Behind the Scenes - focus on the filmmaker

Name: Steve Desmond
Age: 23
Hometown: Chicago, IL
College & Degree/s: University of Southern California
B.A. Film and Television Production
Current Title: Screenwriter

Family/Personal info: Born and raised in suburban Chicago. Mom is a retired elementary school teacher/principal, dad a retired Partner at accounting firm PriceWaterhouse Coopers. Younger sister, Jackie, is a student at USC where she majors in Communication and plays on the golf team.

Favorite Film: "E.T."
Favorite Filmmakers: Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchcock, Tim Burton
Web site: www.dreamingants.com


Your film “Life or Breath” is an adapted screenplay based on a short story by Nelson DeMille. What attracted you to this story?

The juxtaposition between comedy and suspense reminded me of all the great Hitchcock films that I love. Nelson DeMille did an incredible job of actually making you feel sorry for a man that was going to murder his wife. Most of all, I loved the ironic ending. Though we actually changed it a little. In the short story, he gets into a car accident but we felt it'd be even funnier to hit him with an ambulance.

What is your favorite part of the filmmaking process?

The latter stages of postproduction. When you're approaching picture lock or sound designing. You can see the end in sight and your film's finally coming together before your eyes. At this point, all your hard work over the past several months starts to pay off. At least hopefully.


Who or what shaped your desire to become a filmmaker?

When I was five years old, my babysitter tried to keep me entertained by showing me how to make a home movie using our old VHS camera. I was hooked! I actually thought the movie I was making with her would play in theatres! Over the years, I kept making little, silly home movies with the neighborhood kids and always had such a great time. When I found out you could actually do this for a living, I figured why not go for it. In terms of influences, I grew up watching Star Wars and Spielberg films and have since always gravitated towards the larger, popcorn films with broad audience appeal.

Who currently working in the film industry do you most want to work with and why?

Steven Spielberg. I mean come on, who wouldn't? It'd be a dream come true.

What is your next project?

I've written three screenplays with Mike Sherman (co-writer of "Life or Breath"). A sports comedy called "The Sound of Football", a darkly comedic thriller called "Bridal Creek", and a children's fantasy called "The Monsters of Sunnyville". Samples are available on our website. We're hoping to sell one of them in the coming year.

What do you consider the best film ever made?

While it's not my personal favorite, I think "Citizen Kane" is the best film ever made. I think the AFI got it right when it named it #1. It just revolutionized everything from acting style to story structure to cinematography to sound design. Filmmaking changed after that film came out.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I would love to be gearing up to direct my first studio feature film.