Interview with Filmmaker Steven R. Lawson (MAN-AT-ARMS)

Steven R. Lawson’s short film played at the February 2018 Fan Fiction/Sci-Fi Film Festival in Toronto.

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?

Steven R. Lawson: I love the challenge in creating something new.I normally make Horror or Thriller movies so Fantasy was a whole new thing i wanted to try.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?

7 months (In my spare time after work and weekends mainly)

3. How would you describe your short film in two words!?

Dark Fantasy

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Trying to find the right kind of Music and Sound FX

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

Excited,Happy…It’s nice to get feedback from people i don’t know

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK of the Short Film:

6. How did you come up with the idea for this short film?

I recently watched a lot of 80’s fantasy films like Labyrinth and Dark Crystal, it then got me thinking about my childhood movies and TV shows. I set out to make Visionaries first of all (I loved that show when i was a kid) but then I thought I could do more with Masters of the Universe, I mean it had a better story and interesting Characters.

I had this idea of a woman running for her life,but then I thought maybe she has a baby and she’s running to save the baby’s life…Then I thought maybe the baby could be HE-MAN, I should make this a prequel to the Masters of the Universe.Man-at-Arms was always like a father figure to HE-MAN, so I thought, maybe this could be the moment where Man-at-Arms meets HE-MAN. It kind of went on from there.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

1995 Mortal Kombat

8. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway, what are you feelings of the submission platform from a filmmaker’s perspective?

I think FilmFreeway is an excellent way to get films out there, I’ve been very fortunate to get my work into a few festivals and even won awards. Not all of my submissions have been selected every time but it’s part of the process I guess, I mean you can’t win all the time!

9. What song have you listened to the most times in your life?

The theme tune to Mortal Kombat (I had it set as my phone alarm for about 2 years)

10. What is next for you? A new film?

Currently working on a new Horror Fan Film based on Freddy and Jason

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Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 20-50 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every single month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Festival held in downtown Toronto, and Los Angeles at least 3 times a month. Go to http://www.wildsoundfestival.com for more information and to submit your work to the festival.