Where did the idea for Parking come from?

It’s autobiographical. The film is based on the worst parts of me two or three years ago. I was ashamed of who I was. At the time I didn’t care about people around me. I was not a likeable character at all.

One of those people you like to meet on the screen but not in person right?

Yeah. Correct. You know the actor Pablo that played that role. He ran into some troubles before the shooting of the movie and had spent the last two days awake. He tried to run away from the shooting one night--he got all paranoid or whatever. I had to run and rugby tackle him and make sure he stayed on the set. I mean we had 25 people on this shoot and the lead actor couldn’t take it and was running away.  He was like actually “living the part” of this character. As hard as it was, I think it really added essence to the film. But at the time I wanted to kill him.

Sounds like Dustin Hoffman in Marathon Man.

Yeah, the famous antidote from Laurence Olivier:  “My dear boy…why don’t you just act it.”

This is one of those stereotypical short story formats and then you take it a step further.

Yeah, we didn’t care if people “got it” or picked up on the ending before it happens in the movie. The story is about why this man behaving this way, why is he such a failure as a human being. That is what the film is about.

The film has a great pace to it.

Thank you. I take that as a wonderful compliment. I wanted to establish a fast pace to the film right from the beginning. The character had to be talking in this manic way. We used long shots with a lot happening. And then having a lead actor who may or may not be ready to run away from the set. It helped the pace of the film as well. It is all good.

Did you ever study filmmaking at a college or university?

No. I am self-taught. Film schools cost a small fortune to study at. I feel you can either study there or put your money into making your own short films. Parking is my sixth short film.

What advice do you have for filmmakers out there who are about to shoot their first short film?

Don’t believe for a second that because you may have seen so many films you are ready to be a director. You must go out and work on other people’s films, practice as a sound technician, as an editor, and a cameraman--everything it takes to make film. Experience every aspect of filmmaking first. A good sea captain must know the ins and outs of the ship before he becomes the captain. It’s the same with the director. He must have all the technical knowledge required to make a film before he goes out to direct his first short film.