Filmmaker Vincent Rocca

Vincent Rocca is a self-taught filmmaker. His formal education consists of a weekend film school, after which he hammered out a 92 page script and the movie "Kisses and Caroms" was born. Since then he has worked steadily in the entertainment industry. In addition to the 14 titles Vincent has distributed into the marketplace, he has also produced a few features, ghost written a few Hollywood scripts, and penned the 334 page book, Rebel without a Deal, which chronicles how a High School dropout made his first movie in five days for $11,000 and got it distributed by Warner Bros. where it grossed over $1,000,000.00.

What is the current project you are working on?

GalsPanic. It's about a shy, flat cheated girl with a fear of water who must compete in the BIG breasted world of wet t-shirt contests in order to save her Grandmas tavern from a religious nut.

How do you measure success?

The philosophic answer would be, "Happiness is the greatest measure of success," but that would mean crack addicts are the most successful people in the world.

So I'm gonna go with Money. I know people say money doesn't buy happiness, but I rarely meet depressed rich people. In fact, usually the people who swallow a bullet are broke. So, I'll stick with money.

How do you handle rejection?

The greatest trait a producer can possess is the ability to eat shit with a smile.

In the entertainment business, rejection is a fact of life. You need to handle it the same way you handle oxygen. You breathe it in, let it out and move on.

Did you always want to be a filmmaker?

Yes. When I was 5 years old I saw the shower scene in "Stripes." Completely naked girls pranced around on the big screen. I had seen porn before, but that was on a small television. This was larger than life. I told my brother I wanted to be an editor just so I could see the raw footage. Then he explained the crew got to see it live. It blew my mind.

What inspired you to become a filmmaker?

Spring Break college coeds! My friends and I filmed the craziness on Lake Havasu and launched an adult video company.

Soon, I realized if we remove the sex and add some funny dialog we'd have a movie. With the help of Dov SS Simens 2 day film school, "Kisses and Caroms" was born, and for lack of a lesser word, I became a "Filmmaker."

What is the best thing about being one?

It's great to create something out of thin air, and see it come to life, but the greatest reward is the experience of watching others be entertained by this thing you conjured up.

What is the worst thing about being one?

Crotch Rash! Most of the time, while filming, you don't have time to shower. You spend 20 plus hours in the same pair of underwear, your sweaty legs chaff and you start to develop a rash. That sucks!

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

50 plus. Most never see the light of day.

Why did you want to write your book "Rebel Without A Deal"?

First, for the money! Then, for the sanity.

When I set out to make, "Kisses and Caroms," I wasn't sure we'd be successful, so I documented the process on video and in text. I thought if we failed with the feature we'd have a making of doc, like, "Lost in La Mancha," and a book, like. "Rebel without a Crew."

Ultimately I excreted my movie making stresses on paper and in the end I had written a book like no other. Rebel without a Deal is a true producers bible, that not only documents the entire filmmaking process from script through screen, all the way to financial statements, but also details the mental mind fuck you must endure to get a movie on the shelves of Wal-Mart.

Who is your favorite filmmaker?

I admire any filmmaker who takes their life savings and puts it on the line in pursuit of their dream. But to narrow it down, I'll go with Kevin Smith. He helped me out tremendously. He even contributed over 40 pages of humorous conversations to my book as we discuss how his journey with "Clerks" and "Red State" relates to mine with "Kisses and Caroms."

How do you NOT love a guy like that?

How has your life changed since you became a filmmaker?

I have a pool and live behind a 10' gate. I also do a lot of lunches.

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

Get off your ass and do it. Know your audience and make a film that is marketable to them. Include nudity, guns, and a car chase.

Or go to college and become an entertainment attorney.

What do you like to do besides filmmaking?

I dabble in Real Estate and construction. I recently built an 8 person home theater with a 10' screen and THX 7.1 surround sound. Which means I also watch a lot of movies.

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

Salesman.

How would you describe your film education?

Two days with Dov SS Simens. Lots of commentaries and books. Read, "Rebel without a Deal" for a crash course.

What are some of your favorite American films?

American Beauty, Good Will Hunting, Shawshank Redemption, and the greatest trilogy of all time, Back to the Future 1,2,3.

Foreign films?

Life is Beautiful, Human Centipede.

