Socially Conscious Film Directors Share their Views on Validation #atozchallenge #IndieFilm

On the set of the documentary 'TEN9EIGHT' directed by Mary MazzioWhat does validation look like -- an award, critical acclaim, audience favor, film festival acceptance/laurels, distribution offers, being charted at the box office, artist representation? I wonder how much is validation worth if we don't get it? Two thumbs up from the late Roger Ebert held a lot more weight for filmmakers than a pat on the back from our parents!

I too was among the filmmakers banking on those reviews, and when the Ebert Era came to an end, my hopes for success went out the window. I’ve since looked at Ebert’s passing as a gift that also changed my definition of what it means to succeed with one’s work.

For Mary Mazzio, director of the robotics and immigration documentary “UNDERWATER DREAMS”, that image of success is found in the level of social impact she has with her films. “What I love about our projects is the ability to impact someone’s thinking -- whether that’s a young child growing up under the most adverse of circumstances, where there is no opportunity, they can’t see opportunity and they don’t see role models; if you can present the piece of media that they feel speaks to them, and gives them a different outlook – that’s social change, which is really exciting,” says the former Olympian.

Mary Mazzio's film 'THE APPLE PUSHERS' examines the obesity crisis, immigration, entrepreneurship, and what it really takes to achieve the American Dream.She continues, “’THE APPLE PUSHERS’ was all about food deserts and the lack of access that poor Americans – mostly the urban poor, but also the rural poor –have to fruits, vegetables, lean meats and skim milk, etc. and they often don’t have supermarkets within a mile of their home. Consequently, they face, as somebody phrased it, a junk swamp – they can get all kinds of fast food, quickly, cheaply and easily but from a health standpoint, it’s totally unfair.”

 It was through Mazzio’s film production company 50 Eggs, Inc. that she organized screenings of “THE APPLE PUSHERS” in different cities with different federal and health organizations, and noticed the impact her film is having. “We saw really interesting brainstorming with all kinds of different people coming together [asking] ‘how do I solve this in our community? Well, maybe it’s a mobile food truck, or maybe it’s a mobile food bike, or maybe it’s something else altogether; how do we infuse these food deserts with fresh fruits and fresh vegetables. How do we do that?’ and that’s incredibly exciting to see,” says Mazzio.

Mazzio’s film “TEN9EIGHT: SHOOT FOR THE MOON” was also well received by audiences and blessed with a huge number of favorable reviews, despite having its detractors within the critics circle. “Tom Friedman who writes for the New York Times called on President Obama to put that in every school in the country. The Village Voice, on the other hand, said that I had invented a terrifying new genre called capitalistic porn! How hilarious is that?! They hated the film,” she says while stressing that her film was made for the kids in disenfranchised poor communities, not for movie critics.

Rahfael Gordon On Location in Brooklyn filming 'TEN9EIGHT' directed by Mary Mazzio

If anyone’s opinion validated her work, it would be the students that packed AMC Theaters in eight-ten cities where “TEN9EIGHT: SHOOT FOR THE MOON” opened free of charge to schools.

“On the first day of the run, I go to New York, I’m standing at the back; These buses are coming in and these kids are coming out – almost all of them African-American teenagers, some Hispanic, Latino, and I’m thinking ‘Oh God, Oh dear!’ My heart was beating out of my chest because I was like ‘Boy, is what I have to say even relevant to these kids?’ They’ve got jeans down to their knees; These are full-on teenagers with very limited attention spans,” says Mazzio – a self-described ‘blue-eyed hockey mom’.

She continues, “So the movie starts and I feel like I’m going to throw up because it was jammed. All of a sudden, you could hear a pin drop with these kids, and then, three-quarters of the way through, people start shouting at the kids on the screen in the movie. Like ‘You go Anné!’; ‘Rodney, Rodney!!!’ – OMG, the hair on my arms and the back of my neck stood up! I was like Oh-My-God, this is such a privilege that you can put together a piece of media that can slide through space and time.”

