When did you realised you wanted to be a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?
From a very early age I started going to the movies and from the very first moment it was an incredible experience for me. When I was a child I usually played at making home movies, I have always been a big fan of films, photography and reading. Through reading I could develop a great imagination, besides having many references. In my teens I often missed classes to go to the movies I could watch 2 or 3 movies a day.
Do you remember your first time at the Movies?
Of course I do, I remember the impact of walking into a dark box with a giant screen where everyone was concentrating their attention to follow a story. It was a children's movie and I was really impressed with all the magic that moment meant.
If you should change country where would you like to work?
Another thing I love to do is to travel and I have been fortunate enough to be able to do so many times. Getting to know different cultures is also getting to know many new stories. I would love to work in different countries and be able to tell many of those stories that I have had the opportunity to know.
Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…
There are many films that have marked my life, I could not mention just two. But I remember with special attention and affection movies like: Twin Peaks, The birds, Enemy, Donnie Darko, among many other great movies.
What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?
There is no doubt that acquiring tools that make you a bigger and better artist will always be a positive thing, I can also point out that in some cases acting schools give you discipline. Although I also know that there are great actors who have not gone through any acting school. I believe that throughout life you should never stop learning.
Have you ever hated your ambition?
The cinema road is difficult and sometimes you can feel some kind of fear or demotivation, but I have never thought of walking away from this way.
Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was he right?
I admire Truffaut's work very much and I believe that cinema requires a degree of madness, obsession, passion and commitment to tell great stories.
Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?
Reality builder
Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?
Thinking of only two people is too difficult, I admire a lot the work of great directors like: Hitchcock, Kubrick, Lynch, Truffaut, Cuaron, Aronofsky, Villeneuve, among many others. I think I have learned a lot from all of them along with other great directors!
About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…
My biggest dream is to never stop making films and to strive to tell good stories. I don't know what my worst nightmare is, I don't think I think about it. In the worst moments I'm always willing to keep working, try something new and keep learning.
How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?
I think it is very important to generate language and have references, but I also think it is very important to learn from everything you can in life. All knowledge is a tool that in the future can be for your life and also to tell a good story in a reliable way.
What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?
Every job is really a new challenge. I think you should always be thinking of new ways to continue the work, whether it's improving technical equipment. Research in working with directing actors is something I'm also very interested in.
A big producer give you the chance to direct\to play (in) the remake of one of your favorite black and white Movie (if you have one)… what film do you choose?
The movie is in color but I love it the Birds by Alfred Hitchcock.
Film Industry it’s a tough place and sometimes is normal to feel lost and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated?
My partner in the production company Ignacio verdugo is the one I have always worked side by side with. Then we were joined by a new partner, the actor Italo Spotorno. Without a doubt, my greatest support is my work team.
Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film you need 3 things: The script, the script and the script". Do you agree with him?
I totally agree that a good script work makes it much easier to work and of course to get a good result. The script is the way forward for a whole team.
What’s your most ambitious project for the future?
Together with Ignacio Verdugo and Italo Spotorno we are working on the pre-production of an interesting feature film. We hope it will be the first of many that will allow us to grow as a production company Go.Films.
Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative?
Personally, I believe that all life experiences serve to grow, but the hardest experiences are clearly the ones that mark us and demand from us a greater capacity to overcome, therefore emotions like sadness clearly leave us something to say, which can be channeled as a creative process.
What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?
A man who never limits his imagination and the desire to tell stories with which he can reach different people. Considering that cinema is not only a means of entertainment, it could also be a way of making us better people. Furthermore, it can create a connection with people who are also with you, in the same room, at the same time. This happens as a result of the message transmitted by the film itself, which, in most cases, are similar to your reality.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/screenwriter?
Naturally I think I've always wanted to be a Writer-Director. In hindsight I feel like I was subconsciously acquiring a variety of skills that would help me once I got started. January of 2022 I wrote my first screenplay and fell in love with the writing process. Summer of 2022 I bought my first camera and directed a no budget sci-fi short in between work days. I loved directing equally as much and in the Fall I quit my Telecommunications job and started filmmaking full time. The rest is history.
How did your family react?
I've been really fortunate to have the friends and family that are around me. My brother is probably my biggest supporter and has been in my corner from the start. He was the first person to read anything I wrote and still reads my scripts. My parents didn't really understand what was happening in the beginning. Once they actually got to sit down and watch the films, they got it. They started to come around and now they are extremely supportive. Now they get all the writing, and drawing and running around like a chicken with your head cut off.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
Jack Kirby, easily. I don't think there's enough space in this section for me to do the King justice.
Who's your biggest fan?
I think it's too early for me to have a fan just yet. I believe the person who has liked my work the most is a tie between my brother and one of my good friends, Nicki. He can notice my style and catch my influences before anyone else, even in my drawings. He actually played one of the thugs in my film Safehouse and has a main role in our upcoming film “The Gallowed.”
What brings you inspiration the most?
Well I've had a paracosm since childhood. So I've always had full length movies playing in my head non-stop. I’d sit there in class and just watch movies in my head and draw them. I still use my paracosm to this day and that classroom habit has evolved into screenwriting and storyboarding.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
For actors that's an easy one, Shamier Anderson.
For the director I went back and forth over this for a while, Zack Snyder.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
I liked Oldboy the Korean adaptation better than the Manga, I also think Blade Runner is a solid example. Shawshank too.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
Good Time by the Safdie brothers. I would not have attempted to make my own film until I saw that movie. I love it and it inspired me to try to make a good movie regardless of what your money or resources are. It taught me to get out there and figure it out.
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
Nope and there have been some really rough days. I had an honest conversation with myself prior to jumping into filmmaking. I told myself that those worst case scenarios imaginable are probably going to happen and if I could accept them, then I could do this. So when those days came around, I took it on the chin and rolled with the punches. It's only part of the game.
On set what excites you the most?
Watching an actor bring a character to life in a way you didn't fully anticipate is something truly special and I’ll always cherish.
And what scares you the most ?
Not being able to finish bringing all of these stories to life. I have a long list of stories that I set out to make.
What's your next project?
I'm directing a short film called "The Gallowed" in September.
It's a Period Horror that follows a shipwrecked crew taking shelter from a malevolent storm in an abandoned Monastery.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
I would try to follow a similar path of Quentin Tarantino just in the sense that I have no training in any of the skills I use today. I didn't take a writing course, never went to film school or took an acting or art class. I wrote, produced, built props, acted, recorded video and sound and edited it all together out of the love of cinema. I just love films that much. Quentin built what he has today from his pure love of Cinema, that I can relate to.
An actor/director/screenwriter is made of....
Inhuman endurance and limitless willpower. Everything else you pick up along the way.
For you Cinema is....
I think Cinema is when someone tries to connect with the viewer through a story or through a character and communicate something that can't just be said with words alone. And in that pursuit a group of people come together and build the delivery system in which that message transforms into an experience. An experience that can entertain you, cause you to forgive someone, maybe even make you believe that you too can create stories.
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Yes for sure. One of my favorite films is a B&W jidaigeki called Harakiri from Masaki Kobayashi. I watch it once a year. I also think Faust the silent film from the 20s is still visually one of the coolest movies I've ever seen.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
No.
Do you think you're gonna win it?
No.
Do you prefer Comedy or Drama?
I like both when it's well acted and well written, but i particularly like tragicomedy and melodrama.
Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life?
Art cannot simply imitate life; art is a personal interpretation of truth and cannot compete with nature, just as nature cannot compete with art. Beauty lies in the order of nature as much as in our ability to interpret it through creation.
Which is the best Moment on set?
When we're all connected to each other without having to put too many words into it, when we feel the same vibration
Did anyone ever tell you weren't good enough?
Yes, and I'll always be learning. Compliments and criticism stimulate me. You have to welcome the opportunity to evolve but you also have to listen to your own intuition - that's the most important thing.
How can you stay focused on your goal?
My concentration comes from my need to create, i have this need deep inside me. Also i'm patient, i let time take its course, that doesn't stop me from staying focused
Have you ever had a breakdown because of your Job?
I have my ups and downs, it's part of the game, emotions come and go, i know how to master it and sometimes inspiration comes from melancholy.
Talent is a blessing or a curse?
I think talent is subjective, you can't please everyone, you have to be consistent, true, with yourself and if your point of view touches an audience, that's wonderful. I believe in perseverance and intuition.
What would you like to improve about yourself as a director?
I'm going to start by making my first feature film as well as I can, then work on my shortcomings. I think I'll never stop learning
What's the worst critic you have received?
I've never been weakened by a bad review, but maybe I will be, and I'll keep thinking that it should enrich my engine to keep creating.
If Cinema was a color what would it be?
A different color for each person watching the same film, it's the magic of cinema capable of awakening all colors depending on the emotional echo.
A day without a movie is...
I can go days without watching a film, but I can't go a day without thinking about a film. Sometimes i have to take the time to digest a film or to watch it again to see it from another angle.
If someone offered you to direct/write a movie that you despice
but that for sure will make you rich and famous...would you accept the job?
