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[INTERVIEWS
> JON JACOBS]
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| 06/29/01 |
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 Interview
with Jon Jacobs, a maverick independent
filmmaker who acts, directs, writes and self-distributes |
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| ACTOR/FILMMAKER JON JACOBS
has just received "The Maverick Actor Award" from
Los Angeles' The Method Fest. Truly an independent, Jon Jacobs
has done it all: write, direct, perform and produce. Originally
from England, Jon Jacobs started his career by directing and
acting in a series of short films which played at festivals
worldwide. His short "Metropolis Apocalypse" was a
critics choice at the Cannes Film Festival in 1988. Moving to
Los Angeles in 1991, Jacobs started his feature career with
"Welcome Says the Angel" which he co-wrote and starred.
He wrote and directed "The Girl with Hungry Eyes,"
a horror film, which was picked up by Columbia/Tri-star and
was voted "Best Horror Film of 1995" by Cinefantastique.
Between 1996 and 1998, Jacobs starred in a slate of 10 indie
features and also wrote, directed and starred in "Luncida's
Spell" which is currently being distributed by ADV
Films. He also co-directed and starred in "The
Wooden Gun" with Michael Kastenbaum of Visionbox
Pictures. |
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| iR:
You act, direct and write... in a sense, you're a "filmmaker"
in an all-rounded sense. Do you see yourself more of an
actor or filmmaker? |
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| I once wrote this very very short poem: |
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| I'm not a Director at all |
| just a very devious actor |
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| To answer you question more fully: I see
myself as an actor, since that is what primarily motivates
me to undertake all the other aspects of filmmaking such
as writing, directing, producing, distributing and promoting. |
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| iR:
Are you interested in acting more or directing more? |
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| I'm far more interested in acting. It is
the actor in me that I want to mine. I feel that is where
my growth lies. It's also where I have the most to discover
and the most to give. Also it is the most daunting. |
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| iR:
Do you see acting and filmmaking as separate roles
or are they more of a synthesis? |
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| For me, it was more of a synthesis. I did
direct a feature "The Girl with the Hungry eyes" which
I only played a very minor role. I found the process to
be less than fulfilling. However, I find it entirely rewarding
to act in a picture and not direct it. |
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| iR:
What was it like to direct while also starring in a film
like "Lucinda's Spell" and "The Wooden Gun"? |
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 I
co-directed "The Wooden Gun" with my longtime friend and
co-star in the movie, Michael Kastenbaum. That was a really
fun experience and not at all stressful. I was able to
really focus on the acting. I'm also really pleased with
the feel of the movie. It was Michael's idea to co-direct.
I had been inclined to bring on a director, but Michael
felt that given the miniscule $7000 shooting budget it
would be better if we did the job ourselves. Funny enough...
I did experience a little ego twinge at the thought of
co-directing, but I instinctively decided that was a feeling
I should transcend and I'm really glad I did. |
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 "Lucinda's
Spell" was a far more eccentric undertaking and much more
peculiar to my own tastes, so I wanted to act in and direct
that picture. Christina Fulton is such a wild actress
whose work I really enjoy. I wanted to be the one to nurture
her performance. I also really wanted the tone of the
film to be what it was. There were a couple of occasions
however where I felt a little stressed (only a couple)
and I felt my performance suffered. So although I'm generally
very pleased with the character I created for the movie,
I know how tough it can be to do both. |
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| iR:
Does doing both acting and direct complement each other?
Or is it stressful or difficult especially on an indie
film's budget? |
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| In some ways, it is a really beautiful thing
to do both. It is an incredible creative freedom. I'm
not sure if it would be more or less stressful with a
bigger budget. Everything is relative after all. However,
if ever I feel intimidated, I think of Clint Eastwood,
Charlie Chaplin and Orson Welles and I'm inspired to go
for it. |
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| iR:
On top of being a filmmaker, you're also quite a savvy
marketer. How do you do it? |
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| I remember ten years ago when Spike Lee had
a shop on Melrose I used to think to myself that marketing
was not something I understood. All that stuff was way
beyond me. Then after I made a couple of features of my
own and tried my hands at self-distribution, the process
suddenly became much more natural and very creative. I
have developed a relationship with a great graphic designer
Jana Pesek. Over the years, we have really just let our
imaginations flow when it comes to marketing. Collaboration
has been a critical factor. After directing a movie, it's
difficult to have fun marketing it. However on reflection,
I have noticed I can be somewhat extravagant. I think
my experiences in marketing have been critical to my development.
