James M. Storm - Interview
James M. Storm, lover, fighter, artist and multi award winning guerilla filmmaker. Creator of J.S. Co. PRODUCTIONS Digital Film Studios, James has mastered the art of the underground cinema with over 70 independent films and documentaries and he has only begun to fight.
You directed and acted in Captain Fantastic and the Magic Piano, what preparations did you undertake to prepare for your role as Elton John?
This was one of the most difficult roles I’ve ever played. Authenticity in this role was very important to me. I did countless hours of research into the life and times of Elton John. I studied in depth his live performances; I learned his mannerisms as well as his on stage stunts. Take his signature piano handstand for instance. He used to do these handstands on the keyboard in concert in his early days. I did this stunt in the film for real without wires or green screens and I did it on a rolling piano in high platform shoes. It was an unexpectedly dangerous stunt to perform. Needless to say I worked very hard in this role and why I am so thrilled to win BEST ACTOR in Paris.
What can you tell us about the iconic Magic Piano prop as it’s a central part of the film?
I personally built this upright piano from scratch by hand with a little help from my dedicated nephew Chad Rambo. It took about 8 months to complete. The Magic Piano boasts a working electronic keyboard with light up programmable LED keys, a 180° on-board speaker system with Bluetooth and MIDI capabilities as well as a full spectrum programmable LED light grid inside the wood and glass housing. All of the electronics are fully programmable or can be set to match the beat of the music playing. It’s one of the greatest props I’ve ever built. However, it wasn’t the only prop with this theme. It was designed and built as part of a furniture ensemble I call the Magic Collection. This not only included the Magic Piano but the Magic Table, the Magic Fireplace, and the Magic Clock. All pieces feature similar programmable LED light and sound features and all were hand crafted exclusively for this film.
Do you have a Muse?
I’ve always been a romantic. In my younger days classy beautiful woman often inspired me to create my art. Looking back I made a lot of films that inspired romance in my life and there were a lot of films that were reflections of love lost. Just like the musicians, it would be a lie to say that part of the allure of filmmaking was to impress the ladies. These days I spend most of my time chasing, romancing, and seeking approval from my beautiful wife Jamie. Now I’m inspired to impress my wife and my family the most.
Do you have any cinematic rivals?
As someone that is constantly working to improve my craft the only person I’ve ever really been in competition with is myself. With that said, during the film school era of my life I might have had some competitors. At the time they seemed like they had it all figured out but I knew time would reveal all. I was right. More than any kind of artistic rivalries however, I had to contend with the scoffers, haters, and the naysayers. Trust me, there were plenty of people in my life that tried to tear me down. I had my fair share of schoolmates who would laugh at “James and his over-glorified backyard movies”. I’m doing the laughing now.
Who's your biggest fan?
I wish I knew. Probably my parents and my wife would be my first guess and hopefully someday my some Thor. God knows they have suffered along with me as I strive to achieve my cinematic destiny.
What brings you inspiration the most?
I’m a storyteller and showman at heart. I love the process of creating something spectacular and watching the faces of the audience as they experience something new. A filmmaker is a storyteller of light. We can transform a plain white screen into anything we want. We use images to move people. From the lonely tribal storyteller unfurling legends around the campfire to the A-list Hollywood director releasing his latest cinematic masterpiece, the storyteller has always been a fundamental part of human society. I personally believe that the ability to “talk story” is a gift from the creator. Not everyone can do it but the ones who can have an obligation to use it to bring light to the world.
Which famous actor or director would you like to work with?
I think Mel Gibson and I would make a really badass movie together. I’m sure it would be some kind of spectacularly violent action movie extravaganza. If we were talking about French cinema, then of course I would make a comedy romance starring the great Gerard Depardieu.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
I’ve never liked this question. You might as well ask me if I like the oil painting version or the radio show version better? They are just two different mediums with two different sets of rules to convey a good story. Even worse, it’s the perfect opening for every smart ass in the room to inform everyone else that the “book was indeed better”. Instead of acting like intellectual tyrants, lets all be honest. A better question would be “In which version did you have more fun?” People love movies. I think most people would say movies are more fun if they were being honest and there is nothing wrong with that.
You have produced dozens of feature films and documentaries. What genre of film would you like to make but haven’t yet?
I have always tried to include some level of romantic passion if my films. Yet I’ve never deliberately made a true romance movie. I’m primarily an action movie director yet I’m always so impressed with movies like Titanic, City Of Angels, and Casablanca etc. I think it would be great to tell a tale of love that really moves people. Who doesn’t love a good love story?
Where do you begin when conceptualizing a new film project?
I literally spend years in preproduction for most of my films. A lot of that time is spent formulating the story in my head. I’m one of those few individuals that can perfectly conceptualize my entire movie project, beginning to end, in my imagination. By the time I sit down to actually write, it pours out fast as I’ve already got the entire movie worked out in my mind. Sometimes, if I’m feeling ambitious, I’ll produce as much conceptual production art as possible before I even start writing. This isn’t so much of a writing aid mind you, as it is an inspirational tool.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
Of course I’ve had my times of despair. All artists big and small are insecure deep down because art comes from your heart. And showing your heart to the world is a very vulnerable thing to do. There will always be those preverbal schoolmates there to laugh at you and tear you down. That part of life never goes away. You have to just not give a shit and never give up. You want to know how you really win the game of life and gain respect? You do your own thing right in the face of your scoffers. Live your best life and never miss an opportunity to show off. Scoffers hate that that most.
Why filmmaking?
I’m a storyteller and there are many disciplines in which a person can tell a story. Film is the only discipline that includes and requires every single other artistic discipline in human history. That means that cinema in all forms is currently the superior form of storytelling today. As an artist that works in multi artistic mediums I love the fact that in order to make a great movie I’m going to have to do a ton of writing, painting, building, lighting, sewing, editing, and more. I love doing it all too; it’s as simple as that.
Some of your crew has been with you a long time, how has that dynamic effected your filmmaking process?
Naturally, the result of decades of collaboration has forged us into a well-disciplined team. We are like a well-drilled military unit. Everyone knows exactly what the rest of the crew is capable of and expected to do and everybody executes his or her duty with perfect synchronicity. Not only does this give us an edge in comparison to the revolving door production houses, it also lends to the unique and pleasing culture of our films. I personally can always tell the difference in the cinematic culture of films I make with my crew versus films I’ve made for other producers.
What is your approach to the leadership role as a Producer and Director?
I always used to laugh at these old timey movie directors that would dress like pseudo-army generals on set. Now I totally get it and I admittedly have begun to absorb this mentality into my life stylistically. Running a film set is like commanding a military brigade. That’s how I look at it at least. Producing the latest film is the current war and a good general needs reliable commanders to help strategize and carry out the campaign. Failure is not an option and there is no place for ego. Having the right people around you makes all the difference. If you have people on your crew that you respect as artists then you can’t go wrong. I’m not afraid to listen to new ideas presented by my crew. I have these brilliant people on my set for a reason. It’s always worthwhile to at least listen to what they have to say. I want only the best ideas for my movies. Of course, as the Director, I have to make the tough decisions and do what is right for the film even if it’s not popular with the crew. That’s what a good director does.
