Ian Kammer

How did you get into directing?
I have been making little films since I was a kid, but I didn’t start taking it seriously until high school. After some drama classes I found it more to fun to be behind the scenes, so I started using lunch money to rent films and eventually got my hands on a DVX-100. I was able to shoot a small portfolio to get me into Art Center College of Design, where I earned a BFA in Film.

What is your most recent project?
I recently finished a short film I had shot during my last year at Art Center titled Subconscious Disconnect. It follows two scientists who grapple with reality while watching the dream of their final subject.

It was a fun project to edit, I ended up experimenting on the VHS footage we had shot on set with a old VCR. Bending and crinkling the tape by hand to get really interesting, spontaneous effects.

What is the best part of being a director?
Being on set. It’s a great feeling to call action after so much prep and work has been put into a shoot.

What is the worst part of being a director?
I’m not sure, even at the worst times, I’m happy to be pursuing a profession that creativity challenges you in so many ways.

What is your current career focus: commercials & branded content, TV, movies? Do you plan to specialize in a particular genre—comedy, drama, visual effects, etc.?
Currently I’m focusing on developing Subconscious Disconnect, my short film, into a feature. It’s piqued some interest and the story would be amazing to expand on.

Who is your favorite director and why?
I could list all my favorites, but two directors that I’ve been really into at the moment are Andrew Dominick and Steve McQueen. Both have an amazing eye for composition, visual style and make films about really unique characters and stories.

What is your favorite movie? Your favorite commercial or branded content?
My most recent favorite was The Place Beyond the Pines. It was visually and narratively stunning, a really fresh take on the crime genre. I think the Herringbone “Henri’s Hands” commercial is perfectly crafted, cinematic and darkly funny.

Tell use about your background (i.e. Where did you grow up? Past jobs?)
I grew up in a small town just north of Seattle, WA. My father was a photographer, so I was always surrounded by cameras, art and photography books. I worked a few odd jobs editing and assisting on corporate films that taught me the basics of how a set is run before I took off to LA.

Contact

iankammer@gmail.com