This  interview comes from the land down under, he has turned his calling into a career, I speak of Itai Guberman.  Not exactly a household name yet but with his newest work Ivy winning multiple awards on it's festival circuit run, keep your eyes peeled for upcoming work from him.  He even created his own production company along the way, MyIndie Productions.  Itai has set a high bar for himself and he looks like he has a handle on it and is going full speed ahead.  Watch out for his future everything is looking great.  Without further ado I give you his questions:

     S:  1:  What was your primary reason for becoming an independent filmmaker?

     Itai (I):  1:  Well, that question can be answered from two directions. First, my reason for becoming a filmmaker is something that I’ve been thinking about ever since I can remember. I have been obsessed with film from a very young age, yet started making films fairly late (I made my first short when I was in my 30’s and went to film school at 36 or 37). Somehow, even though I started on a completely different career path (I completed a Business Degree at the age of 21), I still found my way back to film. I believe that in some way, it is my calling and what I love to do and so I simply have no choice. I have all these ideas and stories in my head that need to come out, so I must let them and film is my conduit for that.

Now, why I became an “independent” filmmaker is an almost separate question. The need to work freely and keep ownership of my ideas has prompted me to begin working independently. After starting my own production company, MyIndie Productions, the search for much needed funding for early projects was taking too long, so I decided to bite the bullet and self-fund in order to move forward. Thus far, I self-funded most of my projects, either by paying for them out of my own pocket, borrowing, or finding personal investors who so graciously agreed to support my work. This has allowed me the freedom to do what I do.

     S:  That is awesome.  To own your own and be your own boss, and to stretch yourself in self-funding is very heroic indeed.  That shows true passion for what you have done.

     S:  2:  You write, produce, and direct some of your films, any background in schooling for any of this?

     I:  2:  I started in film as a hobby, working completely from instinct and learning by watching and reading about film and production. In 2010, I finally made the decision to enroll in Film School and hone my skills. I completed my Masters in Film and Television at Tel-Aviv University in 2015.

     S:  Wow this is inspiring to all young filmmakers, with or without college passion and desire will take you to sometimes unfamiliar ground but it's baby steps turning into leaps and bounds.  Schooling obviously helped hone your skills.

     S:  3:  Which of your films is your best to date, you believe, from whatever you did for it (write, direct, or produced)?

     I:  3:  That is a tough question. Working with my production partner, Asaf Angel, our goal is to improve from project to project. In that regard, I feel that the psychological horror short, “Ivy”, which we recently completed, is our best thus far. My writing is improving, as do our abilities on set and even the equipment we use from film to film. “Ivy” has been a combination of these things which have resulted in the highest visual production value and complex storytelling we have produced thus far.

     S:  It has to be hard to deny after all the awards it is winning on festival circuit.

     S:  4:  Is there a "job" in filmmaking you like best?

     I: 4:  The areas I enjoy most are both writing and directing. I hope to concentrate on these more in the future and slowly do less of the producing, promoting, etc., which I do now out of necessity.

     S:  I can see why it's the most creative aspect of a film, without a great story, or direction, a movie can fall flat.

     S:  5:  What is your all-time favorite horror film?

     I:  5:  Another tough question. If I absolutely had to name a few, I’d probably go with John Carpenter’s “The Thing” (1982), Edgar Wright’s horror comedy “Shaun of the Dead” (2004), Kubrick’s “The Shining” (1980), Danny Boyle’s “28 Days Later” (2002) and Neil Marshall’s “The Descent” (2005). Though not considered specifically as horror by some, I’d also include “Aliens” (1986), “Pitch Black” (2000) and “Predator” (1987).

     S:  All great films couldn't go wrong any night with one of those.

     S:  6:  What do most people not know about you?

     I: 6:  For the most part, I’m an open book. What you see is what you get, whether in person or online. Most of my friends know that, but some of my online friends might not know, I obsessively follow the NBA. I have been a huge basketball fan for over 30 years now and I also used to play on various teams in Australia up to my early to mid-30’s.

In addition, I am also very much into Rock Music. Have been for many years and still am. I still enjoy listening to classic rock, hard rock, metal, grunge, alternative, etc.

     S:  I would have never seen that coming, and that's my music baby.

