#kenneth castillo

[yeahthatsmypapi]

Kenneth Castillo

[filmcourage]

(Watch the video interview on Youtube here)

I Hated Outlining Screenplays Until I Joined A Screenwriting Group by Kenneth Castillo via FilmCourage.com.

Film Courage: When you’re starting a story, are you starting with an outline?

Kenneth Castillo, Filmmaker: I didn’t always do that. I actually learned how to do that recently. One of the best creative decisions I made recently was joining a writing group. I was in a bubble for a very long time but it’s also hard to find a writing group where everyone knows how to give notes and knows how to take notes. I was very lucky because what we have is very unique and people within that writing group understand that too. I’ve gotten jobs out of this writing group where we are kind of looking out for each other (there’s only eight of us).

I was the type that would just turn in pages and they would say “Well we don’t know where the story is going? Can you just outline it for us?” And I’m like “No, I don’t outline”…(Watch the video interview on Youtube here).

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[filmcourage]

(Watch the video interview on Youtube here)

What Nobody Tells New Filmmakers by Kenneth Castillo via FilmCourage.com.

Film Courage: Can you paint a picture a picture of how much work it takes to be a filmmaker for people watching this channel? Maybe they are in a similar boat, they’ve gone to film school, they are waiting for this magical producer to come along along with a check?

Kenneth Castillo, Filmmaker: Right! If you’re doing your first film and you are lucky enough to have a producer, that’s great but you will be producing as well. There is no getting around it. You are not going to just be directing. Let’s assume you did not write the script. Let’s say you’ve partnered up with somebody. What you can expect is just an all-encompassing…(Watch the video interview on Youtube here).

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[filmcourage]

(Watch the video interview on Youtube here)

Sky High As A Filmmaker And Rock Bottom In Life by Kenneth Castillo via FilmCourage.com.

Want more Film Courage videos? Check out new videos 5:00 p.m. daily — subscribe at the main Film Courage Youtube channel. Subscribe to the second Film Courage Youtube channel here…

[filmcourage]

(Watch the video interview on Youtube here)

Call Me When You Make Your Second Feature Film by Kenneth Castillo via FilmCourage.com.

Film Courage: When we were setting up for this interview I jokingly noted that something you said should be on a T-shirt and that is “Call me when you make your second feature film.”

Kenneth Castillo, Filmmaker: Call me when you make your second. Yes! When someone makes their first film I’m like Okay, give me a call when you make your second film. Because after your first film if you say Oh man, I’ve got to go through that again!, then you’re a filmmaker.

I say that because in films that I’ve done a lot of my lead actors have gone on (and a lot of my stuff is ensemble) so a few of my leads…almost all of my leads of all my feature films have gone on to write and direct their own films because I had shown them how to pull the rabbit out of the hat for little money.

Because at that time no one thought you could make a movie for $50,000 and I was doing that and I was getting them at Blockbuster video, I was getting them on Redbox and getting them on Netflix.

These actors would go off and use my connections to do their thing. And some of them did it right in the sense of they started their process. Some of them didn’t do it so right and they just copied my process. But none of them went off to make a second film…(Watch the video interview on Youtube here).

See Film Courage’s collection of Writing and Filmmaking and Acting videos on Youtube.

New videos 5:00 p.m. daily! Subscribe to the main Film Courage Youtube channel and our second Film Courage Youtube channel here…

[filmcourage]

(Watch the video interview on Youtube here)

3 Harsh Truths For Anyone Who Wants To Be A Movie Director by Kenneth Castillo via FilmCourage.com.

Film Courage: What’s the difference between having a big ego and a strong ego as a film director?

Kenneth Castillo, Filmmaker: That’s a great question. Well having a big ego comes from insecurity right? Having a strong ego is being confident in what you are doing. You don’t have to beat people over the head with it.

One thing I said with my latest film is I’m not trying to beat people over the head with my film. I’m trying to break their heart with it. And it really comes down to approach. It really is essentially the fine line between arrogance and confidence right? And people know the difference. But the problem is directors are fed that ego on set whether they know what they are doing or they don’t, they are fed that. Because people just assume that they know what they’re doing.

For me I don’t like to manipulate actors. I don’t feel I need to manipulate actors. I don’t need to cause havoc between two people to get a performance because the audience knows only what I show them right here [motioning to the image in the screen]. They don’t know all of this, they don’t need to know all of that.

To me confidence is not even the right word. If there is a better word for confidence I would just say being able to communicate your vision in a very clear and concise way. If you know how to do that you don’t need to be that flamboyant…(Watch the video interview on Youtube here).

[filmcourage]

(Watch the video interview on Youtube here)

Most Important Question A Filmmaker Has To Ask Themselves by Kenneth Castillo via FilmCourage.com.

Film Courage: “People who wait for a filmmaking career will never have one?” Without of course naming any names, can you think of some people in your life who are very talented but who are waiting? Maybe this frustrates you? Maybe you see the opportunity in front of them but they won’t take it for whatever reason?

Kenneth Castillo, Filmmaker: Yes, mostly colleagues. I won’t even say friends, just people that you run into. What I’ve come to realize is that (particularly those filmmakers who’ve come out of film school) you are not going to have a crew of 30 on your next film. They come out with these great thesis films and they want to get their feature made. But in this age of independent filmmaking, no one is going to give you a million dollars to do your thesis film.

And when I don’t see them working or trying to kind of start from scratch whether it’s a short film (whatever it is) to continue to do the craft until you get that. I’m not saying it’s not possible but I’m really blown away by filmmakers I know that have a great thesis film from film school and are waiting to make their feature film. I’m like

“Why aren’t you doing something now?” 

“I don’t want to film something on my phone. I don’t want to shoot something with a three-person crew.” 

I’m like “What are you waiting for?” 

It’s not something I can tell people. You’ve got to figure that out on your own. But if you’ve been 10 years now (and I know filmmakers that are 10 years out of film school) still thinking they are going to get 3 million dollars to produce their first film based off of their thesis.

Film Courage: Why do you think this is? Do you think they feel they’re at a different status level? They don’t want people...they want to have investors?

Kenneth: I think it’s a combination of ...(Watch the video interview on Youtube here).

See Film Courage’s collection of Writing and Filmmaking and Acting videos on Youtube.

New videos 5:00 p.m. daily! Subscribe to the main Film Courage Youtube channeland our second Film Courage Youtube channel here…

[yeahthatsmypapi]

Kenneth Castillo