Frequently Asked Questions

 

QUESTION: What advice do you have for anyone interested in becoming a filmmaker?

JEFF CARNEY: The advice I would give is probably the best advice I ever received - Before I made any movies I met a Hollywood producer who told me to make sure you have an attorney to look out for you and your work. You can't afford not to have one.   If you work in the industry long enough, you will encounter individuals who will have their own personal interests besides your movie and the investors money in your film.  If you are prepared you can at least make sure you protect yourself through legal representation. I was fortunate in that I always took some business and law classes in college along with my normal courses for my major. Film schools don't stress that part of the industry enough in my opinion which is usually to the detriment of the student.     

Also if you decide to retain an attorney to pursue a case, only do so if you are 100% driven on pursuing it through the legal system and into court. You have to be 100% confident in the facts of your case or you are wasting your time. Never retain an attorney or even think about it unless you are planning on seeing through to the very end. I've always taken the 100% driven method that once I retain an attorney for a specific case, then I'm definitely planning on taking that particular case all the way to trial. The other side can always decide to avoid the trial through a settlement offer but you are much better prepared if you plan on the long journey. It is much more rewarding as well besides making sure your case is solid from a legal standpoint to begin with.

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QUESTION: When is your next movie?

JEFF CARNEY: At any given time I have 6-8 projects that I'm working on. Each is in it's own stage of development whether it's research, writing, funding, selecting which film will be shot next, location scouting, revising scripts for impending filming, scheduling, etc.  At the moment I have 7 projects on the table with 3 being sorted through to determine which will be filmed next and where with another one in production.  Fortunately funding and scripts are no longer a problem - it's finding the time to get each project filmed. So the answer is very soon. I have to finish with script revisions and then location scouting before casting begins.
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QUESTION: What exactly do you have to do when producing a film?

JEFF CARNEY: I think the correct answer is what don't you do. It's your job to oversee the production and make sure the director has what he/she needs to make the film as well as the cast and crew. You're supporting the entire production team. Just speaking from experience I've had to get cast and crew members, obtain equipment, deal with rental companies, locations (scout and finalize), deal with agents at various agencies, negotiate SAG contracts, deal with the Screen Actors Guild, Budgets including funding and packaging projects, pre-production preparation, schedules, breakdowns, get vehicles, clearances, deal with the actors to make sure they have everything they need both on the film and when they are away from the set during production, lots of meetings including with the various department heads, arrange and oversee post production (editing, ADR, mixing, color correction,) etc. When it comes down to it, the producer's role is to make sure that when the cast/crew show up on the location, they have everything they need to make the film. As a producer you are involved from the first conception of the project through production and distribution. When you are a producer there are no problems only solutions.

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QUESTION: I'm an actor - How do I get in your film?

JEFF CARNEY: We always have casting in the area where we are about to start filming in. 
You can check the CASTING section of this website for announcements and how to submit your resume/photo so you can be considered for a part. Anyone 18 years and older can audition.     
I'm always looking for a wide variety of types so don't be afraid to audition.It's a quick process and you may just land a part in a film. I tend to cast even the starring roles with area/regional talent. not just extra parts.
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QUESTION: What locations do you film in?

JEFF CARNEY: Whatever the script calls for.  I've filmed in apartments, houses, mansions, offices (both business and medical), restaurants, hospitals, airports, warehouses, farms, planes, helicopters, grade schools, high schools, colleges, stadium with thousands of extras, parks, abandoned houses and buildings, in police cars/ambulances/fire trucks....etc..
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QUESTION: Do you only make horror films?

JEFF CARNEY: No - I look for interesting stories that I want to see. Those are the ones that I select for films. I've made comedies, dramas, fantasy, science fiction, etc.  Many of my early films were all comedies. Horror films are something I enjoy and if I get a good script, then I will consider making it as they are popular with distributors and audiences. As a filmmaker they provide a lot more challenges and enjoyment (also to the actor) since you have characters that go through a wide range of emotion during a horror film - from comedy to drama to a chase to horror to suspense, etc.. I have to admit they are a great deal of fun to make for the cast/crew.
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QUESTION: Which famous people have you met?

JEFF CARNEY:  Quite a few through the years which would make it a long list to put here. Check out the Films and Scrapbook sections of this website to see a few of those people.  Believe it or not but most of them are just regular people with lives that happen to put them in the spotlight. I've made some great friends through the years.
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QUESTION: Do you only direct and who does the music for your movies?

JEFF CARNEY: No, If I'm directing then I'm also producing. I enjoy doing the cinematography, editing, sound design, and music. People have pointed out that it is a lot of work to take on by one person but it's the way I have always worked and I enjoy every minute of it. Since I enjoy it so much it really doesn't seem like a lot of work to me.
 
As for music, I do it. One of my favorite directors is John Carpenter who also composes his own music. I took piano lessons for about several years when I was just a child so it finally paid off.  I use a variety of tools to make the music - Korg Triton with Moss board, Sequential Prophet V, Yamaha CS-80, Minimoog, Moog Modular, Jupiter 8, Arp 2600,  Korg DVP 1 Vocoder, among others. I do my own mix of  the music on 48 tracks.
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QUESTION: Who is your favorite Director?

JEFF CARNEY: That's tough to narrow it down to one director. I like most of Steven Spielberg's and George Romero's movies (Night of the Living Dead and the original Dawn of the Dead are among my all time favorite films) and the same goes for George Lucas.  I really like the way Lucas runs his own company and does everything in house.  He is probably the ultimate independent filmmaker as he has complete control over his projects from start through distribution.
 
But I'm probably going to narrow it down to John Carpenter as he probably had the most influence on me.  

I find him to be one of the most under rated yet talented directors working today with an amazing visual style. If I saw one shot from a film, I could tell you if it was a John Carpenter film or not. From Assault on Precinct 13 to Halloween to The Fog to Escape from New York to Starman, I never get tired of his work or his music - he composes his own soundtracks which are amazing.  A lot of people don't know it but Carpenter co-wrote, edited, and did the music on The Resurrection Of Bronco Billy which was a USC short film that won a student Academy Award in 1970. It's a great film but he's always said winning the award did nothing for his career. Making Halloween on the other hand did everything.
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QUESTION: Of the newer directors working today who is your favorite?

JEFF CARNEY: That would be Robert Rodriguez. I like how he always tries to do different types of movies from Dusk till Dawn to Spy Kids to Grindhouse. And it's great that he is able to stay in Texas to make his movies while having mutiple jobs of directing, producing, cinematographer, editing..etc. When I make films I direct and produce as well shoot and edit and compose the music so I know how much work it takes to do those things. He definitely has my respect.
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QUESTION: What is your favorite part of making films?

JEFF CARNEY: All of it. I enjoy the planning/preparation, casting, working with the actors on set/filming, and then putting it all together in post production.  I know a lot of people get bored with what they do. I never do. I consider myself very lucky as I can't wait to get started each and every day. I get to meet and work with great people. There's always something new to work on.
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QUESTION: What kind of movies do you like?

JEFF CARNEY: All types. I'm a fan of Hitchcocks,  John Hughes' films (especially Ferris Bueller), sci fi (Star Wars), Horror (Halloween/John Carpenter), Cary Grant films, William Wyler films, Frank Capra films, Monty Python, Adam Sandler films, Fantasy films like Back To The Future,  James Bond and action films like the first three Indiana Jones films.
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