ABOUT
In the past, I was apprehensive about pursuing my dreams. Like many, my primary goal was simply to survive, maintain a decent life, and alleviate any concerns my family and friends might have had about my well-being. I believed that seeking assistance was impolite and shameful. Independence and self-reliance had always been my guiding principles, yet nothing could have prepared me for the insidious complacency of being like a frog in gradually boiling water. My life lacked creativity, and I yearned to rekindle my spirit. I needed to create something that would restore my sense of wholeness. While a nine-to-five job is indeed a privilege, it is only by engaging in work that we love that we truly live.
One day, I conceptualized a faux radio station and enlisted an actress to perform voice-over work as the DJ. The process of mixing songs, scripting the DJ’s dialogue, designing the station artwork, and having the privilege of collaborating with a talented voice-over actor was exhilarating. Constructing these various elements from a singular vision brought me immense joy, so much so that the project's significance never crossed my mind—I was simply enjoying myself. Engaging in work I was passionate about provided me with a sustained sense of fulfillment and happiness, leaving me eager for more.
So, I began creating. I started with a simple script about transitioning to adulthood, which evolved into the project "Phoenix Muse." This endeavor inspired the creation of my production company, Neon Slate. Neon Slate is a reflection and symbol of the genres I love—Film Noir, Horror, Dark Comedies, Spaghetti Westerns, Art House, Cyberpunk, Neo-Noir, and more—and the film movements that inspire me on a technical level, such as German Expressionism, Surrealism, Classic Hollywood, New Hollywood, Underground, Giallo, and Exploitation.
My aim is for this passion and influence to serve as the foundation for future projects and to connect me with talented individuals who share my cinematic convictions. While "Phoenix Muse" is my primary focus, I envision Neon Slate as a home for a diverse range of content, including short films, small business advertisements, music videos, and web series. Visions are worth fighting for, so let’s collaborate and bring our creative aspirations to life.
ORIGINS
Humble beginnings and nostalgic fondness. Understanding where you came from is the best way to understand who you are. Your values, codes and progress to evolve. Here is some of my early work that explains my artistic motives, intentions and style.
The Ache
A university project. The goal was to achieve a visual sense of transformation that could not go longer than ninety seconds. Never seeing eye to eye with my professor I chose to entertain myself and tell the story of an individual who may or may not suffer from schizophrenia. The complexity of their life or projected madness. The dark psychological foundation was a great way to implement classic horror techniques and build suspense.
The Last House on Redgrave
Three witches manipulate the mind of a serial killer to help them restore their business and save their sister from a gang. All goes well until the serial killer wakes up with amnesia and must discover who he really is. A backyard film with a complex plot made by high schoolers. The Last House on Redgrave takes direct influence from 1970s exploitation horror, as seen in the grind house style trailer. As much as I took influence with that era in film me and my friends were also mimicking the creativity of those low budget films since we too were forced to be creative out of necessity.
"The screen is a magic medium. It has such power that it can retain interest as it conveys emotions and moods that no other art form can hope to tackle.
- Stanley Kubrick -