Inspired by the work of David Lynch, Gregory Bayne is an independent filmmaker living and working in Boise, Idaho. He believes that no matter how inspired one is by a professional in one’s field, when it comes down to success, one must rely a great deal, if not solely, on the poise of his own aesthetic. He uses crowd funding as the means to facilitate his production process and has up to now, produced several short films and two major documentaries-namely, Person of Interest and Jens Pulver: Driven. He is currently working on a documentary called Bloodsworth, which is centered on the life of Kirk Noble Bloodsworth, the first death row inmate to be exonerated by DNA evidence.
Recently I spoke to Gregory about his filmmaking career and upcoming documentary, Bloodsworth.
Manudi Vid: Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got involved in film making.
Gregory Bayne: I’ve been involved in art at some level all my life. It started, like most, with drawing which soon morphed into comic book illustration, expanded into painting and then in high school seeped into video production. The thing that truly got me into filmmaking was seeing David Lynch’s Wild at Heart. It was the first time I realized that filmmaking was an art form that encompassed all the art forms, and I was all in from age 16 on. I went to film school in Vancouver BC and never really looked back. I’ve been making films, to varying degrees of success, for over 20 years now.
MV: What themes do you generally like to focus on in the films you make?
GB: I know that if you look at my work there are common themes at play, but what interests me most are great stories and compelling characters. I focus in on those and let the rest just rise to the surface naturally.
MV: Do you ever consider expanding beyond documentaries or is that something you want to solely focus on?
GB: I don’t see it as an either/or. I just like cinema. I like art, I like creating and telling stories. I’ve happened to fall into documentaries quite a bit, and do enjoy making them, but I see my focus being on simply telling great stories whether in that or the scripted narrative form.
MV: Tell us about your two biggest productions: Jens Pulver-Driven and Person of Interest.
GB: Person of Interest is a narrative feature made for no money back in 2008-2009. The story revolves around Terrance Dyer, a returned Iraq war vet who believes he is part of a conspiracy to blow up a building on US soil. It was a bit of a hard won endeavor, though something I feel proud of making. It ultimately was released in an unconventional way via VODO (vodo.net) who put it out via BitTorrent (free download) and has seemed to resonate pretty well.
Jens Pulver : Driven is an intimate documentary feature which probes the incredible personal story of legendary UFC fighter, Jens Pulver, as he journeys back into the cage for what may be his final bout. It was released in North America in July of last year across a broad spectrum of VOD channels (Cable, iTunes, Amazon, etc.) and has been doing very well. It just released on Netflix Instant last week and will soon release internationally.
MV: If you had to chose from the two, which would you say was the most fulfilling and why?
GB: I think I really hit my stride with Driven, both in my work technique and aesthetic. Person of Interest laid the ground work, but Driven was the project in which I realized, if not accepted, exactly how it is I work, how I tell a story and how I approach taking my work out into the world.
After spending the last two years both making, marketing and distributing the film I’ve learned countless lessons that have convinced me to go all in on ‘going it my own way’ and to see the inherent benefits of working from a place that is way outside the strongholds of industry.
MV: Tell us a little bit about your upcoming production- Bloodsworth?
GB: Bloodsworth is the story of Kirk Noble Bloodsworth who in 1985 was convicted and sentenced to death for a horrific crime which he did not commit. After nearly 9 years in prison, and a constant daily battle, Kirk finally won his freedom becoming the first death row inmate in the US to be exonerated by DNA evidence in 1993.
The film delves into this story as told from Kirk’s point of view mixing animation with archival footage and Kirk’s own compelling retelling of the ordeal. I’m currently in early stages of production and will be working on the film throughout 2012.
MV: What strikes me most about you as a filmmaker is how you’ve succeeded at crowd funding so far. What’s your secret?
GB: There really is no secret. I think success in this arena, and beyond, is dependent on the simplest of things. Have a good story to tell, tell it well, and be very grateful to those who would support you. I know that may sound too simple, but it’s the truth of it.
MV: How long does it usually take to raise a certain amount of money through crowd funding?
GB: I haven’t had a campaign over 30 days, and with all of them much of the traffic came through in the last 3-4 days. It’s different for everyone, but I’ve found that a month is a nice sweet spot in which you have time to build momentum, while not being so long that folks just get bored with you.
MV: What advice would you give to aspiring filmmakers who want to get started through crowd funding?
GB: First and foremost, find your voice. It may sound cliché or silly, but it is the single best thing you can do for yourself and your work and by no means and easy task. As filmmakers and artists we all steal from and emulate those who’ve inspired us and gone before, but until you really feel comfortable in your own skin and assured of your own aesthetic, it’s very hard to move the ball forward… at least that’s how it’s been for me. The reality of that also means accepting the fact that it will take you near a decade to really understand what it is you do, or do well.
For more information on Gregory Bayne and his upcoming projects, visit his web-page:http://thislovelymachine.com/gregorybayne/ or follow him on Twitter:http://twitter.com/gregorybayne
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