Sometimes things go wrong. What are some of the worst things that have occurred to you on set?
I’ve never had any major disasters on my sets but I’ve had a few close calls. What mostly comes to mind is the plethora of injuries I’ve sustained while making my movies. I’ve always acted in my own action films and I’ve always done my own stunts. I’ve been making movies for decades now. Sometimes stunts didn’t go as planned and I’ve been tore up! Thank God I’ve never had any kind of incident involving actors or crew of any kind. It’s always just my own self-punishment.
What is your next project?
I’m currently finishing up a fantastic novel/ film project that has been several years in the making. It’s a semi-autobiographical adventure noir called: WHERE THE DRAGONS SLEEP (2024). The story follows the crew and I as we struggle to produce our underground indie guerilla films against the backdrop of a dark dystopian and bureaucratic Hollywood.
What are your thoughts on winning Best Fantasy Film and Best Actor at the Paris Film Awards?
I’ve always had a fascination with French culture and history. American and French histories are surprisingly similar if not completely tied to one another. Like most people I’ve always considered Paris an epicenter for art and culture. To win such prestigious awards in Paris is a spectacular honor and achievement that I’m very proud of. Thank you Paris Movie Awards for giving me the opportunity to participate in your wonderful festival and this interview.
Bela Wolf - Interview
Bela Wolf is a single mother living in NYC with her son Robert and their rescue cat Clyde. She is usually the "Screenwriter" but this year she's having a lot of fun producing her nephew and his new wife's short musical doc. They're enjoying the positive reactions to Jonathan and Tania's first collaboration "Honeymoon USA".
Do you prefer Comedy or Drama?
My family and I all prefer comedy - especially during these challenging past few years!
Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life?
I believe both are true, especially in films.
Which is the best Moment on set?
The first time someone holds up a camera and says, "Let's go!" The next best moment would be "It's a wrap -we are done!"
Did anyone ever tell you weren't good enough?
Great question and YES! Before the film community awarded me with 17 awards and recognitions years ago, I was told by the people around me and representing me that I didn't know enough about screenwriting, or what would be required to be a successful screenwriter. My own mother told me to rethink the idea, I had no experience with screenplays .....I was optioned 6 months later.
How can you stay focused on your goal?
My goal is to promote Jonathan's music and Tania's talent as a filmmaker. I stay focused by continually promoting their combined talents to make entertaining musical travel videos .... but they can take on any project they want obviously....they are young, skilled, polished - and trailblazing their own musical micro doc category! This is their first project as newlyweds and we are all so thrilled, grateful and proud of the interest and reception we've received in the film community so far!
Have you ever had a breakdown because of your Job?
Not a breakdown, but the stress of getting a finished product to a waiting party before a deadline can be challenging at times.
Talent is a blessing or a curse?
Talent is a blessing when you have it and a curse when you don't, especially when there are people who are expecting a perfectly finished product! You have to start with talent and move on from there- experimenting, having fun, expressing yourself through your art.
What would you like to improve about yourself as an
actor/director/screenplayer?
I am having a fabulous time producing my nephew's first musical micro documentary. Eventually we will incorporate only Jonathan's music, but for this project Tania was the bride and we all enjoyed watching her have free rein to do as she liked. Her skill with filmmaking was immediately apparent so I kept encouraging her to keep doing what she was doing because it was working - in 1 month we became "Most Popular Film" on the California Film Foundation website. That was our first recognition which let us know we had a great project to share! We were off to a good start...we are now being invited into many film festivals in many countries, so it is my opinion we are on the right path! I actually wouldn't change a thing right now.
What's the worst critic you have received?
My first screenplay "She Was Left Alone" was extremely successful as a memoir/script, so it was entirely frustrating to hear at times my story was unbelievable. Maybe unbelievable, like many things in life, but when I came home from adopting my daughter in northern Siberia, throwing up that story on paper was totally cathartic - and unfortunately for me, every word was true.
If you weren't an actor/director/screenplayer what would you like to be?
I was a saxophone player in NYC, which is what I always wanted to do. So, I did what I wanted to do long before I wrote my first screenplay! I enjoy writing screenplays, so I'll always choose that going forward. Writing is a great artform, working on a film can be an incredible experience.
If Cinema was a color, what would it be?
It would be a rainbow, because of the diversity the industry offers - which almost answers that question...otherwise, my first thought was gold!
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?
That's a great eternal question, I love it! I do realize the statement I'm making about myself, but I would probably do it. We never know what lies ahead....and as beautiful our planet is, at this point we are living in turmoil, uncertainty - we live with chaos in too many places. I'm not Prince Harry who can afford to just quit any job he doesn't like. I'd most likely take the job and be grateful it was offered to me. I'd manage to put my spin on it and make it work for me.
A day without a movie is...
Untenable!
What's your greatest ambition?
To see my children grow up healthy, happy and to admire what good people they've become. The ultimate goal.
What's your biggest fear?
Losing someone I love.
Does music help you to play/direct, write?
Another fun question! I do all of my screenwriting and production work while listening to 70's and 80's rock and roll music. It keeps me in the mood to have a good time while creating.
You have the chance to make a Silent movie, what's your message to the
audience?
It is absolutely possible to have fun, laughter and success in your field while maintaining morality, being a person with standards, ethics, principles - and helping others in need when you can.
Share your speech if you should win an Oscar.....
Yes! "I'd like to thank everyone who voted for our fun musical film. I'd like to thank my children and my family for their support. I hear the music playing, so that's my cue to say I love you all - and I'm getting off the stage!" (I am considerate of other people's time 😀)
Aristides Mantilla Artigas - Interview
Aristides Mantilla Artigas is a young filmmaker from mexico who at his age of 19 years old has made 5 short films and his first feature film, his work has been recognized by film festivals, one of them being the Hollywood Gold Awards which obtained the official selection and won the honorable emntion with his most recent short film "I Don´t like Mondays", among a lot of film festivals around the world, Aristides is making his way in hollywood, living in Los Angeles doing what he knows how to do, with passion and love: Films.
When did you decide you wanted to be a filmmaker?
When I was a kid I used to tell stories by making comics in pieces of paper, but I wanted to move from the paper to the screen when I was in Middle High School and there is when I realized I wanted to make movies and keep telling stories.
How did your family react?
My family never showed any doubt about it and they always supported me with my carrier and all my previos projects like short films and my first feature film. They are very happy and proud of what I am doing.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
Yes, I really love Al Pacino, I love his movies and his characters, my favorite movie of all times is "Scarface" (1983), I met Al Pacino this year and was lovely.
Who's your biggest fan?
My biggest fans are my parents, they are always supporting me and sneding good vibes to my work and my passion, they are motivating me always and cheering me up. They were the first one to trust me and my talent.
What brings you inspiration the most?
Music and experiences are my inspiration sources, I can tell that music plays an important place in my creative development... There is a moment when writing a story, that I need to get ready to sleep and just listen music that sounds like my new story and the rest comes alone and it turns into a very fun process.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
I really love Martin Scorsese´s work, it is just amazing, I love his stories and I think it is pretty similar to what I am aiming at, a similar taste of the tension and stories... So I would like to work with him.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
"I heard you paint house" it is a great book about a crime story but the Martin Scorse´s movie "The Irishman" based on it was amazing, beautiful, if you liked reading the story, you will love watching it.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
Scarface, straight to what you deserve but don´t get out of your limits, you can get lost.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
Never, I always wanted to continue forward and achieve my goals, that keeps me standing up, people needs the stories to be told.