Audiences at Henrico Theatre swarm the merchandise table for TROOP 491: THE ADVENTURES OF THE MUDDY LIONS.Like Mazzio, audience response is what “TROOP 491: THE ADVENTURES OF THE MUDDY LIONS” director Partrick “Praheme” considers as the ultimate approval of his movies. “That’s what I live for – people being able to see my work. Making money is a great bonus to that, but seeing people have emotional reactions to my films – whether it’s laughing or crying – that’s where my validation comes from because it lets me know that what I was trying to put into the movie actually worked,” he says. 

"When you’re writing these scripts and making these movies, you never know whether people are going to ‘get it,’ whether people are going to like it, whether they’re gonna connect with it. So, when you see it, hear it and feel it in the audience, that lets me know that I did a decent job,” says the Howard University graduate whose film was well received in London, Houston, Richmond, and most recently in Tucson at the Arizona International Film Festival.

If Praheme and Mazzio’s experiences are any indication, all of the reviews in the world are no match for what a movie’s target audience has to say. “I felt like it was almost a religious experience; here are these kids responding to something that I tried to make for them. For me, that’s what it’s all about. So, the guy from the Village Voice can write what he wants, but I got calls from across the country -- the same thing was happening in Detroit, in Chicago, in L.A. – I mean, all of these school children filled the theaters, and they were teenage students primarily from inner-city, low-income schools. That was unbelievably exciting that they could see the kids in “TEN9EIGHT: SHOOT FOR THE MOON” in a way that they had not been used to seeing themselves on film,” adds Mazzio.

Production still from 'TEN9EIGHT' directed by Mary Mazzio“By and large -- there are lots of exceptions but I’m totally generalizing -- the portrayal of Hispanic and Latino teenagers in movies, and in the African-American community as well, is so stereotypical with very few positive, aspirational, authentic stories. So, I think that’s what these kids were reacting to – they saw kids in the movie overcoming issues that are just like what they had to overcome. They were so mad that the narrator of the film, Rodney Walker, didn’t win – he came in second. I think everybody thought he’d win and when they announced the places, it was like ‘What?!!!!’ That was awesome,” she says.  

Although Mazzio doesn’t judge a work solely by reviews, she does take multiple sources of reviewers into consideration when it comes to watching films. “I think reviews are key but oftentimes, you’ll see movies with terrible reviews that get big audiences,” says Mazzio before also pointing out “Certainly, there are many more movie critics, with bloggers and web and easy accessibility; you don’t just have the big movie reviewers – the Siskel and Eberts – I don’t think they’re given quite as much weight. With that being said, critics are important – they can influence audience goers. So when I go see a movie, I will actually go look at the reviews; I’ll look both at the critical reviews and then I’ll look at the audience reviews, because the critics may have a very different take than the audience.”

Film director Praheme with audience members at Saint Paul's Baptist Church.The disparity in movie reviews by critics and audiences alike is exactly why Praheme does not think they hold much weight at all, now that “everybody is a movie reviewer.” “Everybody can go on Twitter and tell you what they think about a movie, and that’s almost just as valid as the newspaper. I’ve never really believed that reviewers or critics were reviewing the movies in the same way that the audience member was -- as a regular, just average Joe Blow movie goer, and that, to me was always a disconnect when I used to read reviews, because it’s like, they’re grading it on this sophisticated, kinda snobbish movie standard – the acting, directing, dialogue – when most people are like ‘hey, did I enjoy that movie? Did it entertain me for that hour and thirty minutes? -- and that’s the way I look at movies,” proclaims this former Boy Scout.

“I don’t care whether the writing was great or all of that other stuff. Was I entertained? Did you make me laugh? Did you take me out of my thought process [that I had] before I walked in here? So, fuck the critics!” - Praheme

While Praheme values audience reactions over reviews, this still doesn’t impact his filmmaking choices. “I try not to think about any of that stuff while I’m making a movie. I’m making a movie purely based off of what I see in my head, in hopes that people will like what they see, but I’m not making anything expecting people to like this automatically. I’m not doing it with the hope that ‘hey, if I put this in then all of the Mexicans are gonna like this!’ you know, because I have no idea what people are going to like. So, I try to make stuff that I like and hope that there are enough weirdoes like me out there that will like it too. I think that my sensibilities are pretty common,” he says.  

