Going Right From Film School Shorts to a First Feature

Today we speak to Matthew Gentile and Matt Allen about the process of filming and editing the film, American Murderer. Matthew met Matt in film school, and invited him to collaborate on his first feature film. American Murderer is now available on Amazon Prime.

In this episode, we talk about…

• How screenwriting and directing are different
• Matthew’s experience in film school
• Realizing he wanted to write his own screenplay
• Becoming obsessed with the story of the main character
• The things that keep you going when making your first film 
• Filming during the heart of the pandemic
• The danger in trying to stick so closely to your storyboard 
• Realizing you have so many elements to work with as a director

Memorable Quotes

• “I couldn’t really find my way towards the right first feature vehicle.” [3:13]
• “I think it comes down to what story you want to tell first and then you figure out how to do it.” [7:34]
• “Before I wanted to be a filmmaker, I wanted to be a fed.” [10:31]
• “I started writing the script and as I wrote it, I realized, ‘this has to be the first feature.’” [12:12]
• “I write the first draft of the script. I think it’s amazing. I learn very quickly, it’s not.” [13:56]
• “That faith you have to have when you’re making your first movie, that this is going to happen.” [21:09]

Mentioned

American Murderer

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