Johanan: Who are you?

Thomas: I’m Thomas Ryan, I’m 18 years old and I’m an aspiring film director

Johanan: What made you interested in film? Is there anything that drew you to this medium?

Thomas: I started writing screenplays in film studies when I was 15 years old and shot my first short film when I was 16. I’ve always been a movie lover since a young age and have always created my own stories

Johanan: I’ve noticed you have some kind of special interest in western films. is there a story there?

Thomas: I watched Django Unchained in 2019/2020 and it still remains my favourite movie of all time. Ever since I watched it I have always had a love for westerns, I love Clint Eastwood westerns and I love making them as it has such a cool aesthetic and is awesome to film

Johanan: i’m curious about what your second favorite genre is

Thomas: I’d say that my second favourite genre is probably the thriller aspect, I like stuff that has a plot twist or you really have to use your mind to think about it such as Memento and Prisoners

Johanan: What’s your opinion on Tenet?

Thomas: I haven’t seen Tenet yet

Johanan: You should, probably

Johanan: Who’s your favorite film director?

Thomas: My favourite film director is Denis Villeneuve

Johanan: Favorite movie?

Thomas: Django Unchained is my fav movie even though it isn’t a film by my fav director, Denis Villeneuve

Johanan: What’s your own favorite film so far?

Thomas: Favorite film of Denis Villeneuve or the ones I’ve made?

Johanan: Ones you’ve made so far

Thomas: I think cinematography wise The Hollow Deal is my best. But story wise I choose “The Young One” only because I love westerns and it’s close to my heart, I’d love to remake it some day

Johanan: When’s your first feature film coming?

Thomas: I have no idea. Not anytime soon

Johanan: Might be sooner than you think

Johanan: How do you approach writing, screenwriting?

Thomas: Well, I always write my film ideas out in my notes and then just begin writing them based off the notes

Johanan: Are there periods you kinda just have no ideas coming in?

Thomas: Sometimes I get it, I’ll write ideas I think are really good and then am not sure how to complete or finish it but I always overcome it

Johanan: Are there stories you wish more people told in film?

Thomas: I wish that people told more stories where the villain wins, only because sometimes I do think it is more realistic and leaves the viewers feeling shocked and angry they won

Johanan: Kind of like Thanos?

Thomas: Yes, like that

Johanan: What do you think makes a villain compelling, or a character?

Thomas: Take Hans landa from Inglorious Bastards or Anton Chigurh from No Country for Old Men, everytime they are on screen they keep the viewer tense and guessing what they want to do next, they always have fantastic plans and are so unpredictable

Johanan: How about the character being sympathetic? Do you think that makes them more compelling?

Thomas: I think it makes them more interesting but also shows that the character has a hint of humanity and sympathy with them, makes them more human

Johanan: And genuinely, I try to figure out how to make a character compelling or likable when writing, and the way I approach them is just have them do mundane things or benevolent things

Johanan: Has there been anything you’ve come across or heard from someone that’s stuck with you, especially in your work?

Thomas: Pulling a quote from Tarantino here “If you truly love cinema with all your heart and with enough passion, you can’t help but make a good movie” it’s always stuck with me

Johanan: What do you think is an underlying factor of growth or improvement? What’s the thing that might push you to keep getting better as time passes?

Thomas: I think there’s a few things. When people hate on my work or say it has plot holes, shots aren’t good, audio isn’t good, and so on, it pushes me to become a better and more professional filmmaker, I won’t stop until every aspect of my film is good. But the fact that people always tell me that my next film is better than my last, also shows improvement

Johanan: Where do you draw the line? Because you don’t want the opinions of others to make too much of a way in what you do

Thomas: I draw the line when they start abusing it in a bad way and non critical way

Johanan: What’s a misconception people have about creativity that limits them?

Thomas: People worry too much about what they film on and who they use in the film. Just grab a few friends and use your phone or a camera you have. You don’t need to have good equipment or actors straight away, just use what is available

Johanan: Yep, there’s something Tyler Okonma said along the lines of just using what you have, so when the budget comes or the right time comes, you’re prepared

Thomas: Exactly

Johanan: Last question; What’s an unpopular opinion you have?

Thomas: I believe that cinematography is one of the most important aspects of film. I know people value story and acting a lot, I value story a bunch but sometimes I believe that if the cinematography is good in a film it really levels it up

Johanan: Thank you