5Q's w/William Lilly "Echoes of Animals" Director, Writer, Producer
QUESTION#1: Can you describe your film in one sentence?:
An homage to Alfred Hitchcock and Agatha Christie with a focus on atmosphere rather than blood and gore.
QUESTION#2: What would you like the BSFF audience to know about your film that they wouldn't consider from it's title?:
"Echoes of Animals" was originally a placeholder title. I was listening to Pink Floyd's "Animals" album while writing the script and transitioned into the "Meddle" album when it ended. I finished writing during the song "Echoes". It was never supposed to be the final title, but when we began filming at the house location, I noticed a LOT of animal-themed decorations...cow paintings by the dining room, a porcelin pig in the kitchen, and even a real stuffed bear if you look carefully enough. So, the name fit in its own way.
Unfortunately, my favorite easter egg is easily overlooked...the characters' names are a nod to Agatha Christie's "ABC Murders". (Alice, Beckett, and Cooper)
QUESTION#3: Can you tell us about yourself and your filmmaking career?:
Looking back, it should have been obvious that I would get into filmmaking and storytelling. As a child, I used to create elaborate stories with my action figures or recreate my favorite scenes from movies with my friends. However, I wanted more than anything to be a voice actor for cartoons and video games...and still do! I worked in radio for a few years to get myself started, then found an agent around 2008 with hopes of building my acting and voice resume'. But, alas, no one was casting me. So I wrote a script of my own...and I didn't cast me either! But I found a great love for the filmmaking process. Seeing how it all came together, having control over the story. I went on to write and direct four shorts and a comedy feature in about two years...which led to an inflated ego and arrogance. I thought I could do anything. I was wrong.
Life found a way to put me in my place. I lost friends, connections, and self-respect which put me on hiatus for almost a decade. But in that time, I learned how to be a better person and acknoledge what mistakes I'd made. I also took the time to learn, build my skill set, and try to make ammends for the mistakes I had made before. Though I have released a couple of other shorts before completing it, "Echoes of Animals" was the new beginning I desperately needed.
QUESTION#4: What have you learned in the process of making your film?:
Perfection can take a lot of time and effort! And even when you think it's done, you'll find somethig else wrong. George Lucas once said, "films aren't released, they escape". This statement spoke volumes to me and having been on a deadline to submit to my first festival with "Echoes of Animals", I had to let it escape. And I'm glad I did...we took Best Cinematography at that festival, and later, Best Under 10 (minutes) Short at another. But I still see the spots I feel like could have been a little better or done slightly different. What I just went a long way to say is, I have learned that at some point, you just have to let go and move on.
Oh, and I also learned that great team members go a long way towards making the process fun...which it SHOULD be! We're making films to entertain, so why can't we enjoy ourselves while we do so? I certainly could not have made the film I did without the help of some great friends.
QUESTION#5: What's does the future hold for this film and you?:
I think "Echoes of Animals" has had a decent run with film festivals. I am certainly proud of where we've screened, the awards we've collected, and the responses we've received. I have made mental notes of what viewers have liked and the constructive criticisms. I'll take all of that to heart and put it into the next production, whatever it may be. I have thought seriously about expanding the story into a feature-length thriller, but I need some time to really build the script into something I'm happy with. Until then, I'll continue to learn and grow as a director and cinematographer and hopefully find the inspiration soon to take on the next project. When it happens, you can be sure I will submit it to Borrego Springs Film Festival!
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