WEBVTT
00:00:02.879 --> 00:00:04.559
So how how how have you been?
00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:06.240
How has it been lately?
00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:09.679
Um it's you know things have been been going good.
00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:11.279
I I uh are going well.
00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:15.199
I did two short films at the end of August.
00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:18.239
Um I d in three days I did two shorts.
00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:18.879
Whoa.
00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:26.960
And then right after that, um I had under two weeks to do like this book trailer for this influencer.
00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:27.519
Uh-huh.
00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:30.960
And um I was able to get a team together and get that done.
00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:32.560
So I was I was super busy with that.
00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:33.439
That was fun.
00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:37.840
And then I just I recently got an offer for a new job, so like a day job.
00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:39.200
Okay, congrats.
00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:41.280
Because all this extra shit I do.
00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:42.640
And am I am I allowed to swear?
00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:43.600
Oh yeah, 100%.
00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:44.079
Okay.
00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:44.240
Yeah.
00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:44.719
You know what?
00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:45.840
Yeah, I think John Wolfe.
00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:48.320
I'm pretty sure John John Wolf was cussing.
00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:49.280
Oh yeah.
00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:58.479
Um your first dating app match goes great.
00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:00.719
Good drinks, good banter.
00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:06.400
You step outside together, and the news breaks that the world might be ending.
00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:08.400
Or it might be another false alarm.
00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:09.840
You have no idea.
00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:16.799
My guest turned that night into a short film and shot it as one long, uninterrupted take.
00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:22.480
No cuts, no safety in it, just two actors and the apocalypse.
00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:28.799
Welcome back to Ilse Will Say, the podcast where we always let the conversation roll.
00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:30.799
Welcome to my brain.
00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:40.239
I am Ilse, your host, and if the world were ending, I'd be praying my maps app still work because I am terrible with directions.
00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:51.120
My guest is a Chicago writer, director, producer, and the founder of Northern Pines Pictures.
00:01:51.280 --> 00:02:04.319
His debut short connection at the end of the world took home the audience award at Shortcut 100, and his two leads won Best Acting Duo at the Independent Shorts Awards.
00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:08.479
Then he turned to horror with Volatile and Intruder.
00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:14.240
And yes, he shot that one in one single take two.
00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:25.280
When he's not behind the camera, he's behind the mic, hosting the longest take podcast, where he talks with filmmakers from Evil Dead to Frogman.
00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:28.960
He also hosts its spinoff, the tallest.
00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:30.719
You're gonna you might have to help me with this.
00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:31.280
Kaiju.
00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:32.479
Kaiju podcast.
00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:36.319
All kaiju all the time.
00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:40.159
And my guest today, boy, does he know how to keep the camera rolling?
00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:43.280
Please welcome John Steamack.
00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:49.599
Thank you, Brenda.
00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:54.000
Um Yeah, no, I I appreciate that.
00:02:54.080 --> 00:03:00.639
I've heard your intros on other episodes, and I was like, ooh, I wonder what this is gonna sound like, and I loved every second of it.
00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:01.360
Thank you.
00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:01.840
Thank you.
00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:03.360
No, no, no, thank you.
00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:12.080
Um I honestly I I do a good amount of sleuthing beforehand, but you don't have a lot of sleuthing to to to get.
00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:18.080
I I have gotten some deep cuts for people, and I was trying to find some, but you've done a pretty good job.
00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:19.840
You did a pretty good job on the internet.
00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:22.240
Um I'd like to think so.
00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:36.400
Um would you mind like doing a little like you know, elevator pitch, one, two sentences of of kind of like your life and how you've gotten to where you are now.
00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:45.199
Just so when it like as it pertains to filmmaking, I've always been a fan of movies growing up.
00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:54.319
When I was a kid, I would get like uh I had the Intel Play movie maker when I was in like elementary school, it was really crappy, but I loved it.
00:03:54.479 --> 00:04:07.599
And um then high school, I just didn't really care about actually learning anything, so I didn't do well, and I had an opportunity to go to a film school after high school.
00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:09.439
Didn't want to do that either.
00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:11.599
The film school or like where did you grow up?
00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:14.240
Oh, sorry, um Lombard, Illinois.
00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:15.120
So suburbs.
00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:16.720
Yeah, suburb boy here.
00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:26.319
And yeah, so I uh I had a little bit of an opportunity to go to Michigan somewhere that was like they they had a little film program that no longer exists.
00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:32.560
So I think I dodged a bullet there, but also the academic side of me was terrible back then.
00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:41.120
So I'm glad I didn't waste any more of my money or my parents' money to do something that you know is not gonna benefit me at all.
00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:48.560
So I went right into factory work and that evolved over time to being an EHS, environmental health and safety.
00:04:48.720 --> 00:05:06.720
I became I am currently a specialist at a chemical facility, and as I navigate that professional day job side of me, I've been working on movies, and my first short film I wrote and directed, Connection at the End of the World, um, I was able to film and release last year.
00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:09.920
And since then, I'm on number six.
00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:15.839
So I did a book trailer, which I count that as number six because that is kind of in itself a short film.
00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:16.399
100%.
00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:20.240
But yeah, so number number six, and I'm trying to do more.
00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:21.199
I love to hear that.
00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:29.199
I love to hear that because there's nothing worse than having ten ideas and being a perfectionist and trying to do just one.
00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:34.639
It's just like be prolific, not not perfect, in my big fat opinion.
00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:41.040
Um what what uh like inspired the the six films?
00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:49.839
Like what how so I always kind of say that, but like what what is your thought behind that and why why have you been so prolific thus far?
00:05:50.399 --> 00:06:07.839
Yeah, so for me, when it comes to short films, I've been, you know, just just by trying to do stuff with like connection at the end of the world, you know, when you have a short film, you could try to put it into festivals, but it's a very difficult um industry to navigate in.
00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:09.680
Um you spent a lot of money.
00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:18.720
I accidentally spent a lot of money trying to submit it places, and then you get a whole bunch of rejections, and it's like, why did I why did I get so trigger happy with this?
00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:24.160
And um sometimes it's like one click on on uh film freeway, right?
00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:26.399
You're like, oh I guess, yeah, next, next.
00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:27.279
This sounds good.
00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:28.720
Oh, this will be cool to play at.
00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:30.720
Or it's like, oh, Sundance, yeah, sure.
00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:33.600
And it's like, dude, why do I think it's gonna get in Sundance?
00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:35.439
Like what what the hell am I talking about?
00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:38.480
Um but yeah, so there there was a lot of that.
00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:50.000
So because of short films don't have much of an ROI return on investment, I'm like, alright, I'm gonna, you know, I get an idea for a short film, I'm gonna I'm gonna get it done.
00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:51.279
All right, I have the idea.
00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:52.800
I wrote this script, all right.
00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:54.560
Let me try to get this shot soon.
00:06:54.800 --> 00:07:06.399
So I start, you know, once I get that script done, I'm reaching out to friends that could be crew, and then once we get that established, I'm like looking for, you know, potential uh performers for it.
00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:09.360
And it's just because I don't want to spend too much time on it.
00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:35.199
I also don't want to spend too much like energy or even money on it, but I do want to use it as a way to uh practice, you know, uh myself as a filmmaker, but also um get a feel for for different genres and ideas, and you know, sometimes it is really cool to to get it in like a friend's showcase or I could do a showcase like I did uh just last week.
00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:44.560
Um I did a horror short showcase and I showed two of mine there, and you know I I just I I like being able to get them done.
00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:57.519
I like being able to work with new people and I just uh keep the momentum going until I could land like a feature film idea or situation funding, all that fun stuff.
00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:02.800
Uh well I you I it was all fun until you said funding.
00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:04.079
Yeah, yep.
00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:06.879
That's yeah, that one's tough.
00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:13.600
So from like idea to filming, how how long of a process is that for you?
00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:14.720
I'm just curious.
00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:16.879
Um, it it depends on the idea.
00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:27.279
So Connection at the End of the World took a few months because I I had uh finished up that script I think in November of 2024, and that's when I started.
00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:36.000
Um I went to the Arrogant Frog, which is what uh Filmmaker Um Chicago Film Club Filmmaker Fridays?
00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:39.360
No, no, no, it was a it's a Wednesday, they do it on Wednesdays.
00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:51.519
Um and I went there once, but I met my good friend Natalie who composes for all my films, and she's wonderful, so I will always be grateful for the arrogant frog, but I've only been there once.
00:08:51.840 --> 00:09:01.039
And I had gone there with the script, and at first, since I was a writer, I'm like, Yeah, I'll see if someone wants to make my movie I wrote, and that's just not realistic.
00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:03.679
It's so funny because they want to do their stuff.
00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:08.799
Yeah, but it's so funny because directors are always like, I could never find a script, so I have to write it myself.
00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:14.159
And then writers are like, I can never get a director to direct my film.
00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:15.440
Yeah, absolutely.
00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:19.840
And bonus if they're just really incredible at what they do, which she is.
00:09:20.159 --> 00:09:20.559
Awesome.
00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:28.799
Um, she she uh she's a violinist in like three different bands, so I occasionally go and I'll see her live with uh whatever band.
00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:47.440
But um, yeah, so I I was trying to shop it around and it wasn't working, so eventually I was like, I started just looking because um I entered it into some like screenplay contests when I got like awards for the script, which like now it's like okay, they're yeah, because they're they're fake, right?
00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:57.200
Like a lot of those laurels that you could get on film freeway, and you look them up and it ends up just being like these fake well everybody is award-winning now.
00:09:57.360 --> 00:09:58.799
I don't know if you've noticed.
00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:03.759
Yes, and part of why I did it, it's like okay, now I could like promote this script.
00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:08.320
Yeah, it's won this many awards, you know, award-winning script, blah blah blah.
00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:16.799
Um and my buddy, a close friend of mine from high school, he does filming for tiny home tours out west, and he lives out of his van.
00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:17.600
Wait out there.
00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:18.799
So he's like a nomad.
00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:22.559
What yeah, they have to do what tiny how what tiny house?
00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:30.559
It's it's just um tiny home tours interviews people just around the country in their in their homes.
00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:37.279
My uh my friend it has like the YouTube channel for Tiny Homes, and so I'm wondering if he works.
00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:38.799
Oh, they yeah, it's them.
00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:42.240
Is that the Tiny Homes YouTube that has like a million something?
00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:42.720
Yeah.
00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:47.679
Yeah, no, ask him ask him if they know Brian Butler, just so we can make sure.
00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:49.120
But Brian Butler's his name.
