Joe Finds Grace will screen at the Straight Jacket Guerrilla Film Festival
*How did you get into making films? For me, the first steps would be obsessive-compulsive drawing and writing as a child. I always had sketchbook and pencils nearby and would sometimes create cartoons with dialogue to accompany them. After high school I attended 3 years of theatre school and from there worked as a stage actor which eventually shifted exclusively into film and tv. Writing and directing evolved and was motivated further by the desire to create rather than struggle for occasional opportunities.
*What inspired you to make your movie? I was inspired to make this movie by the desire to create something completely original. A story both fantastical and yet based on the heart and soul of a troubled human being with a tragic past. I love all genres of films, so making this film a multigenre piece allowed me to explore everything I love about films.
*How has your style evolved? I now feel a strong urge to make a much more traditional film; not deviating from the dramatic narrative storytelling style. My strongest interests involve writing for and directing actors. The development of technology has also provided me with a tremendous amount of freedom and given me the ability to better control the creative work environment; since equipment rentals and film lab processing fees are no longer a burdensome financial element.
*Tell us any strange or funny stories while making the film? On day one, during the filming of a second unit shot, before I arrived on set, the entire camera crew was almost run over by a truck driven by an actor who had only received his driver’s license two days earlier. He drove full speed toward the camera crew standing in the centre of the road, certain that they would move out of the way as he approached. His on-board supervisor was hiding below the dash during filming, so he couldn’t see that the actor had not been given the proper instructions. Thankfully, it was a small crew with very few pieces of equipment, so they could save themselves by leaping off the road at the last second.
*The Misrule Film Movement & Pink8 manifesto bring what to mind? The Misrule Film Movement & Pink8 manifesto bring to mind a feeling of camaraderie and a sense of comfort brought about by the knowledge that there will always be others doing what they love; creating without limitations.
*What can we expect from your next film? A coming-of-age drama that lingers on landscapes and explores the depths of existential sorrow.