On set what excites you the most?
The magic is happening there, everyone doing their job in order to get everything we need in the frame to express the idea, making the a film is for me a way to travel to other time/space, somewhere out of reality, and see how your characters are alive, the actors becoming a tool for expresion and the director is the magician.
And what scares you the most ?
People will say that I am fearless, but so far there is nothing that I really fear or that makes me doubt, I am sure that I am doing things right, and we are going for more, if you dont make the leap, dont worry, nothing is going to happen, but if you take the leap, things will happen, do it.
What's your next project?
My next project is a fillm about a very personal bunch of experiences, I really want to put this feelings on the screeing, artists finds their way to express what is stuck in their head, well I make movies. Is the story about two lovely little brothers, sadly one of the brothers is gone, and the other brothe just need to meet him again, it is the only way to live his life. and this fictional story is accompanied by my experiences and memeories.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
Al Pacino
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
Made of ideas, made of stories, made of colors and emotions, which they need to express in order to exist.
For you Cinema is....
It is the most beautiful audivisual way to tell a story, it is the work of a group of artist that help each other to comple a commun goal, make a story exist and there is where the magic comes from.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Well I think the power comes from what they are telling, it is a emotion? A problem? A experience? A message? but I means something and that is what makes it stronger or not, but not the color of the picture.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Of course, I am working and preparing for that moment.
Casey Mensing - Interview
Casey Mensing is an award winning screenwriter and author of the books, I Am Ahab, The Unimaginable City, and Judith. His nomadic existence currently finds him living in Downtown Los Angeles. In his free time he enjoys painting, taking photos, and bringing home stray books.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screenplayer?
I started out writing poetry and fiction. After years of working at that and getting some things published along the way, I added screenwriting to my repertoire.
How did your family react?
They were supportive but not exactly enthused.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
Too many to name or count. I find inspiration everywhere.
Who's your biggest fan?
My great friend, the artist Stephanie Weitekamp. Everyone should check out her artwork on her IG @sweetbaphomet.
What brings you inspiration the most?
Walking.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
Paul Thomas Anderson
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
East of Eden
What's the movie that taught you the most?
Fellini’s 8 1/2
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
Everyday… But in all seriousness, I did once quit all my artistic pursuits. It lasted about a year. It was the kind of creative suicide Enrique Vila-Matas talks about in Bartleby & Co.
On set what excites you the most?
The anticipation of what will be created that day.
And what scares you the most ?
Not being able to create.
What's your next project?
2023 is going to involve my continued evolution as a visual artist, a new collection of poetry, and continuing to research my next feature screenplay.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
Robert Rauschenberg.
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of.…
Daydreams, self-delusion, and true grit.
For you Cinema is.…
One of the few remaining forms of magic.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Absolutely. I worry that as time passes, people will stop watching black-and-white films altogether. I wish more people watched silent films as well. There is incredible artistry and a sense of magic about them.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
I’m sure at some point I’ve had the Oscar acceptance daydream.
Do you think you're gonna win it?
Most likely not, but you never know.
Laura Burnett - Interview
Laura started her career as an actress in Los Angeles. She studied Strasberg and Meisner and was in indie films and national commercials. She started studying Avid editing in 2000 which landed her a job on the Dick Wolf true crime series, “Crime and Punishment.” From there, she worked in different areas of production on network tv shows for FOX, NBC, VH1, MTV. In New York City, she became an associate producer on A&E documentaries, such as “God vs Satan, The Final Battle.” and an independent film documentary about the corruption on Wall Street. From there she has worked as a producer for the last 12 years for the Discovery ID documentary true crime series, called, “On the Case with Paula Zahn. Laura has written, directed and produced three music videos; two of which were for the indie label Secretly Canadian for the band “Windsor for the Derby.” She wrote, directed and starred in “Blind Truth” which is her first film and her directorial debut. The film has won 37 US and International a
What's the absolutely necessary ingredient to be a good actor/director/screenplayer?
I feel each has necessary ingredients, but I would say listening and being open. First and last cinematographic crush?
The first director that inspired me was Steven Spielberg. I have watched Jaws probably a hundred times. It is one of my favorite films. I have many favorite films, but another one of my favorites was Close Encounter of the Third Kind. His films have this magic to them that is indescribable and the lift me up because they all have a heart. I love how he creates suspense. Also, I love Alfred Hitchcock. One of my favorite films is Rear Window and of course Psycho. I love all his movies. There are so many magnificent directors. I guess most recently I was astounded how Florian Zeller who directed “The Father” was able to make basically one location a gripping psychological thriller based on Anthony Hopkin’s characters memory. I loved how it was he shot it and the editing was incredible. Also, David Lynch because I love how he takes artistic risks.
How old you were when you decided you wanted to be an actor/director/screenplayer?
I was probably 6 or 7. My cousins and I would do skits at holiday parties. My mother who loved cinema and had me watch all the classics. Said I was talented and should think about acting. Before that I had an innate talent and great passion for drawing and thought I would be a fine artist. I chose acting and studied for over 10 years in LA, but despite multiple agents, being in the union and multiple headshots, I didn’t get many auditions. I have no idea why. People just say it’s timing. I got in the union on one project, had some call backs and went to network once but didn’t book. I did some low paid indie films; but didn’t break through, so to make a living, in 2000, I decided to go into production and later filmmaking. A few years later, I booked a national commercial which was great.
For you a Film is...
A creative expression of a story.
What do you feel when you're acting/directing/writing?
I feel alive, happy and ecstatic. With acting, I get into the character and when the scene works and feels real or right; I am happy. With directing, it’s different. My imagination sails. I am so happy having visions of the story and the shots. Screenwriting provides the same feeling. All of them make me happy like a light bulb has gone off inside me..
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 watch it?
Maybe an old classic, a thriller, sci fi or a comedy. I am pretty open. I am not sure who that would be, but someone who appreciates the art of cinema.
Audrey Hepburn used to say “Nothing is Impossible”, what do you think about it?
I feel it is true for anyone who believes it.
Can you live just of your passion?
Well, so far it’s been adjacently. I have worked in different areas in the business and production through post production that are excellent and excellent to know, and I have acquired many skills that I enjoy and am thankful for. I am so grateful I have been able to work consistently for so long and I have valuable skills and experience. I am naturally creative, but haven’t been able to make a living from the creative roles in the business as of yet. My focus is on creating that for myself.
What's more important talent or luck?
I think luck. Many lucky people may not have the talent that someone who isn’t lucky has. I think both are necessary for a long career, but I have heard stories of people for instance never knowing acting let’s say but were booked in a project that became successful and made their career and had to take classes after their success. Or just moved to LA, and they had the right look and fit the part and got booked. That is great. I have met many very talented people who didn’t have luck and had to let their dreams go as well. But talent and luck are needed for a long term career, but in the beginning, luck is really great to have.
You must go to a desert island but you can bring with you just one movie...