If i'm not free to turn a subject I despise into a result I like, yes, I would refuse
What's your greatest ambition?
My greatest ambition is to make a living from my passion, to enjoy creating with people I love, a kind of family.
What's your biggest fear?
My greatest fear is frustration, so i refuse to be afraid of undertaking
Does music helps you to direct?
I started directing in the music industry, i'm very sensitive to sounds in general and i love visualizing while listening to music. I think sound is as important as image.
You have the chance to make a Silent movie, what's your message to the
audience?
That we must never stop hoping and dreaming
Share your speech if you should win an Oscar.....
I don't like long blabla... I'd find myself boring. I'd go straight to the point and thank the people who put their trust in me, who helped me grow. My family, my dearest friends, my creative team, my agent and my producer.
When did you realize you wanted to be a Filmmaker?
It was natural for me to become a director for many reasons: first of all, I have been a producer of several Italian and foreign musical artists, from popular music to jazz, from ancient music to avant-garde.
Videos have always been a tool to take music even outside the usual contexts.
A second reason has to do with my activity as an experimental composer that also pushed me towards the “shores” of mixed music and experimental electronica. Yet I was very determined and I graduated in electronic music, composition and sound engineering.
Today my works – films, music, poetry - are shown all over the world.
Do you remember your first time at the Movies?
The first time I went to cinema I watched Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance an American experimental non-narrative film directed and produced by Godfrey Reggio with music composed by Philip Glass and cinematography by Ron Fricke.
I can just remember these words: "it's not for lack of love of the language that these films have no words. It's because our language is in a state of vast humiliation. It no longer describes the world in which we live."
If you should change country where would you like to work?
Japan, U.S.A., Korea. They are so fascinating to me...
Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…
"Blade Runner“ by Ridley Scott and "Dead Poets Society" with Robin Williams .
Have you ever hated your ambition?
No, I have never hated my ambition. I hated those who prevented me from achieving my objective.... But things are going differently…
Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was he right?
Film and music are the world of imagination….and imagination is against the world around us, which is surely sick.
Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?
"Dead Poets Society”, a film directed by Peter Weir. “Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary!” It is a real lesson of life.
Who’s the Director that taught you the most?
There are a lot of people that I deeply admire: R. Scott, S. Kubrick, Spielberg, Tim Burton, J.J. Abrams, Christopher Nolan.W. Ruttmann, Hans Richter, Viking Eggeling and Oskar Fischinger on the experimental side.
As for your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…
Meeting people that are assertive and non-blockers
How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?
I think a keen sensibility and a vivid imagination are necessary, even if you have a good film culture that, in my opinion, represents a good starting point.
What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker?
I would like to improve in time and people management, aspects which I think we should always try to improve.
A big producer gives you the chance to direct\to play (in) the remake of one of your favorite black and white Movie (if you have one)… what film would you choose?
Blade Runner, a 1982 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, inspired by the 1968 novel “The Android Hunter” by Philips K and “Dead Poets Society”, a film directed by Peter Weir.
Film Industry is a tough place and it is sometimes normal to feel lost and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated?
Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film you need 3 things: The script, the script and the script". Do you agree with him?
Sure, it's tough. Life is often tough. It is up to us to choose whether to make it hard by fulfilling our dreams or to make it hard by putting them aside.
I agree with Alfred Hitchcock, the script is fundamental but, to make a good movie, you need the script. Yet if you want to make a great movie you need the script, the actors, and the music. These three elements are indispensable.
What’s your most ambitious project for the future?
A series of 4 experimental films,it’s really avant-guardistic. The scripts are top secret for now..
Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative?
A film can probe different types of emotions, not exclusively sadness or melancholy. I love assertive movies.
What do you wish yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?
I would like to improve in time and people management, as I told before.
What's the absolutely necessary ingredient to be a good actor/director/screenplayer?
Well, I believe for each one of these jobs, being a child at heart is vital. Being flexible with your imagination is key with focus and discipline to pull it off. Now guts no glory.
First and last cinematographic crush?
Cinematographic crush, hum.... I'd have to say STAR WARS and in 1977, which blew me away as a 7 year old kid and currently to date, Steven Spierlberg's 1971 TV movie, DUEL um... THE FLASH because it brought me back to 1989s Micael Keaton's BATMAN, Tim Burton's masterpiece and Christopher Reeve, the best Superman.
How old were you when you decided you wanted to be an actor/director/screenplayer?
Growing up in Stuttgart, Germany, I had become a Bruce Lee fan at 13-14 yrs old, I wanted to be an actor, you can say I was much like Bruce Leroy, in the 80s cult favorite, THE LAST DRAGON, all the way down to the yellow and black, GAME OF DEATH, Jeet Kune Do tracksuit. I wanted to be an actor, but what I really wanted to be deep inside, but not knowing how to ever get there because it seemed impossible, was to be a writer director like George Lucs and Steven Spielberg. As a child, I was so impressed with George Lucus' wild fantasy about STAR WARS and Spielberg's DUEL TV movie reruns, that they were the catalyst for me to become an author, screenwriter and director. These important men influenced me as a filmmaker, in which my most current experimental feature film, starring Terrance Smith in JOKER'S WILD, LAST DAYS OF BRATTIX, a story about a soldier left behind in the ravages of WWIII, alone with his radio, he has to survive without losing his mind at the same time, is making it's film festival run.
For you a Film is...
For me, a film is simply a dream or nightmare on the big screen in real time that one can remember clearly as opposed to a natural dream or nightmare.
What do you feel when you're acting/directing/writing?
If I feel myself slipping into my right brain process of creativity, where there's a brief dismissal of the outside world. When I'm in that vacuum, the world I'm creating is literally real to me.
If you could go to the Movies with an actor/director/screenplayer that you
love. What kind of movie do you choose and with whom you're gonna watch it?
I'd have to go with old George Lucas and I would love to hear the stories from him as to how he went through the process of making TXH 1138, his film based on his award winning student thesis film at USC with the same title.
Audrey Hepburn used to say “Nothing is Impossible”, what do you think about it?
Yes, nothing is impossible, given the right perspective, one sees success. Success is in the eyes of the beholder, realy.
Can you live just on your passion?
Yes, I don't need millions of dollars of great power and authority, I simply need my art and an audience. At the end of the day, what is there, really?
What's more important, talent or luck?
Talent. Anyone can have luck.
You must go to a desert island but you can bring with you just one movie...
Steve Mc Queen's 1973 classic, PAPILLON, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner. This film would inspire me to never give up escaping from the island.
Have you ever accepted a part/ a movie to direct/ a script to write even
if you didn't like the project?
No, but given the situation, I would take the challenge.
What's the best compliment you have received about your Job?
I love when people compliment my created characters, feeling that they are believable. My job is done
Are you satisfied with your career?
No, I don't suppose I'll ever be satisfied because I'm always evolving as an artist, pushing forward.
Do you have a good luck charm?
No.
Which is the worst moment on set ?
When I am shooting the last scene.
How do you feel when a job you've been part of ends?
Sad.
Have you ever lied to get a part/job?
No need to.
If you should win an Oscar, your first thought would go to…
GREAT CAESAR'S GHOST! Mom and Pops, did it!
What's the absolutely necessary ingredient to be a good director
Patience and love
First and last cinematographic crush?
My first is North by Northwest and the last one is Bone Tomahawk
How old you were when you decided you wanted to be an director?
I was 22
For you a Film is…
A dream come true.
What do you feel when you're directing?
At home.
You can go to the Movies with an actor that you love. What kind of movie do you choose and with who you're gonna whatch it?
With Kurt Russel, And I choose The thing just to talk about his performance in New York 1997, and many other things
Audrey Hepburn used to say “Nothing is Impossible”, what do you think about it?
If it’s a mission, let’s talk with Tom Cruise.
I think like Audrey that nothing is impossible, if you want really something and you focus on it, you can have and achieve every thing. Your heart decide and your mind follow.
Can you live just of your passion?
Not for now
What's more important talent or luck?
Both. Talent is not enough and and as says Cervantes that the wheel of fortune turns faster than a mill-wheel.
You must go to a desert island but you can bring with you just one movie...
Carlito's Way
Have you ever accepted a movie to direct even if you didn't like the project?
No
What's the best compliment you have received about your Job?
I love your movie, super job, masterpiece
Are you satisfied about your career?
Work in progress.
Do you have a good luck charm?
Yes, my wife, Camille.
Which is the worst moment on set ?
What a great time to be lucky enough to make a film!
How do you feel when a job you've been part of it's ending?
No particular, life goes on
Have you ever lied to get a part/job?
I've undoubtedly been chatting to get a job
If you should win an Oscar your first taught would go to…
To the new generation, I hope that all my work, achievements will can give them the ways to make movie, to dare, because I’m from nowhere, and because I wanted it, I did it. I just followed the mark of others who inspired me, and like success leaves its marks, they could follow mine
Do you prefer Comedy or Drama?
I love comedy and find it comes naturally so drama is more challenging and I love to go deep into my emotions
Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life?
Art definitely imitates life
Which is the best Moment on set?
