Chad Meisenheimer, Life, Filmmaking and Future Making Movies and TV

When we first started this interview in early July, I was in a different mindset and state of health. Between July 2nd-July 5th, 2019 I suffered three heart attacks and had two stents placed in my heart with doctors telling me science-wise I shouldn’t even be alive and that I had beat the odds. Beating the odds should be my mantra in life and is the perfect description of my career and its weird trajectory. 

indieactivity: Give an autobiography of yourself?
Chad Meisenheimer (CM): I’m a Los Angeles based Actor, Comedian, and Content Creator originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. I also co-host the comedy podcast 20 Minutes with Chad with Simon Watson on Extra Features Podcast. Been working professionally and independently for over 15 years in film, television, and new media. 

I knew I wanted to make movies since the age of 7 after seeing Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. Growing up in diverse, lower middle class neighborhood in Northern California, I didn’t have any connections to Hollywood nor did I have the money to go to a big film school. I knew I had to go the acting route to have a path into directing. At the age of 15, I graduated high school and started to attend Solano Community College where I majored in Film/TV Production.

Chad Meisenheimer Director Reel

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Two of my favorite directors attended there, Kevin S. Tenney (Night of the Demons) and Joe Carnahan (Narc, Smokin’ Aces). Then two years later, I attended the Actors Training Program in partnership with Solano College Theater. A two year acting conservatory that is now defunct. By the age of 19, I had both my AA Degree in Film/TV Production and certificate in Acting. 

Why did you get into filmmaking and screenwriting?
Chad Meisenheimer (CM): I’ve always loved cinema, performing and comedy. It was my calling.

I get all kinds of request from filmmakers, but the most prominent question I often get is ‘How does an indie filmmaker distribute his/her film?
Chad Meisenheimer (CM): There is no right or wrong way to distribute your projects nowadays. A lot of veteran industry people will say differently, so take their advice and feedback with a grain of salt. We have many options in platforms and outlets to reach our niche demographic. I use the word Niche Demographic on purpose cause no matter what your content is, it will have an audience for it.

Now, on the flip side, we also have a market that is overpopulated and over saturated with content. So, you really need to have a point of view and know the demographic you are tying to reach. For my content, I rely heavily on reviews, interviews and podcasts to reach out to my demographic.

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At what period in the filmmaking process, does an indie filmmaker need to start planning for distribution?
Chad Meisenheimer (CM): First you’ve got to figure out your target demographic: horror, comedy, drama, action, etc. Then start planning distribution while in the development/pre-production phase. This will help make your process easier with budgeting when it comes to exhibition (film prints, DVDs, DCP) marketing, press kits, film festival submissions and reviews.

For my award winning comedy short film Check Please! I knew our demographic would be the raunchy, R-Rated crowd. So, I reached out to the critics and bloggers, who had the followers for that content. Then from there, I searched out comedy film festivals to submit to also.

Indie filmmaking is a model based on zero-budgeting or small budgets. How do I get my film in theatres with such a budget?
Chad Meisenheimer (CM): A lot of my projects are very low budget. Surprisingly, I kinda like that. I feel I have to be more creative with the limitations. For example, I love this analogy, “people see a mouse trap and try to avoid it. I see it as a challenge and free the cheese“.

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Getting into movie theaters is definitely one of my big career goals, but really isn’t a big concern of mine. I want people to see my work. We have so many platforms now with streaming and a huge audience that prefers to stay home for entertainment. So, my advice is to start out small and work your way up the streaming ladder.

How can filmmakers finance their projects?
CM: Oh the magic question. [Laughing] It’s like looking for a magical unicorn. Once again, there is no right way or wrong way to do it. Unless, it’s illegal then that’s definitely a wrong way. I usually self-fund my projects because they have smaller budgets.

But, also I do short-form content such as short films, sketch comedy videos and web series. I’m also a perfectionist and control freak….you know a typical textbook Capricorn. Lol!

For my critically acclaimed horror short film Nite Nite starring Tommie Vegas (Party Night) and Brady Bond (CBS MacGyver), I crowdfunded. I was lucky we pulled it off! I have 15 years of professional content and connections to make it happened. I recommend creatives and content creators not to go this route unless they have a lot of good content out there or a good following. If not, I recommend begging and borrowing from friends and family. It’d be a lot easier and much more successful.

Watch the trailer for Nite Nite (2017) directed by Chad Meisenheimer

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What films have you written?
CM: I have written a lot of unproduced work, but officially on IMDB I have fourteen writing credits. A lot of those works can be seen on my Vimeo channel

hat are the films that you have made?
CM: As a Director (minus film student films), I have 17 credits on IMDB. Mostly short films, sketch comedy videos, web series and one TV pilot presentation. Which can be seen on my Vimeo. As a Producer, I have 18 credits on IMDB. But, also a lot of unreleased projects that never gotten distribution after the film festival circuit.