Star Wars Last Hope. If I could negotiate or argue that they are really a continual story, or had a chance to slip two more in a box, I would have one box and 3 movies; Star Wars Last Hope, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
Have you ever accepted a part/ a movie to direct/ a script to write even if you didn't like the project?
No. I was working for a company that produced reality series and was told to audition for one. I hadn’t seen it yet, but they really wanted me to audition. I did and just had fun and I received a contract to be a part of that season. After watching an episode of the show, I decided not to take it. I didn’t feel I was a good match. I called my agent and told them and they advised me not to and agreed with me but said I could do it if I wanted. I chose not to. Maybe my life would have been better if I had, but that is what I chose.
What's the best compliment you have received about your Job?
I am so good at what I do no one wants to let me go. I save the company so much money with my negotiations, relationships and skills, they make money on me as an employee even with my salary. Are you satisfied about your career?
I have learned a lot and stayed working for many years, so that is a blessing. I would love to advance in my career and do projects that I create or where I can use my creativity abilities more.
Do you have a good luck charm?
No.
Which is the worst moment on set?
I haven’t had a bad moment on set luckily.
How do you feel when a job you've been part of it's ending?
In my past, I worked freelance and I have usually felt a mix of happy and worried because I have to find the next gig, but happy because I have worked with many nice people so the experience was great. If the experience isn’t great, then it’s a relief. I was only sad about one series I worked on when it ended because we traveled together around the country and everyone was so terrific! The people were so nice it made the work wonderful.
Have you ever lied to get a part/job?
No. I, for some reason can’t lie.
If I can’t do something and I don’t feel confident about it, I just say it. I am honest and straightforward. I am just built that way. And I have not gotten jobs because of it, but it’s just my nature. I
f you should win an Oscar your first taught would go to....
God or something larger than myself whatever you want to call it.
Hiroaki Hirakata - Interview
In the 1980s, he received a film education at Tokyo Zokei University (the only art university in Japan with the Bauhaus philosophy), and became a director at Japan Color Movie, Japan's largest TV commercial production company, for almost 40 years. Hiroaki Hirakata is still planning and directing more than 500 video works.
Do you prefer Comedy or Drama?
Good question, sounds like a college entrance exam question!
This time, my URBAN CROW series uses AI to draw pictures, it's Midjourney, and the music is created by Kyoto University's experimental site CREEVO, a site that uses AI to compose and sing, and is created by Israel’s company D-ID.
I am making works using the AI site of a company that makes videos from portrait photos. Since it was created by AI, I chose words, selected images and music, and composed and edited it. It is an experimental work that is made with only the director and AI. This method will become one of the mainstream in the future.
And I don't have the sense to compare comedy and drama, so this question is nonsense to me.
Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life?
Art is worthless, meaningless and useless, so I can't help but smile at such a superficial and stylish question.
However, this time my URBAN CROW series is actually an unofficial promotional campaign for a film that will be completed and screened in the near future. I saw the first preview yesterday, but the movie ``URBAN CROW'' is the second movie in the ~FILM, CRAZY, NOIR~ style of the Reyna Hayakawa producer's project. “HOWLING” is another stylish and ~crazy~ Japanese movie. Reyna and Tsuchiya producers are making a movie that you can't sit back and watch. I made this video work group “URBAN CROW” to remember. Fun, right?
I think that life and art are born for a purpose, and this kind of proposition doesn't exist around me, and I can only see it as an entrance exam question for an art university 50 years ago. My favorite problem! http://tsuchipro.com/urbancrow/
Which is the best Moment on set?
If the set means the art set assembled in the studio, it is the moment when the shooting is over and it is destroyed. I bow my head saying goodbye and thank you. And this set of my “URBAN CROW” is all images Midjourney dreamed of. Thank you for your wonderful invention.
Did anyone ever tell you weren't good enough?
Do not have. Well, I have a feeling that the Rush-edited movie “URBAN CROW,” which we previewed yesterday, is going to be a more scary movie in the future. This is because you can feel the wave that shakes the ethics and common sense of the people living in Japan.
How can you stay focused on your goal?
As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot.
I made ~URBAN CROW_AI_music_video~ and made various AI-made women sing, and you can see all of this on the website,
I made SNACK URBAN CROW. This is a fictitious website that looks like a bar in Tokyo, Shibuya, Maruyamacho, where the movie "URBAN CROW" is set.
https://rabbit421.wixsite.com/my-site
From here you can go to the SNACK URBAN CROW gallery You can see all the materials of the URBAN CROW project.
Have you ever had a breakdown because of your Job?
What's wrong with getting sick? I think.
This is what happened after 30 years of cerebral infarction, orange juice, chocolate and cigarettes.
Similarly, the AI produces images that don't look pretty, but we got them together and made them sing, this is a chorus group that didn't make it to the festival. It's a cute song called "Face Collapse GANMEN_HOHKAI_sisters", please look for it on SNACK URBAN CROW, you can also see it on TikTok
Talent is a blessing or a curse?
A friend who saw ~URBAN CROW_AI_music_video~ sent me a message requesting me to write a love song, so I wrote the lyrics for my first love song in 40 years since high school. It's a song about a girl who flew into space to meet her lover on the theme of a spaceship. She was showered with the POISON her lover loved and flew off on the Spaceship"URBANCROW", which was refused docking by all stations due to the air quality being exceeded, and it's a love song that keeps wandering in space for years and years while singing the same song. It's a sad story. See, talent is joy!
What would you like to improve about yourself as an actor/director/screenplayer?
Health will improve! Without it, none of these would be possible!
And without his ability as a producer, an actor/director/writer is nothing more than a chocolate assortment, right?
What's the worst critic you have received?
I was told by my wife and daughter not to listen to the song that AI for the URBAN CROW series I'm working on at dinner time.
If you weren't an actor/director/screenplayer what would you like to be?
Of course you are the original author!
And I would like to say that she is a beautifully fighting producer like Reyna Hayakawa. On the other side of her, she is active as an artist of the KAWAII_project called “PIYOPIYO_RADIO”.
I will explain it because it is the Japanese version, it is a sad story where this yellow character tells the secret of his birth. I'm sure you can understand without words. Interesting!
If Cinema was a color what would it be?
This is also the third question in the list of nonsensical questions to ask a virgin girl. "Movies are not colors, they are scents"
A day without a movie is…
I don't know who the main character is in the movie "URBAN CROW", I've seen a movie with such a rhythm that the story is driven by a tremendous impatience that makes it feel like it's stuck forever, but the movie still doesn't move. No, it may be the unusual time experience of the movie “URBAN CROW”. It's a made in Japan movie you've never seen before!
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?
Of course, thank you! & Thanks!
This URBAN CROW's "EXPERIMENTAL ADVERTISING" may be the case, but the “URBAN CROW” that I made is an event in a different time and space that is not linked to the world view and image of the movie "URBAN CROW". I think there are new hints for advertising activities in this era.
Because I have an offer and you are here to call me, I think that becoming a media is a new form of advertising creator. Oh seriously! Lol !
What's your greatest ambition?
To make my daughter say Daddy is amazing!
What's your biggest fear?
Reyna Hayakawa producer doesn't say it's interesting! tears!
Does music helps you to play/direct, write?
