As part of the film screenings at Get Connected each month Blank Stage seeks to feature the hard working directors behind each of the projects. Enjoy the interview!

Are you looking forward to your film screening at “Get Connected”?

Definitely.  I’ve heard some very positive comments about previous Get Connected events, and I’m excited to attend this one.  To have the opportunity to screen at an industry event is a special treat.  The people watching the film are industry peers; they know the trials and tribulations of making a film, so for me, their opinions hold more weight.  Get Connected gives me a chance to show the Atlanta film community what kind of movies I can make; hopefully Take Me Out is well-received.

Describe your past experience in the industry.

I’ve been working exclusively in the Atlanta independent film industry since 2007.  I work predominantly as a screenwriter, story consultant, and writing coach; I’ve started two screenwriters’ groups in Atlanta, and worked with several production companies.  In 2009, I also began working as a 1st AD, primarily for CakeBaby Productions.  Take Me Out is my directorial debut.  Our world premiere was at the 2011 Action On Film International Film Festival, where the film was named Best Short Runner-Up.  I was named Best Director at the 2011 Atlanta Horror Film Festival.  I’ve currently got two short screenplays I’ve written in production at different companies, directors and talent attached, with plans to shoot both by the end of the year.

What is your film about?

Take Me Out is a psychological thriller set during the last ten minutes in the life of Parker Lam, a baseball Hall-of-Famer and death-row inmate awaiting execution.  When he receives an eleventh-hour visit from former teammate Alex Mackenzie, Parker is forced to admit the brutal truth of his crime.  The film explores themes of friendship, brotherhood, love, obsession, rage, and ultimate accountability.

How did you come up with the idea?

I wrote the screenplay for Take Me Out in the summer of 2006, as a writing sample for the Los Angeles-based Writers’ Arc Screenwriting Fellowship.  The first round qualifying assignment for potential fellowship members was to craft a scene using two character names, a location, and a prop supplied by the Writers’ Arc.  But those details were merely logistical decisions for the story; the themes and conflict came from my personal experience.  I was planning my wedding at the time I was writing Take Me Out, and had recently moved in with my wife-to-be after living with my brother for two years.  Subconsciously, I’m sure I felt I was betraying my brother in some way by choosing my new wife over him, and was questioning the definitions and boundaries of brotherhood.  Add to that the minor familial and friendship discord that can arise when a man brings a new lover into his life, and my writer’s mind took these situations and pushed them to the extreme.  The Writers’ Arc guidelines just helped craft the perfect container for the story I needed to tell.

How did you go about making the movie?

The only way I knew how; by the seat of my pants.  Take Me Out was set up at two other production companies, with two other directors attached, at separate times.  Due to scheduling, financing, and the always fun “creative differences”, the shoots just kept getting pushed back.  Eventually, I realized that if the film was going to get made, I would have to produce it myself.  With my experience behind the camera as a 1st AD on other short films, and having directed several animated shorts, I felt confident stepping into the director’s role.  We went into pre-production in January, 2010, and after a major re-scheduling, shot the film in November of last year.  As a first-time producer and director, I made quite a few mistakes; luckily I was surrounded by professionals who taught me a lot, and the final product didn’t suffer too much from my inexperience.  It was a great learning opportunity for me, and I’m humbled by the success the film has found since its release.

Tell us about your cast and crew.

I was incredibly lucky to pull together such a dedicated group of talented filmmakers.  Rob Pralgo’s unrelenting work ethic really allowed him to dig deep into Parker’s psychology.  The emotional roller-coaster he endures during the film, from all swagger and ego through total devastation is harrowingly extreme, and Rob gave me exactly what I was looking for.  There’s a reason Rob works a lot; it’s because he’s so good at what he does.

I had worked with Stephen Caudill before, and when I began casting, he was the first person I called.  Stephen’s all-American look and his ability to really command the screen were paramount in his casting as Alex, and his off-screen friendship with Rob added so much to the subtext of the script.  Together, they were the only choice for this film.

Steve Coulter is one of my closest friends in the business, and hands-down the most talented person I know.  He writes, acts, directs, slices, dices, and makes cole slaw.  He joined us late in the process, mostly because I was afraid to direct him because I just love him so much.  But once I saw him with Rob in rehearsal, I knew they were going to generate electricity on screen.  He brought the perfect balance of humor and sympathy to the prison guard; he’s just great.

