Hey Batt, “Uncle Joe’s American Odyssey” was your debut film. Any advice for would-be filmmakers?
Pete the Poet
Hi Pete the Poet, yeah probably the best advice I can give you is to not listen to anyone’s advice, unless it really resonates with you. Or unless they have been through this exact process themselves. Be fearless and stick with your vision. People will tell you all this stuff, about what to do or what to change, bla bla bla on and on. After that happens, ask them what their favorite movies are. Chances are you’ll not like any of them. So why listen to somebody, or even care in the least what they are telling you, when they don’t make movies and they like a bunch of movies you don’t?
Try to talk to somebody who has done this, and likely the most important things they’ll tell you will have nothing to do with your story ideas or draft edits. They may tell you what an incredible time commitment it is, or how it will take over your life (look at me now, 20 years later finishing this), or how much money you’ll spend, or how frustrating it can sometimes be, or how incredible it is to have simply done this. Follow your vision and forget everything about the number of people who may or may not view it. Do it exactly how you want to do it. And if you don’t do it for yourself (with your inspiration) – you’ll risk possibly tossing to the curb a good chunk of your life.
Pete the Poet still writes poetry. He also co-edits the online poetry journal http://www.ADozenNothing.com.