EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Writer/Director Miles Hanon
Miles Hanon is an Oklahoma filmmaker whose thriller The Familiar premieres tonight at the deadCENTER Film Festival. I’ve had the good fortune to be one of the few who has been able to preview the film, and I was very impressed by his well-thought out story and what he and his five-person crew were able to accomplish on a budget of $25,000. From the press kit:
“Lonely bachelor, Sam, falls in love with his dead wife’s sister only to find out she’s becoming possessed by the same evil spirit that’s been terrorizing him from childhood.”
Miles’ previous work includes the award-winning documentary Beyond the Gates of Splendor and the movie End of the Spear. He has graciously agreed to answer 20 Questions to get us pumped for the big event tonight:
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1 - What inspired you to write “The Familiar?”
Paul Tompkins, a local filmmaker, and I were throwing ideas around for creating a horror film because we knew there was a strong niche audience for this type of film. My own background includes many experiences that are without a doubt beyond the natural realm so a horror film centered arounds something spiritual was a natural fit. Also I think that the Western world has rationalized spiritually to the point that it’s only fantasy, I can assure eveyone that it is none.
2 - What does this story mean to you?
It means that we are not alone it our most dire hour. Despair is often a product of ignorance, we don’t see the big picture. The hero “Sam” believed he was abandoned by God because of the death of his wife. I’ve thought many times in my own life that God had abandoned me because things weren’t going my way. As it turned out, the difficulty I was experiencing was being used for a greater purpose.
3 - Is there one character that you identify most with?
Sam is me, in many ways, at least metophorically. I’ve experienced great loss, been deceived, had profound spiritual experiences, and have found restoration. The depth of the connection between the character Sam and I is very deep. It freaks me out when I watch the film.
4 - You were able to create this film on a low-budget and with a five-person crew. What were some of your biggest challenges? How did you overcome them?
I wrote the film with the budget in mind. I limited the number of characters, locations, props, etc., while creating the world of the story. This was hard but freeing in some ways. There were many things I wanted to do that just couldn’t be done under the contrainst that I was committed to so instead of letting this limitation be a weakness, I tried the best I could to be as creative within them.
5 - What is your favorite on-set memory?
That’s hard since we had so much fun. Don’t get me wrong, it was one brutal shoot, 15 days, 1 Camera (primes only and I’m running it), and as mentioned a five-person crew (and one was an actor as well). Since everyone was committed to doing the best they could, it made it an enjoyable experince (everyone was a real professional). I think it was the moment everyone had confidence that what we are making was a real movie. This wasn’t a singular moment tough, it happened gradually during the first week as we got to know each other and watch the dailies together. It was special because the budgetary contraints caused most people to expect a much different result.
6 - What is your favorite part about being a director? A writer?
This is tough. I like directing only if what I’m directing has a deep meaning. I like working with other creatives, letting them bring their gifts to the project. I hate micomanagement but the trick to not having to micromanage is to work with people that are gifted and you have confidence in, it just not necessary under those conditions. A director is a manager of resources as well as a leader, and I work best in situations that I am the most responsible so in that way it fits me.
Writing’s hard, I mean real hard. I’m not talking about putting words on a page but actually understanding the craft and following up with months of painstaking work. It scary really. I try to compare my script with the best script written, sadly they fall short (I’m just being honest). Does it mean they’re not good? No, but be realistic about where you are at. I think a lot of people don’t this and become self-deceived into thinking they’ve got something great when they don’t. I think it was Ernest Hemmingway that said, “The first draft of anything is s#*t.” Believe it.
7 - What is the life of a filmmaker like? Lots of glamour? 
Most filmmakers struggle to get by. I’m no exception. Fortunately I can freelance on the other project as a writer, director, dp, or editor (I have post production suite) so I’m a full time filmmaker. I’m trying to build Story Front Inc. up to the point where I can make narrative features full-time but that has a lot to do with the success of The Familiar or other films like it since I don’t use outside capital.
8 - Why did you decide to become a filmmaker? Is this what you went to school for?
