CHONTO Directed By Carson Mell

Indie Express: Tell us about your film?

Carson: It's a short animated film called Chonto that I made myself.

IE: How did you come up with the idea for the film?

C: This is the third project I'd made with the main character, Bobby Bird, and the idea just came to me when I was on a road-trip last year.

IE: How did you assemble your production team?

C: The only people who worked on the movie besides me were my friends who made the music, and I just happen to be friends with a bunch of very talented musicians.

IE: How did you find your cast? 

C: Again, the cast is just me.

IE: How long did the film take?  (From conception to final edit)

C: Five months.

IE: Tell us a little about your process of directing (writing) this film.

C: I wrote it out like a short story first, then cut out most anything that would be redundant when accompanied by a visual.

IE: What was the most difficult part of the shoot for you?

C: Recording the voice track was hard for this one.  There was so much, and since I use my mouth in it I'm trying not to move when I do it, so that makes the whole process stiffer.  I must have recorded it at least a dozen times before I was happy with my performance.

IE: Tell us about the films festival experience so far?

C:  I've been to Sundance, The San Francisco Film Festival, and the first year of the Marfa film festival.  After CineVegas it's playing at Just For Laughs in Canada and in LA.  Marfa was really interesting, because the town is so small and trains roll past the screening facility every half an hour.  It was beautiful and I hope they do it again next year.

What are you most looking forward to at the festival?

C: The bowling party.

IE: What has been your most interesting Q&A so far?  What was your favorite question?  How was the dialogue afterwards?

C: I had a good q and a in Brooklyn for Sundance BAM. 

IE: What films or filmmakers inspire you?

C: I'm inspired by Brad Bird, Chris Smith, The Coen Bros., Wes Anderson.  Those are my four favorite working filmmakers.  Also by my cousin, Grant.  We work together sometimes, but he's really good at pulling off big projects for a couple of hundred dollars.  He gets shots he shouldn't be able to.

IE: What made you decide to become a filmmaker?

C: I like doing all the arts, writing, painting, drawing--and film seems like a combo of everything.

 IE: What is next for you? 

C: I am working on a bunch of feature scripts, and I'm going to make a live action one and then get back into the cartoons.

IE: What is next for the film?

C: I think it's been to a good number of festivals now, so I'm going to put it up on a shelf and keep working.

IE: If asked to give one piece of advice to a new filmmaker making their first short film… What would it be?

C: Don't spend any money on it.  While you're making it you can think and expect for it to be the best thing ever made, but you'll probably have to make a lot of shorts before you get good at it, so don't waste all your resources.  Also, work with your friends and do everything you can by yourself.

IE: What question would you like to be asked about your film? 

C: Why did your film make me laugh and cry?

IE: What is the Answer?

C: I don't know.