sam korycki

V7: First off, congratulations on being accepted into Visions! How long have you been making films, and is this the first film festival you’ve been accepted to?

SK: This is actually the first real film I’ve made, so yes, this is my first film festival! This was a project I made for a video production class that I took on a whim. I was always interested in movies and how they’re made, but I never had the opportunity to make films until I was in that class. I look forward to meeting creative, like-minded people and seeing their work. I don’t think I necessarily want to go into the film industry but I’m very excited to meet people who do.

V7: Who are your biggest influences? What techniques from other films or filmmakers do you often find yourself referencing?

SK: I’m not well-versed in filmmakers, but in general I’m influenced by Mac DeMarco and Jimi Hendrix. I also am a huge fan of movies that are more based on image rather than dialogue. Some of my favorite films are There Will Be Blood, Drive, and Prisoners.

V7: What inspired you to make Always Kiss Me Goodnight? How did you come up with the story?

SK: This was our final project for a video production class and we were given a ton of creative liberty so a few of my friends and I collaborated for this. I was particularly inspired by the emptiness and sterility of Ex Machina.

V7: What aspects of your film changed the most during shooting? Did the end product reflect exactly what you had in mind when you started it?

SK: The only real significant change was the ending. Initially, we were going to end without seeing what was coming toward the house; instead we would only see the main character’s facial expression. But after a lot of discussion we decided that adding that last shot kept the mystery intact and also made it a little more unnerving which is the feeling we were going for.

V7: Was there any specific film that got you into filmmaking?

SK: Drive, starring Ryan Gosling. I’m a huge fan of movies that emphasize art at its core, and I feel like Drive is one of those. It doesn’t rely on dialogue but the story is still there. It’s just a beautiful film as a whole.

V7: What advice do you have for aspiring filmmakers?

SK: As Nike says, “Just do it!” Even though it’s really terrifying to get out of your comfort zone and do something that you aren’t used to, you’ll always be surprised at what you can make and learn from it.