Television shows?

Amazing Race, South Park, Family Guy, except the gags that are over 3 minutes and beat to death.

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

I'm in So Cal, so I'd say it's pretty hot.

How has social media changed the independent film industry?

The internet and social media has given us direct access to our audience. Now we just need to figure out how to fully utilize that. Those that are front-runners become the next pioneers, the next Clerks, Blair Witch, Paranormal Activity.

How does independent film differ from the mainstream?

Mainstream film knows exactly who its consumer is and makes movies that entertain that base. If indies paid more attention to this, there would be many more successful indie flicks.

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

The "Stripes" shower scene. Or maybe the first time that Delorean hit 88.

What's your favorite movie quote and why?

Sometimes you just gotta say, "What the fuck, make your move." - Risky Business. Don't all our greatest adventures start out this way?

What is your opinion on movie remakes and sequels?

They are great. Hollywood makes movies that cater to an audience. They have the money, and it's not like if they weren't re-making Footloose, they'd give the money to me. So, What the fuck, let 'em remake and sequel everything. Schindlers List 2, Titanic 2.

What I'm really excited for is when they start basing their remakes on remade movies. Can you imagine a remake of Gus Van Sant’s shot-for-shot remake of Hitchcock’s original Psycho? Wow! That would be fantastic.

What is your opinion on book to movie adaptations?

Again, catering to an audience is great. The Potter flicks are cool, but I wish they would have stayed true to Grisham's The Firm. That ending is way better on paper.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

For more witty insanity buy the ultimate indie filmmaking producers bible, http://www.RebelWithoutADeal.com

Review Of "Followed"

Director/Producer James Kicklighter was nice enough to send me a digital copy of his short film “Followed”. This short film is based on the short story by award winning author Will McIntosh.

The film stars  Erryn Arkin, Edith Ivey and Abigail de los Reyes. Peter (Arkin) is a college professor who is followed by a young girl. The young girl (Reyes) happens to be a zombie. In the world of Followed zombies are commonplace and are treated as second class citizens. There are people believe zombies should have the same rights as the living and those who don’t.

Peter tries to understand why this zombie is following him. It’s understood that zombies follow people who have something to hide. I don’t want to give to much away. I really enjoyed the film. Followed has a great message and I feel the acting was great. Miss. Reyes did a wonderful job as the zombie girl. Her performance was very nuanced.

“Followed” IMDB page

Trailer  for “Followed”

Interview with Mr. Kicklighter

Ryan Scafuro: Co-Producer and Director Of Photography On The Documentary "Bending Steel"

[caption id="attachment_2185" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="L to R: Ryan Scafuro, Chris Schoeck, Chris Rider, Dave Carroll"][/caption]

Ryan Scafuro is a director of photography living in Brooklyn, NY.  Along with co-founder Dave Carroll, Ryan runs the full service production company Sixkiller NYC (sixkillernyc.com).  They both have been working in the television and film industry for over 15 years, and Bending Steel (bendingsteelmovie.com) is their first feature length documentary film.

What is the current project you are working on?

I am currently Co-Producer and Director of Photography on the feature length documentary Bending Steel, a story about Chris Schoeck, a Queens, NY man who is training to be an oldetime strongman.  We have followed Chris for the past 10 months as he struggles to overcome personal adversity, become accepted within the strongman community, and find his place in the world through this unique activity.  The film is being directed by Dave Carroll.

How do you measure success?




It may be cliche, but I consider a project to be successful if in the end it is something I am happy with, and if it is something that other people can get enjoyment from. Bonus points if those people are outside of my circle of friends and family.  That and money, lots and lots of money.  Scrooge McDuck diving into the pile of gold in the opening to Duck Tales kinds of money.

How do you handle rejection?




I keep a box full of old phones that I smash.







Did you always want to be a filmmaker?

I am still not sure if I want to be a filmmaker.  Other careers I would have chosen first: cosmonaut, marine biologist, lead singer of the Clash, poo farmer.  Not necessarily in that order.

 

What inspired you to become filmmaker?

When I was in 6th grade they had a afterschool program at the high school television studio, and the teacher showed me that one wipe transition where the woman does a cartwheel and I was like oh shit that is cool.  I'm sorry if I've lost most of your readers by now.

