Indie film making isn’t just a marathon; it’s an emotional roller coaster filled with highs, and lows. Not to mention the feelings of continuously swimming upstream and seemingly making no progress what so ever. Only those with a hard core resolve to see things through to the end ever come out on the other side, and we caught up with one of them just a few days ago. After months and months of playing phone tag, we finally got a chance to sit down with Stacey Carpenter. One of the co-founders of Land of Misery Films, and director of their latest project, “Chase: Tony Zimmerman’s Assault on Greatness”.
After agreeing to a 5 minute phone interview, I learned a little more about the mysterious man, with a tremendous love of cinema. But the more I uncovered, the more questions came to mind. In this rare interview, we gain just a little insight in to the enigma that is Stacey Carp.
Erica: Well, well, nice to finally get in touch with you.
Stacey: Ah man, it’s been an hectic couple of months, but it’s great to finally talk with you.
Erica: You mentioned things have been hectic, where are you right now in the film making process?
Stacey: I would say, we’re in the pre-pre- production stage. We’re still trying to raise money, while doing as much as we can out of pocket.
Erica: Sounds like the classic struggle.
Stacey: It definitely is the classic struggle. A lot of yoga, meditation and deep breathing goes a long way in keeping things in perspective, but no matter how Zen you try to be, impatience rears it’s ugly head at times. We’ve done a lot the last few months, but I always feel as if things aren’t progressing fast enough.
Erica: Anything you would do differently if you could start all over again?
Stacey: With “Chase” or overall..
Erica: Both.
Stacey: That’s a good one. I’m not really sure. You are where you are in life because of your dominant way of thinking. I don’t mean to get all metaphysical on you…
Erica: Oh no, that’s fine..
Stacey: The thing is Myself, and Brad come from more of the artistic side of things. We both can be business minded at times, but things such as marketing, private practice memorandums, and how to attract investors aren’t our strong points per se.
And a lot of times, especially in the beginning; it can be hard finding people who posses those skills; let alone convincing them to help out on a production, for a long period of time, which may not be paying big bucks. I mean, that’s understandable, it’s rough out here.
Erica: You and Brad have worked on a number of projects together. When did your paths first cross, and what made you decide to start Land of Misery Films?
Stacey: I first met Brad at an acting class, over at the ETA school of the arts, here in Chicago. There were about 12 or 15 people in the class, and a bunch of us decided to band together and start a theatre troupe. We wrote and directed our own material…. it was a blast. Brad’s a hell of a writer, and I directed a few of his joints. Long story short, the troupe broke up after a year and a half, but we stayed in touch and kept collaborating on different projects. We both shared a love for cinema… and before you know it, Land of Misery was born.
Erica: He’s pretty much the face of the company. Why don’t you do interviews or take pictures?
Stacey: Not my thing.
Erica: Why did you agree to do this one?
Stacey: Not sure. Just a gut feeling. I like staying in the shadows, behind the scenes. We’re always getting calls into the office to do interviews and what not, and I always direct them to Brad, or Harold Dennis, our executive producer for Chase. But lately I’ve been thinking I should do one or two here or there.
Erica: Or every few years right?
Stacey: Even better.
Erica: On a serious note, you were in a house fire as a child?
Stacey: Yes, it was my parents house.
Erica: And sustained some very bad burns on your face?
Stacey: My face, my back and my chest.
Erica: It’s a blessing you’re still alive.
Stacey: Well, I look at it that way now.
Erica: You didn’t before?
Stacey: I don’t talk about it.
Erica: Well, I was about to ask… are the burns the reason you don’t do many interviews..
Stacey: Like I said, I don’t talk about it.
Erica: OK, but the rumor is that you work from home, have your groceries delivered…
Stacey: Rumors…
Erica: Well, sources close to you have said there are times you won’t leave your apartment for months and months on end..
Stacey: Like I said…
Erica: Don’t talk about it. Fair enough. How did the idea for “Chase” come about?
Stacey: Brad hit me up and said he had this idea for a screenplay. Just a simple, comedic look at what it’s like being an actor in Chicago…. next thing you know, we were meeting up in Starbucks a few times a week bouncing ideas off each other.
Erica: Do you approach every screenplay differently?
Stacey: I’ll say Brad and I approach the work very differently. He’s more of the type it out, bring back what he’s written and discuss type. Where as, I’m more on the going through scenes in my head tip, writing stuff down on napkins and paper plates… I’m not the most organized dude in the world.
Erica: At least not by conventional standards.
Stacey: Exactly.
Erica: Well Stacey, it’s been a pleasure talking with you Stacey. All the best in making, “Chase” a reality.
Stacey: Have a great day and thanks for talking with me.
