We recently connected with Daniel Dismuke and have shared our conversation below.

Daniel , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

Something I’ve noticed over the last four to five years in the film industry is the lack of determination and faith in their work. Not to say that breaking into, staying relevant and successful in the film industry is easy: because it is not. But, getting in, and started is significantly harder than staying on track once you’ve arrived. And as I’ve met several writers, directors who are young and trying to get their first “hit” I have noticed two things. Putting up their own money to get their first project done is like asking them to pay someone else’s rent for a month. I’m not saying all newbies trying to make it are like this, but I have noticed a large majority are. They want the glory and the perks of having a successful film and script, but they think it is out of the question to fund it themselves, change their lifestyle for a few months to not have those two beers every night and come up with a budget. And if that’s your mindset, you do not want it enough to the point you must in order for it to ever happen. This is an all or nothing in type of business. Going off that, I see a lot of people after finishing their first film or first script just giving up because it didn’t sell, profit, or go anywhere. Which is insane, your first, second, third, and up to seven drafts should not go anywhere. And that is only for one project. And I believe it does stem from laziness and not having the passion and drive this journey needs to succeed. Soon as the first film or script doesn’t get them in the order, they stop and resort to the “Oh I mean, well what’s the point? It’s not like I can actually ever get something sold or become a real director? That isn’t real”…. That is my biggest pet peeve, the “You can’t actually become a Rian Johnson, George Lucas, Parker Finn etc.” Like yes, you absolutely can because the film industry, just like any other business is just that… A BUSINESS. It isn’t some fake fairy tale job that God or the Universe depending on what you believe just gifts to special people. The Johnsons, the Nolans, and for newbies, the Parker Finns of the world, they only finally “made it” because they put $ up, the risked it on themselves, and they made five, six, seven projects before one hit. It’s just a time game. If your work is quality and you study the business end of how to enter the business in terms of pitching, selling, and festivals circuits it’s really just a matter of time. Take it from me, I’ve been doing this for six years (which is not a lot by the way) all legendary filmmakers are at it since birth normally. But I have made 5 shorts, and have written about twelve scripts (shorts, feature, and full TV series) and it wasn’t until two to three months ago that things really picked up for me in terms of getting pitches, meeting producers interested in my scripts enough to help get fundings festivals acceptances etc. It’s a long game industry.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I always loved movies growing up but never really thought of doing it or making them until I was 22. I woke up one day and I don’t know I just tried it and I never turned back it was a snowball effect. Since that day it’s just been rolling down the hill getting bigger. I didn’t have a large elaborate long game plan when I woke up that day. It just became this. In terms of also writing, direction and pitching my own short films, feature and series scripts, I do freelance cinematography, color grading, and editing on the side for other peoples work. Wether it is a commercial, product campaign, public speaker, music video etc. I do anything people ask. The problems I would say I solve for most of my clients is every single problem that most smaller productions like commercial works face. Because I have made four to five films now, I have lived through and made those mistakes in my early career so I know how to make sure none of them ever happen on these much smaller and simpler shoots. I don’t think many clients have that experience when working with cinematographers and editors at the start up level. I’m most proud of what I deliver to my clients, no matter what it is, or let’s just say a rappers song is not very good, I will make sure that based on the visuals and editing that anyone listening thinks the song is far better than it is because the visuals are so stimulating. I will always make something better than it is if the product itself is not the best. What I am most proud of in terms of my own filmmaking journey, would be my growth and where I am. Like I said, six years is not a long time and as soon as this strike ends I have a few pitches with some streamers for a full six episode tv series I wrote. Along with three feature scripts I am working on getting sold & funded. I also can produce an entire film on my own, planning wise. Which, is something that I could never have done three or four years ago, and also something many people older than me can’t do as well. It’s a very valuable skill to be able to go from Development, to Pre Production, to Shoot, To Post and drive that train yourself. That is probably what I am happiest about with my growth and skillset.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I wrote a pilot script during Covid. I usually need at least a week to a month to get a draft of any script done, no matter what the length. I have no idea how or why but when I started writing and planning this pilot that night I was done in 4 hours. I had a couple drinks and lifted my head up and it was four hours later and I was on “THE END” 40 some pages in. I started entering it into contests and it was doing well. But unfortunately, it kept only getting to Semis or Finalist and never won or gained any real attention or interest. This happened over the course of three to six months and a dozen contests. I took a break from it to write two feature I had on my brain that I needed to get on paper. Once those were done, I just felt I needed to keep attacking that pilot, just gut feeling which was hard after so many attempts previously. But I decided if I planned out the entire series, I would find ways to make the pilot better. So I started planning the series and writing all six episodes and sure enough after that, the pilot has had so many changes I have lost count. I think the pilot currently sits on draft 13. But, it was the right decision. Because now that pilot receiving consistent 8/10 ratings from any feedback service or critic I send it too. It also gained the interest of a Producer I met and he is helping me pitch the series to some buyers once the strike is over. I need a strong one page summary of each episode in the look book he will present to them, I am on the 5th script so once I finish the finale (episode 6) I will get all the episode summaries done. So yeah, something that began as a tipsy idea and written in 4 hours has come a long long way. And it is the last project I would have ever guest would have potentially been my “foot in the door” project.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

It’s pretty basic, but it really isn’t the money or the fame. I will still dress how I dress, act how I act, and live how I live once I am very comfortable with a few projects sold or made. What fuels me is I never knew what I “loved” or wanted to do until I was 23. This was the first thing that I discovered that was “work” but also just fun for me. I would do this for free every day if I didn’t have bills to pay and.people to provide for. That on top of the idea of never having to struggle. I want to be able to wake up every day and know I don’t have to figure out how to provide for myself, my soon to be wife, and future child. I want to have the ability to do whatever I want with them every day, to not have to work sixty hours a week and never see my friends, wife, or kid. Yes, this industry brings in a lot of money, but I’m not interest in the money. I’m only interested in what the money provides and the life I can give myself and others because of it. And above all else, just because I love it so f*cking much. It’s what fuels me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Daniel___james_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010077634997
• Twitter: Dan-Dis15