I love the whole process of costume and make up and stepping on set for the first time and meeting everyone. I also enjoy watching how others work, you can learn a lot from quiet observation.
Did anyone ever tell you weren't good enough?
I went to drama school relatively late in life I was 35 and a couple told me obviously you will have to lose weight for television and an agency who wanted me to sign for them said we don’t have any fat girls on our books yet. Not exactly what you want to hear but I didn’t let them influence me at all.
How can you stay focused on your goal?
It is not always easy to stay focused especially as a mum and wife and working to pay bills between acting jobs. I like to do courses or low paid projects just to be around creative people and that helps regenerate my focus.
Have you ever had a breakdown because of your Job?
I have never had a breakdown because of my job. I think starting later in life has helped keep me grounded. When I did Children of Men it was a great job with great actors but I still had to come home and cook fish fingers for my boys.
Talent is a blessing or a curse?
Talent is a blessing
What would you like to improve about yourself as an
actor/director/screenplayer?
Mourning Coffee was my first attempt I would like to do more in different genres. I would like to do a comedy and a horror film. At some point in my career I would like to direct but happy to be in front of camera right now.
What's the worst critic you have received?
This was during an opera (I was acting not singing) and director told me not to put any personality into the role and that the show was not about me. I felt hurt and thought that was what I was supposed to do but he wanted robots not creatives, but you learn to do what your director wants.
If you weren't an actor/director/screenplayer what would you like to be?
Honestly as a child I wrote and performed plays and danced it was part of my life and performing is in my blood. If I was not an actor I would have loved to be an Olympic gymnast or professional sports woman.
A day without a movie is...
A day without a movie is a day of reality
If someone offered you to play/direct/write in/a movie that you despice
but that for sure will make you rich and famous...would you accept the job?
This is an interesting question whether I would take a job that I despise,
I realise that there are certain jobs I would never do for various principles.
So no I would not accept the job, I do not care about fame and fortune I just want to earn my living being creative and doing something I love.
What's your greatest ambition?
My greatest ambition is to be a working actor but lead roles. I love film and television but you can’t beat the buzz of live theatre.
Does music helps you to play/direct, write?
Music is a great influence in my acting especially. I use it to help me focus on the emotions I need for the role.
You have the chance to make a Silent movie, what's your message to the
audience?
I love silent movies in fact Mourning Coffee is one. I kind of see myself as a female modern version of Charlie Chaplin so that I can portray stories without words. My message would be never judge a book by its cover and we are all human with our frailties and strengths and beauty
Share your speech if you should win an Oscar.....
An Oscar. That would be a great achievement. We all need to be recognised and appreciated by our peers and colleagues and others.
It is a sign of love and as people we all need that.
What's the essential ingredient to be a good director?
Vision. I believe being a visionary is crucial for a director—also the ability to lead.
How old you were when you decided you wanted to be a Director?
It was the 2000s. I found my passion for directing and the filmmaking process while producing a public awareness film Titled: Brothers Gonna Work It Out" funded by the City of New York.
For you a Film is...
Entertainment, Knowledge, Wisdom, and Understanding to name a few.
What do you feel when you're directing & writing?
I feel like I truly belong. The creative process is a fantastic feeling both on the witting and director's sides.
You can go to the Movies with a director that you love. What kind of movie do you choose and with who are you gonna watch it?
Director, Francis Ford Coppola – The Godfather
Audrey Hepburn used to say, "Nothing is Impossible," what do you think about it?
I think she’s correct. Nothing is impossible. The only limitations we have are the ones we put on ourselves.
Can you live just with your passion?
Yes, I've been doing just that over the past fifteen years. At some point in your life, you must allow your passion to provide you with everything you need to stay afloat.
What's more important, talent or luck?
I believe a combination of both.
You must go to a desert island, but you can bring with you just one movie...
That would be the adaptation of the “Wonderful Wizard of Oz” titled “ THE WIZ," starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Ted Ross, Nipsey Russell, and Lena Horne. The music is lovely, and the story is filled with inspiration and guidance toward self-discovery.
Have you ever accepted a movie to direct or a script to write, even if you didn't like the project?
Although I can, I must admit that I haven't. I need to feel connected to the project if I'm going to be my absolute best.
What's the best compliment you have received about your Job?
“You are Truly Gifted”
Are you satisfied with your career?
I believe it is progressing according to plan. I'm very grateful for what I have accomplished thus far. I look forward to the new and exciting things ahead.
Do you have a good luck charm?
Not really, just my unwavering confidence and belief in myself and my vision. That's all I need.
Which is the worst moment on set?
I would say the time pressure you have at a particular location to complete the scene. That can be the worst.
How do you feel when a job you've been part of ends?
I feel a great sense of accomplishment. Although some relationships might end at that point, all in all, I feel great.
Have you ever lied to get a job?
No, I never had to. My qualifications and resume speak for themselves. Either I'm the one, or I'm not. Whichever, works just fine for me.
If you won an Oscar, your first thanks would go to...
The Viewers (audience).
Do you prefer Comedy or Drama?
I prefer drama. Drama comes first. Comedy is not my preference; it comes second or even last, especially if it's low or superficial. I have done comedy and situation comedy, nevertheless. And I have been told that I write pretty awesome comedy.
Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life?
I believe art imitates life or rather, reflects life. For as far as I have seen, it requires manmade effort for life to imitate art. Sometimes, the distinction is not very easy to see as the famous example of chicken and egg; namely, which is first, and which comes after.
Which is the best Moment on set?
In my experience, and I am sure it speaks to many directors, the best moment on set is when you know you have everything right in the frame; all facets in that particular moment of filming come together in the highest form of unison. That is not limited to the final take.
I would like to add another best moment on set, that is that you are allowed to refilm something after you have spotted errors from previous filming.
Did anyone ever tell you weren't good enough?
Not to my face of course. I have a tendency to be my own worst critic especially if my work was passed over by a jury. I have also considered, however, that perhaps the work was not what the jury was looking for and perhaps their judgment did not reflect negatively on my abilities. A lot of times, though, my responses, arrogantly or interestingly enough, are that “not good enough” is actually on the jury’s end. I also tend to ponder on what makes me that good so that I excel over other filmmakers.
How can you stay focused on your goal?
I focus best on goals that I set for myself. I have natural strengths of perseverance and tenacity which helps anchor my focus. I am a Capricorn and that talks about something inside me. I can put it this way: my naturally born dominant personality trait is where my focus is. When goals are set by others, I am able to focus inwardly, get to a calm place and meditate on ways to achieve the goal. This enables me to achieve satisfying results.
Have you ever had a breakdown because of your Job?
I have, unfortunately, or rather, fortunately. You know, failure makes a person learn to not fail next time or next few times. Like all people in the arts, I have experienced major blows in my career. My debut feature film, “Green Green Leaves of Home”, was scheduled to move on to the pre-production stage when I was suddenly notified by the production company that the project had been placed on hold which created a very anxious and unknown fate. I never learned the reason for this, and the film was restarted but after a year had passed. The next breakdown was more depressing because I literally sank into undiagnosed depression. It was when “Be My Valentine” that I would direct hit the obstacle of indecisiveness from the higher up even though the screenplay was recognized and well in place. As months dragged on, the project that I had been waiting for in seven years seemed dead in everybody’s mind and I had nowhere to fight, so I was lost and began to stay in my own corner at home with no desire to speak, eat, and sleep in bed, even though I still went to work for the Taiwan’s largest movie company, which had committed to investing in the film at issue.
This situation was beyond my ability to control, and I spiraled into an acute depression which affected my relationship with myself and with those who were dear to me as they were suffering from my suffering. I can’t recall exactly how long my depression and hopelessness lasted, but it was a short period of time before I sank further. So, I finally got back on my feet thanks to my immediate family’s quiet but strong moral support. Since this point, I had no choice but push the film to realize using all the power I had, and I did turn the fate of the film. “Be My Valentine” later went on to win at Houston International Film Festival. My good sister suggested this English title for the film, by the way.
Talent is a blessing or a curse?
I believe it is a blessing. Blessing can later become a curse. Perhaps it's how one uses their talent. Any talent can become a curse if not seen, discovered, or used wisely. Even if talent is dismissed or overlooked, I try to remain positive and not let that sadden me. But honestly, that shall always sadden a real talent.
What would you like to improve about yourself as director/screenplayer?
As a long-time writer/director in cinema and video, I rarely act in front of a camera. I might be capable of doing that but may not be as good as being a writer/director. Writing and directing all require accumulation of experience, even when you start off as a prodigy.
As a director, I regret that I did not discover or establish my directing style much sooner. I had been a good cinematic director even when I was making something for TV. I never enjoyed taking on too conventional ways for my narratives, which at times were not consumed well enough for a regular TV program audience. I never regret that. I have an experimental or avant-garde cinema learning background, always infusing a touch of that abstraction in my story telling either or in fiction and non-fiction genres. Looking ahead, I will improve myself by being true to that inclination rather than complying with other influences. I wish to gain total independence as a director by producing my own films (which I have been doing with my non-profit, Memory Community, movie memoir projects) and making authentic art films as a mark of my directorship.
