We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dave Di Pietro. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dave below.
Alright, Dave thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Filmmaking is a risk business. You are always dealing with other people’s money, aka the producers. You are always trying to minimize risks and make a profit for the investors, so you can begin to create an on-going partnership in creating new film projects.
One project I did in the mid 1990’s, I wound up funding mostly myself. It was a project that I, along with my writing partner, Norman Macera co-wrote. It was a pilot for the Sci-Fi Channel, now known as the SyFy Channel. The project was called QUAD 9. It was sort of a cross between Law and Order and The X-Files. The series took place on a large space station outpost in the furtherest region of colonized space, where teams of agents kept the peace on the local colonized worlds. However, the first signs of intelligent life, other than our own, is heading into our galaxy. It was a fun, edge of your seat, series with a diverse set of interesting characters.
The series was well ahead of its time. The show was rejected by the network for being, get this, too intelligent! If you watch many of the current science fiction series on tv, they are all very smart and thought-driven in their approach.
Due to the network rejecting the series, I was forced to claim bankruptcy. It was a very difficult time. However, you simply pick yourself up and move on.
Recently, a friend asked if I had aa chance to do that all over again, would I? Without thinking, I simply said YES. For you see, it was one pf the most exciting times in my life, and from the rejection came a whole new set of learning experiences, which were invaluable.
Dave, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was an only child. My mother & father both loved the movies and that love was instilled in me at a very early age. I was a very theatrical kid, though not necessarily on stage. Once I entered high school, my love for film exploded. I began making amateur James Bond, Star Trek and Star Wars films, wrangling many of my friends to play parts in these productions.
However, after graduating, I met a team of like-minded guys and we formed an unofficial company called, Cinema Group 4. We tackled various sci-fi projects in 16mm and eventually shot a full-length feature film called Hellfire, which was re-named by the distributor as Primal Scream.
Filmmaking always stayed with me, even when I worked with Paramount Pictures for over 13+ years.
Finally, I landed here in the state of Georgia, which has slowly earned the name, “The Hollywood of the East.” Six years ago, I started my company Reel Cool Entertainment, which produces exciting IP (intellectual property) for the motion picture, television and gaming industry markets.
We have created a number of hot properties, which we are currently in the last phase of seeking dynamic investors, willing to partner with us , to bring these projects to life.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
As I said, Reel Cool Entertainment creates innovative new stories for the large and small screen. The one thing we learned a while back, is give your audience something they want to see. Too many current day films try so hard to ram social messages and diversity down the movie-goer’s throats. They have no clue how to do this in a subtle and more acceptable way. This is why companies like Disney will show over a Billion Dollars in losses in 2023 for their cumulative motion pictures. People are tired of being preached to. The public goes to movie to “escape” everyday trials and tribulations. This is why films like Top Gun: Maverick, Mario Brothers and John Wick Wick 4 are success stories. They simply give the people what they want.
Reel Cool Entertainment understands this formula and we deliver projects that are chock full of fun, while remaining as diverse and socially relevant as needed, without the hardcore push.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Seeing characters and stories that you have created coming to life on the screen is one heck of a reward! Watching an actor breathing life into a specific character, using the words you have written, is a true thrill. Being able to share these stories with the world and having people write you and saying how much they enjoyed a particular film or moment you have created, gives you the best satisfaction ever.
All the money in the world cannot replace the joy your writing and directing can give an audience.
In addition, if your work can also inspire young filmmakers to take up the mantle and begin experiencing this creative art form, then it has all been worthwhile! 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.reelcoolentertainment.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelcoolentertainment
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dave.d.pietro
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-di-pietro-3b914611/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTv4IvopZKWdPXIol-ei6YA
- Other: http://www.archangeltheseries.com/