Filmmaker Hank Orion talks about his life & filmmaking

Filmmaker Hank Orion talks about his life & filmmaking

We are sharing our recent interview with Hank Orion, a writer and director known for Despair (2017) and The Job (2017).

Hank Orion

Pro Media Mag : First of all tell us about the start of your film career.
Hank Orion : My career started around when I was 12 years old, back then in Italy, I went to the cinema for the first time in my life with my mum. I don’t remember what film was it, but I absolutely fell in love with the atmosphere and the craft. And for the past seven years I’ve been trying to make good films that inspire people. I also wrote my first screenplay when I was around 12 years old, and it was my first full movie, feature film script that was terrible, but it was something. Then I was in Los Angeles on and off, and eventually I made my first film Despair in Scotland in 2017.

Pro Media Mag : Who or what inspired you to get into filmmaking?
Hank Orion : It’s a good question, and I think there is no one answer for that. Apparently it’s Robert Rodriguez, he was the one that inspired me with his book about filmmaking. I just was fascinated about one’s desire to make movies. I hope one day to meet him and thank him in person. Then there is this art part of me, I’m always attracted to visual things. I wanted to tell my stories through the medium of film. I wanted to entertain people. To make them forget whatever bad they are going through their daily life, and just enjoy the next two hours.

Pro Media Mag : You have lived and worked all over the world, whatís the best part of the world as per your experience?
Hank Orion : Handsdown – Los Angeles! If there is one place on Earth I want to leave, it’s LA. I love the weather I love the people I love the opportunities I love the challenges I love everything about Los Angeles. I spend there a good chunk of my life, there were bad and good and I would never regret that. What happens happens for a reason, and if I’m in London right now then there is a reason for that. In fact I already made two good films here, and I will make more this year, which is absolutely amazing.

Pro Media Mag : Our readers would like to know about your recent project?
Hank Orion : Currently I’m working on a film called Honey and Wine. It’s about Steve, who is stuck in a corporate loophole, while a business trip he meets Amanda, an escort worker that has more to her than just the look, the drive and the sexuality.

Pro Media Mag : What kind of films attracts you the most?
Hank Orion : I always loved thrillers and science fiction, but at the same time I am fascinated and attracted to all film. Just love the opportunity to explore different stories through different genre.

Pro Media Mag : You are multi-talented doing so many things including writing and directing films. How do you manage it all?
Hank Orion : Sometimes it drives me crazy, it’s very challenging I would say. Being independent filmmaker means to do everything yourself pretty much without relying on. And it took me years to learn this. At the end of the day it’s all about being self organised.

Pro Media Mag : What’s the best part of being a filmmaker?
Hank Orion : The best part of being a filmmaker I would say is be able to tell stories. To be able to distract people from every day life and to motivate, inspire and influence. Many film makers, especially young filmmakers don’t realise how hard film making actually is. Because technology changed so much, it became extremely challenging and hard to make it today. Anybody with an iPhone can go over there and make a movie. But the best part is, no matter how hard it is, it brings you joy.

Pro Media Mag : What’s up next?
Hank Orion : This year will be insane! We have five movies in preproduction, and because of this outbreak our plans are completely messed up. But we have to stick to our release schedule and will do our best to make those movies happen.

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