00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:52.399
Wow, he does the videography for those guys, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:56.240
Or at least one of the people, but yeah, Jenna, I think is Jenna.
00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:56.879
Yeah, Jenna.
00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:59.440
I'll yeah, I'll ask him, I'll ask him if he knows a Jenna.
00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:02.799
Because yeah, that's that's super cool because uh he's been doing that for a while.
00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:03.759
Wow, yeah, they're doing it.
00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:07.759
And he lives out of his van, so he's like traveling with them all the time.
00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:16.480
But um he saw that and he was like, Yeah, I've been wanting to make narrative stuff, and then from there we got together and we made it.
00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:23.600
And I was like, Oh, and another side note too, um, because the the whole process, I appreciate connection at the end of the world so much.
00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:29.519
Um, because it's my first baby that was out there, but also just like you learn so much from it.
00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:39.440
Like, I um when I was looking for actors for it, um, I had a quite a few people be like, Yeah, no, I'm interested in this, but why does it have to be a wonder?
00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:42.720
Have you thought about maybe doing it like this way?
00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:47.440
And I'm like, I really want it to be a wonder, so I'm I'm gonna do it as a winner.
00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:48.000
Sorry.
00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:50.559
And and question on that, because that was one of my questions.
00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:52.639
What's with the one take?
00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:58.559
I just I love them so much, and um I'm so annoying.
00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:05.759
Like, if someone's seen a movie with me in theaters and there's a wonder in it, I'll lean over and be like, the camera hasn't cut.
00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:08.000
Like, I'm just like, I just I love it.
00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:13.039
I think that it's so impressive because there's so much orchestrating around not cutting.
00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:16.000
What's the TV show that Adolescence?
00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:19.360
Yeah, with that like your thing where you're like, yeah.
00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:26.480
Yeah, I was like, people were talking about winners after adolescence, and I'm like, I was obsessed before adolescence.
00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:34.639
And like every time I talk about it, they're like, oh, like adolescence, and it's like, yeah, but like my short film was before that movie, that uh TV show came out.
00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:38.080
Similar but different when Frozen came out with Elsa.
00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:41.440
I was like, my I I came before Elsa.
00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:45.440
Like I I feel the feeling, I know.
00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:46.480
Yeah, yeah.
00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:54.799
Okay, so I just yeah, it's so it's especially at so action is super um sorry, I just love geeking out about winners.
00:12:55.039 --> 00:13:02.639
Um action is so impressive with it because just so many different things that you have to get right for it to work out.
00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:05.519
And John Wick has these really long takes.
00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:12.240
The raid movies have really long takes, and um yeah, I just um I I like that it's my thing.
00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:17.600
People people around the community, um Nick Cartwright, uh you know him.
00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:20.080
He did uh the cinematography for Intruder.
00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:21.200
Oh, cool, yeah.
00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:27.039
Whenever he thinks about winners, he always talks to me because that's yeah, it's it's my little obsession there.
00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:30.320
I'm not like that impressed by them.
00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:33.039
And this is and I and I I know, I know.
00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:35.519
I am so sorry, I am so sorry, I am so sorry.
00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:36.639
I am letting all of the things.
00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:38.480
I'm logging off right now.
00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:41.519
Thank you so much for being on the podcast.
00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:46.639
Um to me, it's like just theater.
00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:49.279
See, that's why I love it.
00:13:49.440 --> 00:14:00.399
Like I never got into theater It's just theater, but you like block a camera into your Yeah, in into the uh choreograp uh choreography.
00:14:22.829 --> 00:14:35.469
Yeah, and to me that's like I like that a lot because it really makes the performers like you know, it really showcases their skill to maintain a performance.
00:14:35.949 --> 00:14:37.230
Yeah, right, exactly.
00:14:37.389 --> 00:14:40.110
You're gonna know whether or not someone's gonna be good for that.
00:14:40.429 --> 00:14:50.349
Yeah, I will say though, like with with adolescents when they like put the camera in a car and then on a drone, and then like that for sure so cool.
00:14:50.589 --> 00:14:51.789
It's so cool.
00:14:52.029 --> 00:15:02.429
Um and there is to that rehearsal beforehand, I'm sure, to like make sure that the camera moves with the actors and the actors are hitting their marks.
00:15:02.509 --> 00:15:04.990
What is that rehearsal process like for you?
00:15:05.309 --> 00:15:21.549
Yeah, so we did a couple Zoom rehearsals and then the day of we did a dry run where day of, yeah, we actually walked through it because we were just um kind of guerrilla filming it in um downtown Lombard, my old suburb where I used to live.
00:15:21.789 --> 00:15:32.029
And um we did a dry run where we just they didn't talk, but they kind of like they were getting like the timing of the lines over and they're just thinking about it, and then from there we went right into it.
00:15:32.269 --> 00:15:38.189
I just heard about that specific type of rehearsing of especially like for comedy, apparently.
00:15:38.269 --> 00:15:53.549
I I I haven't tried it yet, but um like Lucille Ball um and Sandra Bullock was talking about it, like where you rehearse the physicality but you don't rehearse the lines.
00:15:53.949 --> 00:15:56.909
Like you you know, and it that that is interesting.
00:15:57.149 --> 00:16:05.789
What do you think the difference is between rehearsing the physicality and maybe like the cues versus saying the lines out loud?
00:16:06.509 --> 00:16:13.789
I think so definitely for something like this, it was um we had a specific path.
00:16:14.029 --> 00:16:47.789
Um I think it might have been like half a mile or something, but we had a specific p path where they walk and where they end up, and then that's where like the final um framing of the scene is uh they sit, they sit down at a bench together, and to get there, to get from where they start at the restaurant to where they get to the the bench, we want to make sure to get it right from like um like a like where they're gonna be physically so we can make sure that like okay if if they're if they need to stop sooner or we need to find a bench a little bit further out.
00:16:47.949 --> 00:16:59.949
And an example of that is the original bench they were gonna sit at was a little further up in the park, and we realized during that walk that the it was wrapping up where they should already be sitting.
00:17:00.110 --> 00:17:08.509
Oh that's why for something like that the physicality was important to rehearse because it was it was pivotal to the whole layout of the short.
00:17:08.750 --> 00:17:11.950
Um because they're walking and we're just walking with them.
00:17:12.670 --> 00:17:22.990
But something like Intruder, where there was like no dialogue except in the beginning, that was very much all physicality because there was nothing being said.
00:17:25.150 --> 00:17:26.349
Uh kind of, yeah.
00:17:26.430 --> 00:17:34.589
There's like a little tussle at the end, but that was mostly just um gets a character and kills them, and then gets another one and kills them.
00:17:34.829 --> 00:17:34.990
Yeah.
00:17:35.230 --> 00:17:43.470
And just I have a great I have a couple of great choreographers, um, if you ever wanted to those are so fun.
00:17:43.789 --> 00:17:44.029
Yes.
00:17:44.269 --> 00:17:46.430
Um also I I adore it so much.
00:17:46.909 --> 00:17:48.349
Especially for Warners, man.
00:17:48.430 --> 00:17:52.109
Like Warner's Warner action sequences, that's what I was saying earlier.
00:17:52.430 --> 00:17:53.470
Those are pretty cool.
00:17:54.190 --> 00:17:55.549
Because like, do you see that in theater?
00:17:55.629 --> 00:18:00.349
Like, um yes, you do see the the the fight.
00:18:01.069 --> 00:18:07.549
It's harder to be yeah, it's it's harder in theater to I think get a convincing fight sequence, you know?
00:18:07.950 --> 00:18:16.509
Yes, and also you just have to worry about one point of view, which is the audience, unless you're in a theater of the round or whatever.
00:18:16.829 --> 00:18:30.509
But with the camera, you have to be always aware where the camera is so that like if you're slapping somebody, there's no air between that and you know, so it it's it's that is more of a ballet in my opinion.
00:18:30.829 --> 00:18:35.710
It's you know, there there is that that fluidity that is needed for it.
00:18:44.750 --> 00:18:56.589
So I just want to know because it's rough times out there, um, what does it mean to be like a decently happy adult?
00:18:56.750 --> 00:19:04.990
And what do you do to help yourself be this joyous self?
00:19:05.950 --> 00:19:11.950
Um, so like behind closed doors, I'm I'm kind of like an anxious mess a lot of the time.
00:19:12.829 --> 00:19:30.349
Who I think that the you know the the joy that uh you know I I sometimes feel, but I I may present, it's oftentimes like a weapon against, you know, the the anxiety or you know the more more sad things.
00:19:30.509 --> 00:19:37.950
And I've got a seven-year-old which very much helps me keep my you know um keep my joy alive.
00:19:38.190 --> 00:19:43.549
And um I try to look on the bright side of things just because like, yeah, the world sucks.
00:19:43.789 --> 00:19:52.430
Don't have a lot of hope in it right now, but it's like I do want there to be uh some sort of happy ending to the world so my son can grow and thrive.
00:19:52.909 --> 00:20:01.710
Like I I I'm a doom and gloomer, but I uh I try to be positive because like, yeah, my my son's gonna be growing up in this world.
00:20:01.789 --> 00:20:04.029
I don't want I I don't want to believe it's terrible.
00:20:04.190 --> 00:20:11.389
Um it's it's kinda I gotta you know it's like a defensive joy, you know, if that makes sense.
00:20:11.710 --> 00:20:13.629
I like it, I like joy as a weapon.
00:20:13.789 --> 00:20:17.230
Um because I've always thought like the best revenge is being happy.
00:20:17.549 --> 00:20:22.670
Like whatever happens, the best revenge is just like letting it go and being happy.
00:20:22.750 --> 00:20:31.069
And I like that joy as a weapon against like anxiety and maybe like the the not so fun parts about the world right now.
00:20:31.389 --> 00:20:37.069
Um and what's one piece of advice you'd give other filmmakers or your younger self?
00:20:38.029 --> 00:20:38.829
Just in general?
00:20:39.069 --> 00:20:39.869
Yeah, just in general.
00:20:40.029 --> 00:20:46.269
I feel like I don't know, I want to infuse like some joy, some something for folks.
00:20:47.470 --> 00:20:47.869
Yeah.
00:20:48.190 --> 00:20:48.909
Yeah, yeah.
00:20:49.230 --> 00:20:54.109
So definitely you can learn something from anyone, right?
00:20:54.190 --> 00:21:05.710
And that's something I've learned in both my professional career and filmmaking, is that even if you don't get along with somebody, someone rubs you the wrong way, or you just flat out don't like them, there's always something you could learn from that person.
