A screening of a few of filmmaker Eric Mofford's shorts can be viewed as our next Hollywood showcase at Cinespace on Thursday, September 2nd. He talks to RAW about his life-long work in the art.   

Tell us about yourself. 
I'm a Filmmaker that's been based in Los Angeles since 1994. Before that, I lived and worked in Atlanta for 10 years. I was born in New England.

How did you first get started in film? 
I started making Super 8 films when I was 10 years old, lots of three minute in-camera editing. I loved going to movies and would emulate the stories with my friends that we saw at the theater. Recently, I've reconnected with some of them on Facebook and it's been fun to share these films from our youth. When I was in college, I started shooting in 16mm and video. Haven't stopped since.

Any other films you've produced?
I now work professionally as a producer and director after being an Assistant Director for film and television for over twenty years. I recently directed a DVD live concert of David Arkenstone and the band, Mandala. A couple of years ago, I produced the live action elements to the EA video game, "Need for Speed: Undercover." The acclaimed documentary on the domestic energy crisis that I produced, "Houston We Have A Problem" is opening at the Downtown Independent in July. I just returned from Ireland after producing a documentary-comedy hybrid entitled "We'll Always Have Dingle."

From where do you draw inspiration for your work?
I'm drawn to music projects. I can't play so maybe that's why I love music so much. I also like travel, history and true stories. For some reason, I have never been interested in love stories.

From start to finish, explain your process; what does a typical film-making day look like for you?
If I'm not working for someone else or shooting a project, then the ideal day starts with emails and reading web updates on Twitter. Lots of good leads and information there, so I have to watch out so I don't get sucked in and spoil the whole day riding the internet highway. Next thing I do is take a walk for an hour, listen to music, to clear my head for some writing. It can be writing a screenplay or writing a one-sheet pitch. Sometimes instead of writing, I'm editing a project. Sometimes I'm editing stuff I shot years ago. In the evening, I like to have a glass of wine and read the newspaper. If the news doesn't get me too angry, I check emails again, but sometimes I get lost on the internet trying to get more information. I don't trust just one news source anymore. I've got to know the WHOLE story. At night, I either catch some live music or watch a movie or show on television. I've got a big pile of books that I want to read by my bed but rarely get there early enough to get in some good quality reading. If I do, then I consider that to be an exceptional day.

All time favorite film?
"Modern Times" - Charlie Chaplin

Are there any filmmakers, past or present, who strongly inform and influence your work?
There are many filmmakers that have influenced my work, but I'm most attracted to the filmmakers that try different styles, different genres, sometimes successfully, other times not as much. I think a filmmaker is limiting themselves as an artist if they keep doing the same style over and over again. Stanley Kubrick, John Huston are good examples of directors that did different kinds of films. I think Clint Eastwood is proving to be a pretty diverse filmmaker.

Are there any specific reoccurring themes or subjects that you explore and deal with most in your work?
Not really. As stated above I like diversity.

Any previous films/collaborations that you are most proud of?
In 1999/2000, I co-produced with director/producer David Zeiger the 13 part documentary series for PBS, "Senior Year." We are about to release it on DVD and it's amazing how after 10 years so many of their issues are still the issues of high school kids. It feels very contemporary. I wish more people had seen it and I hope with the DVD release they will. It was a pretty amazing series. We introduced a lot of cinema verite techniques, like diary cams, time lapse, that you see on most reality series now.

Why showcase with RAW?
Any opportunity to show some of your work on a big screen to a new audience is exciting. I'm honored to be a part of a show at a great venue with a group of artists I didn't know before.

Any current rising stars within the genre that you would recommend we look out for?
So many of the projects I've been involved with as a Producer lately have had limited funds. I wouldn't make the commitment to help the Directors if I didn't believe they were rising stars. I'm honored to have been able to help facilitate the directing visions of Mercy Malick, Diane Namm, David Zeiger, Nicole Torre, Stefan Rhys, Joseph Hodges, BrandU.

To learn more about filmmaker Eric Mofford, visit his web sites at: www.SnaprollFilms.com and www.EricMofford.com