While the term might not always mean the same to each person, “making it” in filmmaking is as hard to do as it is to define. For many filmmakers, “making it” is more of a state of being than an end goal. As such, it leaves most of us in the industry simply striving to make films however we can—regardless of whether it means working in a smaller role on a major studio feature or directing our own DIY shorts.For our coverage of Fantastic Fest this year, we were delighted to catch up with filmmaker Blake Simon to talk about his unique career trajectory from indies to studio films and back to genre indie filmmaking. We also gleaned some insights into how to pull off his stylized, genre-bending horror short "Faces", which plays Fantastic Fest after winning the Gold for Best International Short Film at Fantasia 2024.Editor's note: the following interview is edited for length and clarity. No Film School: Where did the inspiration for "Faces" come from? What was your process for bringing this short film to life?Blake Simon: The inspiration for the film came from something that I witnessed in the people close to me, that we weren’t openly talking about. This idea that we're never really fully satisfied with who we are. I witnessed first hand loved ones who seemed to carry a weight of dissatisfaction that they tried to combat through changing aspects of their identity. Sometimes these changes were small; buying a new watch or...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Friday, 20 September, 2024