Who are you and what’s your filmmaking background?
“I’m nobody. I’m a tramp, a bum, a hobo. I’m a boxcar and a jug of wine. And a straight razor …if you get too close to me” Nah, I’m just kidding… but that question, “Who are you?” always reminds me of that insane interview with Manson. I’d like to say I’m an old soul trapped in a young man’s naïve mind and body, but if you asked my friends who I am, they’d probably have a better answer than I do. I’ve made super-8 films for about 7 years, I have no formal training in filmmaking, nor do I consider myself an experienced filmmaker; I usually make films for the joy and catharsis it provides. Other than that, I’m a skateboarder, an artist, lousy pianist, and most recently an industrial designer; I received my bachelor of science in ID from San Jose State University less than 6 months ago.
What are you working on right now?
Working on being happy.
Still from “Say Hello”
What are you promoting?
Promoting individuality through creativity.
What do you want the audience to take away from your films?
I want to inspire people to be themselves — weird, and creative in their own ways. Don’t be afraid to be imperfect and look awkward, it’s more attractive than you may think. It’s exhausting to see the same cookie-cutter people trying to fit in to what’s trending or popular; the success of your life isn’t measured in “likes.” I also want to illicit different, often dichotomized emotions that people wouldn’t usually experience so closely together, hinting at the paradox of existence. I’d like the audience to really feel the oxymoron that is life, as well as the internal tug-o-war I feel often. I’d like to leave the audience on a non-conventional and inspirational note.
What’s your favorite story from filmmaking?
It’s a strange favorite, but it’s the most memorable for me. Six years ago, some good friends and I were filming a few of us skate this stair-set and handrail. I ended up bailing the board, but landed on it unintentionally and slammed my head into the ground. I spent a week in the ICU with a brain injury in the form of an epidural hematoma. I fractured my skull, broke my thumb, vomited blood, and lost my sense of taste and smell for a while. I got a taste for my own mortality, no pun intended. Ultimately, all the dark emotions associated with this turned into inspiration; that injury sparked a flame in me to chase my dreams and to create things that are immortal, be it filmmaking, product design, new ideas, music, art, or love.
What are your wildest dreams for your filmmaking career?
I’d like life to surprise me with that one. I had a professor in college who made all of us write our own obituary, as if we had lived our lives to the fullest and become great designers who’ve achieved their wildest dreams. But at the end of that assignment I ended up dying of self-immolation, so I think I missed the point of the whole thing.
What is something bizarre about you?
I had my uvula cut off.
What currently inspires you?
My friends and family, whether it’s something accomplished through film, music, art, skateboarding, design, engineering, it always gets me stoked to do more, create more, and share more experiences with these people.
What’s your best advice for an aspiring filmmaker?
Ask someone who knows what they’re doing.
Watch and Vote for Patrick Christian’s film Say Hello.
Visit his website patrickchristiandesign.com
Follow his career at The Audience Awards here!
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