JOHN SMITH
October 2020 Filmmaker of the month.
PROFESSIONAL BIO
JOHN SMITH – FILMMAKER
Jonathan Smith is a filmmaker and an improv and sketch comedian. He grew up in Alabama and Florida and graduated from Yale University. He has written and performed at the Upright Citizens Brigade and other comedy theatres. He founded Tuesday Night Thunder, a weekly indie improv night for students and veterans of the Upright Citizens Brigade. Jonathan’s online comedy videos on FunnyOrDie.com, YouTube.com, and UCBComedy.com have been viewed millions of times.
His first feature film Breast Picture, a comedy about pornographers who make an Oscar-worthy drama, premiered in the spring of 2010 at the Los Angeles Comedy Festival and is currently available on numerous platforms. Jonathan’s second feature film, The Worst Year of My Life, opened theatrically in early 2015 and can currently be viewed on numerous platforms. Jonathan won the Jury and Audience Awards at the Collaboration Filmmakers Challenge with his short film A Simple Test in 2013. His third feature film, which won Best Comedy at Breckenridge Film Festival, was released in May 2020 and is available on numerous platforms.
Batsh*t Bride (2020), Smith’s latest feature film. It won Best Comedy at Breckenridge Film Festival.
Filmmaker Interview with John Smith
Filmmaker Interview
What films have been the most inspiring or influential to you and why?
Easy. Amadeus, Annie Hall, and Jaws. Amadeus (the theatrical cut) is my favorite film of all time. Some films are basically you captured on screen and that one is mine. Annie Hall – sheer brilliance – is perhaps my second favorite film. However, neither film has actually influenced me as a writer and filmmaker more than Jaws, which ties with Annie Hall as my second favorite film. The reason is because Jaws is a perfect film, which I discovered while helping other storytellers to develop their stories. I realized that, without fail, for an example of any good storytelling practice, you can always refer to Jaws. Hence, the film’s perfection. Lastly, I will note that Jurassic Park is actually the film that made me want to be a filmmaker and James Cameron has influenced me a lot, too.
What’s harder? Getting started or being able to keep going? And what drives you to continue making films?
Neither. I never stop writing and writer’s block never affects me. Even though I detest Hollywood from the bottom of my soul, I’ll always write screenplays and maybe direct them because, like breathing or eating, it’s simply what I do.
How do you know when your story’s finished, when to walk away?
When the deadline arrives.
How many films have you completed? What is your favorite project you have worked on and why?
Well, I couldn’t even count how many films of varying lengths that I’ve made in my life, but, technically, I’ve directed three professional, distributed feature films. I can’t really pick a favorite because I love and hate each of them for different reasons, but I will note the irony that my two comedies were the most hell to shoot and the drama was the most fun and hilarious to shoot.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I mostly think of premises out of thin air, but they might technically originate from, say, a conversation or a subject that I’m thinking or reading about. (I’ve improvised comedy for decades so I’m accustomed to inventing premises from nothing or very little.) I will note, though, that an award acceptance speech at the 2019 Breckenridge Film Festival inspired the current screenplay that I’m writing.
What is your favorite aspect of film production?
Finishing.
Why did you choose to submit to the Breckenridge Film Festival? What do you look for in a festival where you hope to show your film?
Honestly, I chose to submit to Breckenridge Film Festival purely because the festival includes a comedy category, which automatically indicates to me that a festival values comedy for the artform that it is. Comedy is much harder than drama. In drama, you can trick people into thinking that your film is good. In comedy, you can’t. People laugh or they don’t. End of story.
You are a collaborator. Did you make any connections at the Breckenridge Film Festival that have led to collaborations with other filmmakers?
At Breckenridge Film Festival, I reconnected with a filmmaker friend who coincidentally was screening at the festival the year that I was. At the awards ceremony, an actress acceptance speech inspired a film idea between me and my filmmaker friend, so all three of us connected and I’ve been writing the screenplay for my friend to direct.
What are the hurdles you have had to overcome in order to recoup the costs of producing the film? (If you feel comfortable discussing exact financials, you are welcome to do so.)
Well, I’ve overcome no hurdles because my films don’t profit!
If there is one or more thing you think would make the film industry better, what would it be?
Eliminate it.