Ah, the new song SAYONARA TOKYO / Apocalypse of URBAN CROW has a transposition for each phrase, that's the idea of this song. It is a song to say goodbye to each person's memories of Tokyo.
https://www.tiktok.com/@aprilintokyo/video/7171036197752458497?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1
You have the chance to make a Silent movie, what's your message to the audience?
Now, Tokyo subway advertising vision is silent, it will be a text-based video. I don't make nostalgic silent movies, but if I have a message, don't watch it! is. However, it makes me want to do a new MONTAGE experiment, an experiment to create new meanings. Experiment with new visual grammar!
Share your speech if you should win an Oscar…..
Rubbish! thank you! You are all idiots! The movie "URBAN CROW" doesn't show any crows, it's a strange movie! And thank you for listening to my nonsense! Thank you so much!
Sura Khan - Interview
Sura Khan is a thirty-year veteran in the entertainment industry. A writer, producer, director, and author with a drive and determination for creation that's unprecedented. Over the past five years, Sura Khan has spent much of his time developing various original television series and film projects. He's a visionary who believes that there's a time for everything and everyone. As a result, the actual projects he's developed are rooted in something extraordinary and indeed timely. Creating programming based on the unique needs of the viewer and the times we live in is his formula for creating a winning catalog of content. He was introduced to the world of television some thirty years ago under the tutelage of Executive Producers Bob Considine & Ellen Murphy with the late Tony Award-Winning Actress Virginia Capers, a (family member) of the Annual Jerry Lewis Telethon, where Sura Khan would get his early training over the next thirteen years with MDA.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screen player?
I was in the 3rd grade of elementary school and stood on the stage for the first time as an actor. When I received a standing ovation for my performance, I knew then that the arts were for me. Later on, in my life, I decided to Write, Direct and Produce professionally.
How did your family react?
My family was very supportive. However, when I became a father, I had to balance raising my children and following my dreams. It was tough, but now that my children are adults, I give 1000% of myself to my craft.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
Yes, I have many. Writer and Television creator Arron Sorkin, known for creating the "West Wing" TV show, is among my inspirations.
Who's your biggest fan?
I am my biggest fan. But I do also have a great fan base of followers and supporters.
What brings you inspiration the most?
Being spiritual and a need to tell stories in my unique way.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
I want to appoint many directors to help tell my stories in the future. I want to work with actors Denzel Washington, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Leonardo DiCaprio, among many others.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
A film cannot always adequately tell the story in its fullness like a book because of time limits. I can't recall one at this moment, but I will say that I’m sure there are some out there.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
The Wiz is one of them that left a mark on me. It's an adaptation of the (MGM) classic film, "The Wizard of Oz." It taught me that you could spend a lifetime searching the world for something that was inside you all along. Most importantly, to believe in yourself.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
No, I've never been a quitter. I will admit that filmmaking can be very challenging, but the test of time is to stay the course at all costs. So quitting has never been an option for me.
On set, what excites you the most?
Directing the actors and watching them bring my story to life.
And what scares you the most?
I don’t allow fear in my space. What comes close to it for me is wasting time and money; that's a bit scary.
What's your next project?
I have many in development. I took off for three years and spent that time writing new films and TV shows. I'm currently preparing and writing episodes for season one of The Chambers.
You can steal the career of an artist you admire, who do you choose?
I'm confident in my unique vision and ability. I believe in myself and my ability to create a path to fulfill all my greatest dreams. I don’t have to steal it from anyone. There’s only one Sura Khan, and my career is lovely enough for me.
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of...
Tough skin. A person with vision who can realize what is possible.
For you Cinema is....
Entertaining and enlightening.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Yes, I do. Although I love color films, they distract you a bit. Black and White movies help me to pay more attention to the story and the acting.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
I must admit that while watching the awards telecast, I imagined myself up there making an acceptance speech. But from a deep place within, I recognize that I am not in this for the awards but to tell stories and be among the greatest ever to do it.
Do you think you're gonna win it?
Anything is possible. I have won 38 awards for the Chambers so far, and an Oscar or Emmy is definitely in my future.
Michelle R Arthur - Interview
Michelle R Arthur hails from Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A., with English, Irish, Scottish, German and Cherokee ancestry. Inspired by her uncle, a former Columnist for the LA Times, she earned a BA from Indiana University's School of Journalism. She also studied at UCLA, Actors Edge Studios, Artist Theatre Group, and Studio 4. Making appearances in TV shows such as BEVERLY HILLS 90210 and films such as PATH TO WAR, Michelle's interest in acting developed with her first move to Los Angeles. That grew in 2014 when she returned to LA, after magazine work in NYC, and advanced from Background Artist to speaking Actress working with some of the most remarkable filmmakers of our time. Michelle enjoys behind the scenes or being in front of the camera. She has produced, directed, written, and acted in multiple award-winning films.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/screenplayer?
I had hints of Hollywood playing a bigger part of my life when I was a child. I remember being at my paternal grandmother's house once when she shouted: "There's Todd on TV again!" Todd was the stage name of Frank Miller Jr, her nephew, my second cousin, who was a Tap Dancer/Actor. He performed in the Oscar-nominated Judy Garland version of A STAR IS BORN, Fred Astaire's SILK STOCKINGS, Doris Day's WEST POINT STORY, and a list of other legendary films. I admired his footsteps and he inspired me to follow them to California. Journalism degree in hand however, I opted for a steady income after college, and pursued a media career in New York City. With that I was surrounded by the entertainment business. Over the years, as print publications gave way to digital, I found myself leaning more toward showbiz. It was a natural transition, after my last magazine job folded in Los Angeles, to go into filmmaking.
How did your family react?
Not well. Suppose every parent wants doctors or lawyers for offspring. They would rather see me in a field like medical where jobs are solid and plentiful. But those are not my calling.
Do you have a Muse or Role Model?
Many magnificent actors & filmmakers roaming our planet!! Meryl Streep stands out for me with her MFA from the Yale School of Drama and multiple wins and nominations from the Academy Awards. I also admire the late great Katharine Hepburn. One of the spectacular actresses, Kat Kramer, in 3 of our films (FATE'S SHADOW the short version, FATE'S SHADOW: THE WHOLE STORY a feature, and RINGS OF THE UNPROMISED another feature) is her Godchild/Namesake. Kat is the daughter of the trailblazing Producer/Director Stanley Kramer and elegant Actress Karen Sharpe. Karen also acted in the FATE'S SHADOW sister films and contributed to RINGS OF THE UNPROMISED. The beautiful screen icon Marilyn Monroe has continually turned my head too. I was born the day after she was found passed away. Other coincidences between us are listed in the "Trivia" section at http://www.imdb.me/michellerarthur
Who's your biggest fan?
James Franco. As a former student of his acting school, Studio 4, he hopes I do well. He did not participate in the making of my films in any way whatsoever, but he is aware of their progress. Franco brilliantly directed or produced other projects I've been on, such as THE DISASTER ARTIST, TENN, DARK HOURS: ROXANNA and several more.
What brings you inspiration the most?
