…get a great film publicist. It never fails to amaze me how many filmmakers forget this crucial step. With all the struggles involved with completing a film, many people drop the ball in getting the word out to the public that their film is ready to be seen! I understand that. But marketing is crucial and can make or break a film. Why make a film if no one knows about it?
I had the pleasure of interviewing American film director Joseph Strickland. Joseph Strickland is an artist whose professional career beyond filmmaking extends to two more industries, including music and literature, where he is well-known as a songwriter/composer and an author.
Thank you so much for joining us. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I grew up on the West Side of Chicago, where my family of ten, which we playfully called our tribe, loved to play football, softball, and basketball. I always loved comic books and drawing, and I made some friends in grade school who read and collected dozens of X-Men, Spiderman, The Hulk, and Black Panther editions. While attending Austin High School, I was fortunate enough to have met some new art friends who introduced me to the works of legendary fantasy artists such as Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, etc. The incredible artwork and vast imagination blew me away; the thought that I could also create new worlds with oil paints was fascinating. When I enrolled at Columbia College of Chicago in the mid-80s, I began to focus on fine art. But I also wanted to write short stories, so I minored in writing. As I evolved in my art studies, Tim O’Neill, a former classmate, approached me about a short film he was working on. He was having some trouble with it and wanted to ask if I wouldn’t mind lending a hand to get it going. Tim needed me to not only perform in the film but also to help out with the casting and location scouting. And I was like, ‘Yes! Why, of course!’ We finished the student film, and he submitted it to the 24th Chicago International Film Festival. I was excited to see our student film project on the big screen, as it received a rave review from the one-and-only Roger Ebert, the famed film critic! Ebert gave our film a thumbs-up and wrote that it had ‘a lot of promise.’ Soon after, my focus shifted to writing my (own) screenplays as it dawned on me that the art of filmmaking stemmed from a combination of skills and talents I already possessed, including writing, drawing, visual imagination, music, and storytelling.
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
In 1996, I worked as a film festival judge on the Feature Film Panel of the 32nd Chicago International Film Festival. Man, it was a lot of fun! I would be viewing dozens of films from around the world and getting sneak peeks at some excellent films before they were released to the public, not to mention connecting with other filmmakers. Of course, there were a lot of mainstream projects meant for mainstream audiences. And I sometimes got bored out of my skull with those because I preferred films with individualistic views. I invited my friend Daina Mileris, who I hired to handle the still photography for “Dual Mania,” to the official festival hotel location so she could watch and learn how film festivals operated as I wrote down my opinions and critiqued every movie. Not a bad job at all. Another fun part of the job was meeting more veteran and new talents in the film industry, including Chicago film critic Michael Wilmington, Billy Bob Thornton, who had just completed his first film, “Sling Blade,” Jennifer Beals, and Sally Field, among others.
There was also something else that I remember. I was at the Chicago Theater for the world premiere of “Twilight of the Golds” when a staff member informed me that actress Jennifer Beals wanted to chat with me. I declined her invitation, though. I glanced in her direction and saw her waving at me, but I still refused to meet her. She insisted on chatting with me, but I could not bring myself to commune with the woman because I was offended by her at that time. I felt that Jennifer was in denial and untruthful in her representation as an African American. I felt offended by her apparent self-loathing issues, which she had no reason to foster because she was, she is, a beautiful, exciting, and talented African-American actress. She offended me back then, but as time evolved, she seemed to mature and grow into someone more respectable. Her timeless roles in Carl Franklin’s “Devil in a Blue Dress” and Shawn Ryan’s “The Chicago Code” did her justice, as far as I’m concerned. The characters she played were better reflections of her as an African-American woman, and I believe she played them well. With time, I developed more respect for her new self-respect.
Can you share a story about a funny mistake that you made?