Mindy Castellanos was suggested to me for the role of Marjorie by a mutual friend, and once I saw a photo of her, I was instantly smitten.  And when we met, her energy and charisma were infectious.  I realized she needed to be a bigger part of the film, so I expanded her role, only for most of it to end up on the cutting-room floor through no fault of hers.  She’s awesome in the film, and I look forward to working with her again on something where I can really help her shine.

Behind the camera, my lead producer Kelly Silverman was instrumental in getting Take Me Out to the screen.  Kelly is a mixture of drill sergeant and cheerleader; she kept me on task and always made a point of telling me how great the finished project would be.  If she ever had doubts about the project, she never let it show; she was always 100% positive.

Tim Glover was our DP; I’ll never be able to say enough about that man.  He’s a magician with a camera, and a phenomenal director himself.  Take Me Out was the fourth time I’d worked with Tim, and he brought so much to the look of the film.  He’s one of the best in the business, and I’ll work with him any chance I get.

In the cutting room, I was lucky enough to have David Silverman as my editor.  David, like Tim, is a great director on his own, and his eye was so helpful in editing Take Me Out.  We worked a lot of long days getting the film in shape, and David’s input was invaluable.  I learned a lot working with him, and enjoyed the process.

And the rest of the crew, everyone from the Executive Producers to the PAs were all 100% on their game.  I’d work with all of them again in a heartbeat; they’re some of the best industry professionals the Atlanta area has to offer.

What will the audience enjoy about your film?

For me, the most important – and resonant – aspect of a film is truth.  Special effects are cool, cinematography can set a beautiful mood, and sound is vital, of course, but the truth of a script, or a performance, or especially a theme, is what, in my opinion, stays with an audience long after the credits roll.  So the story of Take Me Out, while completely fictional, is told honestly.  Most of us know what it’s like to be betrayed by a best friend; a lot of us know what it’s like to lose the most important person in our lives; most of us know what it means to stand toe-to-toe in conflict against someone we love.  These are the universal true-life inspirations for Take Me Out.  Alongside those truths, though, is an ambiguity I fought to keep in the forefront of my mind as we made the film.  I don’t want to answer every question the audience might have during the course of watching Take Me Out; I want the members of the audience to form their own individual opinions and answer their own questions from the depth of their own experiences.  But if they’re just looking for a fun, intense roller-coaster ride, they’ll get that, too!

Any war stores from the set?

No more than the usual stuff.  We shot outside, overnight, in November, so it was cold; very cold.  But my cast and crew were all professionals, and they did their jobs beautifully, with no complaints.  The big thing, I guess, was we lost our location the day before the shoot, so we had to regroup and shoot at a location without a fence.  The prison fence you see in the film is just two four-foot by eight-foot chainlink panels zip-tied together, and held up by two c-stands.  I had to throw away my storyboards and replan the whole shoot, because the logistics of the short fence really limited our choices.  I think the close angles give the film a claustrophobic feel though, and it works.

Any tips you can share with others about the production process?

It’s old advice, but it’s so true, it bears repeating:  a minute in pre-production will save an hour on set.  As independent filmmakers, we don’t have the luxuries of long schedules and large budgets.  Plan, plan, plan for everything, and then plan for things to go wrong, because something will.  And surround yourself with professionals who know their jobs and do them well; their experience lets you trust them to handle the small problems that pop up during production.

TAKE ME OUT facebook fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/takemeoutmovie

GET CONNECTED facebook fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Connected/150061968382511

We had the chance to sit down and talk shop with the up-and-coming set decorator Alvin Eric Vazquez. Alvin is a complete whirlwind of pure creative energy and when he gets behind a project you can bet it will look and feel authentic to the vision of the story. We had the pleasure of working with Alvin on the set of HARVEST alongside the FILMAtlanta team.

Alvin, please tell us a bit about yourself – your background!

I was a Visual Merchandiser and freelance designer working on projects for showrooms, houses, and corporate offices. As an upcoming set designer with a lot of passion towards my art, I keep myself educated with the ever changing styles and trends which in turn have given me the opportunity to grow personally and professionally in the film industry.

Talk to us about a few of your project before working on HARVEST?

My first break came on the set of Boulevard West -A Greenway Entertainment Production, which was followed by Harvest and now multiple other projects.

What was the pre-production process like for you?

From drawing to finding the right pieces to researching to putting it all together was all very exciting.  We turned an entire vacant back area of our building into a movie set. It was so much fun. I worked so hard for an entire week, but the end result is something I was so proud of!  I needed a SMOOTHIE!

