1) Can you talk briefly about your background, and how you first got interested in filmmaking?

I grew up in Nashua, NH, about 40 minutes from Boston. When my dreams of becoming an NFL quarterback quickly faded my sophomore year of high school, coming to the realization that I just wasn’t that good, I decided to turn my talents into something more creative. Throughout middle school I made little backyard shorts with my local chums while my older brother made more serious and better short films for his high school video production class. I remember going to a screening of one of my brother’s shorts at the NH high school film festival and thinking “wow these films are really bad”. If these films were being acknowledged and winning awards, I had no excuse. I spent most of my high school career taking filmmaking much more seriously, creating multiple shorts that played at festivals across the country. By the time I graduated from high school I was hooked. Although I had no interest in film school or getting a degree in film, I spent my first two years at college writing and directing more shorts while also continuing my studies as a Comp Lit student. My junior year, after finishing my residential credits at UMass, I moved across the country to live with my older brother in Los Angeles, where I currently reside.

2) What’s the backstory here?

AUG 04 started with a feeling. Although I was only 6 years old in August of 2004, I’ve always been fascinated by the mid ‘00s. The style. The culture. This post 9/11, Bush era, columbine fever dream. I wanted to make a film about the wealthy suburban young male that was having his formative years during this time.

3) How did the project get rolling?

I came to Austin Treat (co-writer and producer of the film as well as my bestest pal) with the idea. I knew he’d understand the feel I was going for due to his talents as a fiction writer, specifically his short story “Jellyfish”. I was crashing on the floor of his luxurious somerville apartment, about a mile from Davis square, for the summer as I lifeguarded down the street 35 hours a week in order to fund the film. Any time that wasn’t spent guarding, was spent locking down locations, casting, and filling out the crew; as well as watching various of my favorite period pieces on repeat for inspiration (Dazed and Confused, American Graffiti, The Last Picture Show). A week before cameras started rolling, Austin and I had filled up a giant corkboard in our dining room with all this pre production work finished and organized, we were finally ready to shoot. The film wouldn’t have been possible without Austin’s commitment and creativity.

4) What’s a film you’ve seen recently, new or old, that you really loved and why?

I recently caught Tony Scott’s first film The Hunger starring David Bowie and Suzanne Surandan. It’s by no means a perfect film, but Scott makes a lot of cool choices with the editing and look of the film. It’s like his best attempt at imitating his older brother Ridley’s films Alien and Blade Runner; a desire I can definitely relate with. But its clear Tony has a different voice with a different set of skills that are on full display in films like Top Gun and True Romance. But The Hunger has some very cool moments and definitely captures a great neo gothic vibe; adding to the Vampire genre.

5) What’s next for you?

I continue to write and pursue directing gigs everyday. Austin and I recently wrapped production on our followup to AUG 04 and hope to send that on the festival circuit this fall. I want to film my first feature soon but I’m waiting for the right story. In the meantime I plan on directing a few music videos and commercials to keep the muscles tight. That is of course if the world ever goes back to normal.

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http://www.5-23productions.com

IG: @Troylustick