 

What is the best thing about being one?

Telling stories.  I'm not much of a writer, and I definitely can't draw, so filmmaking has really allowed me to tell stories in a way I would never be able to otherwise.  Did I get that one right?  I feel really good about that answer.




 

What is the worst thing about being one?




I was going to make a "how much time do you have" joke but then I realized I can't really think of many bad things at all.  It's something I sincerely enjoy.  Funding films can be a bit stressful.  Have I mentioned we are currently fundraising for our feature length documentary called Bending Steel?  You can donate here:




http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sixkillernyc/help-finish-bending-steel-a-feature-length-documen







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




How many times have you sneezed in your life?

 

Who is your favorite filmmaker?




I've always LOVED David Lynch.  He can evoke the feeling you get from a dream like no other director I know of, and that is something that is really amazing to me.  From a documentary standpoint I've always liked the early verite films by Frederick Wiseman, and of course the Maysles brothers.  Errol Morris' Mr. Death is one of my favorite documentaries.  He's created an extraordinary style throughout his career which I feel like is embodied perfectly in that film.




I think all of those filmmakers have been influential in the way we have crafted Bending Steel.  We feel like we've found a unique approach that combines the traditional verite style with some very highly produced and stylized elements.

How has your life changed since you became a filmmaker?




Right now all I'm talking about is twisting horseshoes and bending nails with my hands which I'm sure has annoyed most of my friends to the point of not wanting to hang out with me until this film is finished.

 

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

Try to find a job where you can save some money but don't have to work much.  Then take that money and make a movie.  Repeat.







What do you like to do besides filmmaking?




I like taking pictures of my dog and posting them on facebook until people delete me as a friend.

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

Oh wait, you think I'm a filmmaker?  Well this is awkward.

 

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

Anything with Bill Murray.




I don't know do Robert Rodriguez movies count as foreign films?




The Wire.

 

How would you describe your film education?




I studied television production at Emerson College in Boston, which was separate from their film school. I actually wasn't even permitted to take classes that were part of the film school.  So I guess you could describe it as "something that I was never allowed and will always be bitter about."

 

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




I know Rooftop Films started in Brooklyn, and has become a really great organization over the past 15 years or so.  There is a new indie theater in the Williamsburg neighborhood called the Nighthawk that I've heard really great things about and am excited to check out.  I honestly can't say that I am actively involved in the film "scene" but I know it exists which must count for something.

 

How has social media changed the independent film industry?




It's become a HUGE help with promotion.  Right now we are actively promoting Bending Steel through our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bending-Steel-A-Documentary-Film/192032960849713) and on Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/BendingSteelMov).  (You don't have to like our facebook page or follow us on twitter but if you've read this far you might as well right?)  




We have reached audiences that we would have never been able to otherwise, and updating people on the progress of the film throughout all the stages of production has been a blast for us.







What's your opinion on crowdfunding?

It is the best thing that has happened to filmmakers who have emptied their pockets during production and need additional funding for finishing costs.  Have I mentioned we are currently running a kickstarter campaign to do just that for Bending Steel?  You should probably check it out!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sixkillernyc/help-finish-bending-steel-a-feature-length-documen

 

How does independent film differ from the mainstream?




Oh man that's like a trade show seminar question.  Charlie Rose interviewing Martin Scorcese kind of thing.

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




This answer probably changes every few months but right now it is Master and Commander because I've been obsessed with the Patrick O'Brian books over the past couple of years.  I mean how awesome would it be to stand on the deck of the HMS Surprise as the drums beat the men to quarters?  Nobody is going to relate to that answer are they.

 

What's your favorite movie quote and why?

Nick Cage as Sailor in Wild at Heart: "This here jacket represents a symbol of my individuality and my belief in personal freedom." Because goddamn it is a nice jacket.

 

What is your opinion on movie remakes and sequels?




Two words.  Police Academy.  Take that how you will.

What is your opinion on book to movie adaptions?




A Clockwork Orange ruled.

Is there anything else you would like to add?