What were some of the challenges for you?

How to work in an empty warehouse with over a thousand props to make it look like a Thrift Shop and deliver a story.  I got so many items and props from every place I could and I only had a  week to do it all.  Also, I am still learning so I had to make sure I was on the right path. After a few days of working, Brent wanted some “white patches” covered up with more props and it was no problem.  I call Brent my manager, lol! But it was so much fun and when it all came together it was movie magic!

What was it like seeing it all come together?

It was an awesome feeling looking at the sparkle in the eyes of the cast and crew as they came in ready to deliver as well as watching the director celebrating the accomplishments before the whole project was done.  I was like a kid in a candy store, so proud and happy. I have seen a little bit of the movie and it has me very excited to see how it is being edited.

What was it like working with FILMAtlanta and Blank Stage?

It was great since day one. They are all wonderful team-players. Their enthusiasm, how they worked with each other, the positive vibes on the set made this project successful.  Brent and Cynthia work so well together and really compliment each other so well.

You have been able to see a little bit of the footage, what has that been like for you?

As I see it unfold little by little and see my hard work and the cast performing it made me realized what I can accomplish.  It gives me confidence.

What do you hope the little film will do?
I hope for it to open many doors for future projects for FILMAtlanta and Blank Stage Studios.  I hope the project will continue to encourage more people to come to the FILMAtlanta meet-ups!

Other articles on the short film HARVEST:

Screenwriter Erk McNeal: http://blankstageproductions.com/screenwriter-erik-mcneal/

Actors Yasmein Ziyad and Darryl Moore: http://blankstageproductions.com/darryl-moore-and-yasmien-ziyad-on-harvest/

Learn More: http://blankstageproductions.com/shorts/harvest/

BLANK STAGE: In the Can

Collection of past commercial & industrial projects.

Clients include:

Emory Hospital, AMEC, Eastside Medical, Studioplex Studios, Georgia Tech, MyInterviewLink.com, Stomper.net, Forsyth Special Olympics, Pro@ctive CPA, Beyondvia Visual Talking, Atlanta Special Events, Horse and Rider Club, No Longer Bound, Dive Provo, JM Walker Group, MyCustomDay, GrowthANSWERS, Pilgrim’s Pride, Homeowner’s First, ActionCOACH, GunDogBroker, SONNARconnects, Elderlife, Aussie Pet Mobile, Commercial Lending Solutions, Black Bear Resorts, Paramount Plastic Surgery, Crepe Masters, Dr. T. Douglas Gurley, Inbone Technologies, ICM Insurance, Daza Dance, Breath of Inspiration, YellowTail, FugeoMundo, Woman’s Automotive Connection, Elderlife, Grand L. Stables, North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, First Mortgage, Team Ellis, Artisan Resource Center, Oakbridge Chiropractic, Prime Resins…

Recent Sample Portfolio:

Dr. Gurley’s Office | Office Beauty Shots | For Website

GunDog Broker | In The Field | Instructional

Southern Hills Medical Hospital | Contest Submission | Promotional

SONARconnects | The Power of Social Media | Promotional

GunDog Broker | In The Field | Instructional

Black and Strong | Webisode | Entertainment

Eastside Medical | On the Horizon | Promotional

Eastside Medical | Welcome to the Maternity Ward | Promotional

Eastside Medical | Ladies Night Out! | Promotional

Homeowners First | Cartwheel | 15 sec. Commercial

Homeowners First | Over the Hill | 30 sec. Commercial

Emory Johns Creek Hospital | Promotional | Five Minute Music Video | Black Eyed Peas

Homeowners First | Bending Over Backwards | 15 sec. Commercial

Homeowners First | Baby On Board | 30 sec. Commercial

Homeowners First | Bad Customer Service | 30 sec. Commercial

Homeowners First | Neighbors | 30- sec. Commercial

Post-it Notes | Stuck on You | 1 minute Viral Video | 2nd Place National

Elderlife | Presenting Financial Options | 8 Minute Training Video

Sample ThriveAMERICA

Atlanta Special Events | Promotional

Outrageous Doritos Collection | Contest Selection

Budweiser Video Collection | Contest Submission

North Fulton Chamber Expo | Where Atlanta Comes to Network | Promotional

Pro@ctive C.P.A. | An Accountant’s Fairy Tale | Business Comedy

Pro@ctive C.P.A. | Story Time with Uncle Mark | Business Comedy

The Artisan Resource Center | 9 Minute Promotional
[googlevideo]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7565645183686800710&hl=en#[/googlevideo]

