Talks 49th Parrell Productions
DM: Where are you from?
Skinny Corleone: I am from Washington, DC
DM: Who is Skinny Corleone?
Skinny Corleone: Skinny Corleone is a very passionate and creative individual. Started out as a music label head and ventured back into filmmaking after a 10 year layoff.
DM: When did you first start getting into films?
Skinny Corleone: 1997 when I completed writting Urban Survival. I shelved the project for 10-years in pursuit of
our Rap label venture and picked it back up in 2007 once I purchased my very own camera and equipment in 2007
DM: What projects are you working on now or most recent?
Skinny Corleone I am working on producing the drama called RELEASE DATE
DM: In one word, what is the new film about?
Skinny Corleone: REVENGE
DM: What other films and videos have you completed?
Skinny Corleone: Whooaa!! I've completed more than 40 music videos and 3 films.
DM: Do you have any peculiar interests?
Skinny Corleone: None currently. I used to collect comic books though.
DM: Most actors and aspiring directors never achieve modest success.You have had some success with your independent films. What do you say to young people out there struggling to get into the film industry?
Skinny Corleone: Don't jump into it because you see other well versed directors and producers doing it way before you. Learn and styudy the art of directing and editing. Reason I say that is becuz with HD coming around in 2009, your neightborhood knucklehead can now afford to save up $650 for a HD still camera from Sony or Canon and now call himself a photographer and filmmaker. All without reading the any books or studying the craft on it.
DM: Great information. What inspired you or led you to film this movie the way it was filmed? Where there certain scenes you had envisioned in your mind (knowing already how you wanted it to be filmed) when writing the screenplay?
Skinny Corleone: I was inspired by Martin Lawrence when he had the huge success he was having in the early 90s to become an actor. While on set, I
read and remember the way the script was written. Came home told my friends my experience on the baltimore film set, and one day one of my boys had recommended 2 books on the art and profession of scriptwriting for me to read and study. He actually got them from the library and copied each page for me. They were 300+ each book. He worked for a copy center. I was happy that he had did that for me, started read the books that same day. After reading the books, I started my first effort at working towards producing my film: Urban Survival.
DM: What a great friend and Martin Lawrence is from the Dc area so that is a awesome factor close to home. What was the hardest part on filming the film?
Skinny Corleone: Sequencing, adapting the screenplay to film? etc.. - Writing a compelling script/screenplay and Location scouting.
DM: What advice can you give, from personal experience, to future filmmakers?
Skinny Corleone: My advice would be to learn and develop your own shooting angles and thereby developing a shooting style for those who are actually serious and in the grind. Every Director has a distinct style. For example: Spike Lee, Michael Bay, Martin Scorsese, John Singleton and Tyler Perry. If you pay attention - they have their own style of shooting.
DM: Great information for the up and comers in film. What other art forms would you like to venture into?
Skinny Corleone: No other.
DM:At what age or time in life did filmmaking cross from a hobby to something more serious?
Skinny Corleone: It was never a hobby for me. I never played with it. I was serious from the getgo.
DM: What and when was your first action of pursuing a filmmaking career after high school?
Skinny Corleone:Started Writing in: 1992. Filmmaking: 1997
DM: How did you finance your first feature/short film?
Skinny Corleone: Out of my own pocket.
DM: How would you define the actual role that a director is supposed to fill?
Skinny Corleone: Visionary, Leader,
DM: Perfect. What kind of salary would a director expect to make in the independent scene, or is it completely dependent on the success of the movies?
Skinny Corleone: It is dependent upon both the success of his or her indie movies. You can expect to be paid from 8 thousand on up to 1-million. It depends on the scope and scale of the hiring production company or person(s) with the budget. Some companies or individuals may want to keep cost down or low. Some may have the clout and marketing and distribution channels already in place and can pay the 1-million price quote.
DM: Wow good to know.What limitations does a film director have, in example can you also work as an editor or cinematographer as well as a director on a film?
Skinny Corleone: On my films, I work as DP, Director and Editor. For example, the REURN OF THE GOATMAN film I was hired only as DP (Director of Photography)
DM: Spectacular, Are college courses necessary to become a film director, and if so, where did you go?
Skinny Corleone: Certain cases, yes. because you can learn something better via courses. But I was self taught and studied the styles of a number of Hollywood and Hong Kong Directors.