5 minutes with Mr. Carpenter
Indie film making isn’t just a marathon; it’s an emotional roller coaster filled with highs, and lows. Not to mention the feelings of continuously swimming upstream and seemingly making no progress what so ever. Only those with a hard core resolve to see things through to the end ever come out on the other side, and we caught up with one of them just a few days ago. After months and months of playing phone tag, we finally got a chance to sit down with Stacey Carpenter. One of the co-founders of Land of Misery Films, and director of their latest project, “Chase: Tony Zimmerman’s Assault on Greatness”.
After agreeing to a 5 minute phone interview, I learned a little more about the mysterious man, with a tremendous love of cinema. But the more I uncovered, the more questions came to mind. In this rare interview, we gain just a little insight in to the enigma that is Stacey Carp.
Erica: Well, well, nice to finally get in touch with you.
Stacey: Ah man, it’s been an hectic couple of months, but it’s great to finally talk with you.
Erica: You mentioned things have been hectic, where are you right now in the film making process?
Stacey: I would say, we’re in the pre-pre- production stage. We’re still trying to raise money, while doing as much as we can out of pocket.
Erica: Sounds like the classic struggle.
Stacey: It definitely is the classic struggle. A lot of yoga, meditation and deep breathing goes a long way in keeping things in perspective, but no matter how Zen you try to be, impatience rears it’s ugly head at times. We’ve done a lot the last few months, but I always feel as if things aren’t progressing fast enough.
Erica: Anything you would do differently if you could start all over again?
Stacey: With “Chase” or overall..
Erica: Both.
Stacey: That’s a good one. I’m not really sure. You are where you are in life because of your dominant way of thinking. I don’t mean to get all metaphysical on you…
Erica: Oh no, that’s fine..
Stacey: The thing is Myself, and Brad come from more of the artistic side of things. We both can be business minded at times, but things such as marketing, private practice memorandums, and how to attract investors aren’t our strong points per se.
And a lot of times, especially in the beginning; it can be hard finding people who posses those skills; let alone convincing them to help out on a production, for a long period of time, which may not be paying big bucks. I mean, that’s understandable, it’s rough out here.
Erica: You and Brad have worked on a number of projects together. When did your paths first cross, and what made you decide to start Land of Misery Films?
Stacey: I first met Brad at an acting class, over at the ETA school of the arts, here in Chicago. There were about 12 or 15 people in the class, and a bunch of us decided to band together and start a theatre troupe. We wrote and directed our own material…. it was a blast. Brad’s a hell of a writer, and I directed a few of his joints. Long story short, the troupe broke up after a year and a half, but we stayed in touch and kept collaborating on different projects. We both shared a love for cinema… and before you know it, Land of Misery was born.
Erica: He’s pretty much the face of the company. Why don’t you do interviews or take pictures?
Stacey: Not my thing.
Erica: Why did you agree to do this one?
Stacey: Not sure. Just a gut feeling. I like staying in the shadows, behind the scenes. We’re always getting calls into the office to do interviews and what not, and I always direct them to Brad, or Harold Dennis, our executive producer for Chase. But lately I’ve been thinking I should do one or two here or there.
Erica: Or every few years right?
Stacey: Even better.
Erica: On a serious note, you were in a house fire as a child?
Stacey: Yes, it was my parents house.
Erica: And sustained some very bad burns on your face?
Stacey: My face, my back and my chest.
Erica: It’s a blessing you’re still alive.
Stacey: Well, I look at it that way now.
Erica: You didn’t before?
Stacey: I don’t talk about it.
Erica: Well, I was about to ask… are the burns the reason you don’t do many interviews..
Stacey: Like I said, I don’t talk about it.
Erica: OK, but the rumor is that you work from home, have your groceries delivered…
Stacey: Rumors…
Erica: Well, sources close to you have said there are times you won’t leave your apartment for months and months on end..
Stacey: Like I said…
Erica: Don’t talk about it. Fair enough. How did the idea for “Chase” come about?
Stacey: Brad hit me up and said he had this idea for a screenplay. Just a simple, comedic look at what it’s like being an actor in Chicago…. next thing you know, we were meeting up in Starbucks a few times a week bouncing ideas off each other.
Erica: Do you approach every screenplay differently?
Stacey: I’ll say Brad and I approach the work very differently. He’s more of the type it out, bring back what he’s written and discuss type. Where as, I’m more on the going through scenes in my head tip, writing stuff down on napkins and paper plates… I’m not the most organized dude in the world.
Erica: At least not by conventional standards.
Stacey: Exactly.
Erica: Well Stacey, it’s been a pleasure talking with you Stacey. All the best in making, “Chase” a reality.
Stacey: Have a great day and thanks for talking with me.
Erica Richards
is a contributing journalist for Wall Web News