An interview with Independent Filmmaker David Spaltro who shares what it takes to direct a feature film, while still balancing his day job.
David Spaltro is the Director, Writer, & Producer of a low-budget independent feature film set in New York City that was semi-autobiographical about his college experience during film school and completely financed with his credit cards. Filmmaking Success sat down with David to find out what it takes in terms of passion and dedication to tackle a movie as a first time director.
FS: What was it like embarking on your first feature film?
Spaltro: Filmmaking is such a long, arduous journey that you may never see the light at the end of the tunnel for and if you're working on something you don't feel in your heart every second you NEED to be... it's going to be even longer and less fulfilling. If you're going to take plunge, do it with something that makes your heart beat.
David Spaltro is the Director, Writer, & Producer of a low-budget independent feature film set in New York City that was semi-autobiographical about his college experience during film school and completely financed with his credit cards. Filmmaking Success sat down with David to find out what it takes in terms of passion and dedication to tackle a movie as a first time director.
FS: What was it like embarking on your first feature film?
Spaltro: Filmmaking is such a long, arduous journey that you may never see the light at the end of the tunnel for and if you're working on something you don't feel in your heart every second you NEED to be... it's going to be even longer and less fulfilling. If you're going to take plunge, do it with something that makes your heart beat.
FS: What is your day job and how did you balance that with making this movie?
Spaltro: I was working for an executive recruiter while doing a year of pre-production for the film, good hours and decent pay and access to the internet. When shooting I left the job and when I returned it was gone, so I spend the last two years bouncing around various forms of freelance work; construction, waiting tables, bartending, bouncing, janitorial, personal training; whatever I could get my hands on and spending the remaining hours working on the film. So no sleep in a very long time.
Spaltro: I was working for an executive recruiter while doing a year of pre-production for the film, good hours and decent pay and access to the internet. When shooting I left the job and when I returned it was gone, so I spend the last two years bouncing around various forms of freelance work; construction, waiting tables, bartending, bouncing, janitorial, personal training; whatever I could get my hands on and spending the remaining hours working on the film. So no sleep in a very long time.
FS: What kind of advice do you have for first time feature film directors?
Spaltro: Just write and keep telling your stories however you can or have to. No matter what your situation, financial or whatever, no one can take the pen out of your hand and the paper away from you. You can do that much. Even if it's just baby steps and it all seems like an improbability to complete. Surround yourself with good people, people you enjoy seeing and working with and collaborating with. It makes all the difference not just in the work but in the entire process. A great teacher, Larry Hillier, also told me to do what you love, pick the projects you love.
FS: Anything you'd like to add for filmmakers to keep going and finish their projects when things get rough?
Spaltro: Just write and keep telling your stories however you can or have to. No matter what your situation, financial or whatever, no one can take the pen out of your hand and the paper away from you. You can do that much. Even if it's just baby steps and it all seems like an improbability to complete. Surround yourself with good people, people you enjoy seeing and working with and collaborating with. It makes all the difference not just in the work but in the entire process. A great teacher, Larry Hillier, also told me to do what you love, pick the projects you love.
FS: Anything you'd like to add for filmmakers to keep going and finish their projects when things get rough?
Spaltro: It just takes dedication, commitment, and endurance to get up every day (assuming you did go to bed the night before), sacrificing relationships and other opportunities, and staying passionate about something. What kept me going were the people who bled for it and put good work into and making sure that got recognized.
…Around Official Website
…Around Official Website
- Starring: Robert Evans, Molly Ryman, Marcel Torres, Ron Brice, Berenice Mosca
- Director/Writer/Producer: David Spaltro
- Running Time: 104 minutes
- Genre: Drama
RSS Feed