All joking aside, I am sincerely grateful for the opportunities I have had in my life that have led me to being able to make a feature documentary like Bending Steel.  I have learned so much about the industry from people I have worked with, and I have learned so much about life from friends and family, all of which have helped me be a better filmmaker, and more importantly a better person.  The experience of having someone open up and share their most intimate moments and feelings with you, on camera, just because you are willing to LISTEN is one that nothing can compare to, and the responsibility that goes along with that is a great one.  I will never take that responsibility lightly, and truly hope that comes through in our films.  We are super excited to finish Bending Steel and be able to share it with everyone, it's been an amazing journey so far.

www.ryanscafuro.com

Filmmaker Marc Buhmann

What is the current project you are working on?

My current project is a feature film version of a web series I did called "Genrefinity". It was supposed to be seven episodes and we had planned to shoot all of them in 2009. But then my son was born, and the actors had other things going on in their personal lives, so we only managed to complete four over a two year period. Scheduling conflicts was the main reason for this.

How do you measure success?

I would say success is doing what you love. I love filmmaking and telling stories. I love helping breath live into characters. In that respect I feel very successful. It would be nice to focus on filmmaking exclusively, but I haven't achieved that yet.

How do you handle rejection?

They say in this business you need a thick skin, and that's very true. My first feature film got some very good reviews from indie critics, while viewers on Netflix and whatnot blasted it. You can't read too much into it though. There will always be people who like your work and others that don't.

Did you always want to be a filmmaker?

No. I originally wanted to be a computer programmer but during college I realized I didn't want to sit in front of a computer all day working code.

What inspired you to become filmmaker?

After I realized I didn't want to get a computer science degree I was trying to figure out what to do with my life. During a break I sat down and watched The Abyss. This was in '96. I had seen it in the theater but it never had left much of an impression, but for some reason during this second viewing I was inspired to pursue filmmaking. I now consider the special edition one of Cameron's best works.

What is the best thing about being one?

I love the idea of creating a world. It can be identical to the real world, or you can make it wholly unique and strange. Working with talented people to bring this world and the characters that inhabit to life is such an amazing and gratifying feeling it's hard to put into words.

What is the worst thing about being one?

I absolutely hate the development stage. Primarily trying to find funding. It's something you're never taught how to do and is a very complicated process. I was always told after you successfully complete a feature film it gets easier. Not so. At least not in my experience. Though the recession could be to blame for that since it was in 2008, and it was at this time I started working on finding funding for my second feature film.

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

Of my own released projects nine and that includes my feature and short films. I have helped on a lot of other projects though.

Who is your favorite filmmaker?

I have several. James Cameron is a big one. He's probably the best at directing action films. You have a lot of directors who use close shaky shots to try and create action, but Cameron has this amazing ability to just pull back and let you see things in long shots and they are much more effective than not seeing what's going on in close-up. David Lynch is another. His stuff is so creepy and beautiful to look at. I think one of the most artistic directors at the moment is Darren Aronofsky. While it wasn't a box office winner for him, The Fountain is probably one of the most brilliant films of the past decade.

How has your life changed since you became a filmmaker?

It really hasn't. I still have a day job because filmmaking doesn't pay the bills. I've lived in the same home with my wife since 2005. The only big difference is we've had one son with another on the way.

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

Keep at it. You will be discouraged and want to quit, but if you're truly passionate about filmmaking keep at it. Write if you can or do shorts. Just keep at it.

What do you like to do besides filmmaking?

I like all forms of entertainment. Music, computer games and television. Reading. But most of my free time these days is focused on spending time with my family.

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

I've had several different types of day jobs but for the last eight years I've worked as a freelancer. This allows me more free time to pursue filmmaking when I want.

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

I've already mentioned The Abyss and The Fountain. I love Amelie. Lynch's Twin Peaks was brilliant except for that middle portion of season two. I'm in the "love it" came with Lost, and I think Fringe is probably one of the best shows on television now.

How would you describe your film education?

I went to Columbia College in Chicago. I'd say it was a typical education. Most of the instructors worked in their fields so that was really helpful.

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

That's hard to say since I'm not really involved in that scene. I sort of do my own thing. It's nowhere near as big as LA or New York, but we do have a lot of talented filmmakers and actors here.

How has social media changed the independent film industry?

Social media allows for indie filmmakers a greater chance of getting their work out there. It's still really hard to interest people who are used to big budget Hollywood pictures to low budget films, but with social media makes it a little easier to have your work discovered.