00:21:05.869 --> 00:21:14.589
And I think as long as you practice that idea, um, it's not as like troublesome to to deal with this, it's not as much of a burden, you know what I mean?
00:21:14.990 --> 00:21:20.430
Because at the end of the day, at the end of that interaction, if you're thinking like, okay, what am I gonna learn from this guy?
00:21:20.990 --> 00:21:25.629
Um and if you learn what not to do because maybe they're an idiot, well then boom, there you go.
00:21:25.710 --> 00:21:26.430
You learn that, right?
00:21:26.589 --> 00:21:27.149
Yep, absolutely.
00:21:27.549 --> 00:21:30.269
So that helps and be patient.
00:21:30.589 --> 00:21:34.269
Definitely patient is a virtue in all walks of life.
00:21:34.430 --> 00:21:40.109
So if a project isn't working out, or you're on set and uh thing everything's going wrong.
00:21:40.269 --> 00:21:42.029
Um just be patient.
00:21:42.349 --> 00:21:46.430
I am the type of person who loves when trouble happens because I love to troubleshoot.
00:21:47.069 --> 00:21:49.069
So not a lot of people are like that.
00:21:49.309 --> 00:21:53.230
So um just be patient when things come up like that.
00:21:53.389 --> 00:22:19.789
And and when you're looking for advice for like your script or something, know what you want out of the advice because I would say that a big chunk of people, a big chunk of people, and I'm sure they mean well, but there's a lot of people, especially in the film community, when they're giving you advice about your script or something, they're essentially just they're gonna tell you how they would do it instead, and I think that that's not how the advice should be given.
00:22:20.029 --> 00:22:21.389
Yeah, um, so nowhere.
00:22:22.029 --> 00:22:32.509
You want from that advice, and if a lot of people are telling you something won't work out, don't always think that it's not gonna work out.
00:22:32.589 --> 00:22:38.430
It it depends on what their advice is, but um, you know, don't let someone telling you nah, this isn't gonna work.
00:22:38.589 --> 00:22:41.629
Don't let that make you think, okay, this isn't gonna work.
00:22:41.710 --> 00:22:50.349
Yeah, get like an educated, you know, at that point, get an educated consensus, like, okay, how many people are telling me this shit's not gonna work?
00:22:50.589 --> 00:23:00.829
Um, like for me with with Connection at the End of the World, I I had like maybe two two actors at separate times, like, oh yeah, no, I I don't think this will work as a winner.
00:23:01.069 --> 00:23:07.069
And then I met Brian and I met Elena and Joel who were like, yeah, no, I love this.
00:23:07.230 --> 00:23:07.470
Yeah.
00:23:07.710 --> 00:23:13.869
Um so yeah, just definitely don't just seek, don't, don't seek just random advice.
00:23:13.950 --> 00:23:15.950
Just know what kind of advice you're looking for.
00:23:16.269 --> 00:23:18.909
And know who you're getting it from.
00:23:19.389 --> 00:23:31.389
Because it's for me, like let's say you I ask somebody about a feature film, and they're very accomplished in in other areas that are not feature films, like and they're like, oh, it's it can't be done.
00:23:31.549 --> 00:23:34.990
It might be because they've told themselves that about feature films.
00:23:35.470 --> 00:23:35.789
Absolutely.
00:23:36.109 --> 00:23:40.670
Um I also going back to the taking notes, oh my god, yes.
00:23:40.909 --> 00:23:48.670
And I think I heard this phrase, and I always I try to repeat it when when I get feedback that I don't enjoy.
00:23:48.829 --> 00:23:51.710
It's take the note, not the rewrite.
00:23:52.269 --> 00:23:54.109
So, oh, this beat isn't working.
00:23:54.269 --> 00:23:55.869
I would do XYZ.
00:23:55.950 --> 00:24:01.869
Like maybe don't take XYZ, but just understand that that beat itself isn't working and write it in your own terms.
00:24:02.109 --> 00:24:04.029
So yeah, going yeah, yeah.
00:24:04.190 --> 00:24:08.269
Because there's like, oh, I would yeah, I would do a card chase here.
00:24:08.349 --> 00:24:11.230
It's like, well, sir, we don't have the budget.
00:24:11.470 --> 00:24:13.950
Um Right, exactly, exactly.
00:24:14.109 --> 00:24:20.190
And it's like, sorry, like you shouldn't like it's it's what they wrote, not what you wrote.
00:24:20.269 --> 00:24:20.509
Exactly.
00:24:20.750 --> 00:24:20.990
You know?
00:24:21.149 --> 00:24:21.309
Yeah.
00:24:21.629 --> 00:24:26.430
Um so when people come to me for advice, I'm just like, what's your vision here?
00:24:26.509 --> 00:24:28.430
And what do you what do you want me to provide for you?
00:24:28.750 --> 00:24:30.509
Yeah, what type of notes do you want?
00:24:31.230 --> 00:24:35.789
Yeah, yeah, because I'll I'll read it and I'll be like, hey, this is exactly why I think it'll work.
00:24:35.950 --> 00:24:53.470
This is this is I'm gonna give you all the things that in my opinion will make it work, whatever it is you want to do, even if it's super crazy and ambitious, which that's I that's all like I wish more people would just get ambitious and just go out there and do their ambitious thing.
00:24:53.629 --> 00:24:55.389
Like Jerry Gonzalez, right?
00:24:55.710 --> 00:24:57.950
Like hamster in my head, you know?
00:24:58.190 --> 00:24:58.589
Yeah.
00:24:58.829 --> 00:25:01.470
Um just give me these crazy ideas.
00:25:01.629 --> 00:25:03.869
Um, intergalactic pizza boy.
00:25:04.029 --> 00:25:07.869
Just uh we definitely yeah, spaghetti man, yep.
00:25:08.190 --> 00:25:08.829
Yep, yep.
00:25:09.149 --> 00:25:10.269
Champion those.
00:25:10.430 --> 00:25:18.430
Um the the crazier the idea, let me know what it is, and I'll I'll work with you to try to see how it could be done realistically for like no budget.
00:25:19.069 --> 00:25:21.710
That's my favorite type of challenge, you know.
00:25:22.029 --> 00:25:23.069
Just make it work.
00:25:23.309 --> 00:25:24.829
Let's do some hot cakes.
00:25:24.909 --> 00:25:26.670
They're like hot takes, but they stack up.
00:25:26.829 --> 00:25:28.509
We're gonna do 60 seconds on the click.
00:25:28.750 --> 00:25:29.869
Are you ready?
00:25:30.430 --> 00:25:30.829
Yes.
00:25:31.069 --> 00:25:32.829
Do I get to hear the clicking or is it only imposed?
00:25:32.990 --> 00:25:33.789
Oh, it's only imposed.
00:25:34.029 --> 00:25:34.990
Oh, damn it.
00:25:35.230 --> 00:25:39.149
That would make me, you know, I think that would give me uh we have that clock in the house.
00:25:40.029 --> 00:25:40.509
Yeah.
00:25:40.829 --> 00:25:41.230
Ready?
00:25:41.629 --> 00:25:42.349
All right, yeah, I'm ready.
00:25:42.670 --> 00:25:44.750
Best one take scene in a movie history.
00:25:46.029 --> 00:25:54.509
Um, there are so many different ones, but I'm gonna say Russian arc because the whole movie was one take and it navigated this Russian museum.
00:25:54.990 --> 00:25:56.829
Best hot dog in Chicago.
00:25:57.309 --> 00:26:00.349
Um I'm a vegetarian, so the garden dog from Portillos.
00:26:00.589 --> 00:26:02.349
Favorite kaiju of all time?
00:26:02.670 --> 00:26:03.629
Godzilla.
00:26:03.869 --> 00:26:06.349
Which kaiju would you take on a first date?
00:26:06.670 --> 00:26:07.710
Godzilla.
00:26:08.190 --> 00:26:09.629
Shin Godzilla specifically.
00:26:09.789 --> 00:26:10.750
Shin Godzilla.
00:26:10.990 --> 00:26:13.470
Go-to snack on a long shoot day.
00:26:13.789 --> 00:26:19.389
Um uh Dunkin' Donuts, uh, hash browns and hash brown rap.
00:26:19.710 --> 00:26:23.069
Weirdest thing that's ever ruined a perfect take.
00:26:25.149 --> 00:26:35.149
Um not really any weird things, but like someone will be in the in the rhythm in the moment, and then they just like flub the line, and it's like, ooh, I was like into it, and then boom.
00:26:36.029 --> 00:26:37.789
Most haunted spot in Chicago.
00:26:38.109 --> 00:26:39.789
Um, I wish I knew because I would want to go.
00:26:40.109 --> 00:26:41.629
A kaiju or Taco Chicago?
00:26:41.789 --> 00:26:43.309
Which building goes first?
00:26:43.710 --> 00:26:45.230
Um, probably the Stairs Tower.
00:26:45.470 --> 00:26:48.670
What movie are you watching if the world ends tonight?
00:26:49.549 --> 00:26:52.109
Um lately it's been Nope by Jordan Peel.
00:26:52.349 --> 00:26:54.589
Ooh, do you do you believe in cryptids?
00:26:55.149 --> 00:26:56.190
Um, not really.
00:26:56.349 --> 00:26:57.230
Not not technically.
00:26:57.470 --> 00:26:57.950
Thank you for playing.
00:26:58.029 --> 00:26:58.509
Thank you for playing.
00:26:58.750 --> 00:26:58.909
Okay.
00:26:59.389 --> 00:27:03.309
So kaijus, yes, cryptids and ghosts know.
00:27:03.869 --> 00:27:06.589
Like, I just I don't believe in ghosts.
00:27:06.750 --> 00:27:13.149
And cryptids, I feel like, and I would have I would have explained this in your your thing, but cryptids are just like baby.
00:27:13.230 --> 00:27:14.909
Do try and like keep it at 60 seconds.
00:27:15.309 --> 00:27:15.869
Yeah.
00:27:16.269 --> 00:27:24.909
Cryptid cryptids are definitely more like I think people see a known animal and they just like think it's something else, and that ends up being the case.
00:27:25.789 --> 00:27:32.269
Um because there's a lot of hybrid animals that exist, so when people see them, they they misremember it.
00:27:32.430 --> 00:27:37.549
People are really, really untrustworthy, and our memories are collectively terrible.
00:27:37.789 --> 00:27:41.789
So when someone says that they saw this monster or whatever, it's like I don't think so.