Having a good story to tell and wanting it told in film format. I'm really passionate about this biz and enjoy connecting with other creative types.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
It would be an unforgettable experience to act under the guidance of Director Steven Spielberg or be on his crew. Another Director I respect is Christopher Nolan. I named one of our characters in RINGS OF THE UNPROMISED after him, "Dr. Nolan Lineman," who is portrayed by the extraordinary Sergio Julian De Oliveira. I would like to act alongside Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz someday too. I attended a Broadway play of theirs in Manhattan in 2013, and that impacted me greatly.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
Yes, all of them! I'm a visual person. I grew up reading fashion magazines as a teenager. Photography is a game changer. Make images move and we're really rolling!
What's the movie that taught you the most?
Making my first movie FATE'S SHADOW. I learned filmmaking is a 3-legged stool -- skill or talent, sales & marketing, and behaviors. I do believe teamwork makes the dream work.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
Between 1999 - '02 I was just getting started with Background Artistry. Naysayers discouraged me from acting and I hung it up. The thrill of being on sets never left me though and I returned to Hollywood in 2014.
On set what excites you the most?
Wearing a Producer's hat, I am usually worried about logistics -- cast & crew, locations, etc. When I can change hats, and direct us beyond capturing the expected script basics, that's divine! Having the ability to create more visually from a set is very exciting and sometimes happens serendipitously!! That's when being the Screenwriter, Director, Producer, and Actress all in one is an advantageous blend.
And what scares you the most?
Running out of time. Wish I would have started in this biz as that child watching Todd. But there are skills I bring to the table as a former magazine executive so that time wasn't wasted.
Remembering my meticulous proofreading days of page layouts helped take Jay Scott Nixon's original story of THE WISTERIA MANOR to screen. TWM is a mix of artwork, photography and footage provided by Film Editor/Visual Artist Jeff Vernon with Cinematographer Craig Purdum.
What's your next project?
RINGS OF THE UNPROMISED. It's in sound editing now with our highly-trained Composer R. Kim Shultz. Should be completed early 2023.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman, my ex-husband's father was his Manager. Would be neat to go back in time and be friends with Walter Hyman Sr. He died before I met his son.
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
Blood, sweat, tears...and big smiles.
For you Cinema is....
Satisfying.
Do you think Black & White movies have a powerful impact?
Yes artistically and aesthetically. Although statistics prove color increases sales by 40%. At least that is the logic I used selling advertising space in magazine pages. So would I ever shoot a film in B&W in modern times? No.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Yes.
Do you think you're gonna win it?
God only knows.
Amir Shah - Interview
Amir Shah is a SAG -AFTRA actor and filmmaker from Miami Beach, fl . Amir has worked in the tv / film business for more than 12 years. He has been featured in Secret Society 2 : never enough and most recently LIVE AND IN COLOR: IMPROV AT ITS BEST with RODNEY PERRY and COCOA BROWN . Amir shah’s style of filmmaking is largely inspired by the cinematic avant-garde movement . Amir ‘s inspiration is largely inspired by directors Oliver stone, Quentin Tarantino, David lynch , Lars von trier ,Roman Polanski, Ingmar Bergman, and plans to produce and direct groundbreaking, thought provoking, controversial avant-garde cinema for the next generation.
What's the absolutely necessary ingredient to be a good actor/ filmmaker?
Feeling is the absolute necessary ingredient. There must be a sense of feeling to be an awesome actor, director, and screenwriter
Without any emotional feelings, the story and the characters are simply an empty suit. Cinema is about an experience and the only way to create such a memorable, unforgettable experience is thru feeling. When a film has no feeling, then its just pretentious garbage.
First and last cinematographic crush?
First crush was chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, my last crush is now french actress Nathalie boyer.
How old you were when you decided you wanted to be a Filmmaker/actor?
I was 12 when I wanted to be an actor and I was 19 when I wanted to be a screenwriter and director
For you a Film is...
A photographic medicine for our mental ignorance of every day life. Film should make you cry, make you laugh, provoke you and make you think hard, film should be daring, bold, provocative and shocking to the human senses. a film should wake you up, move you, enhance, enliven you, and change you from within.
What do you feel when you're directing?
I feel complete rage, i feel angry, and i feel just completely pissed off, I feel total darkness, but i take the anger, the darkness, and the rage and I create colors and light.
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 see Inland Empire and I would watch it with Danish director Lars Von Trier
Audrey Hepburn used to say “Nothing is Impossible”, what do you think
about it?
I agree with her 100%. Everything you dream of is in your mind and in your thoughts. And those thoughts eventually become a reality.
Can you live just of your passion?
No, you must have a day job or else you will be homeless.
What's more important talent or luck?
Talent. Anyone can be lucky or have luck and make it in hollywood and have no talent, and actors who have zero talent who are put into films generate an audience that get accustomed to talentless mediocrity and this make audiences or society more stupider
You must go to a desert island but you can bring with you just one movie...
Mulholland dr.
Have you ever accepted a movie to play/direct although you didn't like the project? No, not yet
What's the best compliment you have received about your Job?
I've been told my editing is phenomena, my directing is outrageous, and my acting is excellent, but that is all up for judgment and debate.
Are you satisfied about your career?
I can't be satisfied about my career because it hasn't happened or taken off yet, so how can I be satisfied about my career which at the moment is non-existent....?
Do you have a good luck charm?
Yes, my mother
How do you feel when a job you've been part of it's ending?
I feel phenomenal because the end of a job is the next chapter of a brand new saga in struggling filmmaker's life path.
Which is the worst moment on set ?
When some of the actors you hired, are just not getting the character correctly thru your direction. Taking hundreds of takes with actors, who cannot fulfill their lines or characters correctly, and on set you just simply realize, this actor, or these actors, just suck!
Have you ever lied to get a job?
No, never
If you should win an Oscar your first taught would go to....
My acting coach from high school. I would actually go visit him and show him the oscar in person. It would show him some dignity and respect.
Colin Denhart - Interview
Colin Robert Denhart is an award-winning independent filmmaker and TV producer based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. His debut feature-length film Sister has recently been featured in several film festivals around the world and has won awards for both best picture and best actress (Vasudha Krishnamoorthy) at many of them, including the Paris Film Awards. The film tells the fictional horror story of a young nun who is haunted by evil spirits and must find the light within her to overcome the darkness while incorporating elements of some real-life haunted history.
What influence does the cinema of France or other European countries have on Sister?
I have been a fan of several classic French films such as The 400 Blows, La Jetee, Last Year at Marienbad, and The Passion of Joan of Arc. These films definitely have had a major influence on Sister in both cinematography and the spiritual/psychological content of the film. There also is The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which is likely the most famous story set in a church, whose 1996 Disney animated film adaptation is one of my favorite movies, and also is a major influence on the film.
Your film Sister has a heavy focus on ghosts. What is your personal belief on the subject?
I don’t believe in ghosts in the traditional sense (eg a dead person who roams among the living). However, I believe that there are certain energies within people that can remain after they die creating a ghostly presence, such as the feeling of fear and dread when going to a place where someone had been murdered. For example, when I was scouting locations for the film, I found an old building that used to be a space for terminal AIDS patients in the 1980s, and one of the patients apparently had set himself on fire and died. Going to that exact location in the building had a very eerie presence as if the energy from that moment were still present. Quite frightening!
What are some of the real-life horror events/locations highlighted in the film?
