Justin’s dad would sneak horror movies home for him to watch on his sick days and it sparked the dream. He started making movies at home, remaking horror film scenes complete with physical effects.

He talks about meeting his former writing partner, Kevin Hutchison, who was an FX artist, they met as roommates and began collaborating on projects. But after 10 years, how was gone.

Now, Justin has a new writing partner, Serena Whitney. And though he’s made horror and thrillers, he has made three documentaries (and a fourth in production), Working Class Rockstar, Skullworld and Clapboard Jungle which are excellent. I highly recommend, Clapboard Jungle is a must see for fledgling filmmakers. And get the Arrow Blu Ray if you like commentary, there’s 26 hours worth, on it.

He explains his reasoning for making the documentaries and his format that he uses. Justin also explains that the business is completely different now after the pandemic.

He talks his Arrow deal and it shows why it’s important to go to festivals and to submit your films to festivals. And how the right distribution can get your projects in front of the right eyes for future projects.

Justin also explains how he filmed Broken Mile on a one day budget. And I wondered if he ever just wants to quit but he explains filmmaking is his calling. It’s tough but it’s all he wants to do. Even his work that pays the bills is still in the film industry for other entities. And in between, he works on his own stuff.

And stay for valuable advice for new filmmakers and screenwriters plus his argument in support of shorts and the shorter, the better. And why Justin says they are so important. He also gives important notes for contracts so you still have some control over your work.

Justin’s other features are Lifechanger and Broken Mile and check out other works, anthologies he was involved in like Blood, Sweat & Terrors, Minutes Past Midnight and Galaxy of Horrors, you can find them all on Tubi.

Support independent filmmakers and keep your eyes open for Justin McConnell’s future releases: It Came From Within, Clapboard Jungle series, Feed The Dark and Mark of Kane.


Find Justin McConnell at http://www.unstableground.net


And find us:

Carlos Ibarra on IG @jekyl6669 and
https://www.fillintheblanksproductions.ca/

Christopher Thompson on IG @theauthor__ and mastodon @https://mastodon.world/@WestReAnimated

Kimberly at http://www.macabreish.com and IG and Tiktok @macabre_ish. https://linktr.ee/macabre_ish