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Meet the Filmmaker: Kyle Lynam, “Better Than Gold”

Better Than GoldYouTube.com/LynamUpProductions

LMQ: Why did you become a filmmaker?

KL: When I was growing up I always had an affinity for film. I have memories of wanting to be a comedic actor. I was always a big fan of Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler movies. I used to style my hair like Ace Ventura whenever I took bubble baths, submitted a video audition for “All That” and even got headshots taken. The older I got, though, the more I was drawn to making films, doing stop motion shorts with action figures and making goofy parodies with my friends, eventually it turned into short video projects in middle and high school. Finally, when it was time to decide what I wanted to do for college I realized that I wanted to go to film school.

I guess the real reason that I became a filmmaker is because I have so many different memories and emotions tied to movies. My dad had a big screen TV and he introduced me to a ton of different movies like The Matrix, Terminator, Star Wars, and Clerks. Sitting around on a weekend afternoon, watching impossible things happen inspired me and made me feel like a part of something bigger, and my dream is to draw out those same feelings in others.

Q: What are we going to see at the EFP? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?

KL: Better Than Gold is a short documentary that I made for a Documentary Production class at Colorado Film School. It’s a small peek into the life of Joe Silver, a man with kind intentions, but a fairly distorted view of the world. I repeatedly passed his house when driving down 9th ave and was determined to get to the bottom of why such a beautiful property was in such a state of disrepair; there were multiple signs out front with strange catch phrases, several windows were cracked, and the lawn had been reduced to a couple of overgrown bushes on a patch of thick mud.

The film was previous screened at the Colorado Film School’s Student Show, where it won a “Best Documentary Film” award. I don’t really have too many more plans for the film at the moment, I submitted it into a few festivals and have been in talks with my good friend Alex Rhodes-Wilmere to do a follow up project about Joe Silver.

Q: What else are you working on?

KL: Currently, I am writing my fourth short film, Barren, and trying to figure out how to get a web series idea that’s been floating around in my head for a while into production. In addition to that, I’m in the middle of writing my second feature and doing some revisions on my first feature script.

Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?

KL: I try to plant a bunch of really subtle hints as to where the plot is going to go into my scripts and short films. Little easter eggs that people might not notice on the first viewing. I know there are a decent amount of filmmakers that do it, but I get really wrapped up in placing objects or references that are set-up and pay off on the second viewing.

Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?

KL: You can check out a few shorts I’ve done at YouTube.com/LynamUpProductions.

Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?

KL: I just want to take the time to say thank you so much for letting me be a part of the Emerging Filmmakers Project, and that it’s a fantastic idea. There are so many people in the Colorado film scene right now and they all deserve to have more exposure, the EFP is a great avenue for them.

Better Than Gold will screen November 20th at The Emerging Filmmakers Project.