There is a scene where Sister Jowi (played by award-winning actress Vasudha Krishnamoorthy) walks down a sidewalk by a creepy old house that once belonged to murderer H. H. Holmes, who would gas his victims. The scene where she encounters the ghost girl (played by Jada Buehler) was shot at the exact address where teenager Sylvia Likens was tortured and murdered in the 1960s. Jada’s horrific appearance in the film is inspired by the pictures of Sylvia’s body as she was found at the crime scene, so the horror of that scene feels so real. It was haunting just to be there! The church where Sister Jowi hears voices is the same church where mass murderer Jim Jones was a preacher when he lived in Indianapolis, and the audio is from a public domain recording of one of his sermons. It was creepy how when we reviewed footage of the scene, we noticed the curtains in the window seemed to be moving on their own even though there would have been no one inside; a ghostly encounter indeed!
What role do mythology and religion play in the film?
I have had a lifelong interest in the study of religion/spirituality. I went to Catholic school in my early years where learned a lot about church history and theology from my priest Father Tim and nun Sister Lenore. I studied mythology in high school, and in more recent years as a Freemason, I have extensively studied The Bible, The Quran, The Bhagavad Gita, and even The Book of Mormon. I also recently graduated from a theology program which I was studying while I made Sister. Outside of the obvious themes of Catholicism with the nun and priest characters and church setting, the film incorporates gnostic texts such as The Secret Book of John, which explores the origins of the universe, with the opening cosmic scene in Sister being inspired by events depicted in the text and the inclusion of the characters Sophia (played by pop star Anza) and the demon Yaldabaoth. I also include some Easter eggs and minor references that only Freemasons and those who have studied sacred texts will get, so to fully appreciate the film, read your Bible!
Sister star Vasudha Krishnamoorthy recently won awards for best actress at multiple film festivals for her role as Sister Jowi. What was it like to work with her?
Vasudha has been incredible to work with on Sister and other creative projects we have made together. We first met a few years ago when I was developing a comedy pilot called Cup of Joe about a group of workers and patrons at a local coffee shop. The production was constantly delayed and ultimately canceled, but I was enamored by Vasudha’s talents as an actress, so I chose to cast her in the starring role in Sister. Vasudha is a very talented actress and knows exactly how to perfectly evoke the emotions of the character in the scenes. I love how she helps me realize how I can be better as a director and always uplifts the cast and crew on the set. She would make a great Hollywood star if given the opportunity. She is one of the best creative talents to come into my life, and I look forward to seeing what movies and shows we make together as our film careers progress.
Do you have any professors or teachers from film school you are grateful for?
I am most thankful for my high school radio/TV teacher Mr. Randy Brist. He taught me the basics of filmmaking and I made my first film projects in his class. He also inspired a deeper appreciation for classic movies and classic rock music which has continued to now. I also am thankful for my high school English teachers Mr. Chuck Herber and Mrs. Janie Norman who taught me classic works of literature that have had a profound effect on my creative work, such as Edith Hamilton’s Mythology, Dante’s Inferno, and George Orwell’s 1984, and how to write creatively and effectively.
You achieve a lot with such a small budget. How were some of the special effects of the film achieved?
The demon Yaldabaoth was created by Derrick Childers, who works in Hollywood as a creature designer and special effects artist. Derrick and I were high school classmates in our radio/TV class. I was amazed by the level of detail in the design and how cool it is to have a physical creature instead of a CGI creation. When filming the demon scenes, I attached fishing wire to the creature and shot it in front of a green screen to make it look like the demon is floating/moving on its own, similar to the approach George Lucas took with the spaceship and creature shots when filming the original 1977 Star Wars. The opening cosmic sequence was achieved through a combination of the clever manipulation of royalty-free stock footage mixed with digital graphics. For the pool of blood, we mixed several bottles of cranberry juice with instant coffee. I was amazed that Vasudha was so okay with doing multiple takes pretending to drown in the liquids. She showed true dedication to her performance!
What are the next films you are working on after Sister?
We recently finished filming the sequel to Sister titled Sister II. The film stars Andi E. and Gabrielle Bousum as new nuns at the church who investigate the events of the first film. I am currently editing the film and intend to release it at film festivals at the end of 2022 or early 2023. We also plan to shoot the 3rd film in the series titled Sister III: The Lesser Key starting later this year with both actors from the first and 2nd film and new additions to the cast. I also have outlined ideas for other potential spinoffs for the series.
After Sister III, I would like to move into the genre of comedy as a way to branch out and not be stuck in just the horror realm. There is a script I have developed called Frieda From Attica, which is about a quirky young woman in a small town who dreams of becoming a “Disney” star. Some cast members from Sister may be involved.
Sister is your first feature-length film. What are your aspirations for your film career?
In the short term, I hope the film and its sequels continue to gain momentum at film festivals. It would be nice if the right people see the film, and we get a distribution deal or possibly investors for future bigger-budget projects. It would be nice to go to Hollywood or foreign countries to film movies if that were an option as well, but I also would love to see the film industry continue to grow in Indiana, as the state is more ideal for filmmaking than given credit for. I would be happy to keep Indianapolis as my base for filmmaking!
Ultimately, I hope my films will be among those which transcend cinema and become some of the favorites among film enthusiasts (i.e. The Criterion Collection, The National Film Registry). When I was in college, I got a chance to have dinner with the legendary German filmmaker Werner Herzog, and I remember it being such an amazing experience to finally meet one of my favorite filmmakers in person and discuss deeply all things cinema. It would be a full full-circle experience to become the “Werner Herzog” to a “Colin Denhart” in the future!
Owen Meinert - Interview
Owen was born in Ottawa in 1998 and has remained an Ontario native his entire life. He completed a Bachelor of Film Theory at Brock University in 2020. Owen currently works as a Grip in the local NABET 700-M UNIFOR union in Toronto, while utilizing his off time to write and shoot his own material independently. At 24 years of age, Owen has just completed his first short film. It's won awards on a global scale and serves as a solid but humble foundation for his career. Owen plans to shoot a second short before 2022 is over. Both of these projects have been called Proof of Concepts. This is because Owen plans on graduating to features as his independent career grows. Call of The City was an ambiguous thriller that left audiences wondering and wanting more. His career will be no different."
When did you decide you wanted to be a Filmmaker?
During my first year of university, which I was attending for a science degree. It was 2017 and I was 19 years of age. The material I was studying and pushing myself so hard for was not fulfilling my need for higher degrees of success. I wanted to create, I wanted to make an impact on the world. At the time I had a roommate who was in at the same school studying films, so I made the switch. I then began to write down my ideas in the form of short notes on my mobile phone. Soon enough I was writing full-length screenplays.
How did your family react?
They were incredibly supportive and said that as long as I was happy as well as pursuant of this dream that they would be there for me. They spoke about the signs that I had been creatively gifted from a young age and that they were surprised I had not begun this journey sooner.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
Donald Glover. Musical artist as well as a television writer and producer. He’s incredibly talented and I’m a fan of almost anything he’s made within music or cinema. His short film Clapping For The Wrong reasons is the project that inspired me to finally start writing.
Who's your biggest fan?