After I wrote the screenplay for “Dual Mania,” I began scouting for crew members to hire them to shoot the feature film. Having little experience, I called up a few veteran cinematographers who had worked on several movies shot in Chicago. When a veteran cinematographer finally returned my call, we agreed to meet at a local pizza restaurant on Chicago’s North Side. He asked me to send him a copy of the script so he could read it and get an idea of what type of film “Dual Mania” was. I was eager for professional feedback, positive or otherwise, so I told him I would. Earlier, I had shown Jean Maclean Snyder, an entertainment attorney in the city, a copy of the script and asked her to read it. She did and thought it looked promising. As I waited to hear back from the cinematographer, I kept moving forward with the concept, taking meetings and working the phones. When the veteran cameraman called me back, he told me he liked the script and wanted to recommend another cinematographer who would love to work with me on it. His apprentice was an African-American man who had worked on several films and was excited to get the chance to work on my psychological thriller, which we planned to shoot entirely on location in Chicago. But lo and behold, after the apprentice cameraman read the script and looked at my storyboards, all hell broke loose! He became indignant and debated with me over every aspect of the screenplay and accused me of making a porno movie. The veteran cameraman suggested that we both calm down and try to shoot some footage with the lead actors, locations, etc., so we might discover a better way to sell the film. I reluctantly agreed. But after I blew over $15,000 renting out camera cranes for needless high-angle shots and foolishly attempting to use a large crane inside a small apartment, I discovered the footage I got was useless and a waste of time. The local film distributor quickly passed, and I learned a hard but valuable lesson. I would advise filmmakers to always stick to their gut and their vision.
Which people in history inspire you the most?
The Lord Jesus Christ, Moses, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In my opinion, they are incredible individuals who marked significant milestones in history. They stood up to the powers that be; they stood for the right way, not the wrong way; they stood up against institutions, governments, and groups of people who didn’t care about the rights and freedoms of other people. They stood in faith, truth, and righteousness, regardless of oppression, hatred, and opposition, being led by divine visions that would affect the lives of millions of people worldwide. And I love and admire them. They represented selfless pursuits of service and dedication, strengthened by a bigger vision that would help be a blessing to others. And they inspire me.
Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview, how are you going to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting social impact causes you are working on right now?
Our film production company, Vital Vision Productions LLC, has always focused on the criteria of hiring very diverse cast and crew members from all walks of life and offers an apprenticeship program to help film students with promising talent grow and develop in their field of choice. I remember how frustrating it was for me trying to break into the film industry. And I saw many African Americans and Latinos become disappointed because of the lack of opportunities available to them, so that is something significantly important to me.
Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest them. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and take action for this cause? What was that final trigger?
While I was visiting family and friends in Wisconsin, I watched a Court TV show about the notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. As I was listening to the court prosecutors and defense attorneys discussing the case, I noticed that no one focused on the killer’s childhood. And I began to wonder what had happened in this man’s life that led him to become a depraved murderer and cannibal. That’s when it dawned on me that I could write a story about this missing piece. And I began to investigate the history of opioid abuse, childhood traumas, and mental illnesses. I spoke with psychotherapists, psychiatrists, and other professionals in the field of mental health and started drafting my script from there.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
I had a job interview for a marketing firm at the John Hancock Center in Chicago. Somehow, I got lost while searching for the office, and I spotted this tall, beautiful woman in the hallway and asked her if she knew where I could find the office. She smiled and said, “Sure, follow me.” I discovered that she worked in the same office, and her name was Cat Ellington. Once I got hired at this marketing firm, we became good friends and eventually went on a date. I discovered that Cat loved watching movies almost as much as I did, so I let her read my script before asking for her opinion. After reading the screenplay, she said it was fantastic and had never read anything like it. She thought it was an original, highly insightful, and compelling psychological suspense thriller. I asked her who she suggested I should cast for the lead roles, and she thought about it before looking at my corkboard. I had dozens of photos sent to my studio from actors and actresses that I tacked to the corkboard. So, after listening to her suggestions and critique, I decided right then that she was the most qualified person for the casting director job, as she had a sharp sense and eye for selecting talent. I also learned that Cat was an excellent songwriter and composer when she demonstrated her skills. She told me that she had been writing since childhood, and I asked her if she wanted to write some tracks for the soundtrack. She agreed, and over the next few months, after she re-read the script, she selected five songs that she thought would fit the scenes in the film. That was a little over thirty years ago, and today, four of the original five she gave me back then are on the soundtrack album Dual Mania (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). We used another song from her catalog to replace one of the earlier tracks. One of the original four, a track titled “I Do,” won the award for Best Song at the Vegas Movie Awards event in Las Vegas in 2019. And we were honored by that. I was overwhelmed by her God-given talents in those earlier days, and I am still overwhelmed by them. I couldn’t believe my luck because I hadn’t known she was such an incredibly talented and gifted artist when I first met her. So, I am very blessed to have her as a creative partner, loving wife, and dear friend today.
