Indiefilmchat: I found Running Funny to be one of the most satisfying independent films I've seen all year. What drew you to the material and did you consider marketability at all when deciding to make it?

I read the play at a time in my life when I felt pretty lost. I had just graduated from college and I didn't know what I was supposed to do with my life. I strongly identified with the characters and what they were going through, so marketability wasn't a factor at all. It was all about the story.


Indiefilmchat: Tell us a little about your background and how you came to make Running Funny?

I grew up in New Jersey and made a few short films in high school and college using borrowed equipment and my friends as actors, so filmmaking is something I've always wanted to do. After I graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in History I came across the play and completely fell in love with it. I decided to get a day job and focus on bringing it to screen.

Indiefilmchat: Most independently produced American films, and frankly international ones as well, suffer from an under-realized script. Given the origins of Running Funny as an extensively produced play, you have a major leg up on the competition in this regard. Was that a factor in choosing to make the film based on the play?

I wasn't actively looking for a play to adapt. The story hit me in the gut and I knew I had to bring it to the screen. That was the only factor in choosing to make the film.

Indiefilmchat: Given that the source material was a stage play, did you find you had to adapt scenes or re-arrange the narrative structure in any way?

Charles Evered and I decided early on that we were going to stay close to the original material, so we only re-arranged scenes to the extent that we had to. We also gave Stan more of a narrative arc than he had in the play. The heart of the story are these two guys living in a garage, and it already worked, so we didn't see the point in changing much.

Indiefilmchat: Many Indie productions struggle with uneven acting. You get excellent performances from two relative unknown actors. Then you go and cast a legend like Louis Zorich. How did you go about casting Running Funny with such a limited budget?

We were incredibly lucky to get Louis Zorich. He's a brilliant actor and such a great guy. He had worked with Charles Evered years ago, so that connection helped, and I think he really liked the script. Max and Gene came to an open casting call we had in New York, and they were terrific. We knew within about 30 seconds of their auditions that they were the guys.

Indiefilmchat: How would you suggest other independent filmmakers approach recognizable actors like Louis Zorich?

The best thing to do is to write a great script. All actors want to work with great material, so start with that.

Indiefilmchat: Did you rehearse your actors much before shooting?

We rehearsed for about three weeks before production, which helped us enormously. It was a great opportunity to work out a lot of the kinks in the script, and to get to know each other a little bit. It was the first feature film that a lot of us had worked on so it was important to establish a trusting relationship with each other.

Indiefilmchat: What do you think you learned about directing an independent film from this process?

That it's just that: a process. You really have to enjoy every aspect of it, and to be patient, because success isn't going to come easily. I also learned that making a movie isn't as hard as getting people to see it. Getting into film festivals and finding distribution was a lot harder than I thought.

Indiefilmchat: Did you have a producer or partner helping you?

Matt Christensen produced the film, and he was a great champion of the script right from the start. He had recently graduated from Columbia's MFA Film program, and I was lucky to get him before anyone else did. Matt put together an amazing crew, all of whom sacrificed a lot to get the movie made.

Indiefilmchat: How did you finance the production? How long did it take to raise the money?

I raised money through family, friends, friends of family, and anyone else who was willing to help out. It was a grassroots process of pitching the story to people and asking for a little help. After about 8 months I raised enough for a bare bones production.

Indiefilmchat: How long did it take you to make Running Funny?

From script to screen it took about two years to get the movie made, and then another year to find distribution.

Indiefilmchat: Please share one war story from the production that you and your team overcame.

Lawnmowers. The people who lived next door to where we shot most of the film wouldn't stop mowing their lawn, and it created a lot of sound problems that took a long time to fix in post.

Indiefilmchat: What was your favorite part of this process?

Production was the best. I loved working with everyone on the film. I can't wait to do it again!

Indiefilmchat: What was your least favorite part of this process?

Raising money was not fun.

Indiefilmchat: What is your next project?

I collaborated with actor Gene Gallerano (who plays Eddie in Running Funny) on a script about a father and son who go on a cross-country road trip, so hopefully I'll get to do that next.

Indiefilmchat: Any general advice for aspiring filmmakers?

If you're going to make a movie make sure it's a story that you really care about. It's going to be a marathon so prepare for a long haul. But prepare for a great experience as well.