I don’t know if I have any real fans yet, but I have a feeling that if I had to chose right at this point in time it’d be my mom. Who’s mother isn’t their biggest fan? If not her than it would be my late Grandfather. He was incredibly sure of my success, and he always made sure that I knew how much I’ve actually accomplished whenever we saw one another.
What brings you inspiration the most?
A great film, or a great song, or painting. Those things always go hand in hand for me. Seeing a brilliant piece of art, no matter what kind, is what usually gets me out of an unproductive funk. If you’re truly creative, seeing a certain kind of piece can trigger an original thought or idea for a project of your own. Knowing that someone put in hours of hard work, and that it turned out perfectly, gives me hope that the same can happen to me someday. It’s the same motivation so many nameless and unappreciated artists use but that’s simply because it’s the best kind.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
Christopher Nolan. His films are so legendary, I’d love to create an Epic with that man. His movies can feel massive but be incredibly detail oriented at the same time. I’d love to hear anything he’d have to say or watch the way he works for even just a moment. An entire project with him would be a dream. If I were to work with anyone in television it would have to be Vince Gilligan or Matt Weiner. Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and The Sopranos are some of the best shows to ever be made and I know that many agree with that statement.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
I recently finished reading American Psycho (Bret Easton Ellis, 1991). I had seen the movie (Harron, 2000) a couple times and quite enjoyed it. I was curious about how the source material would compare to the movie. The book, having more pages to tell the story, included more details than the film when it came to description of everything that the protagonist experienced, saw, bought, or did. This may seem like an obvious and pointless observation but in this specific case I think it’s very important. The book can go on for pages describing the most menial objects or routines. This includes stomach twisting murders and torture. It’s this tendency that makes me want to say that I think both pieces of media are brilliant but that the film is more successful in appealing to a mainstream audience.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
The Place Beyond the Pines (2012). A beautiful piece of cinema that teaches the viewer about the treatment of the past and how handling it in different ways can impact one’s life either positively or poorly. It taught me that the past doesn’t have to be who you are, but a place to learn from your own or someone else’s mistakes.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
It'd be impossible for me to quit, creativity does something for me that no other station in life compares to. It'd be like giving up water.
How do you give up what makes life worth living? The closest I ever come to “quitting” is pondering the fact that I might not be successful in a commercial or financial sense. If I can’t make a living out of this then I should probably quit putting all my time into it right? Occasionally those thoughts might slow me down or cause a blockage creatively. But it never lasts too long. An idea or concept always comes to me that assures me this is where my future lies
On set what excites yuo the most?
Solving problems, slowly breathing life into the frame and watching your imagination come into the real world. Eventually there’s that moment where you realizing everything is working and that this script or idea is going to become tangible for everyone else to see.
And what scares you the most?
Life. It can be merciless. You can never be sure when an accident may befall you or those around you. There’s no way of knowing what you could lose next. Bodily autonomy? Your mind? I try not to let it bug me. But you’ve got to keep your wits about you to survive sometimes.
What's your next project?
Another Proof of Concept, just like Call of The City. I’ve extracted another scene from the second act of a separate feature and I plan to shoot it within the coming months. The only thing it has in common with Call of The City is that the horror is completely realistic and can happen to anyone.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
Denis Villeneuve. His films just keep getting better and more extravagant. I don’t want to speak for him but I couldn’t imagine a career with more freedom. I can’t imagine any producer or actor turning down a project of his. That’s the dream.
A director/screenplayer is made of...
Ambition and Originality. And the need to show everyone these two things that make you a true artist.
For you Cinema is....
An effortless and perfect combination of every art form. Still photography, music, sound design, writing, acting, painting, and too many countless other crafts. These things, when put in motion and within tandem, will always create the thing that fascinates and attracts us all: Cinema. It’s not always necessary to feel the need to have it all at your disposal. But whether it’s purposeful or not, every artform plays it’s part.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
I think everyone should always remember that everything we have now came from hardship and humble beginnings. It’s important to remember this in order to breed patience and a deeper understanding of what purpose cinema actually plays in your life and career.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Of course. An Academy Award is an incomprehensible honour. I can’t even imagine the project that might win me such a thing. But I know that the work and experience would be enough reward, even without the Oscar.
Do you think you're gonna win it?
I don’t think it’s smart to approach this craft with the attitude of “I’m never going to win an Oscar.” Of course I have to think that it’s at least a tiny bit possible. Sometimes you need just a little bit of arrogance in order to trick your brain into taking the risk that’s going to win you an accolade like that.
Joseph Karimbeik - Interview
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screen player?
I am heavily dyslexic so for me telling a story is more about images and my every day hobby as a child was to collect my friends in the street and tell them stories and that idea came to me by going with my father to tea houses in Teheran where they had story tellers, a kind of theatre, one man show and that gave me a lot of inspiration which made me practice on other children every day.
How did your family react?
During my childhood every parent in Iran wanted their children to be either doctor or engineer and every child wanted that too. So, when I went to England and studied at the Drama Centre and graduated as an actor and theatre director and when I phoned my parents and told them about my graduation they said: “We don’t understand your education, but we will call you Doctor”
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
Elia Kazan, Alfred Hitchcock, Michael Curtiz. I want to tell you something very eye opening about Michael Curtiz. He would take a script and he would look at parts that could be very artistic from all aspects and when the film was finished you had Casablanca but when you look at the script in the beginning you would never think that script would have a chance to become one of the greatest movies of all time and that is what Michael Curtiz did, finding a stone and cutting it to become a jewel, that is something. When you look at Casablanca and see the way how he has directed and blocked actors in the street or in the club it is as he was directing a group of Ballerina’s. That’s the way they move.
Who's your biggest fan?
My DAUGHTER
What brings you inspiration the most?
When I am challenged to create something that is my happiest moment. I like swimming in a bundle of problems of creating a film or theatre play and come out of it.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
I like to work with actors who have the skill and like to take the risk and build and bring a character that you could never imagine. It is like being a child and being taken to a mobile theatre for the first time which shows fascinating pictures in two dimensions.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
I am not going to say better but definitely different because when you read the book you direct it in your head in different ways as long as you read the book first. If you read the book after seeing the movie you need to have a lot of patience to finish the book.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
Every movie has a different flavour, colour, and stimulation and as you grow older your taste and your priority change. You look at things differently, e.g., you look at everything with deeper angles and that makes you more philosophical, more understanding and more forgiving. As a child if you look at something everything is shallow, and you would not like it anymore when you are older. You learn from all the movies, bad or good.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
No, never.
On set what excites you the most?
Good & believable performances like characters larger than life. Quality acting so you forget where you are and takes you away from reality out of your chair.
And what scares you the most?
Flop of the show.
What's your next project?
I hope to find a producer to make a feature film of London Gangstah. I think it would be a great and very funny movie and we can make a successful trilogy of it. Hopefully a producer will come along after this festival.
And also I have more original scripts I am working on in new genres and unusual beautiful and interesting stories which I am open to share with producers who are interested.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
I really admire van Gogh. He always amazed me how with one set of colours he showed you the whole world
An actor/director/screen player is made of....
110% feeling and sensitivity
For you Cinema is....
LIFE & Creating Magic
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Absolutely.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
Since I was a child every minute of my life.
Do you think you're gonna win it? Yes, I will.
I am waiting for it. Give me a chance and I make it happen.