Tell us a little bit about your project and how long you’ve been working on it.

"Supper" is the second in a thematic series of "Meditations" films that our team started making about three years ago. The idea behind "Meditations" is to illuminate everyday moments of life, dramatizing scenes that, on first appearance, don't appear worthy of such treatment. In "Meditations," the moments drive the story, instead of the other way around. I would consider them tributes to the every day.

“Supper” is about two teenagers that discover artifacts from the 1940s. As they dress in the outfits of the time period, they begin to playfully assume elderly identities. When they go out to dinner in full costume, they encounter an actual old couple who came of age during World War II.


Is there anyone you'd like to thank for helping out with this film?

Yes, too many to thank in this forum, but most notably the numerous individuals that made up the fabric of our financing. Money turns the machine, even for small independent films. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank my parents for their support through this whole process.

How does it feel to have your film part of the New Film Makers Screening at Sunset Gower Studios?

A great honor, and an exciting opportunity. Our film was locally produced in Los Angeles, so this is the first screening that many of the people who worked on the film can attend.

What inspires you? 

What it is
I know not,
But with gratitude
My tears fall.
—Saigyo

Who are your influences and who do you admire?

My influences are diverse, multidisciplinary and in some cases, fairly contradictory. But doesn’t that make for the best kind of influences? These are my unqualified but highly enthusiastic recommendations: Charles Burnett (filmmaker), Matsuo Basho (poet), JD Salinger (writer), Orson Welles (filmmaker/actor), Walter Murch (editor), Billy Collins (poet), Charles Chaplin (filmmaker/actor), Walt Whitman (poet), the Maysles Brothers (documentarians), Andrei Tarkovsky (filmmaker), Stan Brakhage (filmmaker) and George Orwell (writer).


What lessons have you learned from the industry so far?

It’s a lot more diverse than you realize, and while there is plenty of rejection and closed doors to be found, it’s also surprising to find friendly, good natured and spirited collaborators that WANT to do good work. It’s a good reminder that you’re in a community, even if it is a fully camouflaged community.

If you could collaborate with anybody, who would it be?

War photographers, I think, would make interesting cinematographers. Also, it seems to me that digital sensors have become the new “film stock”, and I’d be interested in experimenting with sensors that, like b/w film and reversal, have specific aesthetic uses for specific situations. That is to say, not one sensor to rule them all.

What is the toughest experience you've ever had to overcome?

Every film you make is the hardest experience of your life if you take artistic ownership of it. As Charles Burnett once said, when asked about artistic control over his films, “It’s not a matter of control. It’s a matter of responsibility.” I feel similarly, and so every struggle is far more personal, and every reward equally so.


What is the best piece of advice someone has given to you?

An extremely intelligent and trusted friend of mine, (who’s, quite honestly, the most talented director I personally know), said that the purpose of a director's preparation is not to execute a plan, but to cultivate an instinct.

What advice would you give to new filmmakers starting out in the industry?

There's a great quotation from Ira Glass floating around the internet, which you might have seen. I'm paraphrasing, but essentially it says that we spend a lifetime developing a critical ability, and so when we're starting out in creative endeavors, it's easy to get discouraged because we have this highly refined taste yet poorly refined ability. You begin to judge your work through this distorted lens and it can really be extremely counter-productive. Just know that good work takes time, and it can't be judged against what anyone else is doing.

Oh, and do not wait. That's probably the most important of all.

Where can we expect to see you next?

Our team has just finished shooting the third Meditation in the series, "Meditations: ItsOkayItsOkay," our most ambitious yet. It tells the story of a sick little boy that must make the long journey down his own hallway in the middle of the night to wake up his father. We spent well over 10 months in preproduction, built three standing sets and filmed only a single weekend. We're currently in post-production for that film.
And after that, my DP, Alexander Paul, and I are working on a more narrative-based short film. We've just entered pre-production and are looking for fundraising partners as we begin our most ambitious project yet.

Let our readers know where they can find more information about you and your projects

JonoKino.com

Anything else you'd like to add?

Thank you very much.

Want more info?


Visit the NewFilmmakers LA Official Website at www.NFMLA.org for more information.

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This week's Filmmakers Spotlight focuses on Di Koob, writer, producer and actor of LIKING MEN. Learn more about the inspiration behind the film, Koob's goals, lessons and upcoming projects.

