An Exclusive Interview – With Mark Freiburger !

… director of the feature film “Dog Days Of Summer” released in 2007. I am so glad that I got the chance to have him as an interview partner. Note: this is an exclusive interview, do not re-use it without my permission ! However, quoting and linking to this post is allowed – I would love to see you supporting me, my blog; and of course: this very talented filmmaker that I am now speaking with. For your orientation, my questions are hold in bold.

Hello Mark, it is nice to have you as an interview partner !

Thank you for the opportunity to sit down and discuss the film.  I enjoyed looking over your website.

Thanks a lot ! Now, maybe you could introduce yourself briefly for those who are new to you and your work.

My name is Mark Freiburger.  I’m an independent filmmaker living in Los Angeles.  I graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts, School of Filmmaking in 2005 and the film “Dog Days of Summer” is my first feature film.

Could you say, in one or two sentences, what your general intention and/or motivation as a filmmaker is ?

I gravitate toward more dramatic and/or family oriented stories.  I love to watch all kinds of films, but as far as the films that mean the most to me are films that have a cause or specific purpose to change something that may be an injustice going on around us, films that are thrillers or more dramatic in nature, historical films and family films. Making a film takes up so much time in your life… and life as we all know it is a little too short, so every film I choose to direct I must be able to connect to on a personal level first.

Well, it is your film “Dog days Of Summer” that we are talking about today. So, what is the history behind it ? Some might find it confusing that there also is a short film from 2004, which has the same title…

I did make a short film of the same name a few years back.  It actually doesn’t have much to do with the feature version at all anymore, but I did make the short in able to make investors feel secure that I could handle a feature film.  Dog Days of Summer was a story that had been on my mind for quite some time.  When I finally came around to writing the first draft of the screenplay I was very unhappy with it.  So I went to my two friends at the time and asked them to start over and write me a new story based on some of the ideas I was mulling around.  Those two writers were Travis Beacham and Christopher Waild.  Since writing Dog Days, Travis has sold a couple of his spec screenplays to studios and is currently one of the writers on the new ‘Clash of the Titans” remake starring Liam Neeson and Sam Worthington… and Christopher has gone on to become one of the writers for the hit tv series “NCIS”.  At the time that we all sat down and worked on this story together, we were all just students at the North Carolina School of the Arts.

Could you just summarize in some short sentences what this film is about ?

I describe this film as a modern day allegory on the fall of man from the Garden of Eden, set in the American South.  We follow the story of a man returning home to the town he grew up in, which is about to be flooded the next day.  He’s return so that he can look for something that he lost here many years ago during a fateful summer.  This is not your typical ‘loss of innocence’ story… it’s a story about innocence lost in which the main character actually tries to go back and reclaim that innocence.  In order to do so, he must face everything that took it away.  If you’re at all familiar with the Old Testament of the Bible, this particular story parallels the moments from the time of man living in the garden, falling from the garden, being expelled from the garden and eventually the flood coming to wash it all away and bring with it a new beginning… a chance for new life.

Beside the good adult actors in this film, I am also drawing my eye on the rising talents. With “Devon Gearhart” and “Colin Ford” you certainly have two very talented youngstars involved in this production. How did you find them, and how did the casting go ?

I looked everywhere for the right 2 young actors for these roles.  It was a very grueling process.  Colin and Devon are two of the most talented and intelligent young actors working in the business.  They are now represented by one of the best talent agencies in Hollywood and continue to work today.  Devon appeared in Clint Eastwood’s “Changeling” and comes out soon in the new Robert Rodriguez film “Shorts”.  Colin is working steadily as well and appeared in the “Push”, the Dakota Fanning & Chris Evans movie… he’s been doing lots of TV lately too.  I plan on working with both Devon and Colin again in a film called “Jimmy” that I will be directing next year.

Has it been tough to shoot with the kids, or did they also act on a certain level of “adult perfection” referring to their ways of acting ?

They were great to work with.  People normally say to try and not have kids in your movie because it’s harder to work with children, but if you have kids like Devon and Colin then you’re working with true professionals.  They worked hard and really dug deep to understand the material they were working with.  The rest of the cast and crew really loved working with them as well.

Being one of the most important characters of the film, “Eli Cottonmouth” somehow functions as a mirror that is held in front of people. Where does this character come from, and where did you get the idea to ascribe him such an important function in the film ?

Going back to our allegory about the fall of man… Eli represents that serpent/snake who came into the garden and exposed man of his/her sins.  In our story he also serves as almost a prophet-like figure b/c he not only shows the town what they have become on the inside, but he shows them how that will transform to their exterior and what they will ultimately become on the outside as well.  Even the name “Cottonmouth” comes from a type of deadly snake found in the American South.

“Dog Days Of Summer” also deals with the topics childhood, crime/loss and imagination. What is your standpoint referring to the combination of these three terms ? And what did you want to express by bringing in the character “Phillip” ?

I think I addressed this somewhat in one of the previous questions, but to recap again I wanted to tell a story where a character experiences these things, loses his innocence, but tries to go back and regain it again because he realizes that life without that child-like faith in the ability to believe is a miserable place to be.

Well, I rated your film with 71% (out of 100). Are you satisfied with this rating, or do you think it deserves more/less percentages ?

It’s strange for me as a filmmaker to see anyone apply a rating like that to my film.  Film is just as a subjective medium as Music is… people don’t rate music like that, so it’s strange for me to see how people like to rate Films on a such a simple scale.  What one person may love, another person my hate so I’ve never really judged ratings all that closely… I like to form my own opinion.  However, to answer your question… if it was a 71% to you, then I guess that’s a good thing and am glad to hear that you enjoyed it.

Are there any new projects that you are working on these days ? What can we expect from you in the future ?

I’m currently producing (not directing) a teen thriller on location in the state of Kentucky.  The film stars “Twilight” star Michael Welch.  I recently co-wrote a screenplay that’s getting made later this year.  It’s a courtroom drama/thriller about a criminal defense Attorney who takes his life from hopelessness to hope.  Lastly, I’m planning on directing a drama called “Jimmy” which is based on a novel of the same name by author Robert Whitlow.  The story is about a mentally challenged teenager who interacts with supernatural beings he calls “Watchers”.  I plan to cast Devon Gearhart in the title role and Colin Ford as his best friend, so it will be great to work with them again.

Mark, thanks a lot for this exclusive interview. As I said, I feel honoured that I was given the chance to talk to you personally. Have a nice day, and good look on your future projects !

Thank you again for the opportunity to speak with you.  I love watching films just as much as you do so it’s always a pleasure to sit down and discuss these things with people who enjoy the cinema and appreciate the art of it.  I look forward to reading more of your reviews.

(c) Ikarus, Mark Freiburger 2009