The famous actor comes to Herman in a dream, convincing him to make his feature “Bear Naked Amazonians from Mars.” If he makes the deadline, the film will take Best Feature at South by Southwest, making Herman an international celebrity.

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I was inspired by No Wave film  –  a movement from  NYC 1976-1982. In this style, you shoot it now. Before you even have a complete understanding of the story. You blast your way into the production and trust instincts. I thought this would be a great departure from my first narrative film, in which I was much more careful. I think in the future I will return to a more traditional, methodical plan, having learned what I needed in the process of making a No Wave inspired film. 

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you  to make this film?

18 weeks and two days from the first day of writing to the last shot of principal photography, then 18 months of editing and graphics, VFX, etc. 

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Hope High

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Other than time and money? Personalities. If even one cast member is not doing an indie film for the love of it, but rather from the money or career advancement it might bring, the whole cast and crew gets infected with negativity. 

5. There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development. 
Pre-Production. Production. Post-Production. Distribution.

What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process?

I do not have one. each of these stages in an entire film making process on its own. 

Distribution is my least favorite though.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

There is loving films – which happened at a Towering Inferno / MASH double feature. I was 12. it was my birthday and I wanted to see Towering Inferno. My friends and I stayed for MASH by Robert Altman. Even at 12 I understood I was seeing something powerful. Something truly important. 

But I spent my life as a musician and music producer, and it was not till my late 40s that I switched to film as a sound recordist and composer. Then I decided to try film and it clicked for me.

7. What film have you seen the most times in your life?

Manhattan, City Of Lost Children, Lawrence of Arabia, Chinatown, Wings Of Desire. Many others. I often watch the first twenty minutes of movies over and over again. To learn how they set up the story.

8. In a perfect world: Who would you like to work with/collaborate with  on a film?

Geez. I have worked with SAG actors and I always have trouble with them.

My greatest fear is to work with an A lister and spend the shoot dealing with their personalities.  

I think I would have to make the audition process a time to figure out if I actually like this person. 

I did a film with Tim Roth once. I like him. Tm Roth I would make a movie with again.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your  experiences been working on the festival platform site?

There are a lot of “scammy” festivals. Grey area tricks like one company will own multiple festivals. they will on ly pick you for one of them, but you accidentally apply for all of them. That’s a grey area. Other festivals have different names and different notice dates but the event date and location is the exact same spot. That’s a scam as well. Online is kinda a scam. Frankly, I was recently appointed as a director of a festival and I am trying to change the entire format to better suit filmmakers and revenue.

Filmmakers do not need 4-walls for their films. They need footage of them talking about their film and others talking about their film they can use for social media. And they need awards. Semi-, Finalist, Honorable mention, best actor, best actress, etc. My plan is to award more certificates for more categories but leave the Best of the Festival as a real trophy. and I plan to switch from four-walling films to showing clips and a panel discussion. Then I will four-wall just the winners only. what do you think?

10. What is your favorite meal?

Any meal with my wife. 

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I wrote a larger budget film script and a children’s book that I illustrated as well. Now I am working on a new script for a low budget horror comedy that we can shoot next fall. That and scoring a feature for another film.

Let’s hope we all stay bust. 

cheers