5 Questions with George Kareman
1) Can you talk briefly about your background, and how you first got interested in filmmaking?
I started out as an actor and improviser and started making sketch comedy videos with friends from the improv community, really just so I could act and make stuff. Eventually, that lead to me making more short film-like videos. Often when one makes online comedy videos, the line between who is the director and the writer and the actor etc can get blurry bc it's all very DIY and there is no formal way to do it. So when I wanted to write and direct Noble Silence, I felt like I already had a lot of directing experience even though I didn't have a lot of directing "credits" so to speak.
2) What’s the backstory here - what was the initial idea and how did it evolve from there?
About three years ago, I was feeling spiritually stifled and creatively stuck. I heard about a 10 day silent meditation retreat in the desert of California that came highly recommended from people I trust and respect. I figured, hey, why not? So I applied and attended. What followed wasn’t some magical mystical experience but instead one of the most challenging 10 days of my life. Staying silent was not difficult for me nor was having to meditate many hours a day. Instead, my challenge was the constant sense of displeasure I experienced by watching and living with the other attendees as they noisily walked around the grounds, chomped and chewed their food, brushed their teeth and snored their noses. I realized just how loud silence actually is and as the retreat went on and I became more adept at the meditation practice, I started to look at the whole experience with a sense of humor instead of a perception of annoyance. I mean, the whole thing was so completely absurd; a bunch of adult male strangers living in complete silent unison as if doing so is totally normal! This helped me get through the 10 days without quitting or losing my mind. I never intended to make a short film about it but after some time passed, I felt inspired to celebrate the absurd reality of such silent sanctuaries in all of their bizarre glory. Noble Silence is a film about meditation yes, but more specifically, it is about the meditative qualities of life when one is not meditating.
3) What was the biggest challenge in making this film? And generally what part of the creative process do you enjoy the most, and the least?
The biggest challenge was getting everything done in two days and just the logistics of getting everyone to the location etc. We had a MICRO budget and we shot on a mountain ranch in Ojai, CA with no cell service. Most of the actors crashed on the floor with us in the cabin you see in the film and we had to bus the crew to a motel about an hour away and then back again in the morning. Logistically, this can be difficult but more importantly, I always feel bad asking cast/crew to work under those types of conditions but everyone knew the deal ahead of time and was on board like true pros! I am very grateful for all of their positive attitudes during the course of the shoot.
Logistics like this are the least fun part of film making for me as well as raising money to make what you want to make. No matter the project, it always feels a little gross to ask your friends to donate to a Kickstarter or something like that so you can go make stuff. And even if it's self funded, I've always had to ask cast/crew to work at discount rates which I wish I didn't have to do.
My favorite part of the creative process is collaborating with other talented people. Things change so much along the way during the course of a project. I come from an improv background so I am always open to new ideas in the moment or following something interesting once we're shooting that wasn't in the script. To me, that's the "magic" of movies and it's what makes film making such a collaborative process. That collaboration is what I yearn for as an artist; when two or more talented people are synergistically working together to create something that is greater or "better" or whatever you want to call it than they would have been able to do on their own.
4) What’s a film you’ve seen recently, new or old, that you really loved and why?
Uncut Gems. I think the Safdie Brothers are fantastic at building tension and I loved the rollercoaster nature of that film. I felt on-edge during the entire movie and I LOVE when filmmakers and actors can accomplish that. I'm also a native New Yorker so I am biased towards New York movies especially if they are made by native New York film makers.
5) What’s next for you?
I'm developing a project with Comedy Central right now that is still very much in the early stages but it's something I am excited about. I also plan to shoot a new short film this year and have a script ready and am currently looking for financing.
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http://georgekareman.com
IG: george_kareman