Actors on set: Paul Fienga

All right, Paul.

So I have to ask with these projects that you worked on so far, the experiences you gained, what would you say was an obstacle that you had to overcome?

I'd say get the ideas first, work on the ideas and very much, you know, Because a lot of us will have ideas, but you got to write it down.

And then when you write it down, you're like, okay, the idea is too short and you got to really, really, really make a project out of it for some of them that I've worked on.

And some of the other parts that I've just come as an actor, it's very different because Of course, you're very excited to work on these very different projects, but you come in and you leave, and then the rest of it is completely out of your control.

You got the director there, you got the producers, the writers, the editors, and they can kind of, they'll do their magic around it.

When it's a project of yours, you got completely control over it what goes on which characters you want to run on the script um the budget where you want to shoot it which crew you want to work on that's very different and um But it is very rewarding as well because it is very hard to start and people are interested and then you'll send them the script and then you have to wait weeks till they get back to you.

And it's very different, especially if you're trying to finance your own projects because you don't have a studio or you don't have a big budget to... know pay everyone good sums of money but when you're working on an independent project it's it's different but there is kind of like that um brotherhood or that kind of entourage that you don't have on those other projects when you're when you work on what two or three days on a film set or tv set you're in and out when you work on a project of your own you're there from the beginning till the end and It's great.

I've learned different art forms.

I've learned directing, filmmaking.

I've learned editing.

I've worked with writers as well.

I've worked with producers.

I've learned how to set locations how does that work as well I've learned the hair and makeup not that I don't do them I leave that to the pros but I observe them how they do their work you know the costume department costumes for film is like everything and it's great to to get to work with people from so many different departments and get to kind of watch what they do and learn from them because I

I

am an actor and a filmmaker, but it's a team sport, filmmaking.

And if you don't have a good hair and makeup team or a good costume department or if you don't have good stuntmen or if you don't have good script writers or if you don't have good producers or if you don't have... good first or second assistant directors, you got nothing.

So yes, it's us in front of the screen, but all the work that makes the project special is the people behind the scenes.

These people are golden.

They're the ones that make the magic and they're the ones that really put salt and pepper to the project.

That is definitely true.

Thanks for sharing that.

And I'm glad that you do that.

You put in the effort to see what all the departments do.

That's a big plus on you as an actor and a filmmaker.