Filmmaker David Baker

David was born in Scotland in 1966. His father was a movie fan, so he spent a lot of his childhood watching US blockbusters in the cinema. When the VHS market exploded, he also became a fan of US indie personal and exploitation genre films.

He moved to London in his twenties to study acting. He took part-time classes at the Lee Strasberg Studio, but he gained most of his experience from working on student films, and micro budget feature films.  To learn more about David and his films visit http://davidpaulbaker.posterous.com


What is the current project you are working on?

I am at the post production stage of SCREEN. A horror thriller about a group of people that are found dead in front of a drive-in movie screen. It was shot in Oklahoma in July. Financed from online crowd funding, and a lot of help from the people of Tulsa, Cleveland, and a filmmaking couple who I became friends with online.

How do you handle rejection?

haha! I was an actor for years in London. That was a great foundation for filmmaking. Being an actor is all about dealing with rejection. Even if you are good. Rejection does not even touch me anymore, I have too much self belief in what I am doing. I am human of course but I deal with it well.

Did you always want to be a filmmaker?

No. Acting was my passion. Then I started to write scripts, then that progressed to making things happen for myself. Now the passion for filmmaking has taken over the acting. Although I still plan to do some acting on other films too.

What inspired you to become filmmaker?

I just wanted to be in charge of my own destiny. I was a massive fan of movies, but I can honestly say I never really thought about making my own until about twelve years ago. Until I started writing scripts. Even then, I never thought about directing.

 What is the best thing about being one?

The best thing about working towards being a filmmaker for a living, is the fact that you never really know what is around the corner. It's very challenging, and its a life of problem solving, but I like that. The thought of my life mapped out in front of me in the same job is not attractive to me. I'm sick. I like impossible odds!

 What is the worst thing about being one?

Incredible sacrifices for years in your life, in many areas, and no guarantees that your life will be good at the end of it. You don't pursue it for the money.

What is the estimated number of projects you have worked on?

This is my third feature film. I acted in many short films and low-budget features in the past.

 Who is your favorite filmmaker?

I don't have one favorite filmmaker. My tastes also change a lot. I don't like many filmmakers I used to like. On a whole, I guess I like filmmakers that evolve. Most don't, they get the taste for Hollywood money. I like filmmakers like Eastwood, and I like how George Clooney juggles personal films with Hollywood. I also like guys like Steve Buscemi. I also like versatile filmmakers. You couldn't really pidgeon hole Kubrick. In terms of Hollywood directors, I like Ridley Scott's versatility. I am watching more foreign films in the last few years, when I get the time.

 How has your life changed since you became a filmmaker?

Like I said before, sacrifice. 7 days a week focus for years. Its only after 12 years I am starting to get meetings with the people that could say yes to a decent sized budget movie. I was never this broke, but my life is better because I have potential ahead. In the past I had more of an income but no hope of being a filmmaker for a living. It's very very tough, but I have gotten tougher along the way.

What is one piece of advice you can give to someone who also wants to make it in the movie business?

If your goal is to "make it", go do something else. The guys that made the "Blair Witch" "Made it", but drifted as fast as they arrived, like many filmmakers. You have to live it and breathe it, and not even think on whether you will make it. You do it because you have to do it. They key is to get good at what you do, and that takes years of writing, making cheap films, learning every area of the biz, and getting stronger and more focussed. Then, and ONLY then, you MIGHT have a chance of doing this for a living. Put it simple, making it is not the toughest part, doing it for the rest of your life is. So it better be a real in your blood passion.

What do you like to do besides filmmaking?

If you don;t spend 24/7 on pursing this career, you are bullshitting yourself. I don't do anything else. I guess that's sad, but I am on a mission in life, so focus is paramount.

Have you had any other jobs before you decided to become a filmmaker?

Around 200 jobs. Most in London in my acting days. Waiter, dishwasher, factory working, you name it. A clown that scared the crap out of kids! I have had a life before I started writing. I met a lot of characters. It helps a lot!

What are some of your favorite American films? Foreign films? Television shows?

I like well made big blockbusters from "Jaws" to the "Dark Knight", but I especially like character driven small films. I like the work of guys like Abel Ferrara, Darren Aronofsky, Paul Thomas Anderson. The Coens. I guess I am a fan of filmmakers who make personal films, but who also wrap them in a Roger Corman genre package. Tarantino does that, but I am not a big fan of his work over the last few years. I watch very little TV. About 1 hour a week.

 How would you describe your film education?

When I was an actor in London, I spent a lot of time in film school productions. Watched a lot of other budding directors, then I would go to all the London indie cinemas several times a week. Watched all the classics in every genre. I was there for ten years. My main film education was throwing myself into the deep end and doing it. My first movie was shot on film all over the world, and I had never even made anything. So my film school was that first movie. I am a big believer in just doing it, making mistakes, learning. Also, educating myself in EVERY area now, as you have to have a biz head too today.

