Monday, June 6, 2016

Interview with Rik Swartzwelder, Director/Writer/Producer


Rik Swartzwelder is a writer-producer-director whose films have screened at over 145 film festivals worldwide and garnered over 50 major awards, including two CINE Golden Eagles, four ITVA-DC Peer Awards, and the Sprint PCS Filmmaker of the Future Award.

His feature-length directing debut, OLD FASHIONED, broke a limited release box office record in its opening weekend (Valentine’s Day 2015), hit the #1 Best Seller/Romance spot on Amazon, and has since amassed a sizable online following.  The film also inspired both a novel and official companion book, both of which are currently available through Tyndale House Publishers.

He grew up in New Philadelphia, Ohio, a small town in the northeast corner of the state. He earned his MFA in Motion Picture Production from The Florida State University and was honored with a gubernatorial appointment to the Florida Institute for Film Education.

He became a Christian in college after a girl he was dating gave him a Bible as a gift; he read it and the entire direction of his life was changed completely.  Following a period of extensive travel and soul searching, he went on to actively participate in both drama/media and singles ministries in Maryland and Florida, prior to moving to Los Angeles to pursue filmmaking full-time.

Awards OLD FASHIONED has won:
·         WINNER - JBM/Best of Fest Award - Mt. Hood Independent Film Festival
·         WINNER - Best Picture and Best Drama over $250,000 - ICVM Crown Awards
·         WINNER - Best Christian Film of 2015 - Plugged In Movie Awards
·         FINALIST – TCFF Indie Vision: Breakthrough Film Award – Twin Cities Film Festival

How important was earning the ICVM Best Picture Award?
RIK SWARTZWELDER (RS): Any kind of award or critical affirmation is always a blessing, no question.  It’s a validation of your work by professional colleagues and/or journalists and those kinds of endorsements definitely help to widen your audience and keep interest in your film alive.  But still, the greatest encouragement (for us) remains the direct connection we have with the everyday fans of OLD FASHIONED.  The nurturing and supportive community that has evolved around our film continues to amaze and inspire.

Old Fashioned was shot in/near New Philadelphia, Ohio (Tuscarawas County). What was the reasoning behind that decision?
RS: We were looking at shooting the film in Tennessee, Michigan, or Ohio.  I grew up in Tuscarawas County, which is a beautiful nook of rolling hills and small town charm in the northeast corner of Ohio.  At the end of the day, the overwhelming community support and sentimental draw for me were just too much to deny.  It’s where the film had to be shot.

If there was one thing you’d like viewers of Old Fashioned to take-away from the film, what would that be, and why?
RS: It’s so hard to pick just one thing… and it all depends on the viewer, really.  Each and everyone one of us bring an infinite variety of baggage, experiences, and perspectives when we sit down to watch a movie.  These things sometimes entrap us and sometimes free us when it comes to what we take away from a cinematic experience.  Not trying to dodge the question, but I genuinely believe the answer would vary a great deal from person to person.  To give on universal idea, I simply quote from Amber in the film: “The world has enough greatness, not enough goodness.  That’s my theory.”




Can you describe your screenwriting process?  Do you have a routine? Or special place? Or time of day that works for you?
RS: It depends on the project.  When I’m in my routine, I generally like to write in the mornings.  In terms of locale, I can write anywhere, but… it needs to be quiet and absent of human distraction.  The whole “coffee shop” writer thing has never really worked for me.

In another interview you mentioned that, as a filmmaker, you’re not only interested in the filmmaking process, but also in the welfare of the actors in the film. Can you explain?
RS: When it comes to “faith-based” or “Christian” films, so much of the discussion centers around content - what we should or shouldn’t watch.  I’m much more interested in the process of filmmaking… and how we should strive to honor Christ in that process.  This could apply to interactions with the crew and cast both, in all kinds of ways.  One example would be the idea of not asking an actor to do anything that you wouldn’t ask Christ to do (if He were an actor).  That’s a pretty aggressively outside the box idea in our current times, but… I think it’s worth asking.  The process of acting is psychologically tricky business and I think producers and directors should seek to protect the spiritual realities of their casts (and crews) as well as entertain audiences.

There have been a number of collaborations involved with Old Fashioned. The novelization with Rene Gutteridge. A resource book (The Old Fashioned Way) written by Ginger Kolbaba, and the Facebook page spinoff (An Old Fashioned Discussion about Love,Courtship and Marriage) hosted by Gretchen Eicher. What do you think about so much activity linked to your film?
RS: Without a doubt, the biggest blessings of the whole OLD FASHIONED journey have been around these spin-off communities.  I mean, here we are—more than a year later—and those communities are still blossoming, and lasting impact and ministry is still happening.  It’s humbling to know that a small and very imperfect film like ours can so engage people at such a deep, spiritual level.

Do you have a favorite scene in Old Fashioned? Or a scene that you’re especially proud of?
RS: This one really is impossible to answer.  I haven’t seen the film in a long time now, but back when I was watching it over and over as we finished… my favorite moments would never remain the same.  A lot of people did a lot of good work in OLD FASHIONED… just can’t single one out.

Looking back, a year after Old Fashioned’s release date, how did you grow personally, and what did you learn professionally in the process of making your film?
RS: Personally, at a deep level that I’d never approached before (even though I’ve been a Christian for many years), I’ve come to understand the idea of finding our “identity in Christ” in ways that have been profound and remarkably freeing.  Professionally, I have a new respect and appreciation for the challenges of exploring explicitly spiritual themes in film and the nuance and wisdom needed in releasing those kinds of stories into the reality of today’s culture and increasingly non-stop cyber-existence.

Do you have any words of wisdom for new filmmakers? Especially those who would like to make films that appeal to faith-based audiences?
RS: Wisdom, I don’t know.  Bruised and bloodied lessons from the trenches?  More than we probably have room for right now.  Just a few thoughts…

Practice.  It’s never been easier or less expensive to make films.  Get your hands on some gear and practice.  Make as many mistakes and fail as much as possible while the stakes are still low and you are off the radar.  Legend has it that Frank Capra made over 100 “one-reelers” (appx. 10-minute shorts) before he directed his first feature.

Know your audience.  The “faith-based” audience can be fickle and the entire process of getting approval from “gate keepers” and the unique concerns of the genre are ignored at your own peril.  If your goal is to reach this audience (and it doesn’t have to be, but if it is) you simply can’t afford to not educate yourself in advance on these issues.  Granted, this audience is rapidly evolving… all the more reason to do the research in advance.  In the long run, you will save yourself a lot of frustration, time, and… money.

Know the times.  Beware of creating your film in a “Christian” bubble.  Even if your primary audience is faith-based, ultimately the film will live in a world in which everyone will not likely agree with all of your film’s themes and ideas.  Without compromising or denying orthodoxy, we should remain aware of “the spirit of the age” and be creative in how we develop and unfold our stories.  I’m consistently trying to get better at this myself and learn from others who are also seeking to grow along these lines.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention? Any projects in the works?
RS: We are currently considering several new projects and trying to discern which one to proceed with first.  We also remain very committed to our existing OLD FASHIONED community and want to continue to engage with them and develop new content that will be a genuine blessing to them.

If you haven't yet had an opportunity to see OLD FASHIONED, here's the trailer

Photo Credits:
top - Rik Swartzwelder at Northampton International Film Festival
bottom - Rik Swartzwelder (center) conferring with crew on set of OLD FASHIONED




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