Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Max Kaplan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Max thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I’ve never thought about things like a stock broker. If you have an idea and you think about how risky or dangerous it will be instead of chasing it and making it a reality there will be no benefit. Every creative project I set out to do must challenge me to level up my game. With that passion and need to succeed at something I’ve never done before I find vast reserves of energy and motivation to pull from to see my idea to completion.

For instance, I had a film I wanted to make right before Covid hit. It was my most ambitious project yet, and I had a whole cast and crew lined up ready to make a film. Instead of canceling production and possibly losing out on all the resources we had acquired to make the film, we decided to work with SAG-AFTRA on how we could achieve production safely amidst the pandemic. We were one of the first productions to begin filming after the pandemic started and the film will receive an online release at the end of this summer.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Max Kaplan, an independent filmmaker from Ohio. I’ve been making movies since I was 11 years old and am now embarking upon my thesis production at Ohio University’s School of Film. I write, direct, produce and edit narrative and documentary films. When I’m not working on one of my own projects I work on sets around the country (and world) freelancing. I have a day job as a bartender at a brewery to help pay bills and fund my projects.

I want to make films that entertain, I want to make films that inspire, I want to make films that change people and the world. My interests are broad and varied, but one thing I can promise is that any film you watch of mine I will have poured my heart and soul into. I don’t believe in building a project towards a specific audience, but in creating art from my influences and tastes and letting the right audience find and appreciate that work.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Miking films is labor-intensive and costly. Some say its the most expensive art form. For most of my short life I’ve funded my work myself. I mostly saved my own money, but sometimes would take donations from someone and make them Executive Producer or I would run a crowdfunding campaign.

When I became a film student at Ohio University I started learning how to write grants. I spent 3 months refining a grant pitch for my first feature documentary (which I had already been filming for 18 months). Because of how involved, passionate, and invested in the project I was, the grant board could see that and the fact that I was going to make this movie with or without them. That instilled in them the confidence to give me the money I requested. My very first time applying for the grant, I got it. Most people go years before they get their first “yes”.

Learning more about grants in the documentary world, I found that grants for individual artists are few and cheap. If you are really looking for a pot of gold to make your project, try to find what is called a “fiscal agent.” A fiscal agent is a non-profit organization (it can literally be any non-profit) that acts as a shell organization for your project. Applying for grants through a fiscal agent opens up your grant opportunities immensely, as there is much more grant money for non-profits than for individuals.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

“Steal Like an Artist” by Austin Kleon is an immensely influential book for me. In it, Austin champions the truth that “nothing new exists under the sun.” This may sound depressing to artists with that internal drive to be original and have new ideas, but I find it inspiring. Essentially, Austin gives us permission to borrow from our influences and inspiration. Copy and paste according to your tastes and if you do that enough, you’ll have something that is totally “you” and also original. I try to read the book a few times a year to remind myself that being an artist doesn’t have to be back-breaking work, you just have to follow your inner voice.

Another of Austin’s lessons I found important, “Google is your friend”. In this age of information, if you don’t know something… Google it and figure it out.     

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @maxthedirector
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrnVAWUDhPvbHZTN_licttg

Image Credits
Reilly Shrock Ceci Clark Ron Kaplan