00:27:42.109 --> 00:28:02.349
Well, I also I mean I I went to this old library and they had a book of um I don't know what year, but it like m 1800s of folks who have gone on expeditions, seen an animal, and then drew it, and like the rhino looked like uh like ri ridiculous.
00:28:02.509 --> 00:28:04.269
Like what what the heck is a rhino?
00:28:04.670 --> 00:28:11.069
Um and there were like a few others where we were trying to guess what animal it was, and it was it it looked ridiculous.
00:28:11.309 --> 00:28:14.750
So I could see how some cryptids would yeah.
00:28:14.990 --> 00:28:16.670
But we do get weird on this podcast.
00:28:16.750 --> 00:28:18.430
So is there any like yeah, yeah.
00:28:18.670 --> 00:28:23.789
What what do you believe what do you believe in if you don't believe in ghost simulation theory?
00:28:23.950 --> 00:28:37.869
Um weird dreams, um So I I love conversations about a lot of those things, and I'm obsessed with astronomy and space stuff, and um, I love cosmic horror like uh Lovecraft and and things like that.
00:28:38.029 --> 00:28:48.750
And um the game uh the video game I'm currently playing is Control Resonant, which deals very much with like different dimensions and alternate um very mind-bending stuff, yeah.
00:28:48.909 --> 00:28:56.509
Um so I I love that um and I love reading and and watching stuff about it, but um I'm just like I don't know, man.
00:28:56.589 --> 00:28:59.470
I'm just kind of like nihilistic in a way.
00:28:59.710 --> 00:29:18.509
Well, no, I'm it I'm an absurdist, so an absurdist is someone who recognizes like nihilism in the world, but it's it's it's like nihilism is the pessimist and absurdist is the optimist, where it's like nothing matters, but that's really cool because we could kind of develop our own meaning because like um upon that.
00:29:18.670 --> 00:29:23.629
Yeah, whereas a nihilist is like nothing's nothing matters and that sucks, you know.
00:29:24.109 --> 00:29:25.069
Fair, fair.
00:29:25.309 --> 00:29:28.430
So that's so that's kind of what I practice like in in in real life.
00:29:28.509 --> 00:29:35.069
It's um it's more just like that absurdist, and you know, unfortunately, things like ghosts are super cool in concept.
00:29:35.629 --> 00:29:47.629
Um, I want to say I would love to have a have an interaction with a ghost, but I think that would be traumatic if it happened and if it was real, but I just you know I've never experienced it, so I just I I don't believe it.
00:29:47.789 --> 00:29:54.909
I'm not the one to knock someone who does believe um or who experienced it, but I just have my own uh I believe that they believe.
00:29:54.990 --> 00:29:55.549
Do you know what I'm saying?
00:29:55.710 --> 00:30:03.470
Like um how do you bring absurdism into your daily life?
00:30:03.629 --> 00:30:09.069
Um, not maybe your films, but like daily life.
00:30:09.629 --> 00:30:15.629
Um, I just, you know, um it helps me when um you know I'm just having a bad day.
00:30:15.869 --> 00:30:21.149
Um absurdism is one of those things that just kind of helps get me through the bad days.
00:30:21.470 --> 00:30:37.069
Albert Camus is my favorite philosopher, and um I I have a quote of his in Volatile at the end, but um there's just some things that he says that I think are really great, you know, great quotes to live by.
00:30:37.230 --> 00:30:56.829
Like um one must imagine Sisyphus happy from his um essay The Myth of Sisyphus, which you know it takes this idea of Sisyphus rolling the boulder up the mountain for an infinite amount of times, and you know, it's this idea that like you know we have to just imagine that he's happy doing it.
00:30:57.389 --> 00:31:07.309
And you know, just imagining that happiness while he's doing it and makes it less of a bleak punishment and more of a hey, this guy just found his focus in life and he's rolling with it, you know.
00:31:07.470 --> 00:31:10.750
And um, there's another line of his that I like a lot.
00:31:10.990 --> 00:31:23.069
Um I know simply the sky will last longer than I, and I just like the acknowledgement of how temporary everything is because it just helps me appreciate everything a lot more.
00:31:23.309 --> 00:31:23.950
Yeah.
00:31:24.509 --> 00:31:27.629
I I love what you're saying.
00:31:27.950 --> 00:31:41.950
Um and I also immediately I was like, if I were to adopt this, I would dress up as a clown and just go like absurdism, like straight up, yeah.
00:31:42.269 --> 00:31:51.629
Yeah, and just like go outside and just fuck with people like that like free will, like I you know, just abuse your free will, you know.
00:31:51.950 --> 00:31:52.509
Absolutely.
00:31:52.909 --> 00:31:54.349
Fuck it, it doesn't matter.
00:31:54.589 --> 00:31:58.349
Well, it's funny because um because it doesn't matter, right?
00:31:58.430 --> 00:32:01.309
I I do I do have that mindset.
00:32:01.470 --> 00:32:06.190
Like we're here only for a short a brief amount of time, might as well make it fun.
00:32:06.349 --> 00:32:09.950
Like at the end of the day, we're all gonna die, might as well play as much as you can.
00:32:10.109 --> 00:32:10.589
Yeah.
00:32:10.750 --> 00:32:24.269
Um and within that, I just think something's shifted in me, maybe I don't know, maybe like a year ago, two years ago, where I was like, I just wonder what I can get away with.
00:32:25.230 --> 00:32:28.829
Like I just wonder what I can get away with.
00:32:29.069 --> 00:32:32.509
If this is just temporary, um, can I be happy every day?
00:32:32.670 --> 00:32:33.629
Can I play every day?
00:32:33.789 --> 00:32:39.069
Can I and then that that wonder that that changes someone.
00:32:39.309 --> 00:32:41.710
Is that sort of what you're talking about?
00:32:42.029 --> 00:32:46.750
Like versus like nihilism versus uh like being an absurdist?
00:32:47.389 --> 00:32:48.750
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
00:32:48.909 --> 00:33:13.389
And you know, similar to that, you know, it's this idea of like, yeah, things are temporary, so it just when you hold that deeper appreciation knowing how temporary things are, um, you know, it's it's much better to hold that that appreciation like in in a joyous sense or like a genuine appreciation sense, like hey, like um, you know, I'm not gonna let this go to waste, right?
00:33:13.950 --> 00:33:15.950
Well, I genuinely appreciate you.
00:33:16.190 --> 00:33:17.629
So uh thank you.
00:33:17.710 --> 00:33:18.990
I appreciate you as well.
00:33:19.389 --> 00:33:29.710
Um so uh I just want to talk really briefly before we get off this um call uh about the longest take and intruder.
00:33:29.869 --> 00:33:33.309
Where can folks find you what what is it about?
00:33:33.629 --> 00:33:37.230
Um take wonders, anything you've got.
00:33:37.629 --> 00:33:49.789
Yeah, so the longest take podcast is available where you could find all the wonderful podcasts, you know, Apple, um Spotify is the main one that I'll link to um because that's what I where I listen to my podcasts.
00:33:49.869 --> 00:33:54.430
Um uh yeah, and it's on YouTube as well.
00:33:54.670 --> 00:34:08.110
I have a YouTube channel called The Longest Take, and um on that YouTube channel you could find my short film Connection at the end of the world, and then this Halloween I will be releasing Intruder on there, so you'll be able to find it there.
00:34:08.269 --> 00:34:13.070
But you could also find all my updates on Instagram at the longest take podcast.
00:34:13.230 --> 00:34:14.990
Uh amazing little underscores.
00:34:15.309 --> 00:34:17.630
And again, your voice is so sultry.
00:34:17.789 --> 00:34:19.950
You've got that bottom drawer, baby.
00:34:20.110 --> 00:34:22.909
Um I appreciate it.
00:34:23.150 --> 00:34:24.510
Thank you so much for being on the podcast.
00:34:24.590 --> 00:34:25.150
This is a lot of fun.
00:34:25.389 --> 00:34:26.909
Yeah, no, I really appreciate it.
00:34:26.990 --> 00:34:27.710
Thank you so much.
00:34:32.670 --> 00:34:34.829
Sean! That was so much fun.
00:34:35.469 --> 00:34:37.789
We sit on for another hour and chatted.
00:34:37.949 --> 00:34:42.750
Um, super cool guy, great voice, great voice, even though he doesn't believe it.
00:34:42.989 --> 00:35:00.509
Um, if you enjoyed listening to this podcast, if you learned anything from the one take wonder himself, uh please go follow him on the underscore longest underscore take underscore underscore underscore no uh podcast.
00:35:00.670 --> 00:35:04.429
Um and on YouTube as well as the longest take.
00:35:04.829 --> 00:35:05.710
So fun.
00:35:05.949 --> 00:35:12.029
Can't wait to see where he goes because I'm sure he's gonna do a feature film and one take at some point.
00:35:12.110 --> 00:35:13.070
Like, and it's coming.
00:35:13.230 --> 00:35:13.789
You know it.
00:35:13.949 --> 00:35:15.389
Uh, thank you so much for listening.
00:35:15.469 --> 00:35:17.869
Please like, subscribe, send me a DM.
00:35:18.110 --> 00:35:20.429
Tell me um if you're a nihilist.
00:35:20.590 --> 00:35:22.590
Uh what what's your leaning?
00:35:22.670 --> 00:35:23.309
No, never mind.
00:35:23.389 --> 00:35:24.509
Uh, maybe, maybe not.
00:35:24.670 --> 00:35:24.989
Maybe.
00:35:25.150 --> 00:35:25.469
I don't know.
00:35:25.550 --> 00:35:26.349
It might be interesting.
00:35:26.509 --> 00:35:26.750
All right.
00:35:26.829 --> 00:35:27.230
Thank you.
00:35:27.469 --> 00:35:27.949
Bye.
00:35:30.110 --> 00:35:38.429
Ilse Will Say is an Entrepida Entertainment podcast produced and edited by Jacob Cagle, music by Eric Facus, and photography by Joel Mysenet.
00:35:38.509 --> 00:35:40.590
And I am your host, Ilse Sacheria Rivera.
00:35:40.829 --> 00:35:49.309
The views and opinions expressed on Ilse Will Say are entirely those of the host and guests, and do not reflect the views of any employers, sponsors, or innocent bystanders.
00:35:49.789 --> 00:35:51.949
This podcast is for entertainment purposes only.
00:35:52.190 --> 00:35:58.269
Nothing said here should be taken as professional advice, expert opinion, legal guidance, or a reason to DMSU conspiracy theories.
00:35:58.670 --> 00:36:00.750
We're here for the laptop carry on.
