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.
DM: Interesting. Relatively how hard is it to "make it" in the film industry, and what skills help this?
Skinny Corleone: It is certainly hard. The main problem is marketing capital in the end if you are out of pocket as an independent.
DM: Ok understandable. What are some qualities in yourself and others that make one suitable for film directing?
Skinny Corleone: Let's seeeee. Well I would say Leadership. Somweone who is looked upon as a leader and can convey his or her vision and goals for the film to the cast (and also the crew).
DM:Alright so when do story ideas usually hit you?
Skinny Corleone: Out of no where. Some ideas can come from real life situations and some are just thought up. You just have
to tweak the storyline and scenes a bit to make them different and original to some degree.
DM: Did you write the script on your own or did you have a ghost writer?
Skinny Corleone: I wrote the script on my own.
DM: Have you thought about filming 3D technology being that it is the future of cinema?
Skinny Corleone: Eventually we will get to 3D. Right now it is not on our list. But if there is a huge budget that will pay me and my crew to shoot in 3D, then Yes - I will certainly jump in on it. And thereby learning something new.
DM: If you could work with anyone dead or alive actor, director, musician who would it be and why?
Skinny Corleone: Of course Tyler Perry, Michael Bay, Shia Labeouf, Tupac, Ice Cube, Tyrese, Vin Diesel, Kerry Washington, Halle Berry. Reason why is becuz I know that I could shoot and direct them in a way they never been directed before. Pushing them artistically in drama and action. It'll be a very great experience. For example: halle berry in CATWOMAN. To me
that was a good film for real. I liked it. They had just the right amount of r CGI for certain shots and graphics, she was certainly looking hot in that outfit. The fight scenes were good, but they could have been better and more fluid. The story should have been deeper. They should have wrote that the character was more crazier and robbing banks, killing people if she had to and acting out buglaries. Plus the Sharon Stone Villain and the Cosmetics plot was weak.
DM: What a diverse and creative list you have there. Where do you see your self in the next 5 years?
Skinny Corleone: Hopefully in Hollywood after making a big hit with an indie film that was picked up for distribution by a mini major like Lionsgate, the Weinsein Company or a major studio like Paramount.
DM: Great ideas you have. Would you like to get your film into sundace or on independent networks like Aspire?
Skinny Corleone: Yes mam!! Certainly.
DM: How would you describe the film "scene" where you live?
Skinny Corleone: It has really really grown since I have started. When I was one of the only Film Directors out here in the DMV shooting my film. Now there are dozens upon dozens of filmmakers sprouting up out of nowhere, credit to the creation
and affordability of HD DSLR cameras. And the indie film industry has given off extra good energy and support for other arts like the theater stage plays as well. So yes - it has grown tremendously and I see via the Social networks and the casting ads where a certain number of production companies
in the DC have production deals with Cable TV networks to produce the crime re-enactments for Discovery and other networks. Its crazy big now.
DM: Amazing. How does film unite different types of art and media?
Skinny Corleone: Film entertainment has united with the Stage theaters arts because Stage playwrights need visual productions to promote, market and recruit fresh actors for cast. Theater has always been big in DC. So its best to cross promote to the
different audiences.
DM: What do you consider some of the main differences between cinema and theatre?
Skinny Corleone: To me there is a couple of differences. One is live on stage in your face in an intimate setting. The other is created and then projected on a screen in a cinematic theater. And the scale of the production is very different becuz you have everything happening on 1-stage. A cinematic production has the world to shoot on and produce on.
Skinny Corleon
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