Today we’d like to introduce you to Sadie Rogers.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Well, I worked as an actor in Chicago for a little over a decade. With a heart drawn to experimental theatre and a soul drawn to the storytelling of film, I was always a little torn between the two. I have had the luck of being surrounded by friends who have been successful in both and either through being cast, working in production on any job offered or just by observing, I have acquired a sort of education in filmmaking and storytelling along the way. Somewhere in that journey, the two began to merge into the stories I am making now as a filmmaker.
A few years back, I got the courage from my best friend and local filmmaker, Stephen Cone (HENRY GAMBLE’S BIRTHDAY PARTY, PRINCESS CYD), my most essential teacher, to start making my own projects. With the help of cinematographer, Eon Mora (Netflix’s EASY), I started shooting little stories that have slowly grown and had some surprising successes along the way!
Our first success, RPG, played the festival circuit and has landed itself a lovely home on shortoftheweek.com.
Our most ambitious project, HOW IS THIS THE WORLD, shot this fall in Chicago and is now deep in post.
The friends and collaborators, I have met along the way have been essential to my process. The Chicago filmmaking scene and the talent available here is incredible. My slow stair steps to being a fantasy/sci-fi filmmaker are beginning to be a reality, maybe they have been all along!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would have to say it varies from project to project. This past year, I decided to try crowdfunding for my most recent project and used Indiegogo.com as my source. I was so nervous about asking for money!!! But, I met with another lovely female filmmaker who sat me down and said, don’t hesitate, begin every conversation assuming people don’t know what you are doing and might have money and be humble but ambitious.
She was very right. You can never assume social media and advertising are your only sources, the good old fashioned talking people up bit was the key. We made enough funds to cover production and most of post. I ended up falling a little in love with crowdfunding. It’s a full time job and the people that come through will melt your heart.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Filmmaker, most recent project HOW IS THIS THE WORLD – what should we know?
My goal as a filmmaker is to tell stories of course, but mainly stories of science fiction and fantasy. I cannot seem to find empathy or passion in reality, so, I seek to find those feelings perhaps in the escape of it.
I have been and am constantly inspired by the world of J.R.R. Tolkien and the early works of William Gibson among many others.
I would also say that my very lucky friendship with filmmaker Stephen Cone sets me apart from others. I have been able to observe, through watching him work or working with him, the comfort and love he demands on a film set, no matter what the subject matter, what the goal.
That training, along with my need to step away from reality at least a bit in my stories creates an energetic, exciting platform from which to start making things!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Honestly, it is very much about the people your surround yourself with. On my most recent project, HOW IS THIS THE WORLD. I was able to, along with my amazing producer, Grace Hahn, put together a production team that was absolutely essential to the success of the film.
I believe very much that no matter what the genre, feel of the work, having an honest and kind team around you that is cheering for you, cheering for the overall project itself is the only way to be!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vimeo.com/sadierogers
- Email: rogers.sadie@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/howisthistheworld
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Howisthistheworld/
- Twitter: twitter.com/sadieinvalinor
Image Credit:
Greg Stephen Reigh (IG @gregstephenreigh) and Eon Mora
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