My name is Nicole Campbell an Independent award-winning director and screenwriter based in Los Angeles, California. Since I was little, I was always creating content with my friends from school. I liked creating small and simple stories, acting them with my friends and then editing so we could see our work.
When I got out of school, I got into University to study Media and Audiovisual Communication. While studying this, I wanted to explore more of cinema. Therefore, I moved to Los Angeles, California to study filmmaking at The New York Film Academy. I have written and directed 14 productions, where I have done short films, and music videos. I currently work as a freelancer, and have been able to explore other areas such as commercials and talk shows.
indieactivity: Why did you get into filmmaking and screenwriting?
Nicole Campbell (NC): I’ve always loved creating stories, when I was at school I used to draw a lot and create comic books for my friends and family. I’m a little bit shy and I wasn’t the type of person who would just go to the middle of the room and tell stories.
Nicole Campbell – Director’s Reel 2018
I think my way of expressing myself was in a more silent way. Creating characters on paper and visual images to share my thoughts. But what I think got me into it comes before that. I got into filmmaking without knowing about it when I used to play with my friends shooting shorts but got distanced from it because of personal conflicts.
How does an indie filmmaker distribute his/her film?
Nicole Campbell (NC): I’m new in the area of distributing my film but in my case I study my audience and try to send it to the most festivals I can. Festivals are the best way of exposing your film, finding a buyer or networking around with people who might help you sell your film.
Another good thing is to win awards with that film, that will bring curiosity to the audience because you will pop up more than others. All this must be done while constantly posting stuff about your product, the further people you get attention from the closer you will be to distributing.
When in the filmmaking process, does an indie filmmaker need to start planning for distribution?
Nicole Campbell (NC): I think when you have your story written you might start planning where to distribute it. With the final draft of your script you completely know your audience.
Indie filmmaking is a model based on zero-budgeting or small budgets. How do I get my film in theaters with such a budget?
Nicole Campbell (NC): Crowdfunding campaigns might work to raise some money for getting your film in theaters but it is sometimes difficult to get the amount you need. That’s why it’s good to get your film in festivals and get people interested in investing in your film. Sometimes it is better to invest a little more to get your film out there.
How can filmmakers finance their projects?
Nicole Campbell (NC): As I mentioned before crowdfunding is one of the most common options to get money for your film but the most important thing to me is to be passionate about it. When you are passionate about your next project and transmit that feeling to people who surround you, they will start trusting you and you might get them interested in it as well.
What films have you written?
NC: The Girl Next Door, 2015, Shadows, 2015, The Stalker, 2015, Brothers, 2015, Murder Room, 2016, Bloody Woods, 2016, Split, 2017, Stigma, 2017, El Sexo es Magia, 2018 and Shining Ashes, 2018.
Watch El Sexo es Magia – D.E.A Family
What are the films that you have made?
NC: I’ve created around 13 short films and 1 music video. My short films are usually about characters in anxiety. For example, in Split(2017), my main character is trying to get back with her ex boyfriend and tries to be part of the world he is not welcoming her to. She is anxious about what he feels about her and the LSD trip she gets into complicates stuff. I also like exploring thrillers. I’ve experienced a lot of sleep paralysis while growing up that no longer scares me.
I’ve explored this topic in different films like Shadows (2015) and Stigma (2017). But nowadays my favorite genre to explore is drama. I feel like one of the most important things are characters. Therefore, I need to be interested in a character to be able to watch a film. I want to be passionate and root for a character to be into it. That’s why nowadays I try to base my movies more on the character and its development rather than the story itself.
Talk to us about your concept on collaboration?
NC: There is a lot of talent outside in the world that is lacking the opportunity to be seen. By collaborating between new filmmakers or independent filmmakers, we give the opportunity to be seen. Therefore, If I like a project that you are passionate about, I would not doubt helping out. You never know who you might meet there.
How do you find the process of filmmaking as an indie filmmaker?
NC: It is harsh and frustrating but at the same time is exciting. I get it. We don’t have money and we might not have the possibilities that other filmmakers might have. The difference is that we are passionate about every little inch of our project. It’s ours and if we don’t make it work it won’t work.
Making an indie film is putting all your attention and self into it. Is to appreciate everyone’s effort to help you out. At the same time, it’s all on you therefore it ends being really stressful. You need to succeed. You need to pay your crew and you need to try and get that money back.
Describe your recent work, take us through pre-production production and post production. Marketing too?
NC: My latest film is a drama which takes place in Peru. Shining Ashes is about a father, member of the terrorist group Shining Path, who receives a call where they tell him that his son hasn’t come back from school and therefore he is forced to go out and find his son before the government curfew starts.
This short film was my thesis film and therefore it was one of my most important projects.
Watch the trailer for Shinning Ashes directed by Nicole Campbell
The pre-production started a year before I was able to shoot it. My DP was living in LA and my other heads were living in Peru, therefore, communicating between us was sometimes hard but we were able to manage it. I flew a month before shooting to be able to prepare my crew and actors. We rehearsed, did location scouting and got everything prepared for the 4 day shot we had coming by.
The four day shooting was interesting and as all shoots had its ups and downs but overall I was pretty happy with everyone’s passion and cooperation through the shoot. There was one day we were supposed to finish shooting at 3am but we had to push the time till 5 am. Everyone was really receptive.
The post production was done by my editor, Gabriele Fabbro. I trusted him to play with my project and he focused on playing with the time the main character was lacking off. I was also pretty happy with his decisions and what turned out to be my film.
What are your future goals?
NC: Right now I’m working as a freelancer while I write a feature film. I intend to do this feature from the same topic I did before but with other types of characters. I’m taking things to the Peruvian rainforest and how two kids that were kidnapped by the terrorist group Shining Path changed their lives. I want to explore this topic which is still happening in my country and inform people about it. Most people don’t know that The Shining Path is still active in the VRAEM in Peru.
Tell us about what you think indie filmmaker need in today’s world of filmmaking?
NC: I consider passion to be a must in this career. Filmmakers must be passionate about this art and want to express themselves. Things for indie filmmakers are harder because we lack resources and money therefore we need something to keep us going while everything seems to be falling apart. It is also very important networking and being part of the most shoots you can. You gain experience and you meet new people who might be a door to the future you are looking for.
Briefly write about your career?
NC: Like I’ve mentioned before I have been able to direct around 14 productions and even though at the start it didn’t seem to be clicking I found people I want to keep working with.
When I shot my short film Shining Path, I had the option to choose famous actors from Peru and increase the probabilities of its success but I didn’t want to use them. I wanted new faces because I wanted people to actually watch my movie and pay attention to the new characters I was developing.
I didn’t want them going and expecting a famous actor to do a similar part he’s been used to and be seen as just another adventure that actor might be taking part of. By doing this, I got actors who were hungry for growth. Actors who wanted to show what they were made off and an opportunity for others to see who they were. My protagonist, Jorge Ezcurra, won for best actor in the Los Angeles Independent Film Awards.
Even though I consider myself mostly a film director, I was able to direct a music video for the Peruvian hip hop group D.E.A. FAMILY which I enjoyed while living back home. By being a filmmaker, I was able to contact them and do the visuals for one of my favorite songs. They were really amazing and talented people.
I think that every opportunity I`ve had on set has made us grow and learn from someone new. I’m excited to see what else is on my way and open to learn new things from other filmmakers.
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