Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Sarrow
Hi Michael, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always enjoyed writing stories. After watching “Rules of the Game” and deciding to pursue film, I threw all my belongings into a car and moved from Florida to Los Angeles.
My first job in LA was as an assistant at a commercial production company. Phones would sometimes fly violently around the office, but it was good exposure to the world of commercials and advertising. That experience in the ad world influenced the story of my film “SMILE AS YOU KILL.”
“SMILE AS YOU KILL” is about a sick man who kidnaps a hotshot advertising director and forces him at gunpoint to create an online campaign for treatment.
We’ve been taking the film around to various film festivals, and now I’m excited to release it to the world on streaming platforms. So thank you for the opportunity to chat.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t recommend going into indie film as a lucrative career. I think for most writers, painters, filmmakers, and interpretative dancers, we do it because we believe in the stories we want to tell.
That sounds pretentious, but the unfortunate reality is that filmmaking is one of the most expensive art forms in the world. Even a low-budget film like “SMILE AS YOU KILL” requires raising enough funding to pay crew, feed people, rent gear, pay for props and locations, etc. So that’s the main challenge.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a writer, I love to throw characters into high-concept and high-stakes situations and then see if they sink or swim. I enjoy exploring the psychology of the characters and the premise from all angles. And I also hope I bring a dark, almost-absurdist sense of humor to these scenarios.
For example, in “SMILE AS YOU KILL,” we dive deep into the mind of a kidnapper who is terrified of his own mortality and a slick advertiser who just wants to get back to his normal existence. It’s life-or-death stuff, but there’s also an absurd humor as they bicker over what to put on the crowdfunding ad.
In an unbelievable coincidence, the recent assassination of the UnitedHealthcare CEO thrust healthcare back into the news one month before our release. So the concept I wrote must have some relevance.
After writing, I put on the director hat, so I can choose the visuals and tone that I feel matches the story. There are a couple key moments in the film that only work if I’m able to direct the material.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
You never know who will be a useful or helpful collaborator in the future. This is especially true for the filmmaking community. Be a good person. Don’t shit talk other people’s work. At least not in public nor on social media.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.smileasyoukill.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saykfilm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saykfilm
- Twitter: https://www.x.com/msarrow
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SAYKfilm
