Interview With Shaun Rose: The Star/ Co-Writer And Director Of Making And Unmaking

Written by Luke Barnes

Hey Everyone! I recently had the chance to have a chat with Shaun Rose, the writer/actor/director behind Making And Unmaking a very personal documentary film that chronicles Rose’s experiences within the film industry around the film of him making Upstate Story. We discuss the creative process, whether the toll of Hollywood is worth it, and mental health. I hope you enjoy.

Q: If you were to sum up Making and Unmaking in a word what would it be?

A Therapeutic. Another word would be extensive or exhausting.

Q: What was your message with this film? To inform? To share?

A: Initially it was just me trying to get so many feelings out in the midst of production of ‘Upstate Story’ as they both overlapped. I was in a deep crisis period. I will say that many who have watched the film consider it educational in regard to the creative process. Not just the no budget tier of filmmaking.

Q: What was the inspiration or catalyst for you making this film?

A: Just wanting to heal or get better. My mental and physical health were in pretty rough states due to so much I was going through. I wanted the film to act as a sort of journal or diary where I could vent.

Q: Would you describe the struggle you and other filmmakers go through to get films made as worth it?

A: Most of the time. There are horror stories out there. Mainly in Hollywood where filmmakers have expressed regret over certain projects. For myself, I have no regrets at all. It might be hard and at times frustratingly difficult, but the finished product has always been worth the hardship.

Q: What advice would you give to young filmmakers working in the industry right now?

A: Keep writing and filming. There are a plethora of affordable cam options out there for you. Even modern cell-phones are being used frequently. Go for whatever you want to do.

Q How did you find the production of Making and Unmaking different from that of your other projects?

A: I’ve only experimented with the documentary form in college so that was a departure from the norm. Many years in between. I also just started using DSLR’s too for the documentary so that was a learning curve. I was late to that party.

Q: Did you find the format of Making and Unmaking, freeing or constrictive?

A: Very freeing, but at times overwhelming. As a documentary, I feel the possibilities are endless or more flexible. Just stick to the truth no matter what. It’s the editing that becomes hard. Trying to keep the story moving along all the while keeping a smooth edit going is where it gets tricky. We only had 1 cam to use during the interview sections, so we had to film each interview 2 times at different angles. From there, try to splice it together. Trying to place the music by Jake was also tricky. Considering it’s a documentary, it was especially tricky. I just took his tracks and placed them in a way to compliment as opposed to overwhelm. I hope I did him justice.

Q: If you won an award who would you thank?

A: My children. Adrianna and Keenan. My co-creators on the film. My Father, Andrea, Jake and Charles. My family, critics who gave my work a chance. A bunch of my friends who have been very close to me in my darkest times. People to confide in during both personal and creative rants. And those that have passed who made a strong impact on me as a person. Gracelynn, Sue and Darlene.

Q: What are your closing thoughts on the film industry in general?

A: I’m concerned about where it seems that comedy is headed. For centuries, comedy has largely consisted of others laughing at the misfortune of others. It’s always been offensive to some degree or other. There are so many different realms of comedy as well and nowadays, I fear that we’re heading into territory that minimizes what we can laugh at. Perhaps I should say censorship in general.

Q: If you could go back in time to when you were young and just starting out in the film industry, would you tell yourself to go for it, or to rethink?

A: Go for it. It’s difficult, but getting your works out there, seen and appreciated, makes all the struggle worth it.

You can check out Making and Unmaking right now on Youtube, and as always you can find a review of the film on my site!

Making And Unmaking: A Frank Conversation With A Filmmaker

Written by Luke Barnes

Making and Unmaking is a candid documentary short film directed by Shaun Rose. The film sees Rose open up and discuss various triumphs and sets backs he had whilst making his feature film Upstate Story.

If you have an interest in the production side of film, then I would say this is a must watch.

Those of us who have made a film before, are presented with an earnest and frank conversation that we all know well, making a film is one of the hardest things a person can do. As Rose details the events surrounding the production of the film, he paints us a vivid picture of the place his life was in, his fight to get this film made. Touching is not enough to describe this film, but as someone who has made short films before (and would dread the pressure of making anything longer), I can say that this film is incredibly relatable.

Moreover, if you have never made a film before this is still immensely enriching, as it provides a very honest look into the sort of things that filmmakers go through, and what life is really like on a film set.

Overall, this is a very special film in a lot of ways, and it brought a tear to my eye. A beautiful story that needs to be heard.

Pros.

The honesty

The raw emotional weight

A useful educational tool

Very relatable

Cons.

Those not into film production may find less to be interested in here

4.5/5

Cursed Camera: Video Killed…. Well Everyone

Written by Luke Barnes

Cursed Camera is a horror short directed by Hunter Farris. The plot sees a group of budding filmmakers become the unwitting victims of a demon after they start using a cursed camera that kills those who appear on its lens.

This is what horror cinema is all about, the wonderful shorts that breath life back into the genre! I greatly enjoyed this film for the short time it was on, as I thought it was very clever and it made me laugh.

