Check Out John Ward’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Ward. 

Hi John, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
As far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a gangster. I mean a filmmaker. Well, that’s not entirely true. When I was a kid, I wanted to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps and be a police officer. Then I saw Star Wars in 1977, and that changed everything. Three films changed my life, Star Wars, Jaws, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I was obsessed with three films. My mother bought me books, posters, and cards; I had to have them. I made a few short Super 8 films with my friends. Then moved to VHS and two VCRs to edit on. From there, I went to Mini-DV. I took a few years off from filmmaking. I just wasn’t into it. I did go to film school, College of Marin, and Las Angeles City College. I made a few student films. I moved from Pasadena, CA, to Las Vegas, NV, in 2006. A few years later, I worked on two low-budget films, Drug Z and Clown Motel Massacre. They were never released. But I did learn a lot from those two unfinished films. I realized I could make a micro-budget film with zero money and a small cast and crew. I pulled together my resources and wrote, produced, and directed my first short film, AXEMAS. (2017). Then in 2018, I made AXEMAS 2: BLOOD SLAY. After that, I made MEATHOOK MASSACRE 4 (2018). I also made a handful of shorts, SKELEVIL (2018), CANNIBAL (2019), IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU… (2019), and more. The key is to work on as many films as you can. I like working on other filmmakers’ projects as an actor or crew. It’s an excellent way to network and learn while doing. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Funding a film is difficult. Finding a cast and crew that will work cheaply is an obstacle and challenge. I usually support short films myself and use crowdfunding for features. This time I used crowdfunding for AXEMAS 3 and 4. Finding locations has been a problem. I use what I have, like putting a killer Santa in a storage facility. Most of the time, I have to write what I have to budget for what I can access. My company, Dark Park Films, is just me. That’s how a lot of indie or micro-budget filmmakers do it. Some talented people make effects, makeup, acting, camera, and sound for little to no money. They want the experience and IMDb credits. Treat them well on and off set, and a filmmaker will have a returning cast and crew. Please don’t feed them bread and beans. Spend money on good food and drinks. Don’t force people into doing something they don’t want to do. Tell the cast and crew upfront what is required of them. Indie and micro-budge filmmaking have extended hours. Ensure they get food and drink, a poster, and a DVD (or a digital version) of the film. Show the owners of the location you are shooting at respect and leave it clean. Maybe even give the owner a few extra bucks for letting you film there. Coffee is essential on set. Sometimes stopping for a lunch break can be challenging but do it. The cast and crew need a break. If someone pisses you off, both people need to go to a private area to talk. I hope this helps. I’m not perfect. I break my own on-set rules. Live and learn. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
AXEMAS, AXEMAS 2: BLOOD SLAY, SKELEVIL, and CANNIBAL are my most proud films. AXEMAS 1 and 2 are Christmas slasher films set at a storage facility. SKELEVIL is a short cosmic horror film. And CANNIBAL is a short-found-footage film set in the desert. AXEMAS 1 and 2 are 30 minutes each. They are two short films that have grown beyond my expectations. I thought they would come and go, but both films have a fan base. People can watch them on Tubi and YouTube. AXEMAS 3 and 4 are in development. Both SKELEVIL and CANNIBAL I would like to make both into feature-length films. SKELEVIL might be three short films. I’m not sure yet. Right now, I work at a storage facility. That pays the bills. After work and my days off, I work on my projects or other filmmakers’ projects. Watching other filmmakers is a great way to learn about filmmaking. I can take what I know and apply it to my work. What sets me apart from other filmmakers? I’m a micro-budget and commercial (Hollywood) filmmaker. I always think about what the audience wants to see, not just what I want to see in a film. I think that’s what makes the AXEMAS films unique. I also like to talk to people who like my movies or the videos I make for YouTube. Communicating with people who like my work is important to me. If I can make one person happy, then I’m happy. When I’m having a bad day, someone telling me they like what I made can turn my day around. 

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I’ve lived in Las Vegas, NV, for 16 years. I lived most of my life in northern California, the Bay Area. I moved to southern California, Pasadena, in my twenties. Most of my friends and family live in California. I do miss Las Angeles and San Francisco. For a long time, I wouldn’t say I liked Las Vegas. I felt stuck here. I had two head-on collisions and one rear-ender. I have been in the hospital for various reasons. At one time, I thought that Vegas was my endpoint. But then I got back into film, and the more work I did, the happier I became. Now my movies reflect what Vegas is to me; It’s hot and dry. The sun beat down on you. When you open an exit door, sunlight binds you. The AXEMAS films are primarily at night, but CANNIBAL and MEATHOOK MASSACRE 4 are during the day. In those films, I tried to show what living in a desert is like intense sunlight and sunbaked heat. I now like Las Vegas. I have friends and filmmaker friends. Vegas is a mini-Hollywood and is growing. Unfortunately, so is the rent. 

Pricing:

• $1K for film equipment. Check YouTube.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/johnleeward/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/JohnLeeWard
• Twitter: twitter.com/JohnLWard666
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCRUswuoG12Ey9hNz5qvhYfw
• Other: tubitv.com/movies/554056/axemas-2