00:00:02.879 --> 00:00:04.559
So how how how have you been?
00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:06.240
How has it been lately?
00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:09.679
Um it's you know things have been been going good.
00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:11.279
I I uh are going well.
00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:15.199
I did two short films at the end of August.
00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:18.239
Um I d in three days I did two shorts.
00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:18.879
Whoa.
00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:26.960
And then right after that, um I had under two weeks to do like this book trailer for this influencer.
00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:27.519
Uh-huh.
00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:30.960
And um I was able to get a team together and get that done.
00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:32.560
So I was I was super busy with that.
00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:33.439
That was fun.
00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:37.840
And then I just I recently got an offer for a new job, so like a day job.
00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:39.200
Okay, congrats.
00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:41.280
Because all this extra shit I do.
00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:42.640
And am I am I allowed to swear?
00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:43.600
Oh yeah, 100%.
00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:44.079
Okay.
00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:44.240
Yeah.
00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:44.719
You know what?
00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:45.840
Yeah, I think John Wolfe.
00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:48.320
I'm pretty sure John John Wolf was cussing.
00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:49.280
Oh yeah.
00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:58.479
Um your first dating app match goes great.
00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:00.719
Good drinks, good banter.
00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:06.400
You step outside together, and the news breaks that the world might be ending.
00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:08.400
Or it might be another false alarm.
00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:09.840
You have no idea.
00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:16.799
My guest turned that night into a short film and shot it as one long, uninterrupted take.
00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:22.480
No cuts, no safety in it, just two actors and the apocalypse.
00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:28.799
Welcome back to Ilse Will Say, the podcast where we always let the conversation roll.
00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:30.799
Welcome to my brain.
00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:40.239
I am Ilse, your host, and if the world were ending, I'd be praying my maps app still work because I am terrible with directions.
00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:51.120
My guest is a Chicago writer, director, producer, and the founder of Northern Pines Pictures.
00:01:51.280 --> 00:02:04.319
His debut short connection at the end of the world took home the audience award at Shortcut 100, and his two leads won Best Acting Duo at the Independent Shorts Awards.
00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:08.479
Then he turned to horror with Volatile and Intruder.
00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:14.240
And yes, he shot that one in one single take two.
00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:25.280
When he's not behind the camera, he's behind the mic, hosting the longest take podcast, where he talks with filmmakers from Evil Dead to Frogman.
00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:28.960
He also hosts its spinoff, the tallest.
00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:30.719
You're gonna you might have to help me with this.
00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:31.280
Kaiju.
00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:32.479
Kaiju podcast.
00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:36.319
All kaiju all the time.
00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:40.159
And my guest today, boy, does he know how to keep the camera rolling?
00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:43.280
Please welcome John Steamack.
00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:49.599
Thank you, Brenda.
00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:54.000
Um Yeah, no, I I appreciate that.
00:02:54.080 --> 00:03:00.639
I've heard your intros on other episodes, and I was like, ooh, I wonder what this is gonna sound like, and I loved every second of it.
00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:01.360
Thank you.
00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:01.840
Thank you.
00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:03.360
No, no, no, thank you.
00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:12.080
Um I honestly I I do a good amount of sleuthing beforehand, but you don't have a lot of sleuthing to to to get.
00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:18.080
I I have gotten some deep cuts for people, and I was trying to find some, but you've done a pretty good job.
00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:19.840
You did a pretty good job on the internet.
00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:22.240
Um I'd like to think so.
00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:36.400
Um would you mind like doing a little like you know, elevator pitch, one, two sentences of of kind of like your life and how you've gotten to where you are now.
00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:45.199
Just so when it like as it pertains to filmmaking, I've always been a fan of movies growing up.
00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:54.319
When I was a kid, I would get like uh I had the Intel Play movie maker when I was in like elementary school, it was really crappy, but I loved it.
00:03:54.479 --> 00:04:07.599
And um then high school, I just didn't really care about actually learning anything, so I didn't do well, and I had an opportunity to go to a film school after high school.
00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:09.439
Didn't want to do that either.
00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:11.599
The film school or like where did you grow up?
00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:14.240
Oh, sorry, um Lombard, Illinois.
00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:15.120
So suburbs.
00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:16.720
Yeah, suburb boy here.
00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:26.319
And yeah, so I uh I had a little bit of an opportunity to go to Michigan somewhere that was like they they had a little film program that no longer exists.
00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:32.560
So I think I dodged a bullet there, but also the academic side of me was terrible back then.
00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:41.120
So I'm glad I didn't waste any more of my money or my parents' money to do something that you know is not gonna benefit me at all.
00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:48.560
So I went right into factory work and that evolved over time to being an EHS, environmental health and safety.
00:04:48.720 --> 00:05:06.720
I became I am currently a specialist at a chemical facility, and as I navigate that professional day job side of me, I've been working on movies, and my first short film I wrote and directed, Connection at the End of the World, um, I was able to film and release last year.
00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:09.920
And since then, I'm on number six.
00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:15.839
So I did a book trailer, which I count that as number six because that is kind of in itself a short film.
00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:16.399
100%.
00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:20.240
But yeah, so number number six, and I'm trying to do more.
00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:21.199
I love to hear that.
00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:29.199
I love to hear that because there's nothing worse than having ten ideas and being a perfectionist and trying to do just one.
00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:34.639
It's just like be prolific, not not perfect, in my big fat opinion.
00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:41.040
Um what what uh like inspired the the six films?
00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:49.839
Like what how so I always kind of say that, but like what what is your thought behind that and why why have you been so prolific thus far?
00:05:50.399 --> 00:06:07.839
Yeah, so for me, when it comes to short films, I've been, you know, just just by trying to do stuff with like connection at the end of the world, you know, when you have a short film, you could try to put it into festivals, but it's a very difficult um industry to navigate in.
00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:09.680
Um you spent a lot of money.
00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:18.720
I accidentally spent a lot of money trying to submit it places, and then you get a whole bunch of rejections, and it's like, why did I why did I get so trigger happy with this?
00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:24.160
And um sometimes it's like one click on on uh film freeway, right?
00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:26.399
You're like, oh I guess, yeah, next, next.
00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:27.279
This sounds good.
00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:28.720
Oh, this will be cool to play at.
00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:30.720
Or it's like, oh, Sundance, yeah, sure.
00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:33.600
And it's like, dude, why do I think it's gonna get in Sundance?
00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:35.439
Like what what the hell am I talking about?
00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:38.480
Um but yeah, so there there was a lot of that.
00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:50.000
So because of short films don't have much of an ROI return on investment, I'm like, alright, I'm gonna, you know, I get an idea for a short film, I'm gonna I'm gonna get it done.
00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:51.279
All right, I have the idea.
00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:52.800
I wrote this script, all right.
00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:54.560
Let me try to get this shot soon.
00:06:54.800 --> 00:07:06.399
So I start, you know, once I get that script done, I'm reaching out to friends that could be crew, and then once we get that established, I'm like looking for, you know, potential uh performers for it.
00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:09.360
And it's just because I don't want to spend too much time on it.
00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:35.199
I also don't want to spend too much like energy or even money on it, but I do want to use it as a way to uh practice, you know, uh myself as a filmmaker, but also um get a feel for for different genres and ideas, and you know, sometimes it is really cool to to get it in like a friend's showcase or I could do a showcase like I did uh just last week.
00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:44.560
Um I did a horror short showcase and I showed two of mine there, and you know I I just I I like being able to get them done.
00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:57.519
I like being able to work with new people and I just uh keep the momentum going until I could land like a feature film idea or situation funding, all that fun stuff.
00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:02.800
Uh well I you I it was all fun until you said funding.
00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:04.079
Yeah, yep.
00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:06.879
That's yeah, that one's tough.
00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:13.600
So from like idea to filming, how how long of a process is that for you?
00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:14.720
I'm just curious.
00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:16.879
Um, it it depends on the idea.
00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:27.279
So Connection at the End of the World took a few months because I I had uh finished up that script I think in November of 2024, and that's when I started.
00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:36.000
Um I went to the Arrogant Frog, which is what uh Filmmaker Um Chicago Film Club Filmmaker Fridays?
00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:39.360
No, no, no, it was a it's a Wednesday, they do it on Wednesdays.
00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:51.519
Um and I went there once, but I met my good friend Natalie who composes for all my films, and she's wonderful, so I will always be grateful for the arrogant frog, but I've only been there once.
00:08:51.840 --> 00:09:01.039
And I had gone there with the script, and at first, since I was a writer, I'm like, Yeah, I'll see if someone wants to make my movie I wrote, and that's just not realistic.
00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:03.679
It's so funny because they want to do their stuff.
00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:08.799
Yeah, but it's so funny because directors are always like, I could never find a script, so I have to write it myself.
00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:14.159
And then writers are like, I can never get a director to direct my film.
00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:15.440
Yeah, absolutely.
00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:19.840
And bonus if they're just really incredible at what they do, which she is.
00:09:20.159 --> 00:09:20.559
Awesome.
00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:28.799
Um, she she uh she's a violinist in like three different bands, so I occasionally go and I'll see her live with uh whatever band.
00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:47.440
But um, yeah, so I I was trying to shop it around and it wasn't working, so eventually I was like, I started just looking because um I entered it into some like screenplay contests when I got like awards for the script, which like now it's like okay, they're yeah, because they're they're fake, right?
00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:57.200
Like a lot of those laurels that you could get on film freeway, and you look them up and it ends up just being like these fake well everybody is award-winning now.
00:09:57.360 --> 00:09:58.799
I don't know if you've noticed.
00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:03.759
Yes, and part of why I did it, it's like okay, now I could like promote this script.
00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:08.320
Yeah, it's won this many awards, you know, award-winning script, blah blah blah.
00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:16.799
Um and my buddy, a close friend of mine from high school, he does filming for tiny home tours out west, and he lives out of his van.
00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:17.600
Wait out there.
00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:18.799
So he's like a nomad.
00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:22.559
What yeah, they have to do what tiny how what tiny house?
00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:30.559
It's it's just um tiny home tours interviews people just around the country in their in their homes.
00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:37.279
My uh my friend it has like the YouTube channel for Tiny Homes, and so I'm wondering if he works.
00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:38.799
Oh, they yeah, it's them.
00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:42.240
Is that the Tiny Homes YouTube that has like a million something?
00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:42.720
Yeah.
00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:47.679
Yeah, no, ask him ask him if they know Brian Butler, just so we can make sure.
00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:49.120
But Brian Butler's his name.
