Please tell us about the projects you worked on before making ‘Damascus’. How did you start, and how did you learn to make films?
I started making videos with just a tablet and my imagination. Well it turns out you need way more than that to make a good film, but it was a start. I used to make gaming videos on my first YouTube channel with my best friend but after several years of getting nowhere we decided to switch to the thing we really were passionate about which was films. I made my first short film called American Revenant when I was a junior in high school for my theater class. It was a good first attempt, but I still had a lot to learn. My next project, Zero90Six.Redacted was my next attempt at filmmaking and was the first ‘successful’ film I have ever made. I utilized found footage/analog horror styles to create a film inspired by the SCP franchise. It was a very intense project utilizing 3 different body cams all moving at one time, but the experience proved to be extremely valuable for me as it was my first production on a bigger scale. I learned filmmaking is the best way anyone can learn anything, trial and error. I went through more failures than I could count, but the experience and lessons that I put myself through have been the ultimate teacher, making me the filmmaker I am today.
Tell us about ‘Damascus’. How do you describe it?
Damascus is a historical fiction fantasy film depicting a fight between a Knight and a Samurai. I was inspired to make this film for my love of these warriors from history and one of my favorite video games “For Honor”. I would describe this film as my ‘magnum opus’ as I have had a want to create a fantasy film like this for awhile and now that its finished, I could not be prouder.
Please tell us about your favorite filmmakers.
I have many filmmakers that have inspired me over the years. My favorite movie They Live was also made by one of my favorite filmmakers which is John Carpenter. I love Carpenter’s films because of his attention to detail and being able to do many different jobs at once like sound mixing, directing, and VFX. His passion for being a jack of all trades is definitely something that I admire, and I try to replicate that same work ethic with all of my films as well. Although, my favorite filmmaker of all time would have to be Sylvester Stallone. Stallone is the true example of a great filmmaker as he came from nothing to be one of the greatest action stars of all time. Stallone not only was a great actor, but he was also a writer, director, and he did his own stunts. He would always put himself in harm’s way for the love of entertainment even going as far as to breaking his neck on set of Expendables and still managed to complete the film on schedule. I admire his grit and work ethic, and he is the perfect example of what a filmmaker should be and what they should do if they are truly passionate about their craft. Even though I am not even close to being on the same level as Stallone, I use him as a major inspiration for my love of filmmaking, because Stallone didn’t just create films he created franchises.
If you were given a good budget, what would be your ideal project?
I have many projects that I would love to do that need a big budget. But If I had to pick one I would make my revenge action thriller named Cutthroat. Cutthroat is a story of a man who was falsely imprisoned for the murder of his parents and after 10 years of being in confinement, he manages to escape and take revenge on the men who destroyed his life. The film would have gritty action with intense dramatic scenes for a high-octane thrill ride for everyone to enjoy.
Describe how you would ensure that production is on schedule. What steps would you take?
The steps I would take is meeting with my crew beforehand to schedule production making sure all things are in place. I would meet with camera crews, actors, and stuntmen to practice blocking and angles to ensure a smooth production. I would also spend time creating detailed shot lists with examples of how I want shots to be taken during filming.
What was the hardest part of making ‘Damascus’.
The hardest part of Damascus was filming by far. If anyone thinks directing is hard try directing with a 50lb suit of armor with limited visibility. Being the director I had to overcome the adversity of working with an extremely invasive costume while also directing, blocking, and acting with a very limited amount of resources. We would have to go out in the middle of Rogers Arkansas to a ravine plagued with thorn bushes and stickler seeds having to haul out tons of material. Damascus is by far the most grueling project I have ever worked on but also the most successful. If there is one thing that Damascus has taught me its that hard work really does pay off.
If possible, tell us about your next work. What plans do you have for your future work?
My next work is currently up in the air as I have many different ideas I would like to create. However, in the future I definitely am going to lean towards making more action packed thrillers as well as other genres like comedies, horror, and even found footage. Which one will come out next? I have no clue. However, one thing I can ensure is that it will be extremely entertaining!
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