 How would you describe the film "scene" where you live?

I don't know, I don't involve myself with it. We have a Scottish funding body who fund all their favorites. Then we have a lot of moaners who complain they can't make a film, then we seem to have a new wave who are getting off their backside and shooting. Which is great. Now we have Hollywood shooting in Glasgow because of tax breaks. A lot of the films made here are still very issue drive, social realism, award agenda. I do my own thing. I was brought up with US movies and indie films, so I don't identify with the Scottish film community.

 How has social media changed the independent film industry?

It has obviously let filmmakers connect with potential audiences. I think it's a huge mistake to think we all have "fans" though. You build "fans" when you have a body of impressive work. But I think people support people. It's also helped to demystify a lot of crap. I remember when it was all a closed shop. Nobody would share their experience here because people want you to think many areas in the film industry are extremely skilled. Specialised! Well, they are not! Filmmakers sharing their experiences globally have managed to throw all that bullshit up in the air.Its also much easy to get access to casts, crews, music, locations, you name it. On my first film, the web was only a bulletin board. I am lucky enough to see when we didn't have all this technology and way to connect. I remember when it took half an hour to download a picture! My point is, people need to remind themselves we have it all here. We can do anything we want, but the key is to be great at what you do now. And driven.

What's your opinion on crowdfunding?

I have a love hate relationship with it. I don't care whether you are just asking for money on tweets, or you have all the best content you are pumping out, it still comes down to one thing, you are saturating communities with your project. You have a cap out! Which is tough when its full of campaigns.However, crowd fund has made SCREEN happen. My ideal type of crowd funding is when you get to the point you build up a community of people who like your work, and who WANT to know about your work. You then email them direct, show them your new project, and see who wants to throw in a few bucks. If you can get thousands of supporters that way, without having to saturate timelines, then that's the ideal kind of crowd funding. LIke Robert Greenwald done with his Iraq documentary. Went back to his mail list to fund the next one. I think it would be even possible to raise millions of you build a big enough fanbase over the years.

 How does independent film differ from the mainstream?

Well at one time "indie film" used to stand for something else. Quality, individual, offbeat, original etc. Now it just means EVERYBODY! So the term independent film really doesn't mean much to me anymore. There's just as many bad indie films. For me personally, my vision of indie film is a cross somewhere in the middle. Not navel gazing Sundance agenda films, but not Hollywood formula. Like I said, I like films like "The Wrestler" "The Hurt Locker", where they are indie films but they are still accessible to a lot of people. I personally want to do character driven films like I loved from the 70's.

 You could go back in time and see any classic film being made. Which film would it be and why?

Damm, I think films sets are the most boring places in the world if you are not working on them, keeping busy. Theres so many. Maybe "One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest" I would like to be a patient that's hitting a punchbag with a stick! Or Maybe Stars Wars. I would have a big smile on my face, laughing at the crew who think Lucas who is making a pile of shit! I would tell him, "Its going to be alight George....In the first three flicks anyway! Until you get rich and fuck it all up!" Theres some movies and songs, pieces of art, pop culture, that seem as if they were destined to happen. It would be cool to be around that in a time machine. Especially when people are going, "Aww no, you can't do it this way!" "What is he doing?"

 What's your favorite movie quote and why?

Mean Streets. I fell in love with indie films after seeing this film 25 years ago. I identified with that world growing up in a rough area in Scotland, then living in rough areas in London."You don't make up for your sins in church. You do it in the streets. You do it at home. The rest is bullshit and you know it"

 What is your opinion on movie remakes and sequels?

I don't care about remakes if you are remaking movies from many years ago. They can do with an update to a new generation. Nothing wrong with that, even if the original is a classic. However, I hate remakes when say a european film was only made a year before, and they remake for an US audience. I don't like that. On a whole, I couldn't really give a shit! I see Hollywood's side. I can understand why they have to go with a project that has a ready-made fanbase if they are spending a $200m. We can make smaller original films too now, so I don't have a strong opinion about remakes. Especially when people moan,  but they go and buy the ticket for a remake!

What is your opinion on book to movie adaptions?

Again, I see why they take the option of making movies from books, because of the ready-made market. And again, I don't see why people moan that "Ohh, the movie is not the same as the book, or as good. How could it be, the movie you have in YOU'RE head is as a reader is YOU'RE movie. Your imagination. So you can't really win there.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

A little unashamed promotion here. Please check out my campaign folks! I need to complete my post production. Thanks!  http://www.indiegogo.com/screen?a=164336&i=addr

Below is a slideshow of behind the scenes pictures from "Screen"

[slideshow]