Sorry for all the delays have had more medical issues come up but enough, he isn't new to filmmaking but still hasn't gotten the recognition he deserves yet.  I speak of Lewis Leslie, he has been out there making damn quality films for years, with some decent, lesser-known actors in the biz.  I personally hate that word, everybody is good, they need the right direction to bring it out.  But Hollywood is such a "name" game it irritates me.  After all people like Lewis know what they want and pull it out of his actors for your screen enjoyment.  I hope this interview you find insightful and check out his work, if nothing else.  He won't quit so stand up and take notice.  His ten questions are as follows:

     S:  1:  When did you decide filmmaking was your calling?

     Lewis (L)  1:  I've been studying and practicing screenwriting for over a decade, and I dabbled in producing on a couple of small projects before realizing that I wanted to take a shot at directing. In 2010, I directed the grindhouse/horror film "Killer Ink", which features a cameo by Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in Star Wars. After that, I was hooked. I started doing film contests, where I would write, produce, and direct each project. To date, I have directed fourteen short films, and four features, with the fifth filming by the end of the year.

     S:  That is awesome I only found you on Facebook and still need to practice what I preach and look up your films for my personal enjoyment.

     S:  2:  Did you ever attend a film school or screen writing classes?

     L: 2:  I did not attend film school, but I have taken some online screenwriting classes, and read numerous books on the subject. I like to keep up to speed by reading screenwriting books and online articles, though I find the best way to improve is by writing. I have written around 20 features, and Lord only knows how many shorts. I don't write every day like some people recommend, but when I do wrote, I dive in, and can churn out pages like nobody's business.

     S:  I tried that and I agree everyday something comes up but I continue to plug away at it someday I hope one of my stories strikes a fancy and can get filmed.

     S:  3:  Have you ever used a crowdfunding campaign to assist in funding?

     L:  3:  I have tried crowdfunding a few times with minimal success, although I do plan to use crowdfunding to partially fund my next feature film "The Dying Fields", which we're shooting this fall. That should be live some time in July, so keep an eye out for that. I find that it works better when you have a team working with you to get the furthest reach.

     S:  Well it took so long for me to get this up, it may be up now or soon, check it out and reward yourself by helping get quality films made.

     S:  4:  What is your favorite horror film?

     L:  4:  That is a very good question. There are so many that I enjoy, but if I had to choose one, I would choose two: A Nightmare on Elm Street & Evil Dead. The character of Freddy Krueger is the definition of iconic, and the style and mix of terror and comedy displayed in Evil Dead have been copied for years since. Both films are tons of fun, and they never get old.

     S: These two choices are great for exactly what you said, love both myself.

     S:  5:  When did you come up with the idea to start Dream Hero Productions? 

     L:  5:  I had actually been operating another production company for a few years, but when my then business partner turned what could have been a great production into an absolute nightmare by lying about funding, locations, and contracts, it was definitely time to move on. I was down in the dumps, and my dream needed saving; thus birthing Dream Hero Productions, and a new partnership with producer Tim Koger that has been going very well for a couple of years now.

     S:  Sometimes all it takes are the right people in the right position to make everything go as planned.

     S:  6:  You've had the pleasure of working with Peter Mayhem (Chewbacca), and the B-movie legend Bill Oberst Jr, If you had your choice, who would be your greatest actor/actress to work with?

     L:  6:  Without question Jake Gyllenhaal. Donnie Darko is my favorite film, followed closely by Fight Club. Jake always pours his heart and soul into every role, and he has portrayed a wide variety of crazy, complex characters. For my money, he's the best actor of our generation, plus he's not afraid to go dark, which is something that has always interested me. If we're talking more on the indie level, Bill Moseley is at the top of my bucket list. Let's make a movie, Bill!

     S:  I can't agree more Jake has something about him that turns every character he plays real.  And Bill what more could you ask for he is twisted professional.

     S:  7:  Who would you consider your directing hero?

     L:  7:  Wes Craven, John Carpenter, JJ Abrams, Spielberg, and so many more. But, if I had to choose one, I would have to go with David Fincher. Fight Club, Seven, The Social Network, Gone Girl, Zodiac (with Jake Gyllenhaal), Alien 3, The Game. All of these movies have rocked my world in one way or another. Fincher's style is undeniable, and his eye for talent is unmistakable. While I haven't loved 100% of the films he's made, I have to say that I am always intrigued by his dark atmospheres, and the dynamic depth of characters in his films.

     S:  You and thousands of others he can take any subject and twist it to love or hate certain people, he has that quality I spoke of pulling out the character of everyone.

     S:  8:  What do most people not know about you?

     L:  8:  While I am more well known for my horror and thriller films, I am a family man, and I also work on faith-based films. I'm a lover, not a fighter, but I do enjoy delving deep into the psyche of morbid characters, who commit atrocious acts that I myself could not imagine seeing in person.

     S:  I see your point you can't just create the horror, when kids get involved they want to see good quality films too.

     S:  9:  Of any movie, which would you like to write and direct a sequel to?

     L:  9:  It's not the biggest franchise or anything, but I have always loved the story and creature in Jeepers Creepers. I would love to work on a Creeper film. I know a lot of people have issues with the current writer/director, so hey, why not give me a shot? They are supposedly going to be releasing a new film soon, but I'd be happy to take the reins after that.

     S:  I do have issues with him once the information was released, but was a big fan of them earlier.  You taking over as the writer/director would greatly please this fan.

     S:  10:  How would you label your directing style?

     L:  10:  When I direct a film, I put the largest part of my focus on working and adapting with the actors involved in the project. We have table reads, meetings, and phone calls to make sure we're on the same page. I want to ensure that my vision is clear, and that we are here to tell the same story. You can have amazing cinematography for affordable prices these days, so what really makes you stand out, in my opinion, outside of the story, is the performances by the actors. Everything about filmmaking is a collaboration. Writers, directors, and actors get far too much credit for successful projects, and too much blame for ones that are not seen as a success. It takes a group of people working toward the same goal to get a movie made, and if you're not all making the same movie with the same vision, it's going to be a lot harder to get your film to come out the way you want it to.

     S:  That is absolutely right, the same goes in Hollywood, I believe they love to rehash the same old story with new actors.  And all the blame goes to the stars he/she can't open a movie.  How about your retread vision for the umpteenth time.  Independent filmmakers get no credit in Hollywood but the film festivals are where it's at.  Word of mouth is worth more than babble babble babble.

Hope you fully enjoyed that interview, was awesome I think below is a list of his films available, check out "Dying Fields" on the crowdfunding front, help a fellow filmmaker out.  All is appreciated we all someday want more great films to be made.  Thank You Lewis Leslie it was my pleasure to interview such a class act.

"Killer Ink" (grindhouse/horror) available on Amazon, as is "Tales From the Vault", a collection of short films that I wrote & directed. I have directed numerous shorts, and I have 3 features in post-production:

"Strange Company" (psychological drama): After the apocalypse, a grieving recluse is visited by a desperate woman who draws him out of his home, and forces him to confront his inner turmoil.

"Battered (female-led revenge thriller)": After Piper's alcoholic boyfriend sends her to the hospital, she joins a group of battered women who decide to kill their exes, only to discover that these guys won't go down without a fight.

"Visceral" (supernatural thriller): When eight strangers wake up in a room with no windows or doors, they must work together to determine why they are there, and how they can escape.