There is much to be learned after discussing validation with Mary Mazzio and Praheme – both who have succeeded in gaining audience favor, in their own right, which can obviously be worth more than critical acclaim. The former narrow-minded thinking that told me I needed a movie review from none other than Roger Ebert, as my form of legitimacy, continues to teach me a lot about the importance of not relying on a specific person or entity to validate your hopes and dreams. Being flexible with your objectives is vital because that's when new doors start opening and exciting things beyond your wildest dreams begin to happen.

What does validation mean to YOU?

How much influence do reviews have on YOUR decision to see, or not to see, a movie?

What was the last movie YOU saw and loved despite it having negative reviews?

Also, be sure to check out yesterday's post about Understanding that the Future of Film is Up to Us.

Searching for Satisfaction Through the Silver Screen #atozchallenge #IndieFilm

“You gotta Satisfy your Soul, people!” – Akil Dupont

l-r: actors Mykel Shannon Jenkins and Tamara Goodwin during production of "SILHOUETTES" directed by Akil DuPont.Some people make movies for the sheer joy of creating something from nothing. I am not one of those people. I don't want to make movies in my basement that I show to myself in my basement while I get ready for my next shift at the nearby poultry plant (as described in the book "WHAT THEY DON'T TEACH YOU AT FILM SCHOOL").

Some filmmakers also believe that one has to start here – as in, you have to make the movies that you want to make and tell the kind of stories that matter to you. Otherwise, you sabotage your ability to obtain success in film -- whatever that looks like to you. This is the kind of standpoint I can get behind. It doesn't just apply to being satisfied with creating a work; it can be useful in most, if not all, areas that make us reach for the final frame.

As the song "RYDER MUSIC" by 50 Cent goes, you’re better off chasing what's going to open up more doors for you, than going after the byproduct of a larger gain. 

I don't make movies for the sake of making movies. I did, however, make “ABYSS: THE GREATEST PROPOSAL EVER” because something needed to be done. So in a sense, I had to start from aiming for the satisfaction of doing something, which led me to finishing a project, which then created an opportunity for me to get some of the things that I actually want out of this movie making madness.

It all clicks. 

The short film "35 Year Old Man" directed by Amir Motlagh is available to watch online.I asked film director Amir Motlagh what makes him satisfied with his films enough that there isn’t an urge to continue tweaking them. He points out how an endless search for satisfaction in one’s work leaves you with nothing to show. “As Steve Jobs once said, ‘real artists ship.’ In 2014, it's telling that the quote that makes most sense is coming from a tech genius, and not a figure like Goethe,” says Motlagh.

The next time you feel unsatisfied, consider taking a closer look at what you want and figuring out if pulling back a bit -- to start from you’re current position -- will help you get there, or at least, assist you in getting closer to the vicinity of what your aiming for.

When the New Year arrived in 2014, I looked on my wall and was surprised (and happy) to realize that I reached all most of my goals for making this movie, that were written down in 2012 and 2013. How many of us have made New Year's Resolutions that we let fall by the wayside?

How many broken promises of change or growth have YOU made to yourself?

Make sure to read yesterday's post about The Rush that People Get When Making Movies.

New Media - What YouTubers Can Teach Us about Getting Noticed #atozchallenge #IndieFilm

TIPSYBARTENDER host Skyy John partying with singer Jessica Tovar, Alphacat, King Bach and other YouTubers at Vidcon, an online video conference. It's so easy to produce content these days that I believe filmmakers can stand to learn a thing or two from YouTubers and other media makers (Vine stars, Netflix, etc.) who are building audiences, getting paid and gaining a high profile within the entertainment business.

In addition to fielding offers for production deals and landing representation at the top talent agencies, many of them have also expanded their brands into self-supporting business ventures, complete with merchandising and offline gigs. The fruits of their labor, however, didn’t just show up on their doorstep overnight. Online mediamakers are winning because they have something to show – today, right now. They are doing, not talking; Most importantly, they know how to use new media to their advantage – making changes and improving as they go while learning the ropes of whatever platform is working for them.

