INTERVIEW with Christopher Cook
Can you explain to the audience your career?
I'm a writer and director mostly but I wear many hats, and take on jobs from broadcast to short films to full features. I run a production company called Destiny Creates Entertainment, and have been in the film industry professionally for 1 year but have been in video for several.
How many years have you been making movies?
My first official short film was made in 2020, which won an award from the scholastic art and writing contest, which is national. I eventually went on to make another project, called "Aura", which also won an award. Afterwards I made two shorts, one of which had multiple nominations across different festivals.
Why did you start making movies?
Originally I started with fragmovies, as a way of expressing how I felt. It was an emotional outlet. I was always interested in color grading so I practiced with fragmovies, and once I was proficient with making fragmovies I moved on to cinema, learning about the technology involved with making films, specifically the camera side of things. I also figured that the fasted way to tell a story or message to a massive audience is through film, and I feel like theres many stories that can make impacts to society if told, that go ignored. I also believe in donation, and charity. I figured the fasted way to make large sums of money is through film, which i plan on donating heavily and starting programs to help people.
Tell us a little about your project. What will the audience be able to see in your film?
This project consists of a sequence filled with music. The short includes a beautifully choreographed ballroom dance as the center of attention, with various shots of the two characters dating. The project is about a young woman who is depressed, and had a bad day. She comes home, feeling lonely, and decides to take magic gummies that cause her to "trip". She envisions a life she wants to have but can't. Eventually her two realities mix together
Why did you do this project?
As mentioned above, film is a way of expression, an outlet. One night I was scripting a feature called "Neon", and I started feeling bad that night. I accidentally ran across the oppenheimer soundtrack called "Can you hear the music?". This, combined with my emotion at the time, led to the script that was specifically made for this piece of soundtrack.
One of the problems some directors encounter is directing actors and dealing with some actors, especially in the amateur world. How do you see this topic? What kind of work do you do with them?
I actually ran into this on a feature i'm currently working on. I have a process I follow with talent. First, absolute transparency and honesty is a must, from both sides. If you are struggling or having issues at all, im quick to personally take care of it. That being said, I have worked on large feature film sets, and im disgusted with how films typically deal with issues. I intentionally cast people that aren't well known, because they dont have an ego problem, and because they tend to be better actors than the "well known" local talent. I hold out for the hidden gems. If an actor that I see potential in is struggling, ill refer them to a movie to reference their character from, or ill get them an acting coach during the film.
A good movie takes care of all departments. But normally we can not allocate all the resources to have a good photography or spend a lot of money on sound post production or budget to hire actors. In your project what % have you allocated to. I don't just mean money but time as well. Of 100% of the time/money, what % did you dedicate to each department?
-Direction:
-Photography
-Sound
-Postproduction
-Work with actors
-Art direction/locations:
I ran this project solo so i actually did everything in the technical aspect. I spent probably 3k working with actors and getting them trained on the choreography and travel and whatnot. Everything else, I did myself, and I am blessed to own my gear.
If you could go back, what would you change about this project? (1 thing only)
I would have probably hired someone to do the VFX. My own knowledge for VFX only goes so far. Alot of people were confused by the VFX i did. the only VFX that was totally solid was the black and white with the red dress.
What are you happiest about this project?
The dance choreography! The dance and performance from the actors was freaking awesome.
Make a wish to the movie gods. What do you ask?
I thank allah for all I have and ask for my next project to be succesful :)
What movie would you have liked to direct?
I would have loved to direct either nerve (2016) or polar (2019)
What kind of cinema do you like? Genre, directors, actors?
I love sci-fi, the futuristic dystopian genre with neon lighting. It's such a beautiful art style, like bladerunner!
Imagine that all the movies are going to be lost. If you could save 3 movies, what would they be?
Anything alfred hitchcock, anything john wayne, and the godfather series.
If you have more projects underway, can you give us a bit of information?
I am currently beginning work on a feature film called "The Split", its about a young man named john, who struggles in a relationship with a young woman named julia because of autism, but when they finally settle things and start heading in a good direction, Julia lands a job, forcing them to make a life altering decision.