Talk to us about your concept on collaboration?
CM: I’m very big on collaboration and being flexible with other ideas. I don’t believe in the whole auteur theory and it’s my way or the highway mentality. It’s not a competition with me, I want everyone to feel like they are involved in the creative process.

It takes “whole” teams to make films. Plus, with having another pair of eyes, they could see something that you completely didn’t see. Sometimes as creatives we get tunnel vision. So have an open mind, listen to the ideas or notes then incorporate the things that work for the story.

Watch the trailer for Check Please! (2017) Chad Meisenheimer

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How do you find the process of filmmaking as an indie filmmaker?
CM: As a Content Creator you must enjoy the process and not be so obsessed with the results that it takes the fun and passion out of it. Sometimes I forget this myself, I start dwelling on the past or stressing about the future.

Or worse, you start labeling or comparing yourself with others. That’s a big no no as a creative and as an artist. Yes, this is my career and a skilled trade, but you have to have the right balance so you don’t end up getting burnt out.

Describe your recent work, or film, take us through pre-production production and post production. Marketing too?
CM: My short horror film Nite Nite was originally written as one of the three short horror scripts of my retro horror trilogy. The story was set in 1985 which was heavily inspired by John Carpenter, Wes Craven and Tom Holland. The story is about a seven year old boy who believes a monster is living in his closet and nobody believes him. Especially his babysitter.

We raised $2,500 from Kickstarter and another $1,000 (in self-funding) to bring it to production. We turned our Production Managers apartment bedroom into a 1985 kid’s bedroom and shot it in one day. We spent one month in post production before sending it out to critics and bloggers. Then, we sent it to film festivals from 2017-2019. It will be streaming September 1st, 2019 on HODTV.

Watch the trailer for Morning Call (2014) Chad Meisenheimer

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What are your future goals?
CM: After my heart attacks in July 2019, my perspective and priorities have changed. People say you see things differently when you almost die. Before, I would say I wanted to be a successful mainstream Hollywood Studio Director who also had a successful television acting career. I was very career driven and focused. This one quote from Buddha really resonated with me, The trouble is, you think you have time. So now, I just want to create, entertain and inspire by creating a personal connection with my audience.

Tell us about what you think indie filmmaker need in today’s world of filmmaking?
CM: Tell interesting stories, build a personal connection with your audience. It’s very important to be authentic and intimate with your content. Even if it’s a popcorn flick. Audiences can tell if you’re just phoning it in and getting a paycheck. Don’t try to please everyone, not everyone is going to like you or your work. You can’t take it personally. Enjoy the journey. We only get a lifetime, nothing more, nothing less.

Briefly write about your career?
CM: My career trajectory is crazy!  From 2000-2004 I was either making or working on student films.  Then from 2005-2009 I was mainly working on genre films. I produced features This Hollow Sacrament and Amateur Porn Star Killer 2.  I also wrote, directed and produced a few of my own short films. As I call it my early work.  Then during 2010-2013, I was burnt out on filmmaking and certain aspects of showbiz.  So, I decided to move back to Northern California and focus on being a comedian.

Comedy Web Series (2013) Series Finale Written, Directed and Produced by Chad Meisenheimer

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Then In 2013, I  wrote, directed, and produced a 5-episode comedy web series called Disguntled, starring an unknown comedian at the time, Kiry Shabazz. Who has gone on to win the NBC Stand Up Comedy competition, has a development deal with NBC and has recorded his special with Comedy Central.  This web series got me back down to LA to focus on acting and writing for television.

From 2014-2016 I did sketch comedy videos that made me SAG eligible, an agent and even hired on to direct a TV pilot presentation for Happy Madison Productions. 

The pilot was a dud and then spent most of 2016-2017 just acting and eventually went into career burnout again. Mid 2017, I fired my agent and I was thinking about moving to Las Vegas or Northern California again. When my close friend Tommie Vegas told me to make a couple short films.  That’s when I decided to do the comedy short film Check Please! starring Shane Ryan and horror short film Nite Nite starring Brady Bond (CBS MacGyver) and Tommie Vegas (Party Night). Shot both in July 2017 and were both released on the festival circuit in the Fall/winter.   

2018-2019 both shorts went on to critical acclaim, film festivals and even won some awards. Nite Nite is streaming on HODTV when it launched September, 1st 2019 and Check Please! is currently on vimeo waiting to find another platform.

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