If you have ever made a short yourself before, then you will find the premise itself quite hilarious and more than a little relatable. Moreover, I think the film’s lampoon of possession tropes is spot on, and I was laughing for the entire runtime of the film.

I thought the acting was also quite good, and even though each character was only on screen a minute amount of time before they are killed off most still have their moment to shine and for the most part nail it.

Overall, this was a lot of fun to watch and if you have a spare few minutes you should definitely check it out, eagerly awaiting what the filmmaker does next.

Pros.

A novel premise

A strong lampoon

Many funny scenes

The cast are strong

The ending perfectly sets up more fun

Cons.

None

5/5

The Parish: Nuns Are Always Creepy

The Parish is a horror film directed by David S. Hogan. The plot sees single mum Liz (Angela DiMarco), and her daughter move after Liz’s husband dies- looking for a fresh start. However, upon arrival Liz and her daughter quickly find themselves caught up in a decades old mystery as well as a millennium long battle between good and evil.

The main thing that drew me to this film was Bill Oberst Jr. I am a big fan of the films of Rob Zombie (particularly the Firefly trilogy), so seeing his name attached instantly attracted my attention. Oberst Jr, does not disappoint and is as good here as he is in the final instalment in that trilogy, stealing damn near every scene he is in and managing to be the coolest thing about the film.

Another strong point about the film is it’s scares. Though the film starts off slow, by the twenty minute mark you can see things are a miss, and when Liz starts having horrific nightmare that’s when the film really starts getting going: the nightmares provide the film with some strong horror visuals, but it is the general scene of creepiness brought about by the atmosphere and the plot that makes the film unsettling. This film sat with me for a while after I watched it, which is always a good sign for a horror film.

Overall, a terrifically creepy affair with an excellent, as always, turn from Bill Oberst Jr.

Pros.

Oberst Jr

DiMarco

The scares

The mystery

The final showdown

Cons.

The opening is a little slow

4.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Body Brokers: The Human Trade

Written by Luke Barnes

Body Brokers is a crime thriller film directed by John Swab. The plot revolves around the for profit drug rehabilitation system in the United States, and the various predatory tricks and cons people within the industry are using to stay rich.

This film serves to do for the drug rehabilitation system what The Big Short did for the stock market. Providing us the audience with an in-depth, albeit it fictionalised, view into the world of body brokers, characters who prey off junkies going in and out of treatment centres to make their money through various contracts.

Honestly, the fact that this is a thing in the real world is terrifying, and it’s the same kind of terror that you had when you realised that I Care A Lot also has a lot of grounding in reality. Our systems are deeply flawed.

I thought the performances were all very good here, Frank Grillo was the stand out, but he was supported nicely by Michael Kenneth Williams and Jessica Rothe, who is definitely the scene stealer of the film. My one complaint on this front would be that the main protagonist Utah (Jack Kilmer), is fairly bland and predictable

Overall, this film is harrowing, and it opens your eyes to just how easily corrupted our systems are- filling you with even more existential dread and terror of the world around you.

Pros.

The premise

Exposing the injustices and the wrongs of the drug rehabilitation world

Making a few strong points

Rothe, Williams and Grillo

Cons.

Kilmer

The ending is manically depressing

4/5

I Care A Lot: A Sociopathic Super Heroine

Written by Luke Barnes

I Care A Lot is a dark comedy film directed by J Blakeson. The plot follows the efforts of Marla Greyson (Rosamund Pike), a court appointed guardian, who defrauds those in her care for personal gain. However, one day she picks the wrong target and invokes the ire of a mob boss.

I did not care for this film at all.

The only pro I can give for this film is that, as usual, Pike is on excellent form and gives one hell of a performance. However, there character is unlikeable and there is really nothing the audience can connect to in her. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as you don’t always have to like the protagonist of the films you watch, but it becomes an issue when we are supposed to care about her survival. Personally, I found myself relating more to Peter Dinklage’s mob boss character.

Moreover, the writing is incredibly unbelievable to the point of Marla almost becoming a sociopathic superhero at times. We are supposed to view Marla as a crafty predator, who outwits her opponents, however in a physical sense she is shown to just be a regular human and yet she can’t seem to die; literally she survives definitive death after definitive death, and it gets a bit laughable after a point.

Finally, the narration seems to think it is clever and deep, yet it comes off as just the opposite of that and if anything a little try hardy. Not everyone can be American Psycho, stop trying.

Overall, Pike is giving the performance of her career so far, sadly it is in a deeply unlikeable film.

Pros.

The premise

Pike

Cons.

The audience has no way to connect to the character

You don’t care about the character, so it takes away from any tense or life and death sequences

The narration is not as smart as it thinks it is

Marla basically has superpowers as the result of bad writing

1.5/5

Todd: The Life Of A Budding Killer

Todd is a thriller film directed by Aaron Warren. The plot follows the titular Todd (Hans Hernke), as we see his decent into becoming a budding madman/ killer, due to intense social isolation and abuse.

