5Q's w/: Mason Beck "Your Last Wishes" Director, Writer, Producer

QUESTION#1: What excited you the most when making this film?: The opportunity to venture into new and uncharted territory for both me as a writer, director, and producer: working with animals, operating and filming in an active major airport, story involving death, and some others but those were the significant ones. I enjoy challenging myself as a filmmaker and with each new film, push myself towards an aspect of production or the storytelling process I haven't dealt in yet.

QUESTION#2: What was the most significant film you've seen AT THE THEATER in 2024, and how did it influence your filmmaking?:The Brutalist by Brady Corbet - Seen at the St. Louis International Film Festival, it is a sprawling low-budget epic on an emotional magnitude to match. I love much of the music, acting, production design and direction of the film. Now, I just saw it maybe a week ago, so the only way I can say it influenced me is to remember that budget can go a long way on a talented cast a crew, and quality writing and producing behind it.

QUESTION#3: What's an obvious and not-so-obvious question someone might ask about your film?: The obvious question has been, "Where did you get the inspiration for this, is it personal experience?" And I always want to scoff at it because what a personal experience that would be, but I just don't like my answer truthfully. I just thought of it one night in bed, listening to music. Nothing special I'm afraid. A less obvious question would be, "Did you think this film would turn out the way it did when making it?" And that answer I will leave to those who want to know, and I encourage those curious to reach out and ask any questions they please.

QUESTION#4: You have an unlimited budget for another movie! However, you're only allowed to choose between "above line" or "below line" resouces. Which do you choose and why?: While the nature of the question is intriguing, I can't pick between them. Selfishly and business focused me wants to say Above Line because that is where the heft of the money tends to go just to get a crew on set, but on the other hand I have been Below Line more than enough times to know how hard they work and on films like mine I ask them to bring their all as I do. I wouldn't feel right not giving funds and all the resources to make their job as safe, efficient and effective as possible. Cop out? maybe, but I am not a producer out for blood, I'm a producer out for recurring collaborators who are the best.

QUESTION#5: What is it about your current movie that will influence your next film?: The hurdles that taxed me as a filmmaker; I want to be able to improve both on myself in the process and improve the process itself. So much from YLW was more difficult than it needed to be, much of that came down to human error, and regardless of if it was me or not, I have more to learn and each film teaches me something new I can apply to the next one.

Social media tags to share with our readers: YT: www.youtube.com/@synchroproductions1989 - Insta: www.instagram.com/synchro_beck/- FB: www.facebook.com/YourLastWishes/