What's your opinion on crowdfunding?

I like the concept of it, and we're trying it for our current project. (Kickstarter campaign is still going on at http://kck.st/nTSG44.) The big appeal is that you don't have investors or distributors to answer to. People invest in your project because they believe in what you're doing and want to be a part of it and not from a business standpoint. They believe in what you're doing and your only responsibility is to not disappoint them, but you can make your film any way you see fit.

How does independent film differ from the mainstream?

The only major difference is indie filmmakers don't have to play it as safe as mainstream films because we're not working with $100+ million budgets. Very few mainstream films are willing to challenge the audience because they have so much invested in their projects. As a low budget filmmaker I have more freedom to try and challenge the audience, and try and create something unique.

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

Touch of Evil without a doubt. I would love to see how Wells directed that opening ten minutes as a single shot with cameras of that era.

What is your opinion on movie remakes and sequels?

Sequels are okay if they are expanding on the original story and not there just to capitalize on it. Remakes are just stupid. Not only is it an insult to the original film and the talented people that made it, it also shows a complete lack of creativity on the part of those remaking it.

What is your opinion on book to movie adaptions?

If it can be done well I have no problem with it. I even worked with an author in adapting one of his books, and while it was looked at by some people in the industry it never happened. The main reason for this was because in the third act the stories focus shifts to a secondary character for a while and they didn't like that. But in the context of this story it worked and I wouldn't change it. Not to say I'm even remotely like Hitchcock, but it's sort of like Janet Leigh in Psycho. She was the biggest name in that film, and what does Hitchcock do? He kills her off in the first forty minutes completely throwing the audience off. We weren't doing anything that bold, but it was necessary for the character in the adaptation to become secondary for a time.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Support indie filmmakers because that's where you're going to find truly original content. It may not have the gloss of Hollywood, but they can be much more rewarding.

Andrew Sempere: Artist/Design Researcher/Trustee Of The Boston Awesome Foundation

Andrew lives and works in Boston MA, as a full time Design Researcher for IBM's Collaborative User Experience Group / Center for Social Software, an instructor and artist. He holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Masters of Science from the MIT Media Lab. Andrew is also a trustee of the Boston Awesome Foundation.

Andrew's works have been seen at venues around the US and Canada, including the Bumbershoot Music Festival, Siggraph, Boston Cyberarts, and the 7th Manifestation Internationale Vidéo et Art Électronique.

What is the current project you are working on?

Right now I am working on some "serious games" for my employer, IBM Research. I was part of a team that included myself, a researcher at our lab and two amazing interns from the Carnagie Mellon University Entertainment Technology Center. The games are an attempt to introduce game concepts to some basic work processes (training on new software, thinking differently about time management). This is a "hot thing" right now, but a lot of companies are applying "gamification" in a pretty shallow way to processes that are really just work and should stay that way.  Fish oil is fish oil no matter how much sugar you put in it. But games and game design has a number of concepts that work well if you look for how they can complement what you're doing already.

 How do you measure success?

There are lots of different kinds of success. I'm pretty hard on myself to be honest, and I don't' think most of what I've done is successful, but that's not very satisfying. If I can change one person's perception even just a little bit, then I'm happy. This is especially true for my art projects. A lot of people react to new and unfamiliar situations with bluster. Some kind of atavistic reaction, they get cranky, puff up and tend to dismiss things out of hand. One of my favorite stories was when we were performing The Jackal Project on Newbury Street in Boston. A man came by and pretty much demanded, loudly, "what we thought we were doing here."  I spoke to him for a bit and invited him inside to a workshop where we were hacking old toys into strange sculptures. He ended up spending three or four hours and left with his own sculpture and a big smile. That was a success.

(more on the jackal project: http://andrewsempere.org/tangentlab/Jackal/index.cfm)

 How do you handle rejection?

Emotionally, I react to rejection that way everyone does (even if they don't admit it). I hate it! Why can't the world see what a genius I am? After that passes the truth is that if you aren't being rejected, you aren't trying hard enough. There is a myth around creative work in particular that it just appears, fully formed and wonderful, but it's really a long, difficult process, and rejection is part of this. If an idea is rejected it's not bad, it's just not ready yet, so I put it on the shelf and keep it for later.