Commercial Lending Solutions | Too Small Sandwich Shop | 1 minute online comedy promo

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiEiTH8Qsfg[/youtube]

Commercial Lending Solutions | Loan Harmony | 1 minute online comedy promo

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kfYcDAPfzc&feature=related[/youtube]

Paramount Plastic Surgery | We’re Removing Hairy Backs | 1 minute comedy promor

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3IUqLeCVUA&feature=related[/youtube]

Black Bear Resorts | Promotional | 9-minute Video Brochure
[googlevideo]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9096512146753551344#[/googlevideo]

Ga. Tech C-op Program | Promotional | 9-Minute Video Brochure

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRYcU-JbPzQ[/youtube]

ActionCOACH | Promotional | 3-Minute Video Overview of GrowthCLUB

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xRJ3G39Yas[/youtube]

Past commercial & industrial video clients include:

Emory Hospital, AMEC, Eastside Medical, Studioplex Studios, Georgia Tech, MyInterviewLink.com, Stomper.net, Forsyth Special Olympics, Pro@ctive CPA, Beyondvia Visual Talking, Atlanta Special Events, Horse and Rider Club, No Longer Bound, Dive Provo, JM Walker Group, MyCustomDay, GrowthANSWERS, Pilgrim’s Pride, Homeowner’s First, ActionCOACH, GunDogBroker, SONNARconnects, Elderlife, Aussie Pet Mobile, Commercial Lending Solutions, Black Bear Resorts, Paramount Plastic Surgery, Crepe Masters, Dr. T. Douglas Gurley, Inbone Technologies, ICM Insurance, Daza Dance, Breath of Inspiration, YellowTail, FugeoMundo, Woman’s Automotive Connection, Elderlife, Grand L. Stables, North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, First Mortgage, Team Ellis, Artisan Resource Center, Oakbridge Chiropractic, Prime Resins…

Recent Sample Portfolio:

Dr. Gurley’s Office | Office Beauty Shots | For Website

GunDog Broker | In The Field | Instructional

Southern Hills Medical Hospital | Contest Submission | Promotional

SONARconnects | The Power of Social Media | Promotional

GunDog Broker | In The Field | Instructional

Black and Strong | Webisode | Entertainment

Eastside Medical | On the Horizon | Promotional

Eastside Medical | Welcome to the Maternity Ward | Promotional

Eastside Medical | Ladies Night Out! | Promotional

Homeowners First | Cartwheel | 15 sec. Commercial

Homeowners First | Over the Hill | 30 sec. Commercial

Emory Johns Creek Hospital | Promotional | Five Minute Music Video | Black Eyed Peas

