From the moment I saw Indiana Jones leap through a bundle of cobwebs to escape a rolling boulder, I knew I wanted to make movies. My feelings were only reinforced as I grew up—making movies with my family, watching “Close Encounters” at the Cinerama, or “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” in Factoria.
This may all seem like useless information and backstory, but it serves a purpose. Steven Spielberg famously said he wanted to (and, for a while, did as a teen) quit filmmaking after seeing “Lawrence of Arabia.” He thought he would never be able to top that. I believe every artist has had that experience, stemming from jealousy, low self-esteem, or sheer admiration for another’s work.
Whenever I watch a movie, a part of me asks, “What makes you think you are different? What do you bring to the table?” So, I have contemplated this a lot. I often find my style too broad. I love creating Rom Coms just as much as I enjoy making horror films. What does that say about me?
I’ve come to the conclusion that it indicates my passion for filmmaking. I’ve never doubted that I wanted to write and direct movies, not even for a moment.
I aim to improve the medium, stripping away everything that makes it “show business” and just making it “show.”
Hollywood is too stuck in the old ways of doing things, from budget to lighting to distribution. Rarely does anyone ask why it’s done a certain way; it’s always just “Well, it’s always been done that way.”
I want to focus on utilizing new technology and a process that I call Guerrilla Filmmaking to create movies faster, cheaper, and provide a better experience for the crew. In my opinion, making movies should be just as enjoyable as watching them. Nothing has failed to prove this to me so far. With new technology and outside-the-box methods, we can eliminate aspects that make filmmaking an abusive experience.
Finally, I have two businesses (works in progress) that aim to improve the distribution end of things. A production company to produce films with like-minded individuals and a new type of digital service that will hopefully bridge the gap between corporate streaming services and direct-to-video mid-budget movies. More on that in the future.
I guess what I bring to the table is ambition. It may sound kind of lame, but it is what it is.
