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This A-Profiler we bring you FPS Productions, a non-profit that brings together aspiring photographers and filmmakers from around the world. President Brian L. Tan (aka BLT) talks about the upcoming film Slick and how it was made with a budget of $2,000. Find out what's next for FPS Productions.
What actor would you choose to play yourself?
Probably Kiefer Sutherland, best known for his portrayal of Jack Bauer on 24. I get things done, regardless of the cost; which may or may not be a good thing sometimes. That or Robert Downey Jr. Both actors are equally eccentric, quirky, if not a little bit odd; qualities I see in myself quite strongly.
What film title best describes who you are?
Slick =P (Had to do product placement somewhere!)
What are your top 3 favorite movies? What are your top 3 worst movies?
My top 3 would probably be The Rock, Lord of War, and Reservoir Dogs. I don't really have a worst 3; I just generally have a low opinion of chick-flick movies.
What"s one thing about you that nobody else knows?
I grew up all around the world, particularly in the Singapore-Australia-Malaysia region. Most thing I'm from Riverside. When people ask me "where are you from?," I hesitate for a good minute or so wondering if I should tell them the long or abridged version.
What actors or producers would you like to work with on your next project?
Definitely loved the production team behind Slick. I would work with ALL the actors again, and of course, my awesome producers JP Castel and Steve Nguyen. Both of them have seen me through tough times, and were extremely supportive in both the production and post-production end of things. The main cast was also extremely talented and I have even continued to keep in contact and work with the supporting cast in many of their endeavors too.
 I notice your budget for Slick was around $2,000, how did you finally come up with that figure and how did you obtain your filming equipment?
Surprisingly enough, we managed to keep a very low budget for Slick thanks to several factors. One, the cast & crew worked for free, secondly, all the helicopters/SWAT gear/weapons, etc. were free, and lastly, my DP/1st AC had all the technical equipment necessary for the film. We were even allowed to use locations such as the hanger and city street for free. As with every large set hosting 60 people and upwards, the vast majority of the budget went to food and other paraphernalia. I'm still surprised till this very day that we managed to pull it off.
How long did it take for you to shoot and edit Slick?
It took us two weekends to shoot (total of 4 days), but over 6 months for editing. We were stuck in the typical "post-production hell" scenario, with so many countless options and directions I could take the film in. At the end of the day, I regret overshooting 72 hours of footage and compressing it into a 20 minute movie.
What are you currently working on? Do you have anything line up for the future?
I'm currently producing a movie called Just Another Lost Soul, which is a drama about urban life and economic poverty. It's something totally different from my usual style as an action junkie, but I'm definitely trying to diversify and tackle different subject matters. Having said that, I will probably return to my native genre soon sometime in September/October, hopefully it'll be another big action project that will put Slick to shame.
Were do you see FPS productions in 10 years?
If all goes according to plan, I hope to see FPS Productions as a functioning, competitive production company that can do the same, if not better job as the Big Six studios but with much less overhead and cost, thereby maximizing revenue. There is a lot of out-scouring going on these days with studios trying to cut costs by letting independent productions make the movie and then slapping their logo on at the end. We hope to capitalize on it, and get recognized by being very careful with our budgets yet producing quality products on par with the big boys. With Slick, I think we've proved that a relatively "big budget looking" production can be made for a measly fraction of what it would have otherwise cost to go through a professional studio.
Do you consider yourself a perfectionist when it comes to film making?
Definitely. At least in pre- and post-production, I do get a bit OCD planning out the shot lists, storyboards, schedules, call sheets, etc. I plan everything down to the smallest detail and keep my fingers crossed that nothing will go awry. Nevertheless, I'm always a believer of the big picture (no pun intended), and when I have to make a decision between have the perfect, but incomplete film versus an imperfect, complete product, I would gladly choose the latter. Better something than nothing.
What kind of reviews/responses have you received for your films? How do you respond to any negative feedback?
People have been generally positive when viewing my films (that or they are just being nice). I will acknowledge that my films are very poor in the script department, so I'm hoping to improve that. In most BLT-style productions, actors talk with bullets rather than words, and that's something I'm hoping to spruce up. The action hey-days of the 1990s are over, and films these days need an equal amount of style and substance to hold a captive audience. I hope to one day forge a bridge between those two usually disparate realms and find a middle ground between having high-octane action yet retaining a powerful, moving storyline.
 At the same token, I personally love negative feedback. As clichéd as it sounds, it does provide an excellent opportunity for me to grow as a filmmaker, and I also like negative feedback because it shows you who your true friends are; people that have no critiques or suggestions whatsoever are either trying to suck up or are just plain desperate.
How has this experience affected your life today?