Homeowners First | Bending Over Backwards | 15 sec. Commercial

Homeowners First | Baby On Board | 30 sec. Commercial

Homeowners First | Bad Customer Service | 30 sec. Commercial

Homeowners First | Neighbors | 30- sec. Commercial

Post-it Notes | Stuck on You | 1 minute Viral Video | 2nd Place National

Elderlife | Presenting Financial Options | 8 Minute Training Video

Sample ThriveAMERICA

Testimonials “Brent delivers the complete package when making a video, movie, or any creative visual piece. Brent leads all aspects from writing, to shooting, to directing, to editing, and to producing. He gets it done. His caring coaching style brings all participates together and builds the team to very high performances level quickly. Brent is a leader who gets results.” - Mark Grace, Global Program Executive at GE Energy “Blank Stage Productions did an outstanding job in preparing a recruiting video on behalf of our program for prospective students and employers. We needed a high class production that would be an attention-grabber and Blank Stage hit the bulls-eye. From the recording to the directing, and to the final video, they were totally professional and extremely helpful. A first class job from a first class organization.” - Thomas M. Akins, Executive Director, Georgia Tech Division of Professional Practice “I was blown away with how much preparation that went into my ImprovAstorm. I really felt you and the team understood my business. On the night of the improvAstorm each actor put their best foot forward and really came up with some great concepts, two of which were scripted, rehearsed and cast and put into video. The feedback I have received from my clients and strategic partners regarding the video has been overwhelming. Your talent is immeasurable. It was a great pleasure working with you and your team and the end result is phenomenal. I am looking forward to putting more of the concepts from my improvAstorm into video.” - Erica Parker, Owner and Operator of Commercial lending Solutions “So, I can officially say I’ve been “stormed”. Last night was a wonderful event-and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to see and hear amazing ideas for the branding and marketing of their business. I had been to an ImprovAstorm before, but seeing my own was truly an amazing experience. I can’t wait for my videos to be made-and everyone was just so unbelievably gracious, nice and truly interested in my business. Aside from the great marketing ideas; the networking experience was unreal. I know having the ideas from last night turned into “viral videos” will be an invaluable marketing tool. The actors i really got my demographic and I can’t wait to see what comes next. Thank you so much to Brent and the team-you guys are awesome!” - Tom Whitson, Senior Partner of MySuccessAgent “I can’t recommend the ImprovAStorm enough to ANY business that needs to re-conceptualize their message and Internet presence. Whether your a professional like a doctor, lawyer or real estate pro; you offer B2B services or a retail product or service, it might be just the right time to give Brent a call. If you want to call me directly with any questions, feel free to do so. My direct number is 770-289-9711.” - Dr. Tim Langley, Langley Chiropractic “I just wanted to let you know that your video paid for itself today, all by itself. An owner of a 9-property company in WI with 1,500 assisted living units found the video on YouTUBE. He is in Arizona, and he emailed his home office team and told them to “get on it” and sent them the link to the video. The CEO told us “we saw the video and we thought ‘my god, this is exactly what we are looking for.” -Elias P. Papasavvas, Founder & CEO of Elderlife Financial Services LLC Blank Stage Productions has brought our resort to a whole new level of marketing. They took the job but did not treat it as such, they took it personal and made it so. This has been the best marketing investment we have made and was refreshing to see all the creative thinking, time and research that went in behind the scenes in this production.” -Jeff Shortridge, Marketing Director for Black Bear Resort “As a filmmaker, Brent excels. Our audience attendance for “The Wizard of Oz” exceeded any production for the theatre company to date. He is a brilliant filmmaker, whose professionalism and willingness to contribute to our community was outstanding.” - Colleen Green Quigley, Executive Director, Historic Holly Theatre in Dahlonega Ga. “Brent Brooks of Blank Stage Productions recently produced the “Sinatra and Friends” Tribute show for Atlanta Special Events. Their crew was courteous and professional during the filming and Brent was excellent to work with. His creative ideas, expert technical abilities and speed resulted in an exceptional promotional video at an affordable price. This video immediately received attention from talent agents across the country and achieved its goal….BOOKINGS!! Thank you Blank Stage Productions for a job well done!” - Lori O’Brien, President of Atlanta Special Events, Inc. “We have never had a promotional piece that told our story and the men’s stories in such a way as yours. Everyone that has seen it has simply been “blown away” by its impact. You should be very proud.” -Mike Harden, Executive Director of No Longer Bound. “Thank you for taking so much time and putting it towards the development of our Special Olympic video. We know that a lot of thought went into each phase of production and appreciate your dedication. WE LOVE the video!” - Susan Darlington, Coordinator for Forsyth Special Olympics “As a fan of improv, I enjoy being around Blank Stage. Blank Stage recently involved my business in a remarkable experiment which used improv to demonstrate different aspects of my business. The value in doing this was that I got to see my business from a few