SYS Episode 328
This week Ashley Scott Meyers interviews filmmaker Neasa Hardiman.
Topics include how she started in other areas of the film industry, and Sea Fever (2019), a Sci-Fi Horror movie of which she is the Writer-Director.
Neasa Hardiman's other credits include Directing the hit Netflix series Jessica Jones.
SYS Episode 324
This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with Director/Writer/Cinematographer Benjamin Kasulke. His credits include being the Director of Banana Split (2018). Benjamin goes into detail about landing that job and also talks about working as a Cinematographer on acclaimed indie films such as Safety Not Guaranteed (2012).
Safety Not Guaranteed was produced by Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass, with a cast including Aubrey Plaza and Jake Johnson.
Ever wonder what you get from the ISA's Connect membership? Take 10 minutes and join Craig James in all of the details and unique benefits that come from the ISA's inexpensive, $10/month upgraded membership - benefits that Basic members do not receive. Here's your chance to get to know all about what you may not know yet.
SYS Episode 323
This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with Jon Adler.
Jon Adler co-wrote and produced the Thriller Dead Sound (2018) which is based on a horrific true story he and his friends endured.
He goes into detail about the real events and how they made that vision into a movie.
SYS Episode 322
This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with filmmaker Philip Harder. The focus is his latest credit, being the Writer/Director of the Drama Tuscaloosa (2019). The cast of this movie includes Natalia Dyer (Stranger Things - Netflix TV Series), Tate Donovan and Devon Bostick. Philip Harder also talks about adapting Tuscaloosa from the novel written by Glasgow Phillips.
SYS Episode 321
This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with Filmmaker Brando Benetton.
Brando's credits include writing and directing the short Nightfire (2020). They talk about this action/thriller and how Brando was able to make a lot of production value on a budget.
SYS Episode 320
This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with Actor/Director Eric Etebari about his latest Action / Adventure movie Emerald Run (2020).
Topics include how taking an acting class changed his life and how Directors can create a "Performance Environment" on set.
I can’t tell you how excited I am for today’s episode. I had the pleasure to speak to the legendary director Barry Sonnenfeld. We discuss his idiosyncratic upbringing in New York City, his breaking into film as a cinematographer with the Coen brothers, and his unexpected career as the director behind such huge film franchises as The Addams Family and Men in Black, and beloved work like Get Shorty, Pushing Daises, and A Series of Unfortunate Events. We also chat about the time he shot nine porno films in nine days. That story alone is worth the price of admission.
In his new book Barry Sonnenfeld, Call Your Mother: Memoirs of a Neurotic Filmmaker shares his laugh-out-loud memoir about coming of age. Constantly threatened with suicide by his over-protective mother, disillusioned by the father he worshiped, and abused by a demonic relative, Sonnenfeld somehow went on to become one of Hollywood’s most successful producers and directors.
His book is written with poignant insight and real-life irony, the book follows Sonnenfeld from childhood as a French horn player through graduate film school at NYU, where he developed his talent for cinematography. His first job after graduating was shooting nine feature-length pornos in nine days. From that humble entrée, he went on to form a friendship with the Coen Brothers, launching his career shooting their first three films.
Though Sonnenfeld had no ambition to direct, Scott Rudin convinced him to be the director of The Addams Family. It was a successful career move. He went on to direct many more films and television shows. Will Smith once joked that he wanted to take Sonnenfeld to Philadelphia public schools and say,
“If this guy could end up as a successful film director on big-budget films, anyone can.”
His book is a fascinating and hilarious road map for anyone who thinks they can’t succeed in life because of a rough beginning.
Barry Sonnenfeld’s philosophy is,
“Regret the Past. Fear the Present. Dread the Future.”
This EPIC conversation is almost two hours and had me on the floor laughing one minute and in absolute shock the next. This is by far one of my favorite interviews I have ever done on the show.
So sit back, grab a drink and enjoy my conversation with Barry Sonnenfeld.
Note: This is an Indie Film Hustle Podcast episode I wanted to share with you. Be safe out there.
Too many screenwriter’s thinking is based on two months ago. They believe that the world will go back to exactly how it was before on this pandemic blows over. That might be true and I truly hope it does but hope alone will not pay the rent. Our industry is going through an unprecedented shift. If I may quote the Ghostbusters,
Dr. Peter Venkman: This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.
Mayor: What do you mean, “biblical”?
Dr Ray Stantz: What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath-of-God type stuff.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Exactly.
Dr Ray Stantz: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies. Rivers and seas boiling.
Dr. Egon Spengler: Forty years of darkness. Earthquakes, volcanoes…
Winston Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together – mass hysteria.
We as screenwriters need to start thinking about how we can pivot your business, writing skills, and knowledge into the new reality that we are living in and very well might be in for some time to come.
Things that already are pivoting in the film industry:
You have to think about what your customer needs are right now and address them. The companies that are sitting on the sidelines fearful of making any moves will be left behind. You as filmmakers need to change your mindsets. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Entire new industries will rise from this turmoil and if you are smart you will be ready to be a part of the new world.
In this episode, I breakdown some side hustles that will help filmmakers and screenwriters not only survive the pandemic but thrive in the new world we will be walking into.
I go into more detail in the episode. Think outside the box because the box you knew is not coming back. It will be a new box. Don’t be Blockbuster Video and fight to keep what you know while you reject the reality of what is.
Stay safe out there.