Filmmaker to Watch at Cannes 2010: Barry Walker
By Nicole Holland
IFQ: Tell me how you got started in your career as a filmmaker.
Barry Walker: I got started really late in life, although I’ve always messed around with stories and cameras and of course, acting. I never really had the confidence to pursue filmmaking as a career. I’ve done just about everything to turn a buck, but when I turned 40 a couple years ago, I had that mid-life moment where I said, “Okay, what do I really want to be when I grow up?” and “filmmaker” was the answer. I was troubled with the idea of going to NY Film School or LA Film Academy to learn what I thought I already knew. Not that they aren’t great schools, I just didn’t feel like I had enough time left. I just decided to take the money I would have spent there and shoot a group of videos. The videos in this year’s Cannes Short Film Corner are a result of that. Money well spent, I think.
IFQ: How did the ideas of The Dreamers, Twitter Chick and Solara come about? What inspired each project?
BW: The Dreamers, a one-shot video, started like any other music video, with some cool artsy drawings on a piece of paper. When I showed it to my DP he said, “Nice, but if you really want to impress me, make it a one-shot.” He showed me some Michel Gondry stuff and that was it. I was hooked. It’s hard not to think in “One-shot” mode now.
Twitter Chick was the brain-child of Erik Johnson and Theo Von, a couple of comedians out of L.A. They approached me with the idea and I was sold from the start. They’re pretty funny guys. Throw in some bikinis, a couple of sports cars, and a hot tub… you got a hit, right?
Solara was my first dance piece. My wife, Shauna, is a modern-dance choreographer, and she had this idea to shoot out in the middle of the desert. It sounded cool. When we started talking about it and realized we would have to make a rain machine, transport it to the middle of the Mojave, and actually make it work, I was like, “Let’s do it!”
IFQ: How did you get a star-studded cast onboard The Dreamers?
BW: My younger brother is the lead singer for the Dreamers and he is good friends with all of them. I made him ask. When I found out there was a chance I could get Taryn Manning (Hustle & Flow, Boomkat) , DJ Qualls (Hustle & Flow, Road Trip, My Name Is Earl) , and Mercedes McNab (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) to actually appear in my video, I did what every intelligent and proud director would do. I got down on my knees and begged. I stalked them. I promised them things I could never deliver. They were really so cool to help out.
IFQ: Why are you attracted to the music video genre?
BW: The music video genre has been an incredibly entertaining stepping-stone for me. I felt like it was the first important challenge I had to conquer. It’s so tough to put any video project together with the kind of budgets that I had. I really pride myself in delivering the biggest bang for the buck. It gets me just as excited as it does the client. I could hang out here forever and I hope to do lots of music videos in the future, but I’ve got my sights set on something a bit more long form.
IFQ: Why did you choose to independently create and produce your music videos?
BW: Because that’s what I do. I’m a filmmaker! Nobody would give me the money to do it for them.
IFQ: Which directors influence your work?
BW: From Cassavetes to Kurosawa, the Coen Brothers to Wes Anderson. Gondry to Jones. The list goes on forever.
IFQ: Any upcoming projects?
BW: Hopefully, I’ll be directing some more music videos in the near future. Who knows? Maybe we’ll land some big fish out here in Cannes. Right now, I just want to work. I feel blessed!
**The Dreamers, Twitter Chick and Solara are playing in the Short Film Corner.
*Photo Credit: Barry Walker