IFH 631: From Horror Indies to The Revenant with Mark L. Smith

IFH 631: From Horror Indies to The Revenant with Mark L. Smith

I've spoken to many people in the film business over the years but today's guest is one of the hardest working craftsman I've had the pleasure of sitting down with. Today on the show we have screenwriter, producer and director, Mark L. Smith. If you look at his IMDB you'll see a list of 15 projects at various stages of development. He's come a long way from entering the Hollywood scene some 15 years ago with his fear-striking horror screenwriting and directorial debut, Séance in 2006.

Read Mark L. Smith's Screenplays

Mark stumbled onto writing as a hobby during off-seasons at his family’s ranch where he worked after college. Self-taught, some workshops and an inventory of specs later, his path crossed Mel Gibson’s - who bought Smith’s first-ever script written in 2001.

From then onwards, he’s been credited for successful writing and producing for hits like The Revenant (2015) and Overlord (2018) and The Midnight Sky which was just released in 2020, starring the incomparable, George Clooney.

In Overload, a small group of American soldiers finds horror behind enemy lines on the eve of D-Day.

While producing his directorial debut horror, film Séance, with friend of the show and veteran producer Suzanne Lyons, Smith was also a writer on Vacancy in 2006. You will hear more in the interview of his experience navigating the world of filmmaking on both sets, as a rookie, and the village of support he received.

Vacancy follows the unfortunate adventure of a married couple who becomes stranded at an isolated motel and finds hidden video cameras in their room. They soon realize that unless they escape, they'll be the next victims of a snuff film.

After Vacancy, many horror projects started to open up for Smith. He worked those for a while until it felt old and he had the urge to do something different. That's when he co-wrote the revisionist western script for The Revenant with legendary director, Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu. The film was based in part on Michael Punke’s 2002 novel by the same title. You can watch the remarkable Making of documentary of The Revenant here.

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter, and Domhnall Gleeson, the story sets in the 1820s, where a frontiersman, Hugh Glass, sets out on a path of vengeance against those who left him for dead after a bear mauling.

The twist and turns that caused delayed production of the film and its eventual success will pique your interest. The Revenant became an instant commercial and artistic success. It grossed $533 million worldwide, earned 11 Oscar nominations, 3 Golden Globe awards, and 5 BAFTA awards

Mark recently wrote The Midnight Sky that released last year, starring George Clooney. It is a screen adaptation of Lily Brooks-Dalton’s novel, ‘Goodmorning, Midnight’ which is a post-apocalyptic tale that follows a lonely scientist in the Arctic, as he races to stop Sully and her fellow astronauts from returning home to a mysterious global catastrophe.

I had an absolute ball speaking to Mark. He's one of the hardest working screenwriters in Hollywood. We discuss everything from The Revenant, genius-level tips on how to adapt a book to the screen to what it was like work with Quentin Tarantino on the Star Trek script that has yet to be made. If you pray, please pray to the Hollywood Gods that Mark and Quentin's Star Trek gangster film sees the light of day.

Enjoy this conversation with Mark L. Smith.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

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IFH 063: The Walking Dead - Working on the Dead Set with Vince Gonzales

IFH 063: The Walking Dead - Working on the Dead Set with Vince Gonzales

IFH 063: The Walking Dead - Working on the Dead SetIf you are a Walking Dead fan you are going to LOVE this episode. If you ever wanted to know what an assistant director does on set you are going to LOVE this episode. On today's episode we have a long time friend Vince Gonzales. Vince has been working in the film industry for over top decades. His IMDB page is pretty crazy. He's worked on 90 classics like The Sandlot, Speed and What Dreams May Come. Now after 2000 his credits start to heat up: Pearl Harbor, Six Feet Under, Charmed, Boston Legal, Grey's Anatomy, Transformers: Age of Extinction and of course The Walking Dead. I wanted to bring Vince on the show to discuss his time on The Walking Dead but also what it takes to be an assistant director on both small and "monstrous" sets. Don't listen to this episode in the dark. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

6 Apr 201648min

IFH 062: Top 5 Film Festival SCAMS Filmmakers Need to Be Aware Of!