00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:52.399
Wow, he does the videography for those guys, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:56.240
Or at least one of the people, but yeah, Jenna, I think is Jenna.
00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:56.879
Yeah, Jenna.
00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:59.440
I'll yeah, I'll ask him, I'll ask him if he knows a Jenna.
00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:02.799
Because yeah, that's that's super cool because uh he's been doing that for a while.
00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:03.759
Wow, yeah, they're doing it.
00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:07.759
And he lives out of his van, so he's like traveling with them all the time.
00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:16.480
But um he saw that and he was like, Yeah, I've been wanting to make narrative stuff, and then from there we got together and we made it.
00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:23.600
And I was like, Oh, and another side note too, um, because the the whole process, I appreciate connection at the end of the world so much.
00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:29.519
Um, because it's my first baby that was out there, but also just like you learn so much from it.
00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:39.440
Like, I um when I was looking for actors for it, um, I had a quite a few people be like, Yeah, no, I'm interested in this, but why does it have to be a wonder?
00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:42.720
Have you thought about maybe doing it like this way?
00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:47.440
And I'm like, I really want it to be a wonder, so I'm I'm gonna do it as a winner.
00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:48.000
Sorry.
00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:50.559
And and question on that, because that was one of my questions.
00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:52.639
What's with the one take?
00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:58.559
I just I love them so much, and um I'm so annoying.
00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:05.759
Like, if someone's seen a movie with me in theaters and there's a wonder in it, I'll lean over and be like, the camera hasn't cut.
00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:08.000
Like, I'm just like, I just I love it.
00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:13.039
I think that it's so impressive because there's so much orchestrating around not cutting.
00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:16.000
What's the TV show that Adolescence?
00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:19.360
Yeah, with that like your thing where you're like, yeah.
00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:26.480
Yeah, I was like, people were talking about winners after adolescence, and I'm like, I was obsessed before adolescence.
00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:34.639
And like every time I talk about it, they're like, oh, like adolescence, and it's like, yeah, but like my short film was before that movie, that uh TV show came out.
00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:38.080
Similar but different when Frozen came out with Elsa.
00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:41.440
I was like, my I I came before Elsa.
00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:45.440
Like I I feel the feeling, I know.
00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:46.480
Yeah, yeah.
00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:54.799
Okay, so I just yeah, it's so it's especially at so action is super um sorry, I just love geeking out about winners.
00:12:55.039 --> 00:13:02.639
Um action is so impressive with it because just so many different things that you have to get right for it to work out.
00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:05.519
And John Wick has these really long takes.
00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:12.240
The raid movies have really long takes, and um yeah, I just um I I like that it's my thing.
00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:17.600
People people around the community, um Nick Cartwright, uh you know him.
00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:20.080
He did uh the cinematography for Intruder.
00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:21.200
Oh, cool, yeah.
00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:27.039
Whenever he thinks about winners, he always talks to me because that's yeah, it's it's my little obsession there.
00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:30.320
I'm not like that impressed by them.
00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:33.039
And this is and I and I I know, I know.
00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:35.519
I am so sorry, I am so sorry, I am so sorry.
00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:36.639
I am letting all of the things.
00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:38.480
I'm logging off right now.
00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:41.519
Thank you so much for being on the podcast.
00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:46.639
Um to me, it's like just theater.
00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:49.279
See, that's why I love it.
00:13:49.440 --> 00:14:00.399
Like I never got into theater It's just theater, but you like block a camera into your Yeah, in into the uh choreograp uh choreography.
00:14:22.829 --> 00:14:35.469
Yeah, and to me that's like I like that a lot because it really makes the performers like you know, it really showcases their skill to maintain a performance.
00:14:35.949 --> 00:14:37.230
Yeah, right, exactly.
00:14:37.389 --> 00:14:40.110
You're gonna know whether or not someone's gonna be good for that.
00:14:40.429 --> 00:14:50.349
Yeah, I will say though, like with with adolescents when they like put the camera in a car and then on a drone, and then like that for sure so cool.
00:14:50.589 --> 00:14:51.789
It's so cool.
00:14:52.029 --> 00:15:02.429
Um and there is to that rehearsal beforehand, I'm sure, to like make sure that the camera moves with the actors and the actors are hitting their marks.
00:15:02.509 --> 00:15:04.990
What is that rehearsal process like for you?
00:15:05.309 --> 00:15:21.549
Yeah, so we did a couple Zoom rehearsals and then the day of we did a dry run where day of, yeah, we actually walked through it because we were just um kind of guerrilla filming it in um downtown Lombard, my old suburb where I used to live.
00:15:21.789 --> 00:15:32.029
And um we did a dry run where we just they didn't talk, but they kind of like they were getting like the timing of the lines over and they're just thinking about it, and then from there we went right into it.
00:15:32.269 --> 00:15:38.189
I just heard about that specific type of rehearsing of especially like for comedy, apparently.
00:15:38.269 --> 00:15:53.549
I I I haven't tried it yet, but um like Lucille Ball um and Sandra Bullock was talking about it, like where you rehearse the physicality but you don't rehearse the lines.
00:15:53.949 --> 00:15:56.909
Like you you know, and it that that is interesting.
00:15:57.149 --> 00:16:05.789
What do you think the difference is between rehearsing the physicality and maybe like the cues versus saying the lines out loud?
00:16:06.509 --> 00:16:13.789
I think so definitely for something like this, it was um we had a specific path.
00:16:14.029 --> 00:16:47.789
Um I think it might have been like half a mile or something, but we had a specific p path where they walk and where they end up, and then that's where like the final um framing of the scene is uh they sit, they sit down at a bench together, and to get there, to get from where they start at the restaurant to where they get to the the bench, we want to make sure to get it right from like um like a like where they're gonna be physically so we can make sure that like okay if if they're if they need to stop sooner or we need to find a bench a little bit further out.
00:16:47.949 --> 00:16:59.949
And an example of that is the original bench they were gonna sit at was a little further up in the park, and we realized during that walk that the it was wrapping up where they should already be sitting.
00:17:00.110 --> 00:17:08.509
Oh that's why for something like that the physicality was important to rehearse because it was it was pivotal to the whole layout of the short.
00:17:08.750 --> 00:17:11.950
Um because they're walking and we're just walking with them.
00:17:12.670 --> 00:17:22.990
But something like Intruder, where there was like no dialogue except in the beginning, that was very much all physicality because there was nothing being said.
00:17:25.150 --> 00:17:26.349
Uh kind of, yeah.
00:17:26.430 --> 00:17:34.589
There's like a little tussle at the end, but that was mostly just um gets a character and kills them, and then gets another one and kills them.
00:17:34.829 --> 00:17:34.990
Yeah.
00:17:35.230 --> 00:17:43.470
And just I have a great I have a couple of great choreographers, um, if you ever wanted to those are so fun.
00:17:43.789 --> 00:17:44.029
Yes.
00:17:44.269 --> 00:17:46.430
Um also I I adore it so much.
00:17:46.909 --> 00:17:48.349
Especially for Warners, man.
00:17:48.430 --> 00:17:52.109
Like Warner's Warner action sequences, that's what I was saying earlier.
00:17:52.430 --> 00:17:53.470
Those are pretty cool.
00:17:54.190 --> 00:17:55.549
Because like, do you see that in theater?
00:17:55.629 --> 00:18:00.349
Like, um yes, you do see the the the fight.
00:18:01.069 --> 00:18:07.549
It's harder to be yeah, it's it's harder in theater to I think get a convincing fight sequence, you know?
00:18:07.950 --> 00:18:16.509
Yes, and also you just have to worry about one point of view, which is the audience, unless you're in a theater of the round or whatever.
00:18:16.829 --> 00:18:30.509
But with the camera, you have to be always aware where the camera is so that like if you're slapping somebody, there's no air between that and you know, so it it's it's that is more of a ballet in my opinion.
00:18:30.829 --> 00:18:35.710
It's you know, there there is that that fluidity that is needed for it.
00:18:44.750 --> 00:18:56.589
So I just want to know because it's rough times out there, um, what does it mean to be like a decently happy adult?
00:18:56.750 --> 00:19:04.990
And what do you do to help yourself be this joyous self?
00:19:05.950 --> 00:19:11.950
Um, so like behind closed doors, I'm I'm kind of like an anxious mess a lot of the time.
00:19:12.829 --> 00:19:30.349
Who I think that the you know the the joy that uh you know I I sometimes feel, but I I may present, it's oftentimes like a weapon against, you know, the the anxiety or you know the more more sad things.
00:19:30.509 --> 00:19:37.950
And I've got a seven-year-old which very much helps me keep my you know um keep my joy alive.
00:19:38.190 --> 00:19:43.549
And um I try to look on the bright side of things just because like, yeah, the world sucks.
00:19:43.789 --> 00:19:52.430
Don't have a lot of hope in it right now, but it's like I do want there to be uh some sort of happy ending to the world so my son can grow and thrive.
00:19:52.909 --> 00:20:01.710
Like I I I'm a doom and gloomer, but I uh I try to be positive because like, yeah, my my son's gonna be growing up in this world.
00:20:01.789 --> 00:20:04.029
I don't want I I don't want to believe it's terrible.
00:20:04.190 --> 00:20:11.389
Um it's it's kinda I gotta you know it's like a defensive joy, you know, if that makes sense.
00:20:11.710 --> 00:20:13.629
I like it, I like joy as a weapon.
00:20:13.789 --> 00:20:17.230
Um because I've always thought like the best revenge is being happy.
00:20:17.549 --> 00:20:22.670
Like whatever happens, the best revenge is just like letting it go and being happy.
00:20:22.750 --> 00:20:31.069
And I like that joy as a weapon against like anxiety and maybe like the the not so fun parts about the world right now.
00:20:31.389 --> 00:20:37.069
Um and what's one piece of advice you'd give other filmmakers or your younger self?
00:20:38.029 --> 00:20:38.829
Just in general?
00:20:39.069 --> 00:20:39.869
Yeah, just in general.
00:20:40.029 --> 00:20:46.269
I feel like I don't know, I want to infuse like some joy, some something for folks.
00:20:47.470 --> 00:20:47.869
Yeah.
00:20:48.190 --> 00:20:48.909
Yeah, yeah.
00:20:49.230 --> 00:20:54.109
So definitely you can learn something from anyone, right?
00:20:54.190 --> 00:21:05.710
And that's something I've learned in both my professional career and filmmaking, is that even if you don't get along with somebody, someone rubs you the wrong way, or you just flat out don't like them, there's always something you could learn from that person.
