Interview with Steve Marra

I interviewed Steve Marra, president of Adrenaline Motion Pictures, LLC in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Question 1. Can you briefly describe your job for me?

Steve is a director, screenwriter, and producer for films and television shows in Indiana. He basically said he does everything because he owns the independent production company of Adrenaline Motion Pictures, LLC.

Question 2. How did you get started in the business?

Steve originally was in a rock and roll band in Indianapolis. He then moved to Los Angeles to pursue his music career. After two years he gave up the dream of being a famous musician and began to focus on his other passion, film. He then attended UCLA Film School and remained in Los Angeles for another nine years. He began working for low budget horror movies and other small films as a production manager and as extras. He would take any job he could find at any position. He eventually began working as a reader for MGM, which taught him what a bad script looks like. He then got married and had two children. He did not want to raise his children in Los Angeles, so he moved back to Indiana and continued his film career by starting Adrenaline Motion Pictures, LLC.

Question 3. How do you tell someone over you (your boss) that you can't accomplish an assigned task?

Steve said that it is "never an option." He said that you have to finish a project once you start it.

Question 4. Do you have any advice for a media student starting out?

Steve said, "Don't move to Indiana for a film career, especially with the economic situation." Steve said the best advice he received was from Jack Epps Jr. Jack said, "the secret to film is the four P's." Steve explained that the four P's were "passion, perception, persistence, and phuck 'em." "Phuck 'em" was included because he said that nobody knows what makes a good movie, and you have to go on your own instincts and beliefs.

Steve also said that a good way to make connections in the film industry is by visiting www.massify.com, which is an online film community for film makers. Anyone can post pictures, films, and scripts on the website to get his or her name out there.