Originally from Baltimore, Rob’s been working in L.A. for 12 years and has read and evaluated well over 2000 screenplays as both a staff and freelance reader for such companies as Polygram Films, New Regency, Fine Line, Miramax and Warner Independent. He works consistently re-writing and polishing screenplays for producers in Hollywood and abroad, and has several of his own feature projects in development. Rob will be at the Patterson THIS SUNDAY, Mar 2 7-9pm offering a nuts and bolts screenwriting q & a. Click here for details.
1. What’s the last movie you loved and what was the last movie that felt like a waste of time and money?
Loved: Lars and the Real Girl. Waste: Transformers
2. What’s your guilty pleasure movie or TV show?
I'm never guilty about movies, but with TV, I've been caught watching Dancing with the Stars
3.How’d you get into filmmaking?
First by loving movies and feeling passionate about them, then through film school (UMBC), then through hard work.
4. What’s your fave piece of gear?
My MacBook
5. What’s the one thing you’d warn a new filmmaker NOT to do on their first film?
Mark and I thought it would be fun to interview a bunch of local filmmakers, ask them all the same 5 questions, and post them up here on a regular basis. We love kitsch and cheese around here (at least I do) so we're calling it Take 5! Filmmaker Joanna Raczynska agreed to be our first victim. Thanks Joanna! Check out her interview below and then come on down to The Patterson on Feb 29 to see her films along with her buddies in Termite TV! And keep an eye on the blog for more interviews!
From ‘02 until ‘06, Joanna was the Media Arts Director of Hallwalls in Buffalo, NY, where she worked closely with artists and organizations on the production and presentation of experimental and documentary work. Currently, Joanna collaborates with the programming collective Stateless Cinema, bringing political films and videos to the DC area.Her own short films and videos have shown internationally.She is also a member ofTermite Television, a video collective producing experimental and activist media, providing an alternative to corporate media.Joanna and Termite TV screen their work at The Patterson Fri Feb 29 at 8pm.
1. What’s the last movie you loved and what was the last movie that felt like a waste of time and money?
The last movie I paid to see in a legitimate cinema and loved was Julien Temple's THE FUTURE IS UNWRITTEN. The last movie I saw and couldn't get into was BLADES OF GLORY (though this was a Netflix choice and not a complete waste of time...)
2. What’s your guilty pleasure movie or TV show?
I just started watching American Idol (is this the 6th season?) and really like Simon.
3. How’d you get into filmmaking?
I took a lot of film theory and criticism classes during my first undergraduate degree (at UMCP). It wasn't until I took some film production classes at UMBC that I realized I could actually learn through practice and not only through books.
4. What’s your fave piece of gear?
My little Sony PDX camera (I don't think they make them anymore). It's compact, durable and has served me well.
5. What’s the one thing you’d warn a new filmmaker NOT to do on their first film?
Don't think you can do it alone! Even the most solitary filmmakers benefit from the support and feedback of friends and colleagues.
Founded in 1992, Termite TV is a video collective with members based in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Buffalo. The mission of Termite TV Collective is to produce, distribute and facilitate the creation of experimental and activist media that challenges the status quo and provides an alternative to corporate media. We value working collaboratively across artistic disciplines, inspiring other artists, encouraging the expression of multiple styles and points of view, risk-taking, innovation and the blend of humor and intelligent critique in our work.
Termite TV will be at The Patterson, Friday Feb 29 (@ 8pm), with a whole new program of mind-bending political experiments. Sure to be a wacky night. Here is a sample of previous work:
I make experimental animations and conduct live video experiments at social gatherings around Baltimore and beyond.
The following piece is an animation I created for an exhibition at the Copy Cat building in 2006 and will be projected at the East Village Radio HQ during the month of March as a part of an ongoing installation curated by Ceci Moss:
Check this space frequently and often for announcements of future screenings at the Creative Alliance, discounts on film and video equipment rentals, more weird animations and videos from me, updates from CAMM Director Kristen Anchor, and so much more.
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