Interview by Justin Sammarco:
Western New York is swimming with artists of all kinds. Therefore, it comes as no surprise to learn of an independent filmmaker producing his 2nd film locally - Ken Cosentino, director & producer of CRIMSON. I had the privilege of sitting down with Ken for a one on one to discuss the success and adversity he has experienced in his second go around at making a feature film and the support he has received throughout the area.
What is CRIMSON?
CRIMSON is about a washed up comic book artist Walter Levitte who is at the end of his rope. The outcome of his latest comic book character, CRIMSON, will determine the rest of his life. He suffers a twist of fate in a terrible accident, and when he awakens in the hospital, a lost memory and severe nerve damage leads him to believe that he is CRIMSON. He begins fighting crime under his anti-heroic persona, facing off against his city's most ruthless villain, business mogul Boyd Emerson, and his ruthless gang of thugs and miscreants.
How did you come upon this story?
I had shot a few short films and some skits with the writer of CRIMSON, Mike Shimmel. Mike had come up with the idea for the film. I loved the story but Mike wanted to shoot it as a short film and as a comedy. Since I knew it had potential I had told him to go back and turn it into a feature length script. I had shot a feature film before called Break the Sky, I wasn't too happy with it and wanted to do it right this time.
What made you want to shoot here in western New York?
A lot of aspiring filmmakers here will move out to NYC or LA and I think that's a mistake. Things are always easier in your home town where people you know live. Western New York has a lot to offer, we have Niagara Falls, the architecture of Buffalo, the weather and because of that a lot of movies are being shot here which people don't realize. You know, I live here, I know the area, the people... we know they would open their doors for us and make the difficult task of shooting a feature [film] that much easier. It's also cheaper, being able to call in some favors and utilize the cast and crew in the area that work for the greater good of the movie and put their hard efforts into the final product.
What support have you received while filming?
Most of the support we have gotten comes from local business owners and entrepreneurs that know how hard it can be, they can relate and that's important. Our barber is letting us use his shop and there is a privately owned wellness center that we're using and they were a big help along with the boxing gyms that we have been shooting at. It's good because we're not just doing it for ourselves; we're doing it for the area and other local artists and filmmakers to bring attention to the area... and to say that this area has something to offer.
It's great when you get that kind of encouragement from local business, but on the other side of the coin, I'm sure you had your share of negative response and adversity to overcome.
Yes absolutely. Unfortunately we have to deal with negativity and it's not just criticism, but that's the reality of making movies. Some make it more difficult to do something - they will try and tear you down but you take your shots and keep going. But it's the other people that make it encouraging, like the guys I mentioned, lending their businesses and their buildings or whatever they had to give us because the people around here are humbled and don't have a lot of money so they give what they can and it helps.
As far as locations go we were filming in a mansion out on Spaulding Lake and the owner was generously donating it to the film. We were really excited to have it but the owner had a dispute with a contractor that was working on the house and they had to cancel out on us last minute and that made us change the finale of the movie and the few scenes within it. We came up with the idea of constructing a speakeasy-type casino behind a barber shop, which is used as the front, and thankfully my barber stepped up let us use it, and without that we'd have been up the creek. It turned out to be to our benefit because the underground casino has a great feel to it and matches and enhances the rest of the movie.
Do you have any other projects slated for the future?
Well we are working on an anthology feature film that is going to be a throwback to classic thriller and horror as opposed to the modern shock and awe of horror films. We also have a prequel planned for CRIMSON.
Do you have any words of encouragement for any aspiring filmmakers?
Just keep going and don't listen to those that say it's impossible because it's not impossible. Just make sure you over estimate your budget [laughs].
CRIMSON will wrap production at the end of January and prepares for 4 months of post-production. The producers intend on holding a premier screening upon completion. For more information visit www.crimsonmovie.com.
Image courtesy of Little Sicily Productions
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Western New York is swimming with artists of all kinds. Therefore, it comes as no surprise to learn of an independent filmmaker producing his 2nd film locally - Ken Cosentino, director & producer of CRIMSON. I had the privilege of sitting down with Ken for a one on one to discuss the success and adversity he has experienced in his second go around at making a feature film and the support he has received throughout the area.
