Recently we had an ICQ chat over the net with indie director Mikael C. Fritts. It was, well, to say the least, interesting. So go ahead, read it!!!
FRAMEZ: So, tell us something.
MIKAEL C. FRITTS: I think this is sort of weird.
FRAMEZ: How so?
MCF: I think the whole concept of the internet and the world wide web in itself is a weird one. I mean, where are you right now? Like what state are you in?
FRAMEZ: California.
MCF: See. Your in California, and I'm in North Carolina, but we're still having a "real time" conversation. Sure, this could be going on over the phone just as easy, but that's what I mean by all this being weird. If this were a phone call; A) It would cost a hell of alot more, and B) we would hear each other's voices. Why this is so weird is simply just because of how personal, yet un-personal the internet is. People are usually alot more comfortable typing messages about themselves to complete strangers then they are speaking to that person, be it over the phone or in person. This is such a dangerous medium.
FRAMEZ: And by dangerous, I'm assuming you mean people's privacy and what not?
MCF: Well, yeah, that too; but more along the lines that people can reveal more about themselves then they mean to. I'm sure you've been in chat rooms before, so you sort of know what I'm talking about.
FRAMEZ: Yes, but how can you be sure that person is telling the truth in what their saying? It's easier to lie to someone when your not sitting in front of them or talking to them.
MCF: Exactly! That's the danger. In every lie a truth slips by, as the old saying goes. This person may be shooting lies out of his ass, but maybe he let a truth slip by. Maybe he says: "I have $5 million in the bank." and your thinking, "Yeah, whatever." But a couple of minutes later he could say: "I like to make kiddie porn." and you could blow that off as another lie, but in all actuality it could be the truth. The danger is in knowing and not knowing. You never know if someone is telling the truth or lying. I don't know, am I making any sense?
FRAMEZ: Yeah, but I think we're going to close this subject and move on to the topic we originally hunted you down to talk about.
MCF: Sure.
FRAMEZ: You consider yourself any "independent director" but have never shot a feature.
MCF: Oh yeah. I don't think directing a feature has anything to do with being an "independent" anything, especially a director! I believe that being an "independent director" revolves around what your ideals are. What you believe, what story you want to tell. If all you have is a story in your head, and you can see it playing out in your head, you can see the beginning crane shot and the amazing dolly through the window, but have never touched a camera and have no movie experiance what so ever; I would consider that person an "independent director" as much as I consider Sayles or Jarmusch an independent director. It has nothing to do with what you have or haven't done.
FRAMEZ: So what, in your mind, would qualify someone to NOT fit in the "independent director" section?
MCF: That persons vision. How they shoot they're films. Is it a "creative" style? Does it make you think? What does that person offer to you on the screen? And if that person is making a picture for over $1 million, in my mind, he's no longer "independent". The budgets for "independent films" have gone through the floor in the 1990's. During the 80's a project with a budget of $1 million or even $5 million was considered "independent". Now it's the Slackers, and Clerks that define what is "independent". The English Patient was regarded as an "independent" but when you really look at it. What do you think? Oh, and I must give mad prop's to The English Patient Team, for pointing out that it got "final cut" rights from Miramax during the Academy Awards. How cool was that?
FRAMEZ: Like a bitch slap it was. So, tell us. What makes YOU so "independent"? What seperates you from the Sayles', Smith's, and Jarmusch's of the "independent" world?
MCF: Nothing and everything. Everyone is different, regardless, in how they shoot a project. Give Kevin Smith, John Sayles, Jim Jarmusch, George Lucas, Ripley Scott, and Oliver Stone the same script to shoot, and you'll get six completly different films. Each the same, script wise, but each different from one another in style and approach. Actually, that would be something I'd like to see. Give them all a new Star Wars and see what happens. Could you imagine a Kevin Smith Star Wars? How kick ass would that be?! Or A Tarantino Star Wars! I could just hear it! "Darth, I'm like a X-Wing man, and you've got me in the red. And all I'm saying is that it's not good to run a X-Wing in the red." After a Tarantino Star Wars, I could die a happy man! Sorry, I tangented.
FRAMEZ: It's quite alright.
MCF: I consider myself "independent" because I try to bring stories to people that they normally wouldn't see. I try to make them think. If someone were to comment on one of my films and say; "He must be on alot of fucking drugs to come up with that shit! That was really fucked up!" that would make me happy. They left the theatre thinking, using they're brains. Like what John Waters said about Pink Flamingo's. When people saw the film, even if they hated it, they had to talk about it. Someone couldn't say, "What'd you do last night?" and that person would say "Nothing." That person would say, "I saw the most disgusting, fucked up movie..." Waters said something like that anyway. But that's the point I'm trying to make. If they talk about it, you're doing what you're supposed to be doing. That's the best answer I can give you.
FRAMEZ: What film have you seen most recently that blew you away? That made you think?
MCF: Nowhere, Greg Araki's new one. The nipple scene! I almost closed my eyes! Greg always amazes me. Sometimes I think Dylan (my DP) and I are the only people in the world that admit that we enjoy his films. I think there is a whole clan of "closet-Araki's" who like his films, but won't admit it. Like The Spice Girls, they've sold millions of albums, but no one admit's to owning one. And before you say it, I am in NO WAY comparing Greg to the Spice Girls, although I could see them in one of his films!
FRAMEZ: We wouldn't say that! =-) Speaking of the Spice Girls...what do you think of the soon to be released Spice World?
MCF: Oh, I can't wait for it! I want to see it, I'll admit it. I'll be there opening night! Who wouldn't want to see The Spice Grils in a movie? At least you know you're going to laugh. Maybe not at the jokes, but I'm pretty sure the acting will get some chuckles. I'll bet that'll be the weekend top grosser when it's released.