different outside perspectives and really got to learn a lot about how other people perceive what I do. Ultimately, through out their skits, I discovered an answer to a question that I’ve had for two years! My video gets attention, it breaks the ice. Blank Stage has an amazingly innovative approach to helping businesses with improv and I’m confident and proud to recommend them” - Bryan Menendez, Owner and Operator of Crepe Masters “Brent and Blank Stage Productions thank-you you so much for a part of our very first ACES meeting! It was great and we have heard so many positive comments about it. You and your team did a fantastic job conducting the improv interviewing, making the event come to life!” - Holly Bass, Chair of Strategic Alignment VP Membership for the Cobb Chamber of Commerce “Brent and Blank Stage Productions worked on a budget and tight timeline. He became a coach to those with little experience in front of the camera. He became an inspiration in pulling out all the emotional reasons to choose GrowthANSWERS. And he became my hero when he completed this massive project on time, on budget with a product that connects with our target market.” - Don Rigby, Founder of GrowthANSWERS, Inc “We recently participated in The Blank Stage event ImprovAstorm. This was a brilliant business opportunity. Brent and his hilarious cast took us through multiple marketing scenarios that were innovative, funny, fresh and cost effective. The improv format gave us better insight in how to more effectively market our business and reach a larger market than we had previously considered possible. We are delighted with the concepts developed in a short 90 minutes. The best part of the ImprovAstorm format is that it is truly one of the most enjoyable evenings we have spent in a long time. This is Improv customized directly to you and your business. A private session with these marketing gurus is insightful, extremely entertaining and just plain fun. All together it’s Genius!!!” -Mark & Patty Wrazen, The Audio/Video Artisans, 404-610-2659 “Blank Stage and I have worked on a ton of projects together. Together we have both taken our businesses higher. Not only is Blank Stage brilliant in video production, but they offer real insight to a client’s marketing ideas. I attribute a great deal of my success to him and his support. I would recommend him strongly.” - Russell Fair, RF Web Studios “The team Blank Stage put together was friendly, confident and professional. They really worked as a team and treated me with respect. As the video shoot progressed, new ideas were tried and implemented impromptu. Brent was constantly reassuring and encouraging. It was a great experience!” - Mark Walker, Owner and Operator of J M Walker Group “Brent is an excellent resource to have on any production team with a good solid understanding of what makes a good production. He executes well and is quick to offer solutions to any problems that might (as they so often do) pop up on set. An excellent Producer and someone I look forward to working with more in the future.” - Rodney Smith, Owner of Flyin Monkey Films “Brent ran a series of Improv workshops that were awesome. Aside form being a pleasant diversion from my hectic work schedule, these workshops got us thinking on our feet better… made us more adaptable. And we just had fun. We also had a great show at the end to showcase our new talent to friends and family. Our next plan is to put Brent and Blank Stage Productions is to work, puttin thier videography skills to use for our company for marketing purposes. I cannot wait to see that.” - Chad Massaker, Owner and operator of Carceron Systems Group “I have used Brent on two projects now, and both times he has been a pleasure to work with. His products are high quality. Brent brings a lot of passion and energy to the process, and that makes the working relationship most rewarding!” - Todd Schnick, Owner and operator of The Intrepid Group Blank Stage Productions 585 Cobb Parkway South Marietta GA., 30060 Suite C-1 Tel. 404.217.6903 info(at)blankstageproductions.com Map and Video Directions . Owner of Blank Stage Productions, Brent Brooks has served as a Director and Executive Producer in the film and television industry for well over 12 years with commercial work appearing on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and “Regis and Kelly”. ‘Art of Suicide’, winner of the “Best Underground Film” award at last year’s Indie Fest, is Brooks’ second independent feature film and showcases his talent as an “actor’s director”. Brent and the Blank Stage teamed just wrapped on “Between Love & A Hard Place” a faith -based film that features “Thelma” from the his TV show Good Times, Irone Singleton the villain from ‘The Blind Side’ and R&B Gosbel singer, Canton Jones. Brooks was also honored with a “Davey Award” by the International Academy of the Visual Arts for his documentary The Artisan Resource Center: A Creative Enterprise. Using the story structure outlined in “Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey” Brooks has pioneered a new film brainstorming technique called “ImprovAstorm”. Brent also manages “The Blank Page” screenwriting meetings and the “Under Budget”, producer’s meetings. Brent and a team of filmmakers are currently in-development of several exciting projects. Filed Under: Films Making it up! 13/11/2010 By admin Leave a Comment IMDb | Website In lieu of the speaking at the coming FILMAtlanta meet-up, we recently had the chance to sit down with the two time Emmy award winning make-up artist turned producer Eva Jane Bunkley.  Learn more about FILMAtlanta and get the chance to meet Eva, Wednesday, November 17th at 7:30! How did you get started in the film and TV industry? I have been a professional make-up artist since 1993 so that has put me on sets regularly, I love being on set.  