We were lucky to catch up with Gareth Williams recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Gareth thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
The most meaningful project to date has been starting my own film production company; Detroit Street Films. In 2014 I began to read the tea leaves and realized the movie going experience was shifting. It no longer resembled the same experience which I had. been weaned on earlier in my career. The filmmakers which I thrived on, Jim Jarmusch, Amos Poe, John Sayles, Hal Hartley, those films were disappearing from theatrical wide releases. But where was this tremendous reservoir of creativity migrating to? Creativity wasn’t drying up, so where would it end up. I realized that it was migrating to online streaming. Now it’s common knowledge but then, I was met with nothing but resistance and a total rejection of this notion. I wanted to capitalize on this trend, on this movement, so I decided to create a production company which would be tailored for this mass exodus. We have produced in excess of 30 short films geared for this purpose and it is gaining momentum by the minute.
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 stumbled into theatre in college, complete happenstance and had an epiphanic moment. There was, to me, a rather odd looking young student building a large structure on the quad. He had on, what I was to find out later, dance pants and shoes, a mid drift shirt and wide, brightly colored suspenders, (this was the time of Mork and Mindy). I asked him what he was doing and he said; “I’m building a set.” “A set? What’s that?” Once he explained, I picked up a hammer to help him, looked at that hammer and knew what I was doing with the rest of my life. I’ve never looked back. From the college theater department, I went into an apprenticeship program at The Burt Reynolds Institute For Theatre Training. Once graduating from the program with an Equity Card in my hand, I trundled off to New York City to study with world famous Uta Hagen at HB Studios. I spent six years there, after which I studied with Geraldine Page and Larry Moss. I’ve now been in this business for over 40 years, working with Obie Award, Tony Award, Emmy Award, Academy Award, even Pulitzer Prize Award winning actors, directors, writers, and producers, including two back-to-back Academy Award winning actors; Tom Hanks and Mahershala Ali. I have done over 100 films and television shows and countless theatre productions, and it with this vast experience that informs my most recent endeavor; Detroit Street Films. We are a scrub film production company, a collective of like minded, driven, passionate artists, creating art for art’s sake. Brick by brick, we have built this little venture over the last decade and are now coming into our own, having produced over 30 short films which have been officially selected into several film festivals both domestic and international, some garnering awards, such as; Best Actor, Best Acting Duo, Best Dark Comedy Short, among others. We hold a free of charge reading series attached to the production company on a weekly Zoom call each Thursday evening at 6:30 pm Pacific time and have had people attend from Brasil, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Canada, and all over the United States. Currently we have 150 people on the books and many of our members have been able to parlay the connections created at The Station House into other production companies, and several theatrical and film productions. It is a tight knit group of highly supportive members, constantly attending each others shows and events en masse. All are welcome, there is no fee, no registration, and no work requirements. If this piques anyone’s interest, please feel free to check us out. We also have a YouTube Channel where most of our films can be seen; dertoitstreetfilms, all one word, no spaces.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
This business can be a fickle mistress, and often cruel. You must have… MUST have resilience or you’ll be eaten alive and spit out lifeless and deformed. In the beginning, I made a vow that I was in this for the long haul, and material success wasn’t the gauge, the barometer to whether I would stay or not. My philosophy has always been; at the end of the day, I WILL be in the room, I WILL be standing, and you WILL have to deal with me, so you may as well cast me now, because I ain’t goin anywhere. I have known, in my many years in this business, a few Cinderella stories, where the glass slipper fit and it hadn’t turned midnight, but for most, it’s rejection after rejection after rejection. Whether adopting a philosophy like mine, or creating one that works for you, it’s necessary in order to survive. One of my early mentors; Herbert Berghof would often tell us; “Art is like pregnancy… it’s never comfortable, but the results are glorious!”
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Every great civilization throughout history has emphasized the arts, and it’s no mistake that the period in Europe when the arts were nearly extinguished was aptly named “The Dark Ages”. It is through the arts where we discover, where we learn who we are as people. As is correctly pointed out that throughout history, it is never the ‘good guys’ who ban the books. Through literature, dance, sculpture, painting, poetry, and yes, through the oft minimized art of storytelling, we keep alive the human spirit, the human condition, its virtues and its failings. Without which, the ages would be very dark, indeed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.detroitstreetfilms.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detroit_street_films/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garethwiliams
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gareth-williams-a35958165/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_feed%3BJd2d%2FyP%2BTPudIoiINyrNUQ%3D%3D
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-qfPgI_3ogK5UpAyAJl5iQ
Image Credits
Ana Massette Poster Design