In terms of writing, I have two stories to tell. One is I have previously written scripts in my native language (Chinese, more traditional than simplified Chinese). The other one is I am writing scripts now in English language which I have adopted, so I am working to improve my vocabulary capacity, grammar accuracy, awareness of slang, and to then better articulate myself in English when script writing. Since languages are always my strong suit, I would love to see myself master the latter soon.
What's the worst critic you have received?
I recollect only one over the span of my four-decade long filmmaking career. Although I don't recall where the critique was published, the harshness is still felt. At the time, I did not take the criticism too seriously. Because? Because I had been an influential film reviewer/critic before I transitioned myself into a writer/director, and I didn't believe the critic who likely hailed from Singapore, where commercial movies were heavily influencing the industry, "got" my film (“Be My Valentine”). I felt the critic could not grasp my narrative structure which is not “from the beginning to the end”, per se, and the non-linear storytelling style was denounced as "chaotic". By the name printed I would say the critic was a man, but I could be wrong. Anyway, to this day, I still think the critique was not a convincing film review. But I may be biased.
If you weren't a director/screenplayer what would you like to be?
I may want to be a professional writer focusing on writing poetry. In addition to being a director, I am also a writer, having published books on cinema (“For the Love of Cinema”, “For the Sake of Cinema”, “For the Dream of Cinema”, and the forthcoming “For the Pursuit of Cinema”), collected writings of my father and also poetry under the name of Zhou Doubt (Chinese/English bilingual poetry books collaborated by Debi Rivera, namely, “Poems & Ballads from the House of Drifting Clouds”, and the forthcoming “People Who Are Poetry” - working title).
I have also an interest in being in a secret service or intelligence work, being a forensic detective which was inspired by Dr. Henry Lee, the world-renowned forensic scientist and I had adapted his books into a feature screen story, “Hands in Blood”, which was set for Hollywood, or work as a detective in force or in private. I am detail oriented and have tremendous curiosity and imagination. I like poetry’s condensation and dislike injustice and unfairness, so all of these other careers would be a way for me to address that.
If Cinema was a color, what would it be?
I hope I can choose not merely one color, but they would be black and white. “Signed, Baba” is construed as a B/W art film in feature length even though the multi-awarded screenplay does not have too many pages. For being a will-to-be B/W film, “Signed, Baba” is not for the sake of being “retro". It is all the more for the legitimacy of the story as it is told in a way that only black and white can handle the weight (not necessarily suggesting heaviness or darkness.) I will have to make the screenplay into an actual film for you to see.
A day without a movie is...
To be truly frank with the hypothesis, a day without a movie remains a day…as it is or largely is, as it was before cinema was invented, and will be in some future someday when there is no longer "cinema".
Remember the most recent global epidemic and the human crisis from that, COVID-19? When that sort of extreme human disaster occurs, essential needs are the only legitimate necessity that any individuals who want to survive need, regardless of their vaccination theory.
If someone offered you to direct/write in/a movie that you despise but that for sure will make you rich and famous...would you accept the job?
I’m not going to be untruthful here. In that scenario, I would accept the job on the condition that I have the authority to turn my despair into my hope. I believe in trying before dismissing an offer and remain hopeful, I can find a way to make myself proud of my work in the end.
In another scenario where it has no wiggle room in any respect of the offer, I certainly would wave “Goodbye” to the offeror. I have turned down a few offers like that before. At this point of my life, I am more certain that I would not direct anything just for the sake of making a self-meaningless movie or a few dollars more.
What's your greatest ambition?
No more “greatest ambition” for me now. Been there, done that. I am comfortable where I am. But it’s unlike losing vivid self-expectation. At this time of my life and career, I have no greater ambition other than dedicating myself to the cinema art as it is true for me, to go at my own pace, give it the benefit of all of my experience and lessons I've learned from the past, and use strategies more wisely from learning which has been consolidated with time and self-brainstorming.
What's your biggest fear?
Admittedly, I fear my own and my dear ones’ death (whether it be untimely death, accidental death, death by suicide or by victimization.) I am working on it to not let the fear become my biggest fear.
I fear (I hate actually) being misunderstood, wrongfully accused, and ignored for no reason. I do not dwell on any of these; however, as I consider myself to be courageous and adventurous. I do worry and get anxious over engagements or commitments on short notice sometimes due to having to make hasty choices. I’m much more of a planner, contemplator, and critical thinker than a reactionary, or quick wit.
Does music help you to play/direct, write?
Music is one thing I don’t like not to have for my whole life. It is also one thing I don’t like about myself about not being able to make music. I could learn as it is never too late, of course. Yes, music is very important in my creative process. As I write, I always play music. The external sounds do not disturb my inner voice as I am creating something on the monitor screen. As I visualize those words, the music becomes a nearly silent environment in which my whole mind and body is immersed.
Speaking of music in my works, I appreciate less music, though. My current project, "Signed, Baba", will not have any prominent scores during the entire body of the film. This approach is an organic derivation from the story's invitation. The quiet narrative will echo the content perfectly. I’m now in agreement with Seattle- based noted international Chinese singer/songwriter Kelang Huang and her musician boyfriend George Wiederkehr on this future film’s minimalistic score.
You have the chance to make a Silent movie, what's your message to the audience?
I invite you to please come to watch "Signed, Baba". I promise that you will get a better answer to this question from me (my film) than any I could possibly want to give right here and right now. Allow me to save my message until the film “Signed, Baba” is effectively available for the audience to watch and feedback.
I’ll just add this: I am a man of few spoken words in my real and imaginary life.
Share your speech if you should win an Oscar....
I do not feel that at this point in my life, an Oscar or two are within my reach; therefore, I have no words for an Oscar speech. I understand the Oscars are historically significant, but at the same time, I am open to welcoming European film festivals to appreciate my work, “Signed, Baba”, which is happening as we speak. I am so grateful.
Are you on IMDb?
When did you realize you wanted to be a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?
I was always fascinated by films and great stories. The first film I remember seeing is Jurassic Park when I was 7 years old and I was completely in love with the on screen visuals and the overall experience of watching the movie. My dad is a Steven Spielberg fan so I grew up watching a lot of Spielberg and Cameron films like Terminator ,Saving private ryan , Titanic etc. But I realized that I am a filmmaker when I was 17 years old and I have been on this wonderful, satisfying and extremely rewarding journey of making movies since then.
Do you remember your first time at the Movies?
My first memory of watching a movie in theater is of Jurassic Park released in 1993. I was 7 years old when I watched it and I fell in love with the world I witnessed on screen. I was fascinated and awestruck by the onscreen magic and I kept asking several questions to my dad about how is it that the dinosaurs were created and how they make it look so real. The magic of watching dinosaurs on screen is my first memory at a movie theatre.
If you should change country where would you like to work?
I would love to work in the US as I will get to work with extremely talented and skilled people from all departments. US has the best talent in the world and it allows a film maker to bring their vision to life with perfection and beauty. So I would love to work in the US.
Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…
Two films that have marked my life for better ( I will ignore the worse)
Jurassic Park :
Been in love with VFX and the on screen magic from the moment I saw the film. I was in second grade when I saw it and have watched it probably more than a hundred times since then. Few years ago I got watch an indepth behind the scenes video of how Jurassic Park was made and the effort and dedication and enthusiasm with which everyone brought the project to life is contagious and inspirational. Jurassic Park made me want to tell stories with such amazing on screen visuals.
Inception :
Watched it more than a hundred times trying to understand every little detail to unravel the mystery of the final shot with the spinning top. What a film by Nolan. Simply outstanding story telling from all perspectives and departments. I have always been fascinated by the question of what is reality and the way in which the movie explores the concept of dreams and multiple layers of dreams and how easy it is get lost in the dreams is simply too good. Nolan pitched the movie in 2002 but it only got released in 2008 .Shows how much time and thought he put into each and every moment of the film which itself has many layers to it. Films like INCEPTION happen only once in a millenium and it must be truly a blessing for the talents like Leonardo dicaprio , Hanz Zimmer , Nolan , Wally Pfister , Joseph Gordon-Levitt etc to have come together and brough the film to life. Inception has hade a huge impact postive on my life.
What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?
For those who can afford to go to such schools it truly is a blessing .One can definitely build a solid foundation before venturing out into the world of cinema to begin their career. However for those who don’t have access to such need not be disheartened as they can also definitely learn on their own and make it big.
Have you ever hated your ambition?
I have never , ever hated my ambition .However I have hated the circumstances and situatiuons I have been in which feel like a hurdle or a block to fulfill my ambition .The only thing that has kept me sane and kept me going even when I been down is my ambition and my goal.
Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was
he right?
I wouldn’t say so. If Francois said that then perhaps that’s kind of people he knew and perhaps he even refused to see the good in people who he might have come across. Just like any other industry in the world the Film industry is also made by people so there are shades of all colors in the industry. It isn’t right to outright insult and demean the efforts and hard work put in by millions of people in the industry overall several decades. Francois should have changed his company and he needed to have better friends.
Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?
The moment I hear the word Cinema I see amazing visuals from movies like Avatar , Jurassic Park , Batman Begins etc and some from my own which I am yet to make. I see a million emotions being played on a big screen in front of me.
Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?
Writer/Director that has taught me the most is Christopher Nolan ( Also Spielberg and Cameron). I simply love the depth ,attention to detail and the overall quality of all his films. The best example to illustrate this would be the movie Prestige which appeared to contain a very simple story on first viewing but after several viewings I just keep finding more and more to each and every element of the story . A script with such deep layers and critical thinking must have required unshattered and unwavering dedication from Nolan. Nolan must have spent several years crafting each and every miniscule element of the script to have a reference to every other moment in the story. The beauty of Prestige simply cannot be explained in few words .Such works of pure dedication and passion inspire me and motivate me to do my best.
About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…
My biggest dream is to make trilogies/franchises on the scale of Avatar. To build such a huge universe with meaningful and thought provoking stories and characters.
My worst nightmare is that I would not be able to complete by list of films that I want to make.
How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?
Movies wouldn’t exist without cinematography. So having a good cinematographic culture is very important and an absolute must. Beautiful and wonderful stories would just be limited to books if there was no cinematography.
What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?
I would like to improve my ability to establish good contacts and good communication so that I can bring in good talent into my life to make the movies I have in my mind.
A big producer give you the chance to direct\to play (in) the remake of
one of your favorite black and white Movie (if you have one)… what film
do you choose?
I would love to direct the remake of 12 angry men. The film has also served as a inspiration for me as it thought me how much can be achieved in a single room with limited cast. Sidney Lumet.s direction and execution of the concept is beyond brilliant and I would love to direct a modern day adaptation of the same.
Film Industry it’s a tough place and sometimes is normal to feel lost
and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated?
When I feel lost and discouraged I look to the works of others in the industry to keep me motivated. Sometimes its big films like Avatar and Inception that keep me motivated as I remind myself of the effort and perseverance required to embark on such big projects and complete them with perfection. Sometimes it’s the small movies that also give me hope and act as a ray of sunshine that I don’t need a big budget to make my first movie and I can make a really good film with a small budget and tell a really good story.
Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film you need 3 things: The
script, the script and the script". Do you agree with him? What’s your
most ambitious project for the future?
Hitchcock has also been my inspiration and I watched several movies directed by him. Although the script is important it is even more important to have a good talent who can understand and execute the script to its full potential. While a script is definitely important it is even more important to have a good director and team who can breathe life into the script and create the onscreen magic.
Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative?
I don’t think sadness can help with creativity. I have been at my creative best when I have been extremely happy and thrilled after experiencing my favorite films. When I have been sad it affects my entire system and I have to recover from the sadness to be able to work. So sadness or melancholy isn’t the best help for creativity.
What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?
My wish is to keep improving year after year and keep telling stories on the big screen forever and I wish to be surrounded by amazing talent / finance / society and health that supports me in my vision.
When did you realize you wanted to be a filmmaker ?
I would first like to point out that I am an interdisciplinary artist from the visual arts field, and have been for more than thirty years. I now dedicate myself to art or experimental video art, which is interdisciplinary by essence. It gives me the opportunity to integrate my past experiences with several disciplines (installation, sculpture, painting, photography, writing, performance, movement or voice).
Can you tell us about the way you work ?
My process is intuitive. Other than the starting point, I didn’t know where I am going. I create by experimenting in my studio, alone with my intuitions and obsessions. I manipulate myself all the elements of my videos : accessories, sets, costumes, lighting, etc., and I embody the characters who evolve in them. In addition, I also do the editing (footage and sound). Like an open channel, I let myself be guided without being bound by realism. The "story" unfolds gradually with the integration of the different components. I consider that I work with videographic material in the same way as any other material: juxtaposing, associating, superimposing elements to end up making a poetically coherent whole. I work alone, which leaves a lot of freedom and allows me to immerse myself in my personal universe. If I was to deal with a team, even a small one, I would have to structure in advance my process by preparing a strict work schedule, which is not my way of doing things. Which would make me feel less free to experiment. Although I resort to various creative avenues, I have no fear that my whole production will be disjointed. My realizations come from the same source, they are different manifestations of a single creative drive. I remain the same person, with her own sensitivity and vision of the world. When I start a new project, I have confidence that it will fit into my overall approach
Why did you choose specifically to make experimental videos ?
I choose that practice not to be bound to realism. And the explanation lies in tis word : “art”. Simply because I am an artist and for me, art (regardless of the medium) is a way of looking at reality differently in order to expose it from other angles, using symbolic language. I don’t want to recreate the world as I live it every day. I don’t find it so appealing with its share of violence, iniquity, problems and routine.
However, this is not an escape attitude. On the contrary, I remain immersed in the social context in which I inhabit. I knead the elements which compose our universe and, like magically manipulated dice, I rearrange them in an unexpected order. My eyelids vibrate in front of the unknown that is taking shape. I aspire to broader horizons.
What were the influences that achieved a high effect on you?
There are many, but I will mention two. Several years ago, I had been impressed by Robert Wiene’s « The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari » (1920). Its dark and twisted visual style conveyed the emotional state of the characters more effectively than realistic locations or conventional design concepts. Later, at the Cinémathèque française in Paris, I saw elements of the real set of this film and I was fascinated by the rustic quality of the materials used which, when transposed to the screen, seemed magically transformed. A few years after, the video artist Bill Viola showed me that I should not be afraid to go where my experiments led me, no matter how dark they were (at the time, I was making short humorous videos, for fear of annoying the audience). And as a master of slow motion, he also taught me to be confident and to adopt all the time required by an artwork.
Can you tell us about any upcoming projects ?
I will again work according to the intuitive, non-preconceived process that has guided me so far. Several ideas are germinating right now, I let them emerge without pressure, but I surely will persevere in the same intention of interdisciplinarity of my previous videos. This is an ongoing process, with ups and downs, but I persist, always interested in pushing further the characteristics of videographic language. My immediate goal is to better integrate the disciplines that interest me in the same video project, for example drawing. But above all, a great challenge remains for me to overcome the observation of our deteriorating world and to create new stories to envision the future. At this point in our collective history, it is important to build inspiring fictions, to imagine contagious ways of living together other than those intended to keep the economic machine going.
Do you prefer Comedy or Drama?
When I'm writing, I prefer comedy, but when I am acting, I generally prefer drama. But I really don't know that we can make strict distinctions between the two. The best comedy is dramatic and the best drama must have some comedy. Put to it, I would have to say that I prefer three-dimensional as opposed to two-dimensional in both writing and acting.
Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life?
Art imitates life. Life imitating art is just pretentious. We don't learn anything from the latter. But, again, I would rather say Art REPRESENTS Life rather than imitates it. Imitation sounds only skin deep.
Which is the best moment on set?
Lunch. Just kidding. I absolutely love all the moments, to be frank. Getting paid for doing something you love? You can't really complain about any of those moments.
Did anyone ever tell you weren't good enough?
Once or twice. They were wrong.
How can you stay focused on your goal?
Passion.
Have you ever had a breakdown because of your Job?
No. I've had a breakdown being a father, but never over my job. I've got pretty bloody pissed off, but not a breakdown.
Talent is a blessing or a curse?
See answer to best moment on set! Anyone complaining that talent is a curse is either lying or doesn't actually have any.
What would you like to improve about yourself as an actor/director/screenplayer?
Every project makes me a better actor/director/screenwriter. So, improvements are happening constantly, you just have to keep the projects coming.
What's the worst criticism you have received?
Someone compared my German accent to Hogan's Heroes in a review of an audiobook I had recorded for Audible on the history of concentration camps, but then I got commissioned to do four more books on German history, so they were wrong too! Hah!
If you weren't an actor/director/screenplayer what would you like to be?
An astronaut? A screenwriter/director/actor? This is what I am supposed to be doing.
If Cinema was a color what would it be?
Green. For GO.
A day without a movie is...
A day off.
If someone offered you to play/direct/write in/a movie that you despise
but that for sure will make you rich and famous...would you accept the job?
It depends what there is to despise about it. If I despised it for its political, social, moral, ethical representations I wouldn't accept the job. I wouldn't make movies for Putin, for example. Or for the Chinese government. Or for white supremacists, misogynists, racists etc. If it was just crap, though, of course I would do it. Take the money and use it for a worthwhile project. Most people have been involved in some crap or other, and some have violated their principles, but the latter category is much smaller.
What's your greatest ambition?
The next project.
What's your biggest fear?
That I might run out of things to say.
Does music help you to play/direct, write?
Only write. I am always listening to music when I write. Anything from prog rock, to folk, to classical, or my wife playing the piano for just me. Also, it is the best way to find interlude music, intro/outro and soundtrack music.
You have the chance to make a Silent movie, what's your message to the
audience?
Pardon? Turn up the volume. OK, I'll try to stop being facetious. I guess the message would be that you don't need words to tell a story, you don't need dialogue to act, but you do need a story.
