The Low Road, Baby | https://www.facebook.com/TheLowRoadBaby
Meet Mark Roeder. Mark is the filmmaker behind several well-known local shorts, including The Meatman, The Crippler and Fire Ripples (currently in post-production.) Mark will be screening his latest film, The Low Road, Baby, at the November Emerging Filmmaker’s Project.
EA: Why did I become a filmmaker?
MR: I took a screenwriting class in college, and decided thats what I wanted to do, because I love writing and movies. I like coming up with ideas and constructing stories. I love acting and filmmaking, so I thought eventually I’d like to direct my own scripts. I’ve been dreaming about it and doing it on the side for decades, then I went to Colorado Film School and have been making short films and acting to hone my craft.
EA: What are we going to see at the EFP? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?
MR: The Low Road, Baby is a battle over a baby on a highway overpass in roaring traffic. Its four minutes of fun, light hearted, fast paced action. It screened at Blissfest in Manitou Springs and a private cast and crew screening for a separate photshoot by Ralph Giordano, starring one of the actors, Heath Heine. I’m entering it into other film festivals. I’d like to get it seen as much as possible, see what the reaction to it is, if people enjoy it. I’d also like to use it and other shorts to help me get a Time Travel feature made.
EA: What else are you working on?
MR: I’m in post production on a short called Fire Ripples. Its about an escaped mental patient who is chased into a forest fire. He sees a female fire fighter and drags her into an opening in the fire. He may be insane, but he thinks he can tame wildfire. I have a teaser for that I can show at EFP also. I’m also writing a feature called Sister Universe, and plan to make a Time Travel feature that I have written after Fire Ripples.
EA: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?
MR: I used to write and sing song parodies inspired by Weird Al. The movies, like the songs, are unique, a little twisted. I have a short film called The Crippler, about a girl who falls out of love with her boyfriend when he throws her out a window and cripples her, so she hires The Crippler to cripple her boyfriend. Or The Meatman, which is about a Meatman turned scientist who feeds diseased meat to his assistant. The meat eats into his brain and he turns the tables on the evil meatman. These films, except Fire Ripples, are comedic. But probably not everyone will find them funny. Some mothers may not find a baby dangling over a bridge above highway traffic funny.
EA: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?
MR: People can go to The Low Road, Baby facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheLowRoadBaby Or the Fire Ripples page: https://www.facebook.com/FireRipples I’m also involved in the Blissfest Film and Art Festival in Manitou Springs: http://www.blissfest333.org/
EA: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
MR: The Emerging Filmmakers Project is a great opportunity to get your films seen. It is growing and getting better. I have been extremely impressed with both the turnout and the quality of the films they have shown here lately. And since it has free beer, hopefully if people drink enough beer they will enjoy my film also!
The Low Road, Baby will screen November 21st at The Emerging Filmmakers Project.
