ND grads inpsire black filmmakers
By T. MUSETTE JOHNSON
News Writer
Christine and Michael Swanson, a married couple and 1994 Notre Dame graduates, returned to campus Thursday to discuss their work in independent cinema.
The Swansons head the Los Angeles-based production studio Faith Filmworks, Inc., directed and produced the 2001 short film "All About You," which recently was named the grand jury prize winner at the Hollywood Black Film Festival. The short, low-budget film features many well-known actors, most notably actresses Debbie Allen and Renee Goldsberry.
As young filmmakers, the Swansons discussed the trials and tribulations of producing their first feature film as well as stressing the importance of helping other filmmakers in the future.
"We want to pave the way for other African American filmmakers," said Michael Swanson.
In the summer of 1999, Christine Swanson started writing the screenplay for "All About You," while her husband worked on finding funding for the film.
"Many investors are weary of investing in independent films because they want to be sure of making a profit," Michael Swanson said.
With the help of one major investor, the film was produced on just under a $2 million budget.
The Swansons had to jump the hurdle of finding a cast that would be able to carry the film and make it more marketable.
"Many actors will often bring their audiences with them, which, sometimes will make them more desirable when casting roles," Christine Swanson said.
She added that Debbie Allen decided to help the young couple, telling them she would be more than happy to play a role in their film, but she only accepted small payment in exchange for her work.
The Swansons said they also face the problem of distributing their film.
"Distributors feel that there is not a market for African American love stories and dramas," Christine Swanson said. "They say that it is hard to market such films because it is out of the norm of the usual African American film and television programs that commonly depict the use of drugs and violence."
As a result, the Swansons have decided to distribute independently, initially opening the film in Chicago theaters and possibly branching out from there later in the year.
Christine Swanson, as a young undergraduate, was not planning on going into the film business. She started out as a finance major and eventually switched to a communications and theatre major.
"I was initially intimidated by all of the male students in my film classes. I would always pray that the class would run out of time before any of my work could be screened," she said.
However, she said a guest speaker on campus, noted director Spike Lee, inspired her.
"Hearing Spike Lee inspired me to attend New York University for graduate school," she said. "If Spike Lee went there, I was going there."
Michael Swanson had intended to go to seminary school. Upon his graduation, however, he soon found that he wanted to do something else. Taking a job at NBC in New York, he was able to help his wife produce her short films at NYU.
"He often would come to my night classes with me, and he was always there for guest speakers. It was almost as if we got two film educations for the price of one," Christine Swanson said.
Michael Swanson is currently negotiating a deal with HBO to produce a film that his wife is finishing. The husband and wife said they intend to continue expanding their production studio while opening doors for other young black filmmakers.
All News Stories for Friday, April 12, 2002
