Take 5 with "Parted"

The 7th annual Oxford Film Festival is getting closer every day. Before we kick off another fun-packed festival, we thought we would take five with filmmakers and get to know them just a little better. Michael Williams is a familiar face as he screened at the 6th film festival last year with "(un)wanted." A Mississippi native, Williams recently graduated with his film degree at the University of Southern Mississippi.

His film "Parted" will be featured Saturday 3:00pm (S3) with Mississippi Narrative Shorts Block #1. Michael Williams is scheduled to attend.

OFF: In 10 words, describe your movie and why someone should see it.
 
MW: "Parted" is a classic war, love story set in 1969.

OFF: Biggest lesson learned in getting the film made? Best part in getting the film made?

MW: This was the most ambitious film I have ever made, and I would not have been able to accomplish it without the wonderful cast and crew. I learned the importance of surrounding myself with talented cast and crew that I knew I would enjoy working with. That was also the best part of making the film. It was a pleasure working with each one of the cast and crew and seeing everything in the two day production come together better than I anticipated.

OFF: Tell us about you. What is your movie making background?

MW: I just recently graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a bachelors in film and am pursuing a career in the film industry as a camera assistant. Since 2007, I have been working on independent films as an AC and various other crew positions, and I aspire to become a cinematographer.

OFF: What’s your dream distribution plan for the film?

MW: I hope this film can continue to have more festival screenings in 2010 and hopefully open up more opportunities for me and people involved.

OFF: What’s the future hold in store for your film and for you?
 
MW: The future for "Parted" will probably be limited to more festival screenings. For me, I hope to produce a couple of short films in 2010 while continuing to run Shendopen Productions while also working as a camera assistant in film and ultimately becoming a cinematographer later in my career.