Hi Tyler, let's start off by you telling me a little about yourself and the film "Ashland?"
Well I am a 17-year-old student film maker from Carson City, Nevada. My ultimate goal in life is to direct feature length movies. So this summer I produced, directed, and edited a feature film entitled Ashland. It was made for only a few hundred dollars and was shot in only ten days.
Is this your first feature film?
Well, I’ve been making short films for two years now. Having completed more than 30 1 to 10 minute films, several have even gone on to win awards. But "Ashland" marks my first feature film that I’ve not only directed but also worked on.
When is your film going to be released?
My film is nearly complete. It just needs a little more music and sound editing done on it. I plan to premiere Ashland in my small town of Carson City, Nevada in late August. From there I will definitely release it on DVD, but that date is still up in the air.
I am going to wait to see if I can get a distribution deal for it. If not, I will self distribute it through both the movies’ website http://ashland.tylerbourns.com, www.Amazon.com and possibly other venues. It’s my goal to release it to the public in early 2007.
Do you have any plans to attend any festivals?
Yes, the festival circuit is very important to me on this project. This being my first major project I want to use it as a tool to build connections with other film makers. It is also an opportunity to get my name out in the open. I will begin submitting to festivals in early September. I plan to enter it in close to about 20 film festivals. The major ones being LA Film Festival, SXSW Film Festival and Woodstock Film Festival. I have high hopes for it.
I also see that you do music videos, great voice by the way. Tell me about "Little Window" are you planning on doing more music videos as well as films?
Well, I wish I could sing that well. But actually music videos kinda found me. I first got involved in making them when I signed up to attend the Student Television Conference. My team signed up for the music video competition. We made two practice videos before heading down to Anaheim for the contest.
It was at that contest that we made Little Window. We were given 12 hours to completely plan, shoot, and edit a music video for the song Little Window by Goeseles Parade which we received at the beginning of the contest. Out of sixty-three teams from across the country we placed in fourth. From there I have grown an interest in directing music videos, but they're more of a hobby compared to making feature films, which I look at as a career. I have received requests lately though to produce and direct some music videos from different bands so there is a strong possibility I could be making more music videos in the near future.
Is there an upcoming project scheduled?
I am in the process of writing a few feature length scripts. But in the meantime I don't have anything officially scheduled yet. I would like to make a comedy next though. I always like to try new things, and I've made a few dark films in a row so I'd like to brighten things up a little. But I will be making a few more quality 15 minute short films before I delve back into feature films. My goal is to just keep learning as much as possible from all of these projects so that I can be ready when an opportunity comes along to delve into an even bigger project.
Well Tyler, best of luck with your film and your future projects.