I appreciated this film not taking the easy road, they could have made a film that used all the evil kid, budding serial killer cliches for Todd and made him out to be an unsympathetic, obvious monster. However, instead the film explores the character further and takes a more nuanced approach to the discussion, showing that he has layers and that his situation has driven him to do what he does.

I thought the tense stalking sequences of the later film were also well done, too often is the term ‘on the edge of your seat’ used, but here I would describe a similar feeling. There is a lot of great suspense around how far will Todd go, when will he be caught. As such the cat and mouse game that escalates from it is very fun to watch.

Overall, the writing really helps to elevate this film beyond mediocrity and make it memorable and dare I say it, impactful?

Pros.

Layered writing

A lens towards society

A strong sense of tension

Cons.

The character’s other than Todd are all quite weak and poorly fleshed out

A few pacing issues

3/5

Luz: Romance Behind Walls

Written by Luke Barnes

Luz (directed by Jon Garcia), is a romantic drama film about the friendship and romance between two men, which blossoms within the walls of a prison.

This is a heart wrenching film for so many reasons. It is both beautiful and soul crushing.

I think in terms of representation this film is very needed, as LGBTQ+ love stories are often sorely over looked in the romantic drama genre, and yes to a degree that is being rectified in recent years, but there is still a noticeable gap, and films like this are filling that- and I for one think that is commendable. Hopefully, soon the romance genre will be more reflective of all kinds of relationships.

The love story was very powerful and effecting, I thought the writing was just right as it managed to walk that line between expertly playing with your emotions, but also never feeling overly sentimental.

The leads have a great deal of chemistry, and you do believe that they are genuinely in love, which adds to the emotional impact of the film. I thought both performances, commanded my attention and impressed me.

Overall, a fantastic and powerful romance film, with a real heart and soul.

Pros.

The chemistry

The representation

The emotional weight

The performances

Cons.

The side characters are a little underdeveloped

4.5/5

The Edge Of Seventeen: High Fidelity In A Classroom

Written by Luke Barnes

Edge Of Seventeen is a coming of age comedy film directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. The plot sees socially awkward teen Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld), navigate a world of depression, rejection and family strife, all whilst figuring out who she wants to be- I promise it is happier than that sounds.

I enjoyed this film so much, that it has quickly supplanted its way into my top ten films of all time.

For me, this is one of the best if not the best teen film of all time. There is something so painfully true about this film that really reached me and felt reflective of my own high school experience. The idea of teenage mental health is not something that you often see come up in coming of age fare beyond the usual idea of angst, however, it is really done justice here.
Where this film pips something like Lady Bird, is that it is more relatable. There is a quiet middle class privilege to Lady Bird, yes I said it, that though present here also is lessened to a point whereby it feels like a closer mirror to how a lot of people actually experience highschool.

Steinfeld is terrific here truly. I know True Grit was the film that put her on the map for a lot of people, but this was the film for me that made me stand up and take notice. She makes the characters so complex, but also so likeable, so charming and yet so self-destructive. Moreover, the level of chemistry she has with Woody Harrelson, who plays her teacher, is off the charts- they must be cast together in more films.

Overall, a film that spoke to me on a personal level and reminded me why I love film.

Pros.

Focusing on teenage mental health

Steinfeld

Harrelson

The writing is sharp and witty

It feels painfully true

5/5

Addams Family Values: The Goth At Your Summer Camp

Written by Luke Barnes

Addams Family Values is a family, fantasy, dark comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. The plot sees the Addams family welcome a new member into their family. Meanwhile Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd), is seduced by black widow Debbie (Joan Cusack), and the family has to fight to get him back.

This is very much more of the same, if you enjoyed the first film you will enjoy this. If I had to pick between the two films and say which was better I would probably pick this one, as the story is slightly more engaging and the idea of the Addams children going off to summer camp is bound to inspire at least a few chuckles. Though I preferred it more than the first, I would not say this was technically, filmmaking wise, better

I thought both of the of the storylines here were well done and entertaining, there are a few slow moments here and there, but these are only minor and really don’t affect the film hugely.

I found the Addams brood to be just as likeable as they wear in the first film, with a young Christina Ricci as Wednesday being, of course, the standout; Ricci really should come back for the Wednesday live action show that Tim Burton is working on, I’ll be disappointed if she doesn’t. My one criticism on this front would be that, as characters I don’t feel like they really progress, the arcs they go through are incredibly limited, and where the characters start at the first frame of the first film to where they end at the last frame of the second film is virtually indistinguishable- there really is no character growth.

The humour this time around still made me laugh, but perhaps not as much as in the first film and I did notice that more of the jokes feel flat.

Overall, more of the same.

Pros.

Ricci

The Addams are still fun to watch

The summer camp plotline is a lot of fun

Cons.

The characters don’t really progress

The humour is a little weaker this time around

3/5