Q: Why did you become a filmmaker?
GE: When I was in High School I thought it would be cool to make video games; I looked into it and quickly realized that it involved a lot of math and coding which was not exactly my strong suit. But I still gravitated towards the storytelling aspect of gaming. Around this time was when DVDs were becoming the norm, and I loved watching all of the behind the scenes content from my favorite films. The final straw was making a short film for an English project with some friends; at that point I was hooked with the process and decided to go to film school at CU.
Q: What are we going to see at the EFP? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?
GE: Meddling in Murder is a film my team made for the 100 Hour Film Race back in December. The format of this contest was similar to the 48 Hour Film Project which we have done many times, but obviously twice as much time to work with so I am pretty pleased with the end result. It was selected as a finalist in the competition and screened in February in Marietta, Georgia at that award ceremony. This will be the first Colorado screening of the film so many of the cast and crew will be in attendance, and I am submitting it to a few other festivals as well after this.
Q: What else are you working on?
GE: The next thing will probably be the 48 Hour Film Project in August, this will be my ninth and Anthony’s eleventh time doing it. I always have a great time making the film and seeing it along with all of the other awesome work by the Denver film community.
Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?
GE: Anthony has played variations of this same character, “Les Corman” in four of our short films. At various times he has been either an out of work, struggling, or highly successful actor, and he actually died in one of the films but he somehow keeps coming back! It may be time to retire him at this point.
Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work? My website is www.runningriotpictures.com, also our Youtube channel
GE: Running Riot Pictures if you care to look back at my college/early work! It mostly sucks!
Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
GE: I only met Patrick a few times and didn’t know him well but I know that he is sorely missed in the community and I hope that the EFP can continue on giving new artists a place to share their work with others in a public forum. I’ve been lucky to screen a few films at the EFP, it’s wonderful that Denver has this program available to help up and coming filmmakers break into Colorado’s blossoming film industry.