SATURDAY BLOCK G | 1:00pm

#1: Can you describe your movie and why somebody should see it in less than 280 characters?

KRIEG follows a German soldier whose remorse for inaction in the face of murder compels him to protect a wounded enemy airman. This epic, yet intimate, WW2 short film challenges our conceptions of enemy behavior, blurring the boundaries between nations to teach us that wars are not fought on the battlefield, but in the hearts of men.

#2: What do you want the Borrego Springs Film Festival audience to know about your film that isn’t obvious from its title?

KRIEG is a foreign film shot entirely in California, yet it possesses a distinctively European ambiance. The film is authentic in language, uniforms, weapons, vehicles and planes, with an international cast hailing from Germany, Austria, Bosnia, the United States, and Czechoslovakia. It took over eight years to complete, and was shot in 35mm, using materials and a style reminiscent of the period. The project was sponsored by numerous industry leaders, including Panavision, Kodak, Snow Business, and the Palm Springs Air Museum.

#3: What is your movie making background? Tell us about yourself.

My career began at age seventeen, filming high school sporting events in 16mm from stadium press boxes for university scouts. That led to two scholarships and a degree in photography, upon which has been built a career as a photography instructor, illustrator, commercial and fine art photographer, cameraman, gaffer, director of photography, screenwriter and project manager. I’ve had the pleasure of working as a photographer at NASA’s Mission Control, researching color micrographic film processes in conjunction with Eastman Kodak, and authoring/editing five national photographic standards for ANSI and AIIM. Krieg is my short film directorial debut.

#4: What was the biggest lesson learned in getting your film made?

When making a film of this scale, it’s important to build relationships with people who will share your passion, otherwise your project will fail. Filmmaking is a collaborative art form and, regardless of your skill set or how many hats you wear, you will need the skills and contributions of others, and that requires their faith in you, which must be earned. The best way I know to earn it is to invest yourself in others.

#5: What does the future hold for your film and you?

KRIEG was primarily designed as a calling card to promote the talents of our associate filmmakers and a number of award-winning scripts that are available for production, including the feature version of KRIEG. The film will continue its festival run into 2019 and excerpts used to attract agents, managers, producers and casting directors. Along with distribution, we intend to showcase KRIEG in military museums and lesson plans within the education system.