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

Very hard to count. Lots :D

What exactly is The Awesome Foundation?

Here's an article in the Globe: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/930604/Oct10_Globe_AwesomeFoundation.pdf

The Awesome Foundation is not an actual foundation, but it's very much a real group. The idea is pretty simple: there are awesome things happening in our community that need a little bit of a kick. Not a lot, just a little... in our case it's $1,000  and as much good word of mouth as we can provide. The money comes out of our pockets and goes directly to the recipients, there is no paperwork, no contracts or official agreements, it's basically just a gift. There is a group of about 10 trustees (in our case we have 12, it's a long story), each of whom provides $100 into the pot. We grant one award per month. The devil is in the details, of course, the trustee meetings are long and involve a lot of back and forth, but it's one of the only organizations I've been a part of where the meetings are not formalities -we really *are* debating what is awesome. For me, this is the best part of being involved - getting a chance to see all of the wacky wonderful ideas that people come up with and meet regularly with a small crew of folks who want good things to happen around them.

 What is your role in The Awesome Foundation?

I am one of the trustees of the Boston chapter, so I put in $100 a month, attend the meetings and do my best to promote the projects we select.

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

I'm speaking mostly about art and technology - I'm sure it's different for painting or ceramics, or other practices, but I find

Boston a strange and often frustrating town with respect to the art scene. We are sandwiched between New York (which has a ton of diversity) and Providence (which is cheaper and has more space than Boston, so it supports a lot more alternative art spaces) Which is not to say that Boston doesn't have an art scene, it does, but it's a lot smaller than you might think. In addition, it tends to be dominated by the schools in the area - so there tends to be a micro-scene around the music schools, another around the technical schools, another around the art schools. It's a little strange to me how balkanized it is, but I think in part it's because space is so damned expensive in this city. In cities like Chicago, or Detroit or even Providence, it's relatively easy to find a large industrial space and turn it into a gallery. There's a little more breathing room. As far as I know, for the last ten years or so, there has been exactly one gallery in the whole Boston area that does anything regularly around art and technology. It's a good gallery, and I'm happy it exists, but we need at least ten more. For now I mostly show outside of Boston, even though it's my home and I love it.

 You could go back in time and see and piece of art being made. Which  would it be and why?

So many to chose from! I'm going to cheat a little - it's not a piece exactly - but I would love to spend a day hanging out in NYC in the late 60s. I'd love to visit Warhol's factory. I'd love to hang out at the Chelsea hotel, have dinner with Patti Smith, see Velvet Underground perform. This is almost cliched now, but the thing is that "scenes" are only scenes in retrospect - I think it would be amazing to see that from the inside, on the ground, as it unfolded, before it became a "thing." In art school, as a designer trying to make art and an artist trying to be a designer, a good friend gave me a copy of "The philosophy of Andy Warhol: from A to B and back again." She still calls me "A" and I call her "B..."  but that book helped me see that you could play on the boundaries. Not copying Warhol, it's been done and it's tired, but trickster in that way. That would be fun.

Do you believe in life on other planets?

It seems unlikely that earth is completely alone in the entire universe. If the life on other planets isn't as intelligent as us, we'll probably enslave it. If it's smarter, it's probably a good idea for it to hide. That's how I imagine it - aliens hiding on the backsides of planets, watching YouTube and rolling their eyes at us.

 What's your favorite movie quote and why?

I love movies, I really do. I almost never watch TV, but there was a time I was watching at least two feature films a day. Not that much anymore, but I still make heavy use of my Netflix account. Even so, I'm not sure I have a favorite movie quote, that would be really hard.

 Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you for the interview :D

Ryan and Theresa Pickett

 

Theresa Meeker is an Italian-American actress who appeared in several films and print work as well as commercials. She hails from Williamson County, Tennessee although she was raised on the archipelago of Sumatra, Indonesia by mother Judith Meeker and father Dr. William Meeker MD. She studied film and television acting at Michael Howard Studios as well as Larry Singer Studios in New York City. She received a BA in History from Flagler College of St. Augustine, Florida and she is pursuing a Master of Education in elementary education at Vanderbilt University Peabody College of Education with several scholarships in 2011. She is married to director Ryan Pickett and she was recently voted one of the best “Real Housewives of Nashville” by Village Voice media owned Nashville Scene. 