Are there three things that individuals, society or the government can do to support you in this effort?
Yes, a good starting point would be having an influx of funds for the arts, such as film grants for minority-owned film companies. Also, contributions from philanthropic companies and institutions would help because those funds could be earmarked annually for these up-and-coming companies. Individuals and film coalitions offering support via discounted goods and services for minority-owned film companies can play their part by co-producing and financing various projects.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
First, get a good entertainment lawyer. I learned that quickly at the start of my career, remembering that this is a business. Filmmakers need a professional to comb over contracts, financing, SAG-AFTRA contracts, music licensing, and publishing, among other things. Before I started production on “Dual Mania,” I visited several entertainment attorneys, who advised me on what to watch out for and be aware of in the industry, like signing bad film distribution contracts and obtaining proper music clearances from publishers. Next, you have to find a good line producer with experience. I didn’t and soon regretted it because an experienced line producer can help keep your production on track and within budget. Think of them as a production bookkeeper.
The best line producers can help you streamline costs and save you a ton of money in the long run. Next, sign up with an experienced film distribution company that knows film and has experience selling films. A good distributor will get your work out there in front of audiences. Also, make sure you pay attention to the fine print! I’ve read several contracts that were terrible and not favorable at all. Make sure you know how you will get paid and when you will get paid. Another factor is this. Who owns the rights to your film? And for how long? Remember, this is a business! Your actions will affect everyone working and supporting your work. Next, get a great film publicist. It never fails to amaze me how many filmmakers forget this crucial step. With all the struggles involved with completing a film, many people drop the ball in getting the word out to the public that their film is ready to be seen! I understand that. But marketing is crucial and can make or break a film. Why make a film if no one knows about it? The marketing budget will most likely cost more than the film. So factor that into your entire budget. And finally, get plenty of sleep because you will need it, trust me. I remember doing sixty-hour work weeks and getting little to no sleep during production. The phones were constantly ringing, and I was doing a lot of interviews, rewrites, contacting film festivals, picking up gigs to keep money flowing, etc. On the last day of principal photography, I was exhausted. So get plenty of sleep because you will need it. My first book about my roller-coaster experiences getting my debut feature film made, The Making of Dual Mania: Filmmaking Chicago Style (Vital Vision Publications, 2018), is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, among other stores. It was rough at times.
If you tell other young people like yourself one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?
I think it is essential for people to focus on their unique talents and gifts while they work hard to reach their goals. That is a positive way of thinking. At the same time, they should remember that the impact of their actions can be positive or negative. You never know who’s watching your journey in life, so it is wise to watch what you say and do because it’s bound to influence someone else.
We are very blessed that many other Social Impact Heroes read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would like to collaborate with, and why? He or she might see this. 😉
There are so many people. I would love to work with many of the great filmmakers I grew up watching and have been influenced by, including Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, Roman Polanski, and Ridley Scott, to name a few. As far as performers go, I would love to work with Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo, and Nicole Kidman, to name a few.
Can you please give us your favorite ‘Life Lesson Quote’? Can you share how that was relevant in your life?
Keep the faith and persevere. That is my motto, no matter what challenges I face in life. I know that I am here for a reason, so I have enough faith to believe that God will help me no matter what. I came from very humble beginnings, and while growing up on the West Side of Chicago, I saw many people’s lives destroyed by drugs, alcohol, violence, and other self-destructive behaviors. So trust me when I tell you that I pray daily to keep faithful and lead a spiritual inner life.
How can our readers follow you?
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facebook.com/OfficialJosephStrickland instagram.com/officialjosephstrickland https://josephstrickland.blogspot.com
Thank you for sharing these fantastic insights!
Joseph Strickland: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became A Filmmaker was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.