Share your speech if you should win an Oscar.....
I owe everything to AI.
I guess I just can't help myself.
OK, here's the real one. Remembering that 90% of Oscar acceptance speeches are too long: I owe everything to my wife. The film owes everything to everyone who worked on it. This is for them.
Do you prefer Comedy or Drama?
No preference! I find humour and tragedy doesn't only live in one tone or the other - life is beautifully both!
Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life?
Yes! :) All kidding aside, life comes first so in that sense Art imitates Life... the impact though of Art on Life absolutely shapes how we live and feeds back into art, and so on. But Life comes first. Our job is to "hold as it t'were a mirror up to nature".
Which is the best Moment on set?
For me it is that moment when the entire cast and crew are fully dialled in and in sync while in the middle a complex multi-cue, multi-camera move, intricately blocked sequence. That palpable shared energy of collective orchestral accomplishment is hard to beat.
Did anyone ever tell you weren't good enough?
Certainly - mostly I did... when I eventually learned that while I may want people to like me, I don't need them to. That has freed me from being concerned about pleasing others and liquified any effect of comments like that.
How can you stay focused on your goal?
By staying present while working the current component/piece of any process and trusting that when combined all the steps will realise the goal. Eat the elephant one bite at a time!
Have you ever had a breakdown because of your Job?
No - it's the opposite! It's why I get up in the morning!
Talent is a blessing or a curse?
Blessing - without question.
What would you like to improve about yourself as an actor?
Great question! I'd like to be faster at trimming things down/simplifying things at the inception point (writing, blocking, etc). Economic storytelling is compelling to me and the resultant clarity I believe creates freedom to play, and invites actors and technicians alike to fill the space with their unique perspective and talent as we come together to all tell the story we are there to tell. Separate from decisiveness (also working to always improve that!), economy is my current development focus.
What's the worst critic you have received?
"Really"? Hahaha... did not sting for long :)
If you weren't an actor what would you like to be?
Touring guitar player/singer!
If Cinema was a color what would it be?
Magenta (nod to my colorist friends :)
A day without a movie is...
an opportunity to create my own!
If someone offered you to play in a movie that you despise but that for sure will make you rich and famous...would you accept the job?
Nope. There are plenty of talented people and subjects of passion for everyone - never a need to sell your soul, opportunities abound. What do you want to be famous for? There is always more money - your reputation and chance for a first impression are more precious.
What's your greatest ambition?
I'd like to produce an enduring body of work that helps people. That can sound 'fluffy' I know, but I do believe in the healing nature of art. If the stories I tell can give someone comfort and the solace that they aren't alone on this crazy rocket ride of life, then I can retire happily knowing I helped leave this place a little better than I found it.
What's your biggest fear?
That my parents won't be here to see my best work - but in truth that is more of a driver than a fear.
Does music help you to play/direct, write?
Music is always in my head while writing, performing, directing, editing... life has rhythms, characters have playlists, tableaus have a soundtrack. Music is love expressed... critical, absolutely!
You have the chance to make a Silent movie, what's your message to the audience?
Listen!
Share your speech if you should win an Oscar.....
Thank you! I have come to believe that all of us want to be seen and heard. It has been the honour of my life to serve stories that reflect the truth of humanity. We truly are more alike than we are different, while at the same time all unique - I truly believe that. I wasn't always a grateful person - I am now, and tonight I'm the most grateful I've been that I get to do what I do, and to know that at least for some (thank you Academy!) It has meant something too. Thank you!
When did you realize you want to be a Filmmaker/Actor/Writer?
Thank you for inviting me to the interview and giving me the opportunity to introduce “BETTER LOVE” to a wider audience.
As a musician I have made in the past music videoclips and always been in front of the camera.
In 2021 I went to the Film Institute to study Digital Film Production. After my first film noir work as a student I got a very big response from the actors as well as from professional critics. It was very challenging for me because I took on every possible assignment. I was a screenwriter, a director, a cameraman, a lighting technician and a best boy as well…
Although it was so hard to me, no one noticed or still does, that I had to overcome so many burdens.
I really enjoyed the creative process itself and the joy and dedication, which the artists played their roles with. After this work, I decided to become a screenwriter and a director.
Do you remember your first time at the Movies?
My first film was the Russian children's film "The Adventures of Pinocchio". This film was interesting because it combined two genres - a film and a musical - and it impressed me a lot.
If you should change country where would you like to work?
The shooting location is determined by the script and the story. If the events are set in a specific cultural environment, then I would prefer to shoot on location (authentic scouting). I'm also happy to shoot in a studio, because you can better control the light and put accents in detail with requisites.
Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse...
A: For better - The film that influenced me the most was the first feature film ever made by the great French playwright Georges Méliès, “Le Voyage dans la Lune” from 1902. As you know in this film the line between theatre and film is almost invisible, if you would not consider the Cinematography. The director's bold decisions, ideological intensity and symbolism still have their relevance today. Méliès managed in the first feature film ever to fully reveal the profound meaning of the classic three-act structure of the film in just 15 minutes. The ingenious dramaturgy of the short film inspires not only me to this day.
For worse - If you mean worse feelings about the film's context, which reflected reality, I would love to highlight Steven Spielberg's masterpiece “Schindler's List”. The action takes place during World War II and is shown so realistically that me like the rest of the audience, felt myself inside those gruesome events and experienced them along with the characters. The impression after this film makes me think over the barbarity of mankind.
In your film “BETTER LOVE” you reflect the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Why did you choose that specific title?
In this film, I thought about a solution that would allow the characters to find happiness despite their originally opposing positions. People meet and fall in love, regardless of political opinions or conflicts. The main idea is that even despite the vital contradictions between countries, love wins ever. My message is “BETTER LOVE”... than war. That's probably why the film won so much attention by audience and received so many awards and nominations.
What do you think about acting/filmmaking schools?
I think acting/filmmaking schools are a necessary step in the educational process. All schools provide students with the academic structure and knowledge about filmmaking. It is up to each person to decide how to use this knowledge and develop their skills.
Have you ever hated your ambition?
As for ambition, it has no place on the set for it. Moreover, on set I try to balance the ambitions of the actors and the crew and meantime always being open to their new ideas. During the shooting I don't interfere much with the work of my crew and actors. Sometimes I set accents if I have to.
Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people"... was he right?
In one his documentaries Francois Truffaut showed with humor how different problems arise during the shooting. Solving all these challenges and problems requires a lot of enthusiasm and effort. I suppose this sentence applies to everyone who makes movies. You have to love your job a lot and be a "film lover" and a "sick" person to wake up every morning with joy and set out to solve these problems....If this phrase refers to the audience, I assume he meant that the film should leave a healing effect on the viewer.
It is also my opinion that movies should make us empathize, rejoice, and awake different emotions.
Close your eyes...if I say "Cinema" what do you see?
I am dreaming a lot and I can say in the words of John Lennon, "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one”. I mean, movies contain a dramatic character. And every drama has a chain of escalating conflicts that tend to evoke different feelings and emotions. Movies are subjective solutions to different problems, which are much stronger than the strength and capabilities of the characters' personalities. It is these challenges that show, educate, and strengthen the character of the antagonists and protagonists. To me cinema is the solution to all problems and challenges, which should ultimately inspire the viewer to this or that thought and make them think. Long story short - cinema takes the viewer away from his everyday life, stimulates his senses and perceptions, and brings him right back to his reality with a new perspective. Thus I, as a filmmaker, when I close my eyes, wish that my films would make the viewer think about ordinary feelings that, at first glance, are not quite obvious.
Who's the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?
The director who has had the greatest influence on me is Quentin Spielberg von Trier. The screenwriter who most impressed me was Charlie Koppola Kieślowski. My favorite actress/actor is Marlon M.Streep Pacino.
About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare...
Thank you for your interesting question, which I partially already answered.
My biggest dream as a filmmaker is to make films using new technologies, to delight the audience with the story of the film and to enrich it with new emotions. Obviously I also wish that, thanks to “BETTER LOVE”, at least one war would end. As for the nightmare, as I mentioned, I no longer wish to perform in several departments during the shooting. I don't recommend it to anyone either. For me it was a real nightmare.
How important is it to have a good Cinematographic Culture?
The development of cinematography in different countries since the beginning of the 20th century has taken place in different ways. In some countries the focus was on dramaturgy, in others on entertaining the viewer, and in some countries on revealing a particular story. In addition, cinema has undergone a number of key technical changes - from black-and-white to color, from mute to sound, from analog to digital, from digital to computer graphics, etc. Despite all that noted, the core of cinematography has hardly changed but we still continue to wonder, sympathize, and admire our loved characters in films. But the fact remains. Without the development of cinematic culture around the world, it would be impossible to create these emotions.
What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker/Actor/Writer?
I would wish everyone to be more open about sharing their experiences with each other. That would help all parties in the film industry. Also, I would wish to be less pompous in the professionalism achieved.
A big producer gives you the chance to direct\to play (in) the remake of one of your favorite black and white Movie (if you have one)… what film do you choose?
“Le Voyage dans la Lune” by Georges Méliès.