Ryan Pickett is a Nashville, Tennessee based nationally-recognized entrepreneur and filmmaker. Ryan directed, produced and co-wrote avant-garde multi-award winning film “Look” using the RED ONE 4K. Ryan had a small role in “Look” as a photographer who photographs a model played by a woman who later became his wife, Theresa Meeker.

“Look,” which has won awards in the Accolade Competition and Best Shorts Competition, was Ryan's second short film. The very first film that Ryan made “You Only Loved Me Twice” as well as his business proposal helped him beat out thousands of others across the world and earned him a top 5 finalist spot in the film entrepreneurship competition the Race to BE hosted by Russell Simmons at Sony Picture Studios in Los Angeles.

Ryan hails from Baltimore, Maryland although he was raised in Germany by father George Pickett, who was a member of the USA Olympic Weightlifting Team in the 1968 Olympics, Mexico City, as well as by mother Cheryl Pickett. Ryan studied acting at Stella Adler Studio of Acting in Los Angeles. He has worked for major entertainment corporations, including Playboy, Henninger Productions, Washington Redskins, Ascent Media, Film House and Gibson. He has freelanced on numerous film projects and he appeared in “Arrested Development” and “Strong Medicine” television shows.

Ryan concentrated on film directing at Watkins College of Art, Design & Film. He received a BA in English Language and Literature at University of Maryland, College Park and he is currently living in the Hillsboro Village district of Nashville, TN. He was recently voted one of the best visual artists of Nashville as well as Nashville’s best filmmaker by Village Voice Media owned Nashville Scene.

What is the current project you are working on?

Currently working on a feature length script (Ryan).

I’ve been looking at some commercial spec competitions, while Ryan and I will post anything new that we do on ryanpickettproductions .com (Theresa).

How do you define success?

Being happy with what you do (Ryan).

How do you handle rejection?

Move on (Ryan).

What inspired you to become involved in the film industry?

A love for movies (Ryan).

I loved reading when I was little. Some of my favorite books, such as Matilda, which I read dozens of times, were made into movies. I wanted to see the actors reacting the way I envisioned them from reading about them, and I decided to be an actress so I could interpret a script the way I imagined it happening (Theresa).

What is the best thing about creating/working on a film?

Seeing your ideas brought to life (Ryan).

What is the worst thing about it?

Budget (Ryan and Theresa).

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

I’ve written and directed two short films, including "Look" and "You  Only Loved Me Twice", which you can read more about on IMDb as well as at ryanpickettproductions.com, while I’ve worked on numerous other films (Ryan).

I’ve been in a few commercials and several short films as well as two features (Theresa).




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

Hold out for the right part. Some wannabe actors don’t realize that taking the wrong part really can encourage people not to take them seriously later on (Theresa).

What do you like to do besides filmmaking?

Play guitar and weightlift (Ryan).

Travel and go running (Theresa).

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

Amadeus and Salt, while Ryan and I watch a lot of vampire shows, such as Vampire Diaries (Theresa).

How would you describe your film education?

I studied Film and TV acting with casting director Gabrielle Berberich at Michael Howard Studios as well as stage acting with Larry Singer at Larry Singer Studios and I took a film course at Flagler College in St. Augustine. Most of my film education came from being on set and networking with filmmakers, such as Ryan, who had extensive collections of movies to watch (Theresa).

I watched a lot of movies and went to school for film (Ryan).

What is the casting process like?

It’s nerve-racking for me since I’m an actress. Several acting mentors told me to think that an audition is just a meeting, although I get pretty nervous to have someone sizing me up and deciding whether I fit the part. The best part of having been in the industry for several years is often some of the people holding the audition are people I have met before, which helps me relax and focus (Theresa).

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

Nashville, Tennessee has some successful music video directors as well as some indie filmmakers who just don’t realize that their filmmaking careers might never happen if they stay here. There are a lot of creative people here but the industry for filmmaking isn’t very good. Ryan and I are here for my Master of Education program at Vandy, which has the number one program in the nation for education, while we know that if we want to take the film industry seriously we’ll have to go somewhere else (Theresa).

Pretty weak (Ryan).

