TAA @ 10: Rashaad Ernesto Green on Film School

Continuing our series of interviews with Tribeca All Access® alumni in celebration of the program’s 10th anniversary, we’ve asked Rashaad Ernesto Green (TAA 2009) how film school helped spark his career. His debut feature film Gun Hill Road premiered at Sundance in 2011 and he has been included in Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film list as well as Indiewire’s Top Ten New Voices. He has two Masters’ degrees from New York University.

I decided to go back to school because I wanted more control over my career, my life, and over the stories that I wished to see on the silver screen. I was tired of placing my destiny in the hands of those creatives who were not concerned with the accurate portrayal of people and stories within my culture or community. I wanted to take the reigns back again, and instead of complaining of the lack of representation, contribute my own perspective. Because I had already been through one grad school, I knew the type of commitment that was needed to succeed. I knew that I would get out of NYU what I put in. I wanted to learn how to write and also familiarize with all aspects of production.   I didn’t realize how much I knew intrinsically about writing from my experience as an actor. NYU Grad Film built on the foundation that had already been laid, and furthered my on set knowledge as well as the tools needed for post-production, festivals, sales and distribution.

Can you tell us about one of your professors who has become a mentor? I have maintained relationships with several professors at NYU, and consider them all my mentors. One of the best professors I ever had, my directing teacher Bill Reilly, passed away last year. Also starting his career as an actor, Bill Reilly laid a wonderful foundation that I have always relied on as I press forward. I’ve also had the fortune of studying under the great Spike Lee. He was one of the filmmakers who inspired my decision to go back to film school in the first place, and he has remained in my corner ever since. I remember on the first day of class, Spike Lee asked how many of us wanted to be feature filmmakers. Most of the class raised our hands. He then asked how many of us had written our feature scripts. All but two of the hands went down. He said, “See.  Why are y’all bullshitting?” It was great to bounce ideas off of like-minded artists during my time of growth. I also built relationships with classmates and made connections that I will keep for years to come. Can you describe one professional hurdle you’ve faced, and what gave you the experience to traverse it? The transition from directing shorts to a feature was a difficult one. It took an immense amount of stamina and faith to get through it. I relied on my family to coach me through the tough times, kept my eyes on the goal, and marched along as best I could until it was over. Now is the time to strike, more than ever before. We have an opportunity as independent filmmakers. With technology improving as fast it is, and the cost of high quality cameras becoming affordable, independent filmmakers now have a chance to make a mark on the industry and restore the types of films to the screen that the industry has been scared to make. We no longer have to wait for anyone to say yes to our productions. We can yes to ourselves.

How has TAA helped your career? The Tribeca All Access® program came at the perfect time during our journey for Gun Hill Road. We met with attorneys, casting directors, agents, and a lieu of industry professionals to inform them of our project. Young artists don't often receive this type of access and introduction to the industry. One agent whom we met with asked me who my ideal cast would be for the project. The agent was Ken Lee from Innovative. I told him that I wrote the lead role with Esai Morales in mind. Ken's eyes turned bright as he looked up and said, "Esai just happens to be my client!" I try never to look back. I’m a firm believer that everything happens, happens for a reason. Had I done something differently early on, I may have ended up in a different place today. Each lesson I’ve learned occurred in its due time, and that goes for every lesson I’ll learn in the future. To answer the question... no. I wouldn’t do anything differently. I would do it all again in the same way. What advice do you have for determined filmmakers who are looking to take the film school route or are there now and looking ahead after graduation? Start now. Whatever idea you have, whether your script is finished or not, or you’re just starting to think about cast and financing, begin today. Don’t wait. You have more power than you know. I’m in the middle of post-production on a coming-of-age film my brother and I just produced for BET that will air in December. I’m currently writing another feature film about two young people who fall in love in New York City, and I’m also looking to make some inroads to directing television shows. Please visit facebook.com/greenbrotherfilms for more information.