00:21:05.869 --> 00:21:14.589
And I think as long as you practice that idea, um, it's not as like troublesome to to deal with this, it's not as much of a burden, you know what I mean?
00:21:14.990 --> 00:21:20.430
Because at the end of the day, at the end of that interaction, if you're thinking like, okay, what am I gonna learn from this guy?
00:21:20.990 --> 00:21:25.629
Um and if you learn what not to do because maybe they're an idiot, well then boom, there you go.
00:21:25.710 --> 00:21:26.430
You learn that, right?
00:21:26.589 --> 00:21:27.149
Yep, absolutely.
00:21:27.549 --> 00:21:30.269
So that helps and be patient.
00:21:30.589 --> 00:21:34.269
Definitely patient is a virtue in all walks of life.
00:21:34.430 --> 00:21:40.109
So if a project isn't working out, or you're on set and uh thing everything's going wrong.
00:21:40.269 --> 00:21:42.029
Um just be patient.
00:21:42.349 --> 00:21:46.430
I am the type of person who loves when trouble happens because I love to troubleshoot.
00:21:47.069 --> 00:21:49.069
So not a lot of people are like that.
00:21:49.309 --> 00:21:53.230
So um just be patient when things come up like that.
00:21:53.389 --> 00:22:19.789
And and when you're looking for advice for like your script or something, know what you want out of the advice because I would say that a big chunk of people, a big chunk of people, and I'm sure they mean well, but there's a lot of people, especially in the film community, when they're giving you advice about your script or something, they're essentially just they're gonna tell you how they would do it instead, and I think that that's not how the advice should be given.
00:22:20.029 --> 00:22:21.389
Yeah, um, so nowhere.
00:22:22.029 --> 00:22:32.509
You want from that advice, and if a lot of people are telling you something won't work out, don't always think that it's not gonna work out.
00:22:32.589 --> 00:22:38.430
It it depends on what their advice is, but um, you know, don't let someone telling you nah, this isn't gonna work.
00:22:38.589 --> 00:22:41.629
Don't let that make you think, okay, this isn't gonna work.
00:22:41.710 --> 00:22:50.349
Yeah, get like an educated, you know, at that point, get an educated consensus, like, okay, how many people are telling me this shit's not gonna work?
00:22:50.589 --> 00:23:00.829
Um, like for me with with Connection at the End of the World, I I had like maybe two two actors at separate times, like, oh yeah, no, I I don't think this will work as a winner.
00:23:01.069 --> 00:23:07.069
And then I met Brian and I met Elena and Joel who were like, yeah, no, I love this.
00:23:07.230 --> 00:23:07.470
Yeah.
00:23:07.710 --> 00:23:13.869
Um so yeah, just definitely don't just seek, don't, don't seek just random advice.
00:23:13.950 --> 00:23:15.950
Just know what kind of advice you're looking for.
00:23:16.269 --> 00:23:18.909
And know who you're getting it from.
00:23:19.389 --> 00:23:31.389
Because it's for me, like let's say you I ask somebody about a feature film, and they're very accomplished in in other areas that are not feature films, like and they're like, oh, it's it can't be done.
00:23:31.549 --> 00:23:34.990
It might be because they've told themselves that about feature films.
00:23:35.470 --> 00:23:35.789
Absolutely.
00:23:36.109 --> 00:23:40.670
Um I also going back to the taking notes, oh my god, yes.
00:23:40.909 --> 00:23:48.670
And I think I heard this phrase, and I always I try to repeat it when when I get feedback that I don't enjoy.
00:23:48.829 --> 00:23:51.710
It's take the note, not the rewrite.
00:23:52.269 --> 00:23:54.109
So, oh, this beat isn't working.
00:23:54.269 --> 00:23:55.869
I would do XYZ.
00:23:55.950 --> 00:24:01.869
Like maybe don't take XYZ, but just understand that that beat itself isn't working and write it in your own terms.
00:24:02.109 --> 00:24:04.029
So yeah, going yeah, yeah.
00:24:04.190 --> 00:24:08.269
Because there's like, oh, I would yeah, I would do a card chase here.
00:24:08.349 --> 00:24:11.230
It's like, well, sir, we don't have the budget.
00:24:11.470 --> 00:24:13.950
Um Right, exactly, exactly.
00:24:14.109 --> 00:24:20.190
And it's like, sorry, like you shouldn't like it's it's what they wrote, not what you wrote.
00:24:20.269 --> 00:24:20.509
Exactly.
00:24:20.750 --> 00:24:20.990
You know?
00:24:21.149 --> 00:24:21.309
Yeah.
00:24:21.629 --> 00:24:26.430
Um so when people come to me for advice, I'm just like, what's your vision here?
00:24:26.509 --> 00:24:28.430
And what do you what do you want me to provide for you?
00:24:28.750 --> 00:24:30.509
Yeah, what type of notes do you want?
00:24:31.230 --> 00:24:35.789
Yeah, yeah, because I'll I'll read it and I'll be like, hey, this is exactly why I think it'll work.
00:24:35.950 --> 00:24:53.470
This is this is I'm gonna give you all the things that in my opinion will make it work, whatever it is you want to do, even if it's super crazy and ambitious, which that's I that's all like I wish more people would just get ambitious and just go out there and do their ambitious thing.
00:24:53.629 --> 00:24:55.389
Like Jerry Gonzalez, right?
00:24:55.710 --> 00:24:57.950
Like hamster in my head, you know?
00:24:58.190 --> 00:24:58.589
Yeah.
00:24:58.829 --> 00:25:01.470
Um just give me these crazy ideas.
00:25:01.629 --> 00:25:03.869
Um, intergalactic pizza boy.
00:25:04.029 --> 00:25:07.869
Just uh we definitely yeah, spaghetti man, yep.
00:25:08.190 --> 00:25:08.829
Yep, yep.
00:25:09.149 --> 00:25:10.269
Champion those.
00:25:10.430 --> 00:25:18.430
Um the the crazier the idea, let me know what it is, and I'll I'll work with you to try to see how it could be done realistically for like no budget.
00:25:19.069 --> 00:25:21.710
That's my favorite type of challenge, you know.
00:25:22.029 --> 00:25:23.069
Just make it work.
00:25:23.309 --> 00:25:24.829
Let's do some hot cakes.
00:25:24.909 --> 00:25:26.670
They're like hot takes, but they stack up.
00:25:26.829 --> 00:25:28.509
We're gonna do 60 seconds on the click.
00:25:28.750 --> 00:25:29.869
Are you ready?
00:25:30.430 --> 00:25:30.829
Yes.
00:25:31.069 --> 00:25:32.829
Do I get to hear the clicking or is it only imposed?
00:25:32.990 --> 00:25:33.789
Oh, it's only imposed.
00:25:34.029 --> 00:25:34.990
Oh, damn it.
00:25:35.230 --> 00:25:39.149
That would make me, you know, I think that would give me uh we have that clock in the house.
00:25:40.029 --> 00:25:40.509
Yeah.
00:25:40.829 --> 00:25:41.230
Ready?
00:25:41.629 --> 00:25:42.349
All right, yeah, I'm ready.
00:25:42.670 --> 00:25:44.750
Best one take scene in a movie history.
00:25:46.029 --> 00:25:54.509
Um, there are so many different ones, but I'm gonna say Russian arc because the whole movie was one take and it navigated this Russian museum.
00:25:54.990 --> 00:25:56.829
Best hot dog in Chicago.
00:25:57.309 --> 00:26:00.349
Um I'm a vegetarian, so the garden dog from Portillos.
00:26:00.589 --> 00:26:02.349
Favorite kaiju of all time?
00:26:02.670 --> 00:26:03.629
Godzilla.
00:26:03.869 --> 00:26:06.349
Which kaiju would you take on a first date?
00:26:06.670 --> 00:26:07.710
Godzilla.
00:26:08.190 --> 00:26:09.629
Shin Godzilla specifically.
00:26:09.789 --> 00:26:10.750
Shin Godzilla.
00:26:10.990 --> 00:26:13.470
Go-to snack on a long shoot day.
00:26:13.789 --> 00:26:19.389
Um uh Dunkin' Donuts, uh, hash browns and hash brown rap.
00:26:19.710 --> 00:26:23.069
Weirdest thing that's ever ruined a perfect take.
00:26:25.149 --> 00:26:35.149
Um not really any weird things, but like someone will be in the in the rhythm in the moment, and then they just like flub the line, and it's like, ooh, I was like into it, and then boom.
00:26:36.029 --> 00:26:37.789
Most haunted spot in Chicago.
00:26:38.109 --> 00:26:39.789
Um, I wish I knew because I would want to go.
00:26:40.109 --> 00:26:41.629
A kaiju or Taco Chicago?
00:26:41.789 --> 00:26:43.309
Which building goes first?
00:26:43.710 --> 00:26:45.230
Um, probably the Stairs Tower.
00:26:45.470 --> 00:26:48.670
What movie are you watching if the world ends tonight?
00:26:49.549 --> 00:26:52.109
Um lately it's been Nope by Jordan Peel.
00:26:52.349 --> 00:26:54.589
Ooh, do you do you believe in cryptids?
00:26:55.149 --> 00:26:56.190
Um, not really.
00:26:56.349 --> 00:26:57.230
Not not technically.
00:26:57.470 --> 00:26:57.950
Thank you for playing.
00:26:58.029 --> 00:26:58.509
Thank you for playing.
00:26:58.750 --> 00:26:58.909
Okay.
00:26:59.389 --> 00:27:03.309
So kaijus, yes, cryptids and ghosts know.
00:27:03.869 --> 00:27:06.589
Like, I just I don't believe in ghosts.
00:27:06.750 --> 00:27:13.149
And cryptids, I feel like, and I would have I would have explained this in your your thing, but cryptids are just like baby.
00:27:13.230 --> 00:27:14.909
Do try and like keep it at 60 seconds.
00:27:15.309 --> 00:27:15.869
Yeah.
00:27:16.269 --> 00:27:24.909
Cryptid cryptids are definitely more like I think people see a known animal and they just like think it's something else, and that ends up being the case.
00:27:25.789 --> 00:27:32.269
Um because there's a lot of hybrid animals that exist, so when people see them, they they misremember it.
00:27:32.430 --> 00:27:37.549
People are really, really untrustworthy, and our memories are collectively terrible.
00:27:37.789 --> 00:27:41.789
So when someone says that they saw this monster or whatever, it's like I don't think so.