How has social media changed the independent film industry?

Makes it easier to get your film seen (Ryan).

What's your opinion on crowdfunding?

I’m not really into it (Ryan).

It seems kind of like being a sales person, which takes away from the creative freedom filmmakers should have when developing their film. I’d think it’s little cheesy to have to ask all your friends for money on Facebook and twitter (Theresa).

How does independent film differ from the mainstream?

Smaller budget, lesser known actors (Ryan).

Doing a lot of your own PR (Theresa).

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

"Citizen Kane" because it had some of the best acting as well as directing and writing in movie history, while it was so revolutionary for its time (Ryan).

What is your opinion on movie remakes and sequels?

Some are good. Some aren’t (Ryan).

What is your opinion on book to movie adaptions?

Sometimes book to movie adaptations work, although I’ve been let down by some in the past. I’ve got high hopes for Hugo directed by Martin Scorsese. "Hugo" is based on the book "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" written by author Brian Selznick, which has a lot of illustrations and reminds me of a flipbook, while the way the illustrations zoom in to show different perspectives and reveal movement looks very inspired by the way an audience might view a movie (Theresa).

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Visit ryanpickettproductions.com

Dr. Chris Radio of Horror

Dr Chris has been sharing his knowledge of Sci-Fi/Horror since October 15th, 2007 but is only now taking his show to the internet. Chris and his cohort(s) will be bringing you all the latest, greatest and most random of news. Check out his show at WCUW.org. Read his blog at http://radioofhorror.wordpress.com/

What is the current project you are working on?

Currently working on a kids Halloween book, and preparing for Rock and Shock a Horror convention that my show will be broadcasting at. In Nov I have Killer Film Fest.

How do you handle rejection? 

HUH?? What do you mean like with woman??

Did you always want to create your own radio show?

I got the idea after putting on a horror themed film fest to raise money for charity

 What inspired you to create your show?

DJ's Kevin Barbare and Mike Shu of Waaf, and Horror Hosts of the past.

 What is the best thing about having your own show?

The guests the massive amount of stuff people send you

 What is the worst thing about having one?

Trying to find guests sometimes can be very very hard

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

10, too many to name upcoming ones include a live broadcast at Rock and Shock, a children's book, and Killer Film Fest.

 Who is your favorite filmmaker?

Steven Speilberg, Wes Craven, Kevin Smith, John Carpenter, George Lucas.

 How has your life changed since you started your show?

It is a every week challenge, lots of good some bad, but lots of fun. The show has given me a new sense of purpose.

 What is one piece of advice you can give to someone who also wants to start their own show?

Don't quit unless they cancel you.

What do you like to do besides doing your radio show?

Spend time with my son, collect comic books, play video games, go to poetry readings, watch Horror Movies.

Have you had any other jobs before you decided to become create your show?

too many lol

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

My fav TOP 5 American films are in this order

12 Angry Men

Star Wars Episode 4 A new Hope

Halloween

ET

Airplane

Foreign films

7 Samurai

Gojira (Godzilla)

Vampire Hunter D

My number one fav TV show of all time beating anything that comes before it or after it is

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000

 How would you describe your  education?

High school, a little collage I never completed

How do you choose what guests will be on your show?

Based on who I can track down at the time

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

Calming, or terrifying

 How has social media helped your show?

O god yes its a horror to think how they did it years ago before the internet

How has social media hindered your show?

None

 How does independent film differ from the mainstream?

Sometimes has more heart in it

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

Most likely the first Halloween, cuz it was made with such heart and soul, and its the original independent horror movie

 What's your favorite  quote and why? 

"Freedom is the right of all Sentient Beings".

Said by Optimus Prime, it's soo true it make me never want to bow to tyranny or oppression.

 What is your opinion on movie remakes and sequels?

TOO MANY FUCKING HORROR REMAKES, some are ok and warranted

What is your opinion on book to movie adoptions?

Its ok Lord of the Rings, The Girl with the Dragon tattoo, comics they have there ups and downs

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Working on 91.3 fm wcuw in Worcester MA on my show has been a blast I love it and hope to have a career made of it.

Thanks for doing the interview Chris.  It will be nice to meet you at The Killer Film Festival.  I'll be sure to spread the word about your show.