I never wanted to be a filmmaker (I made fun of the art students (poetic justice huh?)). My brother was making some really well done commercials in Grand Rapids, MI, about 10 years ago, and at the time I was a mechanical engineer designing and programming automated machery in Seattle (B.S.M.E, Gonzaga Unversity 1993). I was inspired by the art that I made fun of so many years before. My heart was not in Mechanical Engineering and soon after leaving learned that my true passions were in film. This was not an easy road though. Changing careers at 29 when I had developed some skill and experience in another promising field only to start at the bottom again was often humiliating. Humility however painful is very good, though, and I look back and am thankful. I also had a good opportunity to work in many filmmaking disciplines before focusing on writing/directing, so I can now identify and empathize with those colloaborating with me while I’m directing.
9 - What role have movies played in your life? What is the one movie that influenced you the most?
Oddly I’m not a movie buff. I like making movies more than watching them. I’d get killed in a trivia contest. But I would say that mythical films are my favorite, I don’t mean “mythology,” I mean mythical in the since that in the film, the heart of it communicates something that’s universally connection to everyone. For example, everyone loves the underdog (I especially), so Frodo in The Lord of the Rings is a great character, and the movie overall (the small band of “good” guys overcome the large band of “bad” guys) is something that is particularly inspiring to me. Schindler, in Schindler’s List is a great character because he changes so much and helps those who can not help themselves. The plight of the Jews in this movie mythical, how many people groups have been abused and needed someone with courage to stand up for them? These are there the kinds of things that move me.
10 - Do you ever get scared (of anything other than evil spirits)? What keeps you going when you don’t know what tomorrow holds?
I’m concerned about our nation quite frankly, and I’m not talking politically as much as spiritually. Those in power are a reflection of the hearts of those that put them there (myself included). I’m not trying to point fingers, I just want to get back to what made our country strong, and I believe traditional values are the key. I’m afraid the hearts of the people in this great nation no longer desire the values that made the country strong, that’s scary. What keeps me going? Trust and faith, what else is there? I am a person of faith though full of flaws, I look to God to make things better. I’m sure I can’t do it on my own, that’s why I say, “What else is there?”
11 - Who are some of your inspirations/heroes?
I know a guy who lives on virtually no money in the middle of woods in Northern Minneasota. He lives everyday trusting God for his needs. He’s honest but not perfect, gentle but not weak. He has four children (5 and under) and he’s 62 years old. He doesn’t desire fame or fortune, just to be a light to those in deep pain. It’s people like this that are inspiring (you can learn more about his story at www.journeystory.com).
12 - What advice would you give to young filmmakers who aspire to follow in your footsteps?
Don’t take the easy road and don’t expect anything to be handed to you. Try to take advantage of what opportunities that are given (because they will come, though not they way you think). Honesty is better than oportunity and hard work better than talent (though it’s better to have both). Try to identify others with the same gifts to hone your own skills and different gifts so they can compliment your own (film is a colaborative art and The Familiar would have been better if we would have had the opportunity for more colloboration).
……….now for the really important questions……….
13 - What will you be for Halloween?
A big bag - More candy.
14 - Frontier City or White Water Bay?
Frontier City - My lily white skin fries in the sunlight.
15 - Which Monopoly piece?
The horse and rider - I love the old west!
16 - Captain Crunch or Toucan Sam?
That’s a tough one, I’ll have to go with the Captain (he’s probably a film director on the side).
17 - Favorite foreign country, real or imaginary:
Israel - Important things happen there. The people are hard on the outside and deep on the inside.
18 - Favorite non-human:
Wolverine - He’s tough as nails and to the point.
19 - Best thing about being a filmmaker in Oklahoma:
Oklahoma keeps things real, I love it.
20 - What’s next for Story Front Productions?
“Cybilsoft” - I hear voices… they tell me everything.
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We really appreciate Miles taking the time out of his busy schedule to share with us. I’m really looking forward to seeing what the future holds in store for him.
For more Miles Mania you can also follow him on Twitter, catch his KFOR interview on You Tube, read his interview with the Edmond Sun, or come meet Miles in person tonight at deadCENTER. Get your tickets now before they sell out!
UPDATE: C-Biz has posted more about the film here.
