Today we’d like to introduce you to Andy Franklin.
Andy, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My whole life I’ve been addicted to making things. It’s a blessing and a curse. I started making little short films in high school with my friends. My friend Jimmy had this VHS video camera and we would drive around filming ourselves skateboarding. I remember there being a point when I decided that wasn’t enough. So we started adding these weird sketches to our skate videos, like using ketchup as “blood” for a fake fight scene. I guess you can say we upped our production value. Jimmy started calling himself “Stuntman Jay” and we would drive around filming weird things with him. I loved it so much. I never took myself seriously as a filmmaker though, I don’t think any of us did.
At that time, I didn’t think it was possible to be a filmmaker and not be born in Hollywood. No matter where I am in life, filmmaking is always what I want to be doing. I started making short films again six years ago. Last year I made three. One of them, TrashKan Bandits just did a small festival run. With that happening, I’ve started pre-production on my first feature film, which hopefully will be shot here in Dallas. I’m also releasing another short in a week called “Truckin.’ ” It’s not about trucks.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Making movies is hard, so hard. Without friends and family, it’s nearly impossible. No, it IS impossible. There is no way I would’ve pulled off three shorts last year without the help of my friends and fam. I’m sure my little sister is reading this going “you damn right.” When it comes to the creative and the logistics, I have to remember that my script is my vision. It takes a lot of work to get people on board sometimes. Finding an incredible director of photography by the name of Corey Morrison pretty much changed everything for me this year. His camera work is dope.
Actors will quit the day before shooting, funding won’t come through, the person who said you can use their house will text you at 2 am and ask, “What day did you need my living room? Oh, sorry, you can’t, we have a thing.” So now I have to call seven people and figure out where we are making this movie now. All of this has happened, but it’s all love. That’s just how it goes. Watching actors bring to life the words I typed and seeing people’s faces when they laugh at a joke I wrote makes it all worth it. The hard work definitely paid off this year. I got to see TrashKan Bandits in a theater in my hometown.
Please tell us more about your work. What do you do? What do you specialize in? What sets you apart from competition?
I’m a director. I specialize in comedies/dark comedies. I want to move into directing commercials and making music videos soon. I’m very proud of the work I’ve been able to share with people. I think my films are unique because of my perspective. I’m making movies about life that are hopefully full of relatable characters. I am really interested in the relationships people have with complex characters, misunderstood people.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was a 100 percent skateboarder. Almost every day on a skateboard. I was into punk rock and skateboarding pretty much. I still have the same best friends I grew up with. Most of my inspiration comes from the things we did as kids. Back then we didn’t have instagram or Facebook. To find out about what was happening in my the world I wanted to be apart of, I had to read magazines or just find out from someone else. I remember getting my Dad to order independent films for me because they only premiered in LA or New York and I couldn’t see them.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://
andyfranklincomedy.weebly.com/ - Email: crawlspacefilms@gmail.
com - Other: https://youtu.be/
jyImC8x_Q2U
Image Credit:
E. Toman
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