Film Industry it's a tough place and sometimes is normal to feel lost and discouraged... who's the person that keeps you motivated?
I find motivation in talented people, no matter of their profession. Talent and enthusiastic work expressed in one form or another have always fascinated me and still do.
Alfred Hitchcock said, "To make a good film you need three things: The script, the script and the script. Do you agree with him?
I'm very happy to tell you that “BETTER LOVE” won recently on the Frida Kalo Festival's Alfred Hitchcock Award for Best Action Film. Alfred Hitchcock is still the inimitable master of suspense. The film is created, as is commonly said, in the head, on the set and in the editing room. Since Hitchcock stuck to the script he created in his mind, on the set and in the editing room. In that case his expression is absolutely correct. But every director has his own individual style.
What's your most ambitious project for the future?
My most ambitious project for the future is my every next project.
Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative?
I recently read a psychological study that the most creative people who have left the world a cultural legacy have experienced profound mental turmoil. My point is that talented people who are able to express themselves in a creative way produce works that leave an indelible mark.
Creativity is a form of expression, but the content is still the idea that the creator wants to transit.
What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker/Actor/Writer?
I wish myself to have more time and budget for my projects.
When did you decide you wanted to be a director?
For as long as I can remember I always wanted to be a director. But I made the logical decision when I was sitting alone on the side of a country road in Yugoslavia and a truck drove past me a meter away. That was about 50 years ago.
How did your family react?
I had no family. I didn't tell anyone either. But my mother knew that from the start. She was my producer and passed away on May 7th, 2023.
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
I have no muse or role model.
Who's your biggest fan?
I don't have a fan.
What brings you inspiration the most?
The love and truth.
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
With any actor or director. For my future project I would like to work with Lea Seydoux. Of course, that can be many other actors.
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
I've never read a book other than pulp fiction. I can't remember the comparison.
What's the movie that taught you the most?
This question cannot be reduced to one film. I'll give you some examples.
Aguirre, The Wrath of God by Werner Herzog, The Mission by Roland Joffe, Tous les Matins du Monde by Alain Corneau, Jean Florette by Claude Berri,
Manon's Revenge by Claude Berri, Apocalypse Now by Francis Ford Coppola, Hugo Cabret by Martin Scorsese, Duel on the Missouri by Arthur Penn, Barry Lindon by Stanley Kubrick, The Dissident by Bryan Fogel, The Gospel of John by Philip Saville,
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
Yes. There are moments when I question everything. But that doesn't last long.
On set what excites you the most?
I've only done documentaries so far.
And what scares you the most ?
That we must die.
What's your next project?
I'm working on several projects at the same time. I can't say at the moment which one will be finished first.
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott,
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
A body, a bio-psycho-social causal chain and a mind. A desire to follow his passion. An instrument, a storyteller, a medium, a teacher, a prophet if in possession of Gnosis.
For you Cinema is....
Therapy, Art form, Communication tool, Mentalization aid, Reflection aid, Teaching aids, A spiritual process because it has to do with sharing,
A window into the past, An art form for the development of potential, A support and an orientation on the way to truth,
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
Yes, of course.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
No, but from other situations related to film.
Do you think you're gonna win it?
Everything is possible .
What's the absolutely necessary ingredient to be a good director?
A rock-solid sense of perception (and the translation of it to others). In my opinion, all your senses should to be strong and on edge. On set, you need to be a good listener (towards your actors), and you need to have a sharp eye with imagination. You must then also make the viewer feel that they 'feel, smell and taste' the film, in some sort of way.
First and last cinematographic crush?
You can take this very broadly, because you can also fall in love with a film as a whole, but I don't think that’s what you mean. Sigourney Weaver in Alien (1979): for me, she was the first actress whose acting drew all the attention to herself. And that's a great achievement. Opposite her was that hideous monster, that Alien, who was getting closer and closer. But the scene is balanced: I believed her dislike of (and simultaneously love-hate relationship with) the beast, with her wordless play.
The final crush: Olivia Colman in The Father (2020). She has Sir Anthony Hopkins as her antagonist, but absolutely holds her own pacing in the movie and she surprises from scene tot scene. She constantly puzzles the viewer, and at the same time on another level her father (Hopkins) as well. An interior play, with many layers.
How old were you when you decided you wanted to be a director?
I am a narrative director, so if you look at it that way, I have wanted this for several decades, because I have been writing (kind of cinematic) stories for about 20 years. That I decided to really follow my heart was about six years ago now, with the first courses in directing.
For you, a film is...
A story in multiple layers. The image, the sound, the underlying message. An art form in which you play a game with where you focus attention, or with the choices in what you show or don't show.
What do you feel when you’re directing?
That I bring a story to life. A creative that creates something, a magical feeling.
You can go to the Movies with an actor/director/screenplayer that you love. What kind of movie do you choose and with who you're gonna whatch it?
I like horror, thriller, action and drama, basically films that have everything in them. Yet in this case, I would go to a historical adventure or action film. And then I’ld love to go with Ridley Scott. He is a self-made director who does not shy away from the bombastic, and I would be too happy to analyse with him the choices that were made in the film.
Audrey Hepburn used to say "Nothing is Impossible", what do you think about that?
I think this is true. There are too many examples of people doing something extraordinary, from small to big.
Can you live just of your passion?
No. (Not yet.)
What's more important talent or luck?
Talent.
You must go to a desert island but you can bring with you just one movie...
What an incredibly difficult question. I would maybe bring my old guilty pleasure: Pirates by Roman Polanski. As a child, I re-watched this film several times and enjoyed the setting, the sound and the action. Looking at it objectively now, I probably don't like it as much as I did then, but the childhood sentiment is too big. So yes, that one will be it.
Have you ever accepted a a movie to direct/a script to write even if you didn't like the project?
Actually, no. Sometimes I co-write a film that I would never make as a director myself. But I find that even then I enjoy creating something and contributing ideas (something I also do as a screenwriter).
What's the best compliment you have received about your Job?
People who are totally captivated by the story after a short 15-minute film.
Are you satisfied about your career?
I am relatively new in this business and my short film is doing quite well at film festivals. So yes, I am satisfied. Of course, I want more and want to build on my career in this creative work, but that is a matter of continuing, and not giving up.
Do you have a good luck charm?
No, not like a talisman or anything. My wife and children are the driving force behind the basis of my happiness. If I can make something creative, I am happy. If I no longer had my family, a whole piece of resilience would go away.
Which is the worst moment on set?
Running out of time on a particular scene. You know it's nothing optimal yet, but for the sake of time you keep going. As a director, you sense that.
How do you feel when a job you've been part of it's ending?
A bit like ending a holiday with nice people. You probably don't see each other for a long time. Together, unlike a 'real holiday', you've worked really hard, but afterwards you want to get back to that magic of creating.
Have you ever lied to get a part/job?
No.
If you should win an Oscar your first taught would go to… My family.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screenplayer?
As a pianist composer of astroart and with a long career in concerts in planetariums astronomical observatory lakes, hills and others, I felt the need to have an original visual support for my live performances in planetariums and dome theaters thus my first fulldome film Piano was born. Under the Stars the year 2020
How did your family react?
With great support as it has always been from my great family
Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?
Yes the stars in the sky
Who's your biggest fan?
The art of life
What brings you inspiration the most?
The cosmos, love, nature
Which actor or director would you like to work with?
Steven Spielberg, Morgan Freeman, Neil deGrasse Tyson
Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?
Not sure for this answer
What's the movie that taught you the most?
Odisea 2001, Interstellar
About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?
Just sometimes think about it, but never feel it or try to leave it
On set what excites yuo the most?
What I interpret playing at the moment … is real
And what scares you the most ?
I can't follow my navigation due to illness
What's your next project?
Visual series program of 4 chapters
You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?
I don't steal, I don't copy, I just look for originality according to my feelings
An actor/director/screenplayer is made of....
Sensitivity emotion inspiration understanding and love
For you Cinema is....
When our brain thinks, remembers, imagines, or simply nothing, it is always in a white, black or colorless image, so the cinema is a representation of the reality of our brain, the Image and a moving mirror of what we are. Magical
Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?
I feel that yes, especially if it is art cinema or history film.
Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?
As I always dream this is included
Do you think you're gonna win it?
I feel so
Do you prefer Comedy or Drama?
Drama with sprinklings of comedy is always preferable.
Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life?
Goes both ways.
Which is the best Moment on set?
"Action!"
Did anyone ever tell you weren't good enough?
No, thankfully. I probably would have given up.
How can you stay focused on your goal?
Have always had to push myself especially when that blank page gets blinding.
Have you ever had a breakdown because of your Job?
No.
Talent is a blessing or a curse?
An immeasurable blessing.
What would you like to improve about yourself as an
actor/director/screenplayer?
More reading and study.
What's the worst critic you have received?
Self.
If you weren't an actor/director/screenplayer what would you like to be?
Not a clue.
If Cinema was a color what would it be?
No idea.
A day without a movie is...
"Reality"
If someone offered you to play/direct/write in/a movie that you despice
but that for sure will make you rich and famous...would you accept the job?