IFH 062: Top 5 Film Festival SCAMS Filmmakers Need to Be Aware Of!

Top 5 Film Festival SCAMS Filmmakers Need to Be Aware Of!I've been at a fair share of film festivals in my life and I've submitted to many more than I've been accepts to. With that said I have seen many less than honorable film festival organizers throughout the process. Now not all film festivals are run by grifters and con men but you need to be aware of the signs that a film festival you are submitting to may just be in existence to remove you from you hard earned cash and not to celebrate amazing independent film and filmmakers. I put together a few warning signs you should look out for when submitting to film festivals. Stay safe out there everyone!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

5 Apr 201613min

IFH 061: Chris Vogler - Screenwriting & The Writer's Journey Blueprint

IFH 061: Chris Vogler - Screenwriting & The Writer's Journey Blueprint

If you have seen Star Wars then you know Joseph Campbell's work. If you ever have seen The Lion King then you have seen one of Campbell's best student's, Chris Vogler, work.Chris Vogler wrote the game changing book  The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. I read this book over 20 years ago and it changed the way I look at story. Chris studied the work and principles of the late master Joseph Campbell. His book The Hero with a Thousand Faces was the bases for Star Wars as well as almost every other Hollywood feature film in the past 60 years. What Chris Vogler did so well is that he translated Campbell's work and applied it to movies. The Writer's Journey explores the powerful relationship between mythology and storytelling in a clear, concise style that's made it required reading for movie executives, screenwriters, playwrights, scholars, and fans of pop culture all over the world. He has influenced the screenplays of movies from THE LION KING to FIGHT CLUB to BLACK SWAN to NOAH."I teach sometimes, and always say that Chris Vogler is the first book that everyone's got to read." -- Darren Aronofsky , Oscar-nominated Screenwriter/Director, Noah, Black Swan, The WrestlePretty high praised from one of the best filmmakers working today. In this episode I ask Chris to breakdown a bunch of concepts of the Hero's Journey, why it resinates with people around the world and what makes an amazing hero and villain. Enjoy my conversation with Chris Vogler.Screenwriting & Story Blueprint: The Hero's Two JourneysThe Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, 3rd EditionMyth & the Movies: Discovering the Myth Structure of 50 Unforgettable FilmsThe Hero with a Thousand Faces (The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell)Memo from the Story Department: Secrets of Structure and CharacterThe Million Dollar ScreenplayBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

31 Mars 20161h 12min

IFH 060: Should You Work for Deferred Payment or Back End Points?

IFH 060: Should You Work for Deferred Payment or Back End Points?

A Indie Film Hustle Tribe member recently asked me"Should You Work for Deferred Payment or Back End Points?"Believe it or not I get this question A LOT! So I decided to dedicate a podcast episode to the question. There are times I would say yes definitely work for deferred payment or back end points. I heard a story of a screenwriter that was asked to do a rush job, write an entire screenplay in two week over Christmas vacation. He really didn't want to do it but the agent said he could get him paid and get him back end points. The screenwriter took the gig, the producer love the script and the movie went on to gross $500,000,000 world wide. He took home over $20 million. Not bad.So yes there is a time to make that deal but alas there are times you should never work for deferred. Take a listen to when to and when not to work for deferred payments or back end points. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

29 Mars 20166min

IFH 059: How a 17 yr old Shot & Sold her 1st Feature on 16mm Film

IFH 059: How a 17 yr old Shot & Sold her 1st Feature on 16mm Film

Every once in a while I get sent a story that blows my mind. They story is a 17 year old 1st time director shoot and sells her first feature film (that was shot on 16mm) right out of the gate.How that hell does that happen? Well may I introduce you to Kansas Bowling, the director of the feature film B.C. Butcher. Inspired by the likes of Russ Meyer, Annette Funicello, and Roger Corman, Kansas and her friend Kenzie began writing a script in high school about a tribe of cavewomen being stalked by a prehistoric monster.Thus, the first prehistoric slasher was born! At only 17, Kansas directed, co-wrote, and funded her own feature film, entirely shot on 16mm, called “B.C. Butcher”.The film is unique in many ways, being a horror flick and a comedy, featuring live music, gore, gags, and campy historical inaccuracy. Because of this, immediately after shooting, “B.C. Butcher” caught the eye of Lloyd Kaufman (who will be a guest on the podcast in a few weeks), legendary producer/director and founder of Troma Entertainment Inc. Troma acquired the film for distribution and is now slated for a 2016 release.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

