Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Jenkins.
Hi Matt, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Coming from a family where art and mechanical engineering were important, filmmaking combines the best of both of these influences while satisfying my creative urge.
I love watching movies in the theater, at the drive-in, or on TV. I love talking about movies and picking through the five-dollar bin at the box store for them. I rummage through stacks of DVDs at flea markets for the best deals, and I love making movies. However, I don’t use the term “film” as I don’t shoot on film; I make MOVING PICTURES.
These movies are created to show on the “big” screen. I endeavor to screen them at film festivals. Once the festival run is completed, I find a streaming site to host them. One of my favorite festivals to screen our movies at is The Gulf Coast Film and Video Festival. In its 25th year the festival is held in Clearlake area. Festival director Hal Wixon does a fantastic job of making the festival a memorable experience through providing an excellent screening venue, attracting an appreciative audience and hosting a phenomenal awards ceremony.
I started in the TV Rep business in NYC, worked in advertising in Atlanta, produced a sports show in the Mid-south, and continue my love of moviemaking as a professor at Cameron University.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The journey continues to be interesting.
Film festival rejections seem to be the biggest struggle for our movies. We seek a large audience for our movies.
Financial resources also can cause a strain on the production. As a small-budget producer, I am creative within the constraints I am faced with. So, I take more time writing the script, developing unique and interesting characters. While observing the golden rules of small-budget moviemaking: keep the number of locations and the number of characters low.
Once I dropped the illusion of grandeur and embraced the art of filmmaking, the journey became fulfilling.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As an independent producer, I greatly appreciate the freedom to explore diverse and unconventional subjects.
Knowing the constraints we face, I produce our movies in a similar fashion to the American International Pictures of the 1950s through the 1970s. According to Encylopedia.com, “With miniscule budgets; ten or fifteen–day shooting schedules, recycled sets and churned–out screenplays, AIP changed the way movies were made by creating a demand for a brand-new kind of low-budget entertainment.” While I do not create or use “churned-out screenplays” the rest of the AIP production model is applicable to our production process.
I purposely work to create a different film experience. Regarding our latest Houston based film, “Rage, Fear, Love,” The London-based Monkey Bread Tree Film Awards said, “It’s rare to see a cast enjoy the quirky script in the indie scene.” To me, this is a compliment.
Cade Taylor of Tell-Tale TV wrote, ‘”Misfit of Films’ latest feature, “Rage, Fear, Love,” might be its most compelling yet. The film easily transports the audience into a series of events that induce suspense and fear, provide a subtle comedic factor, and, most of all, keep the audience longing for more at the end.”
It is gratifying to see when a festival programmer or reviewer “gets” the movie.
Our movies contain hidden gems, tributes to other films, interesting twists, and are a lot of fun to make and watch. True movie aficionados will find and recognize the surprises present in these movies. Those viewers who slump in their convertible loungers with six packs hoping the flickering light will lure them in a stupor, are better off watching reality TV shows or reruns.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I am a big fan of the director Robert Rodriguez. He once said, “The more you know the less someone else can tell you how to do it.” While I agree with this premise, I believe filmmaking is a collaborative process. As the filmmaker, I need to surround myself with people who share the vision for the production. As a filmmaker, I need to listen to their input while reserving the final decision for myself. The people who work with me do not take it personally if I do not choose their advice. They know we are working toward the collective goal of making a distinct and unique movie. That’s why I do not refer to the production as “my movie.” It’s “our movie.”
Both of my fellow producers Charles Stanley and Dan Perrin agree with me Houston is an excellent place to make a movie. One of the main reasons I choose to make my movies in Houston is I can work with amazing actors. I have had the pleasure of working with Dreah Marie in one of her first starring roles. She has gone on to have a great career playing such roles as Britney Weaver in “Greenleaf” and as Indira in “S.W.A.T.”
Most of the Houston-based actors I work with seem to know each other and are a tight-knit group. I think this stems from the actors’ taking classes at Lee Stringer’s Film Acting Academy. While I have never met anyone who teaches at the Academy, I will say they do an excellent job of preparing the actors. The actors are professional and arrive at the location on time and knowing their lines. And they are awesome actors. Such actors as Jenerro Wade, Casey Enzler, and Victoria Yap have even branched out into producing through a company called Banjo Beaver Productions.
Paige Phillips and Ronald Calzolari have even provided locations for us to film at when our original locations fall through.
I even found a music composer, Emily Madonia, who created the music for our last two films through this acting group.
Fred Ressel is our man in Houston who does pre-production for our movies on location. His wife Megan is our caterer during the production. Not only do they look after our appetites they quickly welcomed in with a place to stay our husband-and-wife Director of photography team Randy and Erica Traxler.
They are a phenomenal group of people who greatly contribute to the success of our movies.
The director of Frankfurt-based Filmtage der Nationen film festival remarked,” One aspect that stands out in “Rage, Fear, Love” is the strong performances from the cast. Victoria Yap, Jenerro Wade, Paige Phillips, and Ron Calzolari deliver compelling portrayals of their respective characters, each adding layers of complexity to their roles. Their performances effectively capture the emotional rollercoaster experienced by the characters, heightening the tension and intrigue throughout the narrative.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.misfitsoffilm.com
Image Credits
Victoria Yap
Casey Enzler
Jenerro Wade
Ronald Calzolari
Paige Phillips
Fred Ressel