It has not only helped me move my whole career forward
but also helped me focus on the reality of reaching audiences.
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| iR:
What does it take to push yourself as an actor/filmmaker? |
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| For me it takes a whole hell of a lot of
faith and a profound desire to create. It really comes
down to my most basic desire to act in films and to see
what I can do, to see if I can fulfill my childhood dream
of becoming a big movie star. Although it sounds narcissistic,
it really requires conquering tremendous self-doubt to
project myself onto the big screen. There is no greater
challenge for me personally than that. |
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| iR:
Do you enjoy the marketing side or is it just a means
to an end? |
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| I enjoy it. It really can be fun, and, of
course, it is absolutely integral to getting films seen.
If I believe in a film, I will continue to do whatever
I can to help promote it. |
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| iR:
Is being independent a choice? |
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| For me, my impatient and impetuous nature
has somewhat dictated my choice to just go for it. However,
to a large extent, it has been out of necessity since
I haven't seen the opportunities present themselves to
me in any other direction. I'm very proud of the movies
I've made so far. I feel very blessed and fulfilled creatively
although not content to stop here. |
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| iR:
Do you see yourself eventually making a studio film? |
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| Yes, I really want to make films that get
seen on a wider scale. I also can't wait to see what the
impact of time and money will have on my screen performances. |
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| I have a great love for the sci-fi and fantasy
films which are often the most expensive films to make,
so I'm certainly in pursuit of working at the highest
end of the industry. In fact, I have a screenplay I written
right now called "Roleplayer," which is potentially a
$100 million budget action/sci-fi movie. It is being represented
by the ACME agency. My goal with that picture is get it
set up with a studio, attach a great director and just
hang on to one of the major supporting roles for myself.
I place a lot more stock in breaking into larger scale
filmmaking via this route than I do in landing a job via
an audition. |
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| iR:
You've collaborated with Zero Pictures on several films.
How has it been working from a low-low or no-budget approach? |
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| It has been incredible. I've loved every
minute of it. Michael Kastenbaum who founded Zero Pictures
is a visionary producer and a great friend. I have enjoyed
tremendously the challenge of making movies with what
we have as opposed to waiting to make movies. I have also
enjoyed tremendously seeing my friends get the chance
to make movies. I really think the films we have made
are every bit as good as studio movies in terms of content. |
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| iR:
It seems that you would be an inspiration to many actors
in the sense that you are able to create opportunities
for yourself as a filmmaker. How much do you tailor your
filmmaking skills to showcase your talent as an actor? |
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| Almost entirely, except when I'm endeavoring
to showcase the talent of other actors. I really became
a filmmaker because it seemed the most direct route to
acting in films. It wasn't easy graduating from shorts
to features in terms of raising the extra cash and also
in terms of having the courage and know how to pull it
off, but it has been entirely worth it. I made my first
short movie in 1986, I've now made 13 shorts and 15 features
and not one single one of them came through a regular
audition. |
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| iR:
What are your next projects as both filmmakers and
actors? |
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It would be great if my "Roleplayer" screenplay
takes off. I also have a story for a Western which the
Flying Canter Brothers have expressed some interest in
developing with me. I have just played the lead in a movie
called "Phoenix Point," a crazy rave sci-fi picture currently
in post. I'm currently rehearsing and will be playing
Tregorin in Chekov's "The Seagull," a play being directed
by Teddy Tolkin and will be performed in a backyard in
Hollywood at the begining of August. I'm going to be playing
an Elvis nut in a film called "Two Women and Two Men Killing"
which will be directed by Will De Los Santos, who just
wrote the supremely hip "Spun" which was shot last month
and directed by Jonas Akerlund. "Spun" stars
Jason Shwartzman, Patric Fugit, Brittany Murphy, Mena
Suvari, Mickey Rourke, John Leguazimio and many more colorful
actors... Hopefuly "Two Women and Two Men Killing"
will go in October. There is talk of another picture with
Will De Los Santos that may star Courtney Love. I think
she would be great to work with..jpg) |
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JON
JACOB'S RESTROSPECTIVE
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| THE WOODEN GUN, 2000: Saturday, June 30@10AM |
| JOHNNY FAMOUS, 1999: Sunday, July 1@10AM |
| WELCOME SAYS THE ANGEL, 1996: Saturday,
July 7@10AM |
| DOGSTAR, 1997: Sunday, July 8@10AM |
| MIC AND THE CLAW, 2000: Saturday, July
14@10AM |
| LUCINDA'S SPELL, 1998: Sunday, July 15@10AM |
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Call (323) 848
3500 for more info.
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