24 Mars 20161h 1min

IFH 058: Tips on How Directors Should Work with a Colorist

IFH 058: Tips on How Directors Should Work with a Colorist

Working with a professional colorist can be intimating if you haven't done it before. I've been a colorist for over 12 years and have spent my fair share of time in a color grading suite.I decided to put together a few tips on how filmmakers and directors should work with a colorist. I also included a few videos to help you along on your post adventures.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

22 Mars 201613min

IFH 057: HollyShorts: Confessions of a Film Festival Programmer w/ Daniel Sol

IFH 057: HollyShorts: Confessions of a Film Festival Programmer w/ Daniel Sol

Have you ever wanted to know what really happens behind the scenes at a top level film festival like the HollyShorts Film Festival? Well this week I kidnapped co-founder and film festival programmer Daniel Sol, tied him up in a darken warehouse and shine a bright light on his face to get the truth out of him. The interview might not have been that dramatic but Daniel laid down a ton of behind the scenes knowledge bombs you all you Indie Film Hustlers out there. HollyShorts! and I go way back. My first short film BROKEN played at the very first HollyShorts Film Festival over a decade ago and I've been friends with Daniel Sol and Theo Dumont (co-founders) ever since. They truly care about filmmakers and were name one of the Top 25 film festivals in the world worth the submission fee by Filmmaker Magazine. Enjoy my candid chat with Daniel Sol from the HollyShorts! Film Festival.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

17 Mars 20161h 22min

IFH 056: Do You Need an Agent or Talent Agency to Make it in Hollywood?

IFH 056: Do You Need an Agent or Talent Agency to Make it in Hollywood?

Is an agent or talent agency needed to make it in Hollywood? Well it helps! Seriously, this is a question I get asked all the time.In this episode I go over what you need to do to get an agent and also help you figure out if you need one right now. Below are the seven major talent agencies in Hollywood.APA Talent AgencySize: 3,400 clients; 325 employees (210 agents, 15 managing partners); offices in Los Angeles, New York and NashvilleOrigin story: Founded in 1962 by former MCA agents David Baumgarten, Roger Vorce and Harvey Litwin.CAA Talent AgencySize: About 5,000 clients; 1,500+ employees; 11 offices worldwide, including in ChinaOrigin story: Founded in 1975 by William Morris agents Mike Rosenfeld, Michael Ovitz, Ron Meyer, Bill Haber and Rowland Perkins.GERSH Talent AgencySize: About 2,000 clients; 175 employees (75 agents, 16 partners); offices in L.A. and New YorkOrigin story: Founded in 1949 by Phil Gersh.ICM PARTNERS Talent AgencySize: 4,500+ clients; 400+ employees (200+ agents and execs, 40 partners); four officesOrigin story: Formed in 1975 with the merger of Creative Management Associates and International Famous Agency.PARADIGM Talent AgencySize: 2,500 clients; 370+ employees (160 agents); six officesOrigin story: Founded in 1992 by Sam Gores through the mergers and acquisitions of several boutiquesUTA Talent AgencySize: 3,000+ clients; 500 employees (200 agents, 46 partners); offices in L.A. and New YorkOrigin story: Founded in 1991 with the merger of Bauer-Benedek and Leading Artists.WME | IMG Talent AgencySize: 4,000+ clients; nearly 5,000 employees (200 agents) in 25+ countriesOrigin story: WME | IMG was founded in 2014 with the merger of IMG and WME, which was founded in 2009 with the takeover of William Morris by upstart Endeavor.Hope this episode helps you out on your journey to get an agent. Good luck!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

15 Mars 20169min

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