lois Banks is a mother to four grown children, grandchildren, and one great granddaughter. She is a Woman of God, licensed nurse for 30 years in the state of Michigan, author, filmmaker, and CEO of her company, CCMA Caring Hands Home Care Company where she creates health products to heal the world!

Irina Votar - Interview

Colleen Fuglaar - Interview

Emily Kathleen - Interview

Nancee LaFayette - Interview

Chris Angus - Interview

Nathan Taupez Scinto - Interview

Mary E. Weems - Interview

Maggie Nightingale - Interview

Leslie Flannery - Interview

Janet Walker - Interview

Yankee Zhou - Interview

Randall Vemer - Interview

Kain Baigent - Interview

Kain Baigent is a filmmaker, actor and writer. "A piece of work is man" is the title of the film he directed with Stig Wemyss.

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