     S:  7:  You've worked with a wide variety of people, is there someone you would love to work with in front, or behind the camera?

I guess you mean people who have been out of reach for someone like myself thus far… Well, behind the camera, I’m not sure. There are many great directors and cinematographers, make-up people, stunt people, etc., that I hope to have the chance to work with one day. As for in front of the camera, I have some script ideas that would be perfect for actors like Michael Fassbender, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Ben Foster, Thomas Jane, Kristen Stewart, Natalie Portman and Elisabeth Moss. One can dream 😊

     S:  Dream big my friend all are quality actor/actresses couldn't fault any choice there.

     S:  8:  Has there been any one person who has affected your filmmaking career in the best way?

     I:  8:  My entry into the world of filmmaking was greatly affected by my first production partner, Peter Angel. Our shared love of cinema got us to the point that we began writing scripts and shooting films. Having the support of a partner at the time, was invaluable and it may not have happened the way it did had Peter not been there. Once Peter and I parted ways, due to family commitments on his part, I put filmmaking aside for a while before certain books and films assisted in reigniting the creative juices.

Indie filmmakers such as the Duplass Brothers, Joe Swanberg and Andrew Bujalski helped me realize that I can do more with less and I began writing scripts in a variety of genres, from comedy and drama to thrillers and horror, keeping in mind that if I keep the locations, number of actors, crew, etc., contained to as little as possible, I may be able to make these films.

With that in mind, I made a few shorts in film school - two thrillers in particular (“Dolphin”, a revenge thriller and “Third Temple”, a political thriller) - which made me understand the production requirements for making higher production valued films. Both films mentioned are currently on Stream Now TV, an indie film streaming site run by Ron Valderrama (the Founder and CEO), whom I befriended online and after we chatted, wanted to see the films. After seeing them, he liked them so much that are now exclusively featured on the site.

     S:  that is networking at it's finest.  Every person you meet or talk to has good things to say I would friend them, we need to keep things up no bashing of films.  This is a niche group of individuals that look to inspire I haven't seen a independent film that doesn't have some merit.

     S:  9:  What director has inspired you the most?

     I:  9:  My favorite director is probably Krzysztof Kieslowski. I think he was an absolute filmmaking genius and is grossly underrated. Because I follow a varied array of genres, I have also been inspired by the liked of Sergio Leone, Sam Peckinpah, John Carpenter, Jim Jarmusch, John Sturges, Sidney Lumet, Walter Hill, George Romero, The Coen Brothers, Mel Brooks, David Fincher, Paul Thomas Anderson, Quentin Tarantino and Denis Villenueve, among others.

     S:  I have heard that name before but never had the chance to look him up, I think it's time that's changed.

     S:  10:  You have many films done and out, I will give you the stage, to speak of future projects you have lined up to do in the future, because I feel you've built a solid fan base and they would love to know what's coming soon, me too?

     I:  10:  A couple of months ago, under MyIndie Productions, we released the short psychological horror, “Ivy”, which is currently doing the festival rounds. It has, in a short time, been made an official selection at five festivals, thus far.

For our next project, I have written a feature-length horror anthology that we are in the process of shooting. We have thus far completed principal shooting of two out four stories and intend to look for funding to complete the remaining two next year. The film is a post-apocalyptic horror that we hope will strike a chord with a large audience of horror followers as well as ones who are not specifically horror fanatics.

If we do not manage to find the funding necessary, we will likely try the crowd funding route. Either way, as I have done with all my recent projects thus far, I intend to complete this horror feature and get it out to audiences as soon as possible.

     S:  I love post-apocalyptic horror and action films, I can't wait for that to get done and out.

Well I hope you've enjoyed this conversation with Itai Guberman, his Ivy has won awards on the festival circuit and still has more festivals to cover.  This interview I found insightful and inspiring, I hope you've enjoyed it also.  Below are pictures that were passed along for all to enjoy hope everything is going well my friends.














Just a few of his posters for previous movies and Ivy on festival circuit now with added credits to festivals and just won another award in Hotlanta Horror film fest for ensemble cast!!!!!






I wish to thank Itai Guberman for taking the time for this awesome interview and many a great films coming from him soon!!!!!!!


SUPPORT INDIE FILMMAKERS