What is CRIMSON?
CRIMSON is about a washed up comic book artist Walter Levitte who is at the end of his rope. The outcome of his latest comic book character, CRIMSON, will determine the rest of his life. He suffers a twist of fate in a terrible accident, and when he awakens in the hospital, a lost memory and severe nerve damage leads him to believe that he is CRIMSON. He begins fighting crime under his anti-heroic persona, facing off against his city's most ruthless villain, business mogul Boyd Emerson, and his ruthless gang of thugs and miscreants.
How did you come upon this story?
I had shot a few short films and some skits with the writer of CRIMSON, Mike Shimmel. Mike had come up with the idea for the film. I loved the story but Mike wanted to shoot it as a short film and as a comedy. Since I knew it had potential I had told him to go back and turn it into a feature length script. I had shot a feature film before called Break the Sky, I wasn't too happy with it and wanted to do it right this time.
What made you want to shoot here in western New York?
A lot of aspiring filmmakers here will move out to NYC or LA and I think that's a mistake. Things are always easier in your home town where people you know live. Western New York has a lot to offer, we have Niagara Falls, the architecture of Buffalo, the weather and because of that a lot of movies are being shot here which people don't realize. You know, I live here, I know the area, the people... we know they would open their doors for us and make the difficult task of shooting a feature [film] that much easier. It's also cheaper, being able to call in some favors and utilize the cast and crew in the area that work for the greater good of the movie and put their hard efforts into the final product.
What support have you received while filming?
Most of the support we have gotten comes from local business owners and entrepreneurs that know how hard it can be, they can relate and that's important. Our barber is letting us use his shop and there is a privately owned wellness center that we're using and they were a big help along with the boxing gyms that we have been shooting at. It's good because we're not just doing it for ourselves; we're doing it for the area and other local artists and filmmakers to bring attention to the area... and to say that this area has something to offer.
It's great when you get that kind of encouragement from local business, but on the other side of the coin, I'm sure you had your share of negative response and adversity to overcome.
Yes absolutely. Unfortunately we have to deal with negativity and it's not just criticism, but that's the reality of making movies. Some make it more difficult to do something - they will try and tear you down but you take your shots and keep going. But it's the other people that make it encouraging, like the guys I mentioned, lending their businesses and their buildings or whatever they had to give us because the people around here are humbled and don't have a lot of money so they give what they can and it helps.
As far as locations go we were filming in a mansion out on Spaulding Lake and the owner was generously donating it to the film. We were really excited to have it but the owner had a dispute with a contractor that was working on the house and they had to cancel out on us last minute and that made us change the finale of the movie and the few scenes within it. We came up with the idea of constructing a speakeasy-type casino behind a barber shop, which is used as the front, and thankfully my barber stepped up let us use it, and without that we'd have been up the creek. It turned out to be to our benefit because the underground casino has a great feel to it and matches and enhances the rest of the movie.
Do you have any other projects slated for the future?
Well we are working on an anthology feature film that is going to be a throwback to classic thriller and horror as opposed to the modern shock and awe of horror films. We also have a prequel planned for CRIMSON.
Do you have any words of encouragement for any aspiring filmmakers?
Just keep going and don't listen to those that say it's impossible because it's not impossible. Just make sure you over estimate your budget [laughs].
CRIMSON will wrap production at the end of January and prepares for 4 months of post-production. The producers intend on holding a premier screening upon completion. For more information visit www.crimsonmovie.com.
Image courtesy of Little Sicily Productions
For the Local Film Fans Tickets are almost sold out for the premiere of Final Night and Day on March 26 at the Hamburg Palace. Go to www.deftonepicturesstudios.com (This is the Zombie Movie filmed in Angola and around Buffalo)
I met Ken at the Monsterfest and glad to see things progressing. The Film should be great. Buffalo is starting to grow a cool Horror/B Film scene. Hope the B Film Series finds a perm home.