Se7en Questions With Filmmaker
Leon Livshitz
Who are some of the artists or some of the works
that inspired you to get started in your field? Of today’s current artists, who do you draw inspiration from?
Sophie Hyde – 52 Tuesdays was one of the most amazing films I’ve seen this year. It opened my eyes because I didn’t think movies can be made in this way. She shot the film for a year, every Tuesday following the life of a girl growing up. It was beautiful and tragic.
Steve McQueen – 12 years a slave was an amazing film with great cinematic moments. With simplicity, it made me feel and think.
Felix van Groeningen – The Broken Circle Breakdown, a dramatic story of a couple’s relationship breaking down. A seemingly simple story which was told thousands of times before, but he managed to curve out a gem. He made me laugh, cry and think without getting bored while watching.
What have thus far been some of the negatives of being an indie artist in your field?
Like everyone else, it’s very difficult to find finance.
What have thus far been the positives of being an indie artist in your field?
The ability to find collaborators who are passionate about film and are willing to invest their precious time and effort in order to bring my vision to life.
What have been your favorite completed projects to work on up to this point? Can you tell us a little bit about them?
For Life – A short comedy. I really like comedy and it was the first time I was present in a packed theatre of moviegoers and heard them laugh out loud at jokes I wrote a month before. It was an amazing experience that I’d like to repeat as soon and often as possible.
Lamppost – Music video. I managed to execute 80% of my vision and create a very precise short film which happens to be a music video.
What projects are you currently working on or have planned for the near future?
The Winners – A feature-length comedy about young people looking for love in the most romantic place of all – a rundown hostel in Afula. We already have a production company involved and everyone who read the script couldn’t stop laughing. Talented actors can’t wait to say the lines. We are missing one tiny component – finance.
Let Me Help You – A psychological thriller. It is a feature film I’ve been developing for some time now. It also has a production company in the mix and are looking for finance. It is a dark film about young girl who encounters the brutal side of life of the streets.
Where do you see yourself in a few years and what would it take for you to consider your career a success?
I see myself directing and writing film, television and web related projects.
For me, success would be to make a living as a director and scriptwriter.
If you couldn’t do this anymore, what career path do you think you would have followed and why?
A software engineer, I already am one.