Tell us a little bit about your project and how long you’ve been working on it.

I first read the short story from which this film was adapted in 1994, and it just kind of stuck with me. It’s a very visual story, as written, and every now and then I’d think, “That would make a good short film.” I finally wrote the script in November 2009 and it took until mid-2010 to get the rights from Margaret Atwood, the author of the short story and her publisher. Pre-production began in earnest in January 2011 with the search for a director; I was lucky to find the fabulous Heather de Michele, and we nailed down the shoot for the end of April; post was completed in late August. Once it got going, things moved quickly, but it took me a while to start.

Is there anyone you'd like to thank for helping out with this film?

I have to thank Heather de Michele, our director, first and foremost. She really contributed so much to the telling of the story, from developing the script to the people she brought on board to the tone on set. She really took on the story I had written – it was a true collaborative effort and was so much better for her involvement. I would also like to thank our production designer, Alan Muraoka – he made me think about character in a new way, which helped on both sides of the camera.


How does it feel to have your film part of the New Film Makers Screening at Sunset Gower Studios?

I’m really so pleased and proud to be a part of NewFilmmakers! They were the first festival to get behind LIKING MEN, and I have to say, it’s just a fantastic feeling when people get your work.

What inspires you?

Life is hard sometimes, and I’m really touched by people just living their lives fully and from an awake and aware place. I’m drawn to stories of quiet heroism, of overcoming the messes that life can throw at you just because that’s life, not because there’s any reward in it. Those moments really inspire me to live my life more fully, to grow both as an artist and as a person.

Who are your influences and who do you admire?

Irish playwright & filmmaker Martin McDonagh is a huge influence for me. In 2005, I saw his play THE PILLOWMAN on Broadway, and it really galvanized me as an artist. McDonagh is so great at creating a funny, quirky, off-kilter world that you enjoy while simultaneously revealing both the darkness and the light that is inside of everyone. He walks that line between comedy and tragedy with such balance and precision.
One of the people I admire most is my cousin, Joy Coughlin – she is tireless. Her younger son has Cerebral Palsy and caring for him takes a lot of work, but her family is happy and they all get along and work together and care about and for each other. They are just getting on with life, which is truly inspiring and puts whatever issue I’m having in perspective. It’s just life, so press on and enjoy it.

What lessons have you learned from the industry so far?

Persistence is the big thing I’ve learned. Persistence and integrity – you have to fight for what you want to do, what you want to say, and so you keep at it and find a way to tell your story.
If you could collaborate with anybody, who would it be?
I would LOVE to work with Jim Sheridan. And Melissa McCarthy. They would be my dream team.

What is the toughest experience you've ever had to overcome?

Oddly, with the film, the hardest thing was finding a realistic-looking rubber frog that I could afford within the time frame. I was banging my head against the wall trying to find the frog. There is a company that will make a really realistic rubber frog, but their cost wasn’t even in the same state as my budget and it would’ve been finished roughly around the time we were wrapping up post. So that was a little nerve-wracking, but I eventually did find something that would work. Everything else kind of fell in place. For casting, we wanted people who wanted to work on this film specifically, not just any film – for all the crew as well. And when you find people who want to be there, it makes everything else go that much smoother.

What is the best piece of advice someone has given to you?

When it comes to filmmaking, an editor friend gave me great advice: “save money wherever you can, but always pay the sound guy – everything else I can fix, but if the sound is bad, there’s nothing I can do.” That and “NEXT!” When someone says no, move on to the next until you find someone who will say yes.
What advice would you give to new filmmakers starting out in the industry?
Work as much as you can with people who are more experienced than you. Ask questions. Don’t be afraid of looking stupid, just ask for help and move forward, even if it’s just a little bit each day. Believe in yourself and your story. And “NEXT!”


Where can we expect to see you next?

The next confirmed festival screening of LIKING MEN is at the New Hope Film Festival in New Hope, PA, in July. We’re hoping a few more festivals show up on our schedule in the meantime. I’m also hoping to develop a program with a local rape crisis center and with a local therapist training center, to help start a conversation. Nothing is set yet, but we’re talking.

Let our readers know where they can find more information about you and your projects 

www.LikingMen.com
www.DiKoob.com
Facebook (Di Koob & Liking Men)
Twitter (@TheDiKoob)

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