While doing make-up for Atlanta TV news, I caught the producing bug, it was addictive.  I always enjoyed writing and absolutely loved movies.  I used to watch at least a movie a day…I am sure I am partially responsible for Blockbusters growth as a company in the 90′s!  I still do make-up artistry and have 2 Emmy Awards for it.  I have also started doing semi-permanent make-up.  Make-up artistry helps support my filmmaking endeavors. Was this always your passion growing up? I always enjoyed art and have always been creative.  I didn’t start out wanting to be a make-up artist.  I went to Ohio State and studied fashion.  When I moved to Atlanta, I intended on pursuing a career as a fashion stylist.  I quickly realized that it wasn’t for me.  Make-up came much easier to me and I enjoyed it well enough.  I really wanted to be around and interact with people and make-up is the perfect career to facilitate that and create lasting bonds.  Filmmaking is a more recent reality for me…I started work on my first film in 2004.  I think that it is never to late to find your path.  Filmmaking excites me and anyway I can be around an production environment, I am happy. Who have been your influences? When it comes to films, I am a horror and thriller junkie, and ultimately those are the types of films I want to make.  My favorite film is the 1945 adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s, “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”  I saw it when I was young and fell in love with the story and I loved how quick the dialogue in the film was… extremely verbose and witty.  I love thick dialogue if it’s entertaining and not dull and unnecessary.  The book for me didn’t have the same effect ) … There have been many other versions made since, none of which I felt were as good…but the latest version, “Dorian Gray” was very enjoyable.  I do also enjoy Guy Richie films…I love his quick pacing and creative cuts.  I also like the work of M. Night Shyamalan.  I admire that he is the total package…creator… writer…producer… director…FILMMAKER!  I would say that my latest film “The Family” was my first effort to combine these characteristics that I love so much.  It is strange, quirky and dark…not ordinary.  I don’t like ordinary. Have any people you have met on set that have impacted your professional career in a positive way? I have a friend named Janette Smith that was one of the anchors at Fox 5 Atlanta and she helped flourish in my filmmaking and production endeavors.  She took me under her wing and I did volunteer work under her at another broadcast and she taught me a lot.  At the same time, I was gathering footage for my first film, “My Mother was a Butterfly.”  It was simultaneous…so “Butterfly” was my learning curve and I have grown so much as a producer since. What advice do you have for those wanting a career like yours? I would say get beyond whatever your fear is.  I think that fear is the number one factor when pursuing a career in film.  It’s easy to go to the library or Barnes and Noble and read up on it, but it is another thing to actually make a film.  Start small.  Don’t say, I don’t have any money.  Help someone else on there film project to learn more.  Get involved in an organization such as Film MeetUp or WIFTA…get involved and get around it.  Go to film festivals and meet like minded people and see what other people are doing and learn how they do it. What are some a of the common questions you get? How to get funding…the numero uno filmmaking dilemma lol…and there are many answers to that question. Have you seen a lot of growth in the industry from your end here in Georgia? I do believe that there is but depending on how you classify yourself, that can determine how quickly you turn out your projects.  There are many aspects of production that you can go into…commercials…training videos…documentaries…public service announcements… I think, depending on the type of production you want to do, will determine where you seek out work.  Equiptment and especially quality camera have become more and more affordable, so I think, there is little excuse to not make SOMETHING. I was told you are alos now producing, can you share a little bit more about these projects? My production company is called “Eva-Lution Studios” and while I can “produce…” I did a video for Judge Hatchett, have done work for Creflo Dollar Ministries and have done videos for other clients such as interviews, this is not my passion.  I prefer narrative projects.  I also sell stock footage online and enjoy producing those clips.  I will be doing more of that because I enjoy working with actors and it gives me an opportunity to do so outside of the process of narrative filmmaking. Eva Jane Bunkley cell: 404-607-7060 office:  770-EVA-JANE http://evajanebunkley.com http://anointedhands.com http://eva-lutionstudios.com BLANK STAGE PRODUCTIONS 404.217.6903 info@blankstageproductions.com POOR BOY Screen Captures and Behind the Scene Stills HOT MUFFIN Screen Captures and Behind the Scene Stills WORLD WIDE DECEPTION Screen Captures and Behind the Scene Stills PINEBOX Screen Captures and Behind the Scene Stills JERSEY SHARK Screen Captures and Behind the Scene Stills Filed Under: Films « Older Posts Twitter Recent Posts Get Connected $1500 Production Plan Contest “Desperate Househusbands of Atlanta” Interview with The Falling Trees Interview with Sheri Mann Stewart, lead actress of “The Way of Justice” Get Connected January Screening Room Interview with the Wonder Twins – The Filmmakers behind “Batman – The Dark Truth” Interview with Kristin Wright – Director of “Superhero” Get Connected FILMAtlanta Meetup Contact: info@blankstageproductions.com | 404-217-6903 585 Cobb Parkway South, Marietta GA. 30060 Return to top of page Copyright © 2012 · Magazine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in