Filmmaking and photography have affected my life to a very large degree. I cannot imagine what gaping hole my life would be if it weren"t for those two very expensive, time-consuming hobbies. Even though I am ultimately a student at UCLA, it feels like I'm a full time filmmaker, part time student. Every waking moment of my life is driven, if not consumed fully by my passions. For instance, the last week or so has been one long 18 hour day after the next, having shot Just Another Lost Soul, Jazz Reggae Festival, a wedding, Girltalk concert, music recital, and social psychology experiment everyday for the past week and a half. My body is literally aching every morning.
Even though sometimes I complain and gripe about how much I hate the lifestyle, I think I am secretly in love with it. Beyond our love-hate relationship, I do have to admit that it has bestowed valuable experiences, friends, and abilities on me, which I would otherwise have never been able to garner if I had not gotten into film. It has also given me an opportunity to not only bring creative or meaningful stories to life, but also interact with fascinating, unusual, and captivating individuals I both respect and admire. For better or for worse, I'd like to think that I'm a stronger person thanks to these experiences.
Best late night eatery in So. Cal?
25 Degrees at the Hotel Roosevelt. Easily of one of the best burger joints in the West Coast and it's open 24/7! I always get their Number 3s, and their Guinness shakes are to die for.
When you get stress out how do you decompress?
I stress out the most when I rely on people and they don't follow through. One of the mottos I subscribe to is "if you want to get something done, just do it yourself," and I think filmmaking is no exception. The problem is I honestly don't know how to decompress or cope with it healthily. On sets or shooting-weeks, I get extremely uptight, wound-up, and stressed out at the expense of my friends and well being. Unfortunately, I bottle up all my anxieties, internalize them, and they blow up unexpectedly after awhile (Usually in the form of sickness). My life is one huge adrenaline rush from each film to the next, so I just have little moments of bliss that I cherish and cling on to in the hopes that it'll last me through the storm.
How did your parents react when you told them you wanted to make a film?
Unlike typical Asian parents, mine were initially quite supportive and encouraging, though cautioned me that the life I was getting myself into was fraught with far more downs than ups. Every once in awhile, they become incensed when film gets in the way of my health, school work, or time I should be spending with them, but they are neutral either way. They would prefer I got a "normal" hobby/job and aren"t super enthusiastic about film as a career, but they would not disown me if I went into it full time. Thankfully our family is very small and tight-knit so there aren"t awkward parties or gatherings in which my parents can compare this-or-that-relative-the-doctor versus our-poor-son-the-filmmaker.
How does your political science major and film making duties relate to one another?
When I eventually start making propaganda videos for the government, I would have reached my Zenith pinnacle as a filmmaker. For now, they live largely separated, distinct lives. I feel a little bit like a superhero sometimes: Political science college student by day, rebel guerilla filmmaker by night.
What are some of the perks when making a film?
Being able to do what ordinary people would not even dream of. The access film gives is unparalleled. Shooting out of helicopters, filming at a race track, hanging out next to US Army tanks, and covering big name celebrities such as MosDef, Moby, Lupe Fiasco, Jorge Garcia, CircaSurvive, 311, Dakota Fanning, etc. are all pipe dreams for most and thanks to film, I get unprecedented access to things that would otherwise be unattainable. Film is such a powerful medium, and the power of a camera is not to be underestimated.
Which team do you root for Lakers or Clippers? Dodgers or Angels?
Honestly I don"t watch that much NBA or MLB matches. I was always more of a college sports fan being at UCLA and all. Also, this definitely highlights my "foreignness," but I also can't watch English Premier League (EPL) or World Cup Matches here, which is what I miss most about the sports scene here in the United States.
Do you think Los Angeles needs an NFL team?
Even though I still think of football as a strictly soccer term, I think an NFL team would be good for Los Angeles. Not only would it provide hours of endless entertainment for the locals, but it could also potentially boost political, social, and economic revenues in surrounding areas. Besides, ever since the Rams or Raiders, LA has been lacking the football vibe somewhat, apart from the traditional USC-UCLA cross town rivalry every year.
Thanks for taking the time out to do this interview; do you have any famous last words you like to share?
For all the struggling filmmakers, actors, and artists out there, I would like to encourage you to continue doing what you do, and fight the good fight for our calling. Even though the road to success in these turbulent industries are plagued with uncertainty, doubt, and competition, I think it is important that all of us keep our end goals in sight and keep trying no matter what. There'll be dark, trying times interwoven with success and glamour, but with enough resolve, perseverance and audacity, anything is possible. With digital technology being so accessible in this day and age, I would like to encourage all aspiring filmmakers to just get out there, make something, and continue improving through practice and lots of trial-and-error.
Ultimately, I'm always open to talk or collaborate and if you"d like to communicate more, do hesitate to send me an e-mail anytime (admin@fps-productions.com).
Thanks to AArisings and Ray for the opportunity and interview!
You can view my work/websites here:
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This issue of A-Profiler is brought to you by Ray Lam.
Special thanks to FPS Productions.
Photos used with permission.
Copyright retained by original copyright holder(s).
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