We still need not get it twisted -- the common perk of exposure that comes with utilizing online media could very well be the extent of a platform’s value in having an impact on one’s career. “More people view my art…my films and photos. That’s about it,” says Estevan Oriol, a notable photographer who also makes documentaries about subcultures in Los Angeles. When I welcomed this urban lifestyle entrepreneur to discuss some of the highlights of using new media, it became clear that YouTube is not attributed to his success as a director.

Lowrider scraping Photo by Estevan Oriol“Nobody’s ever said ‘Hey, I’ve seen your work on YouTube…would you be interested in doing this job for me?’ It depends on what kind of success you mean. Some people might think that having a million views on your YouTube channel is success. To some degree, it is, but to me success is a little bit more than that,” he says.

Oriol, who produces content for three shows on his "SANCTIONED TV" channel; including Skid Row Stories, Tattoo Stories and L.A. Woman, foresees having to find something else to do as his deal ends and YouTube, so far, hasn’t brought him any new clients. The uncertainty of cracking that online success code also hasn’t escaped Skyy John, host of the YouTube show "TIPSYBARTENDER." Having watched this Bahama-bred actor’s videos for some time, I was familiar with his channel long before even seeing him on the CBS show “COLD CASE.”

Despite having nearly 400,000 subscribers to "Tipsybartender" -- some of whom send gifts like high-end Tequila and a year’s supply of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and help him organize meet-ups in other countries, Skyy John doesn’t consider himself among the top media makers online. However, this former bartender who was once hospitalized following a machete accident while working on his show does find the medium to be beneficial for aspiring actors.

Skyy John's 'Rainbow Shots' episode with Emma is the most watched video on "TIPSYBARTENDER."“A lot of people think that YouTube might hurt their acting career. I’ve been on YouTube for a while and when I began, most actors were under the assumption that YouTube is beneath them – but if you look at YouTube now, that’s where [casting directors, producers, studios, etc.] go to find talent.

For instance, King Bach is big on Vine; a lot of people do both. Vine and YouTube kinda go hand-in-hand. He created his whole thing online; the new Black chick on Saturday Night Live (Sasheer Zamata) was a YouTuber, so it's becoming that place to showcase your talent outside of the conventional methods.

Hollywood wouldn’t normally accept a dude like me [because of the way] I speak; I’m a naturalized American citizen but I wasn’t born here so I sound funny and that doesn’t always play well [in Hollywood]. Yeah, we have some dudes like Arnold Schwarzenegger [who make it big in the entertainment industry] but that’s rare.” – Skky John

Actor Robert Patrick ("TRUE BLOOD," "JUDGEMENT DAY" and "THE UNIT" | Photo by Estevan OriolEstevan Oriol agrees on the importance of artists being proactive in getting their work noticed. “Just put it out there on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and then you’ll get eyes on it, and then it’s up to the people and the work [to decide] whether anything comes out of it or not. There are people doing great art but they don’t have eyes on their work, so nothing comes out of it,” he says. Reinforcing Oriol’s advice, Skyy John lets it be known that showcasing your stuff on social media is not only vital to your chances of success but also hard work. In other words, just because you upload something doesn’t mean viewers or fans or money will come.

“Showcase your stuff on social media; don’t think anything is beneath you and just keep working hard. You always gotta be on the grind 24/7 – being in entertainment is not like a nine-to-five job where you work a couple of hours and then go home; with us, you’re working around the clock,” says Skyy John.

New media has been good to many online personalities like Estevan Oriol and Skyy John because they are prolific -- always releasing new content, which is a huge factor in getting people to pay attention to one’s work. The formula is simple -- If I want to be a writer, I need to write often; If I want to be an illustrator, I need to practice drawing daily. My sketchbook should be active and if I want to make films, I need to be doing so on a consistent basis. The only way I see how to make filmmaking work for me is by following through on this very practice; using tools that can take me to the next level.

Do YOU think it's easier or harder to get Noticed, in this age of New Media?