Daniel Roemer has a unique and powerful style of directing. This style has lead him to USA Film’s Top 10 Emerging Director’s list by age 20. 2-time top 20 Project Greenlight Best Director finalist out of 60k entrants. (Ben Affleck/Matt Damon producers). Top 50 Best Director finalist for Spielberg’s On The Lot TV series (out of 12k entrants).
He has written/co-written 8 screenplays, 2 were developed at Fox Studios with him attached to direct. Recently, Daniel directed 8-episode TV series, Chaser distributed by Buffalo 8. Which streams on Prime Video, cable, and Tubi April 12, 2024. His work can be found at Best Buy, Target, and Barnes and Noble, Amazon and Lionsgate venues.
indieactivity: How did you get into directing? Do you have a particular style?
Daniel Roemer (DR): Ice skating and basketball. When I was a kid, filming sports and putting them to music was something I adored. The music montage cut to the kinetics of sports just really turned me on. Additionally, my friends and I made action movies and comedy shorts on VHS and SVHS cameras, pushing the boundaries of ridiculousness and satire. In general, now, my style tends to be very angular, like that of a Coen brothers or Wes Anderson film, with high attention to the acting because I highly value performance and casting. I have a distinct fingerprint that most people say they can tell within a few minutes or less.
Chaser Official Trailer TV Series Sci-Fi Thriller
What inspired you to write the ‘Chaser’ story? How long did it take?
Daniel Roemer (DR): I made a short film called The Select Fit years ago about a video editor who could rewind some angels trying to give him a message. He cut their message into a self-serving story. I applied this idea to the Chaser concept, as the short was very successful. Creating deep characters and an interesting story became the new challenge, as writing a full script is much more than just the initial concept. It took about a year to write the initial script, and it actually started as a feature film that we later turned into a series. Suzanna Hammond helped me restructure it into episodes that played out much better than the original cut, which was too long. Rob Hemmick and Eric Sparks were also key creators/writers, helping galvanize the story and characters with me.
Does a real-life person inspire the character Eddi Sebastian?
Daniel Roemer (DR): Yes. Me. Maybe more than any other character I’ve written, Eddi reflects the many facets of me, for better or worse.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while writing the story, and how did you overcome them?
Daniel Roemer (DR): We couldn’t get the cut of the film shorter than 2 ½ hours in the editing room. Anything under that felt like a quick-cutting trailer that just droned on. So, we went back to the drawing board and restructured the narrative, creating 8, 25-30 min. episodes. It now comes in around 3 hours total, but the pace is just right. We had to think outside the box and abandon our intellect to fix a problem. And I learned that often challenges, in the end, bring an even greater result.
What were you looking for when it came to casting the roles of Eddi Sebastian, Anabel Ruysch, and Gar Madden?
Daniel Roemer (DR): The search for the perfect Anabel and Gar was extensive, with many talented actresses vying for the role of Anabel. However, the moment Gia Bay stepped into the audition room, it was as if a true Hollywood star had arrived. Within mere seconds, I knew she embodied everything I envisioned for Anabel. I was trying to find that je ne sais quoi.
As for Gar, I have a history of successful collaborations with Daniel de Weldon, including on The Select Fit, which served as loose inspiration for Chaser. In fact, I crafted Gar’s character with Daniel in mind. Yet, to ensure he still resonated with the role, I insisted on auditioning him. The moment he began, any doubts vanished as he was the shockingly original, ideal choice.
During their auditions, both Gia and Daniel displayed an instant connection to their characters. Gia brought a raw, vulnerable depth to Anabel, while Daniel’s intensity captured Gar’s turmoil. Their on-screen chemistry is electric, portraying the complex relationship between an abusive boyfriend and a troubled girlfriend. It was clear they were the perfect duo.
When casting Eddi Sebastian, I sought an actor who could embody the character’s complexity, vulnerability, intelligence, comedy, and charm, navigating between charismatic exterior and troubled, introspective moments. The role required internal struggle with nuance and incredible depth, handling the philosophical and emotional weight of the story.
What was it like working with Russ Russo in the role of Eddi Sebastian, as he brought the main character to life?
Daniel Roemer (DR): Russ is a total pro, and he took the reins, often making sure the show happened without us even knowing it. In the editing room, we saw the hundreds of tiny little things he did, from blocking to helping other characters excel by creating improv moments and off-screen faces. He is a total pro at all aspects of acting and has sharp technical chops as well as being a producer, so he knows what edits need and even more so, the story, with characters that change.
The story shows some things shouldn’t be undone. How’d you approach the moral implications of Eddi’s ability to re-edit his life?
Daniel Roemer (DR): Often in life, we can only learn lessons by going through the process. Eddi figures out what he believes about himself and the universe by taking a real rollercoaster ride. You just can’t fake wisdom. By staring into the abyss, and only after losing everything, does Eddi finally know who he is.
How was it working with Gia Bay (as Anabel) and Daniel de Weldon (as Gar)?
Daniel Roemer (DR): During shooting, both actors added complicated yet rooted layers to the performance, guarding their characters to make sure the story made sense for every moment. Each actor has their own language, and as a director, I listen and pay attention to how the actor needs to communicate. Gia has amazing choices and arrives at fantastic performances with thoughtfulness. Daniel often responds to quick prompts, like sounds and in-the-moment events, which creates an electric, responsive moment.
Do you have any memorable moments from filming?
Daniel Roemer (DR): Our key grip, Hugo Nida, danced to the beat of his own drum. The shoot was stressful, but Hugo was a mellow force, chilling us all out and sucking up any and all anxiety, not even knowing he was doing so usually! Often, Hugo was found in other rooms, sleeping and snoring or just chatting it up with whoever was around (much to the sound department’s bane at points). One time, Hugo almost got locked in the house at wrap time, as we couldn’t find him, and we had to take the lights back. Finally, we realized he was upstairs in the set, sleeping on a couch.
Do you have any advice for directors around the world?
Daniel Roemer (DR): There is only one of you in the world. There has only been one of you in the world, and there will only ever be one of you in the world. So be yourself.
Now that ‘Chaser’ has been released, what’s next for you?
Daniel Roemer (DR): Multiple projects in the works. Chaser Season 2 is being developed. I’m extremely excited to start shopping it around. Also, I have a sports comedy brewing and a wide appeal, modest budget thriller.
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