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Max Cantor
Cinema 93
1. How did you come up with the idea for the film?
I became interested in the story of Barry Steelman through the town rumor mill. Concord, New Hampshire is a small community, and word travels fast. I’d seen Barry in his video store and knew he was a great storyteller, so I thought he would make a great subject for a documentary. I was also encouraged that the story seemed to have a real narrative arc, with a logical resolution being the theater opening.
2. How long did the production process take?
The production lasted basically one summer. I started filming in May of 2007 and wrapped towards the end of October. Post-production took about five months.
3. What challenges did you experience in the creation of the film?
One major challenge with the production was that all the shooting had to be done during the summer while I was still in New Hampshire. I knew I had to be done with everything but the theater opening before school started. Everyone at Elon was extremely helpful in making sure that I could get home to film the opening weekend without taking a financial hit. Elon docs, more specifically J McMerty and Brooke Barnett really nurtured this project along, and helped make sure that it would succeed. I’m grateful for all of their help throughout.
4. What is your favorite memory from creating the film?
The best times making Cinema 93 were when the camera wasn’t rolling, and I was got to just talk with Barry and watch movies around the store. He let my camera into my life extremely openly, and the trust he placed in me made the project successful. He is a genuinely kind person, and his store is a special place for Concord.
5. When someone has finished watching the film, what do you hope they take away from the experience?
I think Barry’s story is pretty universal, and I hope people can connect to it the way I have. Everyone has had disappointments, and had their dreams fall short, but hopefully Barry is a model of rising above it. He has so much humility, even though things haven’t panned out as he planned.
6. What type of reaction has your film received from viewers?
So far, feedback has been pretty positive. It’s always exciting to show the film to others to see how they react. I’ve invested a lot of time into Cinema 93, so it’s nice to feel that it was worth the effort.
7. What advice would you give to aspiring young filmmakers?
I think that what makes any film worth watching is a compelling story. I would advise aspiring filmmakers to think about the stories around them that should be told. In meeting new people, I like to imagine how their stories would be expressed visually and what makes their stories worth telling. If you think you have a good idea, then write it down and think about it for a little while. Try to convince yourself that it wouldn’t work or would be boring or irrelevant, and if you still think it’s a story that needs to be told, then make it happen.
8. Please tell us about the next film you plan to work on?
I’m currently working as the D.P. on an independent short film called The Magazine Girl. We’re midway through production now, and I couldn’t be happier with how it’s shaping up. My friend Peyton Lea wrote a snappy script with some compelling characters. He has a great vision for how he wants the movie to be. It’s exciting to see our little comedy come to life, and after doing this documentary it’s fun to create a story in a fictional world.
9. What are your thoughts on the film industry in NC?
Though there are definite challenges to working in film outside of major hubs like L.A. or New York, I’ve benefited from learning about film in the small community of Elon. The documentary program at Elon University encourages creativity and independent vision, and embraced my idea from the start. Programs like North Carolina Visions share that mentality, and appreciate independent art on all levels. It’s an honor to have my work showcased in North Carolina, and though it takes place in New Hampshire, I hope people connect with the story of Barry Steelman.
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