Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Schwartz.
Andrew, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born and raised here in Miami, Florida. Went to the University of Florida in Gainesville, where I studied English, Film, and Media as an undergrad, then Law as a grad student.
Made my first feature film as a law student in 2005, a horror-comedy called “The Pallid Mask”, which I co-wrote with my friend Andy Clarke. Directed and edited it myself. Script was based on the cosmic horror of H.P. Lovecraft (e.g. the Cthulhu Mythos) and the “King in Yellow” stories of Robert W. Chambers, but set in contemporary Gainesville starring a fresh-faced college student trying to balance his studies, extracurriculars, friendships, and a tumultuous relationship with his bitchy boyfriend.
Produced my first feature-length film by accident, when I was hired on as a Production Assistant to the behind-the-scenes comedy “Do It In Post.” I worked my way up to Associate Producer over the course of the film production, eventually taking the coveted Producer role and overseeing the completion of the entire project. My journey on this multi-year production paralleled that of the film’s lead, a pot dealer who is maneuvered into visiting an independent film set and finagles his way into a job, eventually falling upward into the Associate Producer position. It was the first–but not the last–time I experienced life and film feeding off of each other, just like that cliche “life imitates art imitates life” trope.
Attended a cattle call audition for Jeopardy! contestants when I was 28. Answered ten out of ten questions correctly and was asked to come back for a more thorough audition the next day. After passing their timed fifty questions written exam, I was asked to stay behind along with a dozen other people. They had us play a practice game, then told a handful of us that we were in consideration for contestants on the popular televised quiz show. They would contact us sometime in the next eighteen months if they were interested. Fourteen months later, I was sitting in my car, waiting to make a deposit at the bank’s drive-through, when I received a call on my mobile asking if I could be in California in 4-6 weeks. I told them I thought they’d forgotten about me; they assured me they had not. I started watching Jeopardy! every night and recording old episodes from Game Show Network so I could practice my timing with buzzing in. The day finally arrived and I was selected to compete on the show. I won my first two games, then lost the third when nobody was able to successfully answer the Final Jeopardy question. My friend Brian and I went to Disneyland afterward to celebrate. Easily one of my favorite experiences and memories.
Founded a photo/video studio shortly thereafter called “The Hive” in Miami’s Bird Road Arts District. We shot a number of music videos, commercials, short films, and the like there, including several key scenes for “Do It In Post” and the pilot episode of “Sunny City/Shady People.” Numerous Florida icons performed, shot, or otherwise worked at The Hive, including Scott Mitchell (aka Daisy Berkowitz, guitarist for Marilyn Manson), Otto Von Schirach, Telekinetic Walrus & The Pride of Ions, photographer Warren Whitmore III, multimedia artist Lindsay Scoggins, filmmaker Jillian Mayer (Borscht), adult actress Ingrid “The Suarez”, and gallerist Mike Reynolds, famed for his series of irreverent paintings of pop musician Justin Bieber as Renaissance-era noblewomen.
Spent three years writing, shooting, producing, acting in, editing, and finally presenting our love letter to the city of Miami, “Sunny City/Shady People.” A spec pilot for an action-comedy show that has yet to be picked up, SC/SP’s first episode (“In-FIDEL-ity”) was packed full of Cold War jokes that melt deliciously in the city’s infamous heat. My co-writer Dan “Gonzo” Gonzalez and I wrote a full season’s worth of scripts and outlined the basic story direction and character arcs for an entire five-season series. Any studios or investors who are interested, feel free to reach out to us. We’d like to talk.
The past two years, I’ve been busy organizing and promoting The Miami Underground Film Festival, a newcomer to the Miami events scene that focuses solely on showcasing unique films exclusively from South Florida filmmakers. We debuted “Sunny City/Shady People” the first year amongst 20+ other original SoFla shorts. This year we had over thirty entries, including short films, music videos, documentaries, and some amazing animations. Our format also differs from the other local film fests as we show all the films once in the afternoon and early evening, then host a series of live musical acts from different genres for the remaining duration of the night. While the bands play, the films are screened a second time in a smaller back room for any late arrivals (or for any night owls who simply didn’t want to come to the earlier screening.) Since we know nobody in Miami is ever on time, the secondary screening has been a godsend for a number of people who’ve regretted missing an earlier showing. We held the event at Churchill’s Pub the first two years and have seen our attendance grow to the point where we may be shopping for a larger venue next year. Stay tuned for more details.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I lost “The Hive”, my beloved photo-video studio in the Bird Road Arts District after they significantly raised the rent and I was no longer able to afford it. Not having my own green screen studio or space for all my equipment has made it far more difficult to do production than it was previously.
Please tell us about Miami Underground Film Festival – what should we know?
I am happiest as a writer, director, editor, and producer. I love visualizing a concept and seeing it brought to life. The whole process is fascinating, if often tedious and exhausting.
I also love to perform, be it on camera or as the lead singer of Armada!, a Miami-based tribute band that plays music from artists such as David Bowie, Nirvana, Joy Division, The Cure, Jack Off Jill, nine-inch nails, et al.
I create all of the social media content for the Miami Underground Film Festival, from graphics to captions, as well as designing the website, the official programs, and other printed materials for the festival.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Tenacity and flexibility are indispensable qualities.
Knowing the right people and connections is even more important, though. And that doesn’t just mean knowing some bigwig Hollywood player to distribute your movie. You might have two friends who are equally terrible actors who want a cameo in your short film. Only one of them, however, lives in a house where you can additionally shoot a separate scene that looks like a completely different location. Guess which one the smart producer is going to cast?
Contact Info:
- Website: http://miamiundergroundfilmfestival.com/
- Email: miamiundergroundfilmfestival@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miamiundergroundfilmfestival/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MiamiUndergroundFilmFestival/
Image Credit:
Andrew Schwartz, Chuck Livid, Dan Gonzalez, Ian Witlen, Jonathan Piccolo, Mike Reynolds, Sony Pictures Studios
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