Not anymore. ("despise")
What's your greatest ambition?
Literary management representation and a screenplay sale.
What's your biggest fear?
Making a flop out of a sure thing.
Does music helps you to play/direct, write?
Absolutely.
You have the chance to make a Silent movie, what's your message to the
audience?
My first student films were silent with music accompanied on 1/4" reel-to-reel tape, so have plenty of experience in telling a story visually: an awesome tool for young filmmakers trying to communicate with an audience.
Share your speech if you should win an Oscar...
"Does this mean I don't have to go back to retail?"
When did you realised you wanted to be a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?
When I was around 6 I knew I wanted to tell stories
Do you remember your first time at the Movies?
Yes my parents brought me to see 2001 A Space Oddesy
If you should change country where would you like to work?
Greece without a doubt
Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…
It would have to be The Godfather and Psycho
What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?
I am very biased as I am a Film teacher at Trebas Institute Montreal, Filmmaking schools give you the opportunity to fail and to learn from it whereas outside of school you fail and are not sure of why you failed
Have you ever hated your ambition?
Never not even one day.
Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was
he right?
I think in order to make great art every artist must be an addict to passion
Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?
Art in its purest form
Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?
Director, it has to be Alfred Hitchcock, Acto,r Dustin Hoffman, and for writer, I would have to choose two, 1) Charlie Kauffman and 2) Billy Wilder
About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…
To make a film that can last the test of time and is studied for years to come would be my biggest dream and my worst nightmare would be the loss of my memory. My Grandfather suffered from Alzheimer's and I saw what it did to him.
How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?
It is a must, and you must grow it every day, study the greats watch International films, and watch indie films.
What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?
I would like to improve as a writer and as a Director to take more risks
A big producer give you the chance to direct\to play (in) the remake of
one of your favorite black and white Movie (if you have one)… what film
do you choose?
I would love to remake The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog
Film Industry it’s a tough place and sometimes is normal to feel lost
and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated?
My wife and my children are my anchors and my pillars.
Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film you need 3 things: The
script, the script and the script". Do you agree with him?
Absolutely
What’s your most ambitious project for the future?
I am currently writing with my Wolfpack team 6 series that are all connected in a shared Universe and we plan on filming by the end of the year.
Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative?
I think it adds but when you are happy it also adds to your creativity both are needed.
What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?
To have my team Wolfpack all healthy and to continue to work and create together
When did you realize you wanted to be a Screenwriter?
My first crack at being a screenwriter was writing a pilot and a show bible based on the life of a well-known hotel owner that became involved with a New York crime family and attempted to take over the city's concrete industry. A friend brought me the idea via a jailhouse manuscript that lacked a cohesive story. Despite that minor challenge, I was inspired to fictionalize the account and take it to creative places I wanted to go. The idea came to me while riding my bicycle on the beach.
Do you remember your first time at the movies?
No. It was too many years ago. I remember that my parents wanted some time on the weekends, so they would drop my sister and me off at the local Cinema in downtown Culver City. At the time, MGM and Desilu Studio were still operating only a few blocks from the two theaters. The films I recall most were 1960s blockbusters, westerns, and action films. But I remember seeing some groundbreaking movies like Bonnie and Clyde, The Wild Bunch, and Easy Rider.
If you should change countries, where would you like to work?
I'd love to work in Europe. For example, I recently finished my adaptation of the public domain Ernest Hemingway Novel, The Sun Also Rises. Filming the first half in Paris and the bullfighting scenes in Pamplona would be fabulous. I'd be honored to work with British and French actors.
Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse
For better, the two films that had the most profound influence on me would be The Wild Bunch because there's been nothing as visually stunning and beautifully violent since it was released in 1969. The other film that comes to mind is Lawrence of Arabia. These two epics are masterfully acted and directed. I've also been heavily influenced by American film noir from the late 1940s and early 1950s. I'm a big dialogue fan, and my influences in that area are Woody Allen, William Goldman, Raymond Chandler, and Elmore Leonard.
What do you think about screenwriting schools?
Schools can teach you formatting and technique, but I don't think they can create great storytellers. Many screenwriters believe they can write one or two scripts and be the next William Goldman. I've written 55 screenplays and teleplays and understand it takes years to develop a distinct style. I've recently had my first feature film, Purgatory Station, shot and edited. Additionally, I have two other films slated to go into production later this year. It took me nine years to achieve that goal. So, If you take a screenwriting program, try to get an instructor who has made a good film. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19898834/
Have you ever hated your ambition?
No. I love it. Though I think I could've made more money going to college right out of high school and focusing more on an average career. However, money was never my first priority. I was a musician who occupied much of my attention but never made me much money. I returned to college in my mid-forties and obtained my bachelor's and master's degrees. Additionally, I have a postgraduate degree from Stanford University. So my ambition has fueled achieving goals at various stages of my life.
Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people." Was Truffaut right?
Taking into consideration Truffaut's meaning, I think it's essential to not only observe life but to live it. I've always been a restless soul and love creating and accomplishing goals. When I die, I want people to say there's not enough room on my tombstone to summarize my accomplishments. So if that makes me a sick person, I'm all in.
Close your eyes. If I say Cinema, what do you see?
I see the old movie theater I went nearly every Saturday as a child and think about the thousands of images that impacted my psyche during my formative years. How do I apply this to screenwriting? I challenge myself to envision a story and then articulate that vision into a cohesive screenplay. Since I was a mid-baby boomer, I was one of the first generations to experience both films and television. In the sixties and early seventies, film and tv profoundly affected my generation. Many of my peers were less focused on conventional careers and more interested in being rock musicians and actors.
Who's the screenwriter that taught you the most?
Too difficult to narrow my answer to one. William Goldman for visual narrative and Woody Allen for dialogue.
About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare.
I set goals and do my best to accomplish them. My biggest goal is to get ten films made before I die. My worst nightmare is failing to get more movies made.
How important is it to have a good working relationship with collaborators?
Since I mostly write, I spend a lot of time alone. I need to be in a peaceful place with music to feel relaxed. As far as collaboration with filmmakers? I think it's essential to be flexible and allow people creative input with your work. Nevertheless, I think it's equally important to defend your writing when you feel a director, actor, or producer is fucking it up.
What would you like to improve as a Writer?
Develop more patience during the creative process. I probably would benefit from spending more time writing a first and second draft. Sometimes, I crank them out too quickly.
If a big producer allowed you to direct the remake of one of your favorite black-and-white movies (if you have one), What film would you choose?
It must be a film noir classic if it's a black-and-white film. So I'd love to direct a remake of The Big Steal, which was made in 1949 and starred Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer and was directed by Don Siegal of Dirty Harry fame.
The film Industry is a tough place, and sometimes it is normal to feel lost and discouraged. Who's the person that keeps you motivated?
If it's a spec screenplay, I can only rely on myself to stay motivated. And that means reaching into my imagination and tapping into my creative soul. If it's a work-for-hire, then I'm motivated by whoever is paying me and their deadline for completing the work.
Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film, you need 3 things: The script, the script, and the script". Do you agree with him?
Filming a movie without a script resembles building a house with no blueprint. So yes, yes, yes! I agree with Hitchcock. There's been a lot of recent talk about Artificial intelligence (AI) replacing screenwriters. I'LL BE IMPRESSED when AI can write a film like Citizen Cain or make a soulful adaptation of War and Peace. I think it'll be a cold day in hell before that happens.
What's your most ambitious project for the future?
The most challenging project for me is doing an adaptation of a novel. The challenge is retaining the book's essence while doing extensive editing and putting your stamp on the work. I've made six adaptations, and the easiest ones involve famous novels with Cribs Notes or other comprehensive, chapter-by-chapter summaries. With these available, it's quicker to drill down to the essence of the story. Nevertheless, each project can have its particular challenges, so working with unfamiliar topics with technical qualities can require extensive research.
Do you think sadness or at least melancholy inspires you to be more creative?
Drawing from my emotions, including melancholy, is not essential to my creative process. Drawing inspiration from my past experience is far more relevant to me. They say, "Write what you know. However, that's not always possible. In cases where you're in unfamiliar territory, researching your topic becomes more critical. I've written scripts in nearly every genre and appreciate a challenge.
What do you wish for yourself as a Writer?
To create the best work that I can that rings with honesty and truth while also entertaining my audience. And to make several more films over the next few years.
What are you currently working on?
Most recently, I completed a classic film noir script in the style of Raymond Chandler called A Dangerous World of Possibilities. However, I flipped the genre by crafting a female version of the Phillip Marlowe Detective, Desiree Duncan. She's a former WWII army nurse wounded during a skirmish at a battlefield hospital who also loses her husband in battle. So when she becomes a detective, Desiree is ready to emerge from the wreckage of her damaged life. It draws heavily from late forties noir and neo-noir films like Chinatown and LA Confidential. Here's the logline for the screenplay:
A WWII nurse wins a Silver Star, becomes a private detective, is hired by an heiress to find a missing actress connected to porno, and a mobster blackmailing a Los Angeles Congressman.