00:27:42.109 --> 00:28:02.349
Well, I also I mean I I went to this old library and they had a book of um I don't know what year, but it like m 1800s of folks who have gone on expeditions, seen an animal, and then drew it, and like the rhino looked like uh like ri ridiculous.
00:28:02.509 --> 00:28:04.269
Like what what the heck is a rhino?
00:28:04.670 --> 00:28:11.069
Um and there were like a few others where we were trying to guess what animal it was, and it was it it looked ridiculous.
00:28:11.309 --> 00:28:14.750
So I could see how some cryptids would yeah.
00:28:14.990 --> 00:28:16.670
But we do get weird on this podcast.
00:28:16.750 --> 00:28:18.430
So is there any like yeah, yeah.
00:28:18.670 --> 00:28:23.789
What what do you believe what do you believe in if you don't believe in ghost simulation theory?
00:28:23.950 --> 00:28:37.869
Um weird dreams, um So I I love conversations about a lot of those things, and I'm obsessed with astronomy and space stuff, and um, I love cosmic horror like uh Lovecraft and and things like that.
00:28:38.029 --> 00:28:48.750
And um the game uh the video game I'm currently playing is Control Resonant, which deals very much with like different dimensions and alternate um very mind-bending stuff, yeah.
00:28:48.909 --> 00:28:56.509
Um so I I love that um and I love reading and and watching stuff about it, but um I'm just like I don't know, man.
00:28:56.589 --> 00:28:59.470
I'm just kind of like nihilistic in a way.
00:28:59.710 --> 00:29:18.509
Well, no, I'm it I'm an absurdist, so an absurdist is someone who recognizes like nihilism in the world, but it's it's it's like nihilism is the pessimist and absurdist is the optimist, where it's like nothing matters, but that's really cool because we could kind of develop our own meaning because like um upon that.
00:29:18.670 --> 00:29:23.629
Yeah, whereas a nihilist is like nothing's nothing matters and that sucks, you know.
00:29:24.109 --> 00:29:25.069
Fair, fair.
00:29:25.309 --> 00:29:28.430
So that's so that's kind of what I practice like in in in real life.
00:29:28.509 --> 00:29:35.069
It's um it's more just like that absurdist, and you know, unfortunately, things like ghosts are super cool in concept.
00:29:35.629 --> 00:29:47.629
Um, I want to say I would love to have a have an interaction with a ghost, but I think that would be traumatic if it happened and if it was real, but I just you know I've never experienced it, so I just I I don't believe it.
00:29:47.789 --> 00:29:54.909
I'm not the one to knock someone who does believe um or who experienced it, but I just have my own uh I believe that they believe.
00:29:54.990 --> 00:29:55.549
Do you know what I'm saying?
00:29:55.710 --> 00:30:03.470
Like um how do you bring absurdism into your daily life?
00:30:03.629 --> 00:30:09.069
Um, not maybe your films, but like daily life.
00:30:09.629 --> 00:30:15.629
Um, I just, you know, um it helps me when um you know I'm just having a bad day.
00:30:15.869 --> 00:30:21.149
Um absurdism is one of those things that just kind of helps get me through the bad days.
00:30:21.470 --> 00:30:37.069
Albert Camus is my favorite philosopher, and um I I have a quote of his in Volatile at the end, but um there's just some things that he says that I think are really great, you know, great quotes to live by.
00:30:37.230 --> 00:30:56.829
Like um one must imagine Sisyphus happy from his um essay The Myth of Sisyphus, which you know it takes this idea of Sisyphus rolling the boulder up the mountain for an infinite amount of times, and you know, it's this idea that like you know we have to just imagine that he's happy doing it.
00:30:57.389 --> 00:31:07.309
And you know, just imagining that happiness while he's doing it and makes it less of a bleak punishment and more of a hey, this guy just found his focus in life and he's rolling with it, you know.
00:31:07.470 --> 00:31:10.750
And um, there's another line of his that I like a lot.
00:31:10.990 --> 00:31:23.069
Um I know simply the sky will last longer than I, and I just like the acknowledgement of how temporary everything is because it just helps me appreciate everything a lot more.
00:31:23.309 --> 00:31:23.950
Yeah.
00:31:24.509 --> 00:31:27.629
I I love what you're saying.
00:31:27.950 --> 00:31:41.950
Um and I also immediately I was like, if I were to adopt this, I would dress up as a clown and just go like absurdism, like straight up, yeah.
00:31:42.269 --> 00:31:51.629
Yeah, and just like go outside and just fuck with people like that like free will, like I you know, just abuse your free will, you know.
00:31:51.950 --> 00:31:52.509
Absolutely.
00:31:52.909 --> 00:31:54.349
Fuck it, it doesn't matter.
00:31:54.589 --> 00:31:58.349
Well, it's funny because um because it doesn't matter, right?
00:31:58.430 --> 00:32:01.309
I I do I do have that mindset.
00:32:01.470 --> 00:32:06.190
Like we're here only for a short a brief amount of time, might as well make it fun.
00:32:06.349 --> 00:32:09.950
Like at the end of the day, we're all gonna die, might as well play as much as you can.
00:32:10.109 --> 00:32:10.589
Yeah.
00:32:10.750 --> 00:32:24.269
Um and within that, I just think something's shifted in me, maybe I don't know, maybe like a year ago, two years ago, where I was like, I just wonder what I can get away with.
00:32:25.230 --> 00:32:28.829
Like I just wonder what I can get away with.
00:32:29.069 --> 00:32:32.509
If this is just temporary, um, can I be happy every day?
00:32:32.670 --> 00:32:33.629
Can I play every day?
00:32:33.789 --> 00:32:39.069
Can I and then that that wonder that that changes someone.
00:32:39.309 --> 00:32:41.710
Is that sort of what you're talking about?
00:32:42.029 --> 00:32:46.750
Like versus like nihilism versus uh like being an absurdist?
00:32:47.389 --> 00:32:48.750
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
00:32:48.909 --> 00:33:13.389
And you know, similar to that, you know, it's this idea of like, yeah, things are temporary, so it just when you hold that deeper appreciation knowing how temporary things are, um, you know, it's it's much better to hold that that appreciation like in in a joyous sense or like a genuine appreciation sense, like hey, like um, you know, I'm not gonna let this go to waste, right?
00:33:13.950 --> 00:33:15.950
Well, I genuinely appreciate you.
00:33:16.190 --> 00:33:17.629
So uh thank you.
00:33:17.710 --> 00:33:18.990
I appreciate you as well.
00:33:19.389 --> 00:33:29.710
Um so uh I just want to talk really briefly before we get off this um call uh about the longest take and intruder.
00:33:29.869 --> 00:33:33.309
Where can folks find you what what is it about?
00:33:33.629 --> 00:33:37.230
Um take wonders, anything you've got.
00:33:37.629 --> 00:33:49.789
Yeah, so the longest take podcast is available where you could find all the wonderful podcasts, you know, Apple, um Spotify is the main one that I'll link to um because that's what I where I listen to my podcasts.
00:33:49.869 --> 00:33:54.430
Um uh yeah, and it's on YouTube as well.
00:33:54.670 --> 00:34:08.110
I have a YouTube channel called The Longest Take, and um on that YouTube channel you could find my short film Connection at the end of the world, and then this Halloween I will be releasing Intruder on there, so you'll be able to find it there.
00:34:08.269 --> 00:34:13.070
But you could also find all my updates on Instagram at the longest take podcast.
00:34:13.230 --> 00:34:14.990
Uh amazing little underscores.
00:34:15.309 --> 00:34:17.630
And again, your voice is so sultry.
00:34:17.789 --> 00:34:19.950
You've got that bottom drawer, baby.
00:34:20.110 --> 00:34:22.909
Um I appreciate it.
00:34:23.150 --> 00:34:24.510
Thank you so much for being on the podcast.
00:34:24.590 --> 00:34:25.150
This is a lot of fun.
00:34:25.389 --> 00:34:26.909
Yeah, no, I really appreciate it.
00:34:26.990 --> 00:34:27.710
Thank you so much.
00:34:32.670 --> 00:34:34.829
Sean! That was so much fun.
00:34:35.469 --> 00:34:37.789
We sit on for another hour and chatted.
00:34:37.949 --> 00:34:42.750
Um, super cool guy, great voice, great voice, even though he doesn't believe it.
00:34:42.989 --> 00:35:00.509
Um, if you enjoyed listening to this podcast, if you learned anything from the one take wonder himself, uh please go follow him on the underscore longest underscore take underscore underscore underscore no uh podcast.
00:35:00.670 --> 00:35:04.429
Um and on YouTube as well as the longest take.
00:35:04.829 --> 00:35:05.710
So fun.
00:35:05.949 --> 00:35:12.029
Can't wait to see where he goes because I'm sure he's gonna do a feature film and one take at some point.
00:35:12.110 --> 00:35:13.070
Like, and it's coming.
00:35:13.230 --> 00:35:13.789
You know it.
00:35:13.949 --> 00:35:15.389
Uh, thank you so much for listening.
00:35:15.469 --> 00:35:17.869
Please like, subscribe, send me a DM.
00:35:18.110 --> 00:35:20.429
Tell me um if you're a nihilist.
00:35:20.590 --> 00:35:22.590
Uh what what's your leaning?
00:35:22.670 --> 00:35:23.309
No, never mind.
00:35:23.389 --> 00:35:24.509
Uh, maybe, maybe not.
00:35:24.670 --> 00:35:24.989
Maybe.
00:35:25.150 --> 00:35:25.469
I don't know.
00:35:25.550 --> 00:35:26.349
It might be interesting.
00:35:26.509 --> 00:35:26.750
All right.
00:35:26.829 --> 00:35:27.230
Thank you.
00:35:27.469 --> 00:35:27.949
Bye.
00:35:30.110 --> 00:35:38.429
Ilse Will Say is an Entrepida Entertainment podcast produced and edited by Jacob Cagle, music by Eric Facus, and photography by Joel Mysenet.
00:35:38.509 --> 00:35:40.590
And I am your host, Ilse Sacheria Rivera.
00:35:40.829 --> 00:35:49.309
The views and opinions expressed on Ilse Will Say are entirely those of the host and guests, and do not reflect the views of any employers, sponsors, or innocent bystanders.
00:35:49.789 --> 00:35:51.949
This podcast is for entertainment purposes only.
00:35:52.190 --> 00:35:58.269
Nothing said here should be taken as professional advice, expert opinion, legal guidance, or a reason to DMSU conspiracy theories.
00:35:58.670 --> 00:36:00.750
We're here for the laptop carry on.
