Film Profile:

What are some of the highs & lows of the film making process ? The highs of the film making process are nothing without the lows.  So it takes a unique person to want to be apart of the process and career journey.  Depending what your interests are, you need to have a passion for the projects you are a part of and be prepared to support the creative team in any way. In development when the project is in its infancy, the highs are when a bankable actor, a produced writer agrees to do revisions or an established director joins the creative team.  The next high point is when a financing source values the creative package and steps up to finance the production budget, the costs of the photography.  From reading the script to getting financing, however, there is always more rejection than acceptance when trying to get creative partners in the way of actors, writers or directors.  These are the lows.  But your determination and the excitement of getting your stars (and financing) alligned is what keeps you moving forward.  After the money comes into place and you set out to make your film, there are many more highs and lows.  Things never run smoothly.  You have to anticipate problems and even then, your principal role as part of the production team is to actively problem solve.  These problems can be lows, but finding the solution to each problem is the high, and the rush that people who truly love the filmmaking process enjoy the most.

You are making a large film project What are some of the challenges or advantages you faced in getting films seen & distributed? When you are making a large film many of the problems of making an independent films go away.  But large budget/studio films present a whole different bag of problems.  You don't have a problem when it comes to cutting deals with locations, equipment vendors, and having all the necessary crew.  You have the ability to really concentrate on the actors and deligate the other technical responsibilites to capable individuals who are in unions that sort of validate their expertise.  You have the ability to shoot in locations that you would otherwise not afford.  However, with a larger budget investors want a return on that investment.  The film is like a factory that is making one widget, the film.  So there are multiple managers who make sure that that widget comes out a certain way so that the customers/demographic that they want it to appeal to will consume it.  Sometimes there are major challenges between the money/studio and the creative team who have slightly or drastically different visions of what the film should be.   This can be challenging to make sure that everybody is happy.   In terms of distribution, often times with a larger film the distribution is already in place.  The studio has a date and number of theaters that they have earmarked for the film provided what they set out to make ends up on film.  But you never know if the movie magic will happen and if that film will end up on the big screen or go straight to video.

Do You think the current state of the global economy will have an adverse impact on filmmaking & funding for films? Yes, the global economy will have an impact on feature film making.  It has always been a global industry with most major productions originating out of Hollywood California.  But this landscape has changed and you see more and more audiences from different parts of the globe.  And in these places ticket prices are rising due to the establishing of vibrant economies and the strengthening of local currencies.  Major Hollywood films always have an international component so that the film will play globally.  This is a very necessary piece of the blockbuster puzzle is knowing that you will be getting a return in multiple territories.  Also, there are quite a few films that are financed on preselling territories.  A producer will get his creative team together and then shop this package to different sales reps for different distributors for different contries.  Many films are financed this way.

Do you think the lack of major budgets for films will push the documentary film based approach more to the forefront? Documentaries have always served as a way for a filmmaker to show perspective.  They have grown to become viable entertainment to wider audiences with filmmakers like Michael Moore.  However, I don't see the lack of financing out there as a reason for documentaries to replace traditional dramatic fiction or non-fiction storytelling.  People will continue to consume films based on their interest in the genre or subject and the financiers' ways of peaking that interest to buying a ticket with their marketing campaigns.

Or will technology & shooting at global locations with inexpensive labor take the big budget out of big budget films?
I am not a technological expert, so I can't really speak on the digital revolution.  At the moment 35mm film is still the standard for major motion pictures.  However, certain filmmakers and certainly TV productions have already taken the step toward digital.  But that step in big budget motion pictures has not proved to be that cost effective or that great of savings just yet.  But, filmmakers and financiers are very cost sensitive, and they do look very closely at their international options when choosing a primary location for their principle photography.  When looking at a proposed location there is great analysis on costs of crew labor in that country, how much variety the country offers in terms of terrains and matches in terms of the intended location in the script, and government tax incentives and rebates also play an enormous part.  These choices save productions millions of dollars, but we are talking 20% or 30% but when you are talking about $100mm dollars it means that they'd be spending $80mm.  So these budgets remain high but discounted.

What do you see in the future of global film making with the continuous successes & cross overs of International films to the US market?
I know that there is an enormous international audience growing in so many territories.  These audiences in emerging markets are consuming films.  And Hollywood is listening more and more.  In terms of casting you see international stars that do well in certain territories placed in large motion pictures to attract audiences in territories where their star power is high.  You also see more international themes coming out of Hollywood.  There are also an increasing number of international films that have swept through the United States and have appealed and done well with American audiences.  Take "Taken" for example.  Although the film was primarily English, it was shot principally in France, with a couple of weeks in California.   And the French filmmakers Luc Besson (producer and writer) and Pierre Morel (director) struck a chord not just in the United States, but also throughout the rest of the world with the film.  The film was actually released to the rest of the world one year before it opened in U.S. theaters.

How does your life experiences effect or influence your approach to film making & the stories you want to tell?
I think filmmaking all goes back to perspective.  Filmmakers want to entertain and also have a voice.  And that voice is their perspective.  All great filmmakers make choices to help the world see their perspective.  All stories that I hope to tell are strong on entertainment or strong on perspective or a nice balance.  Great films have that balance.

What are some of the projects you have worked on?
"Snapped" (a tiny independent), "Chelsea Walls," "Kingdom of Heaven," "The Ninth Gate," "Picasso and Braque Go to the Movies"

What future projects do you have coming up or are looking forward to working on?
-"Scarpa"Antoine Fuqua director production supervisor
-Unannounced comic book invigoration
-"When She Never Finds Out" writer/director short

What advice would you give to future filmmakers?
Find your path.  Everyone's is different.

If you had limitless budget –what film would you make & why?
If I had a limitless budget, I would put it toward a project I am currently developing.  It's an invigoration of a comic book.  And it would be pure entertainment.  Just a fun popcorn film that I think people would enjoy the ride.