The Jesuit Stage and Film program is home to many remarkably talented students who are able to express themselves through acting and filmmaking. One of the many gifted students in the program, Max Galante, recently wrote and directed his second ever film, Walkin’ The Bridge. This riveting film follows Antonio Baruchi as he attempts to avenge his father’s death and in doing so, becomes involved with the Marchetti Crime Family, where he immerses himself in the life of a bonafide mafioso. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Max not only about the film, but also his experience as a young writer and director. This is what he had to say:
Introduction to Stage and Film
Max’s first glimpse into the world of stage and film was when he was in the 4th grade, where he was cast as Peter Pan in the play Peter Pan. During that time, he fell in love with theater and wished to continue to pursue it. Unfortunately, Covid interrupted his plans of continuing to act, but simultaneously directed his creative effort to writing literature. Although enjoying the process of writing books, he felt that he wasn’t able to have control of what the audience experienced, which finally brought him to pursue writing film scripts.
Max joined Jesuit Stage and Film to pursue his passions. During his freshman year, he was taken under the wings of Mario Jaar(24′) and Austin Keith(24′), who inspired him to fully commit to writing and directing his own films.
Inspiration Behind the Film
One of the Max’s largest inspiration to begin directing films are iconic gangster films such as The Godfather by Francis Coppola and Good Fellas by Martin Scorsese. In fact, Max actually bought the script for The Godfather to analyze it along with the film, which him led to him deciding:
“You know what, i want to try this on my own”
During his freshman year, Max wrote an 80 page script inspired by real events regarding the Texas Crime Families. Although Max was proud of the script, it was too ambitious for his abilities at the time, so Max set the script aside to direct his first work, Ossesoine, a thrilling short film that delves into complex topics such as madness and guilt.
After finishing Ossesione, Max visited his family in New York, where he heard stories of classic New York crime families, inspiring him to return to his abandoned script. With newfound ambition, Max began shaping the script into what it is now.
“What inspires you to create?”
Max gives multiple reasons for what drives him to be a creative. Firstly, he gives an answer you would expect from almost any creator:
“I enjoy creating”
Max enjoys simply getting his ideas out into the world. This, in his opinion, is an effective way to be an inspiration to others who seek to create. Although a valid answer, Max gives another reason, one that appears to be the true and raw intention behind his work:
“I’m scared of being forgotten”
Although it may seem to be an extreme and irrational fear, Max views it as the fuel that pushes him to write. This fears also adds a necessity to his writings, a necessity that in the words of famous author and poet Neal Cassady, “is the guarantee of its value.”
Max elaborates on his dread of fading into oblivion, stating he wants to leave a legacy behind, one that he can show to his grandchildren and be proud of.
Challenges While Filming
The first of the obstacles Max encountered while making the film was one he feels to be a universal problem among directors: ambition. While writing the script, Max was filled with a multiple of grandiose ideas including extreme camera angles and fully constructed sets. Thankfully, Max’s eagerness settled with the help of Mr. Patterson, forcing him to rethink some of the more extreme aspects of the film.
Another roadblock Max encountered was one that required a solution far more complicated than simply being realistic, time, more specifically scheduling. To put Max’s predicament into perspective, he had to coordinate with 20 actors and reserve times for specific sets all while keeping up with school and Jesuit fall production of Lord of the Flies. Fortunately, Max was able to complete all shooting dates without much trouble.
Max shows his appreciation for his reliable cast who he felt kept him going when he had doubts or felt stressed. He also thanks Mr. Patterson for being both a guiding hand and also a figure of authority, keeping the cast in check.
Lessons Learned from the Process
“I View every film as a draft”
Max believes that every film he makes offers invaluable lessons, following the quote from infamous director Quentin Tarantino, “I didn’t go to film school, I went to films,” valuing the experience of actually making films. Additionally, Max views that each film bring its own lesson which is carried onto the next film, building his expertise as he continues to create.
Coming from Ossesione, Max learned lots about lighting and being aware of maintaining a similar tone and environment through lighting. With this knowledge, Max was able to improve upon the visuals of Walkin’ The Bridge. In this same way as he learned from Ossesione, Max struggled with the audio of this film, showing him that improvements on audio quality were the next step in his progression as a film maker. Additionally, crunching on film days near the end of the year signaled to him the necessity to better manage time, yet another tool that he can bring to the next film.
Whats Next?
Max doesn’t want to give too much away information, but he plans to take his creative talent into the genre of dystopian films. HIGHBINDER follows a single father trying to create a future for his daughter under an oppressive totalitarian regime in futuristic America. The film is still in preproduction but is sure to be an amazing showcase of Max’s talent.
Advice For Creatives
Max feels that the hardest part of beginning a creative journey is exactly that, beginning. The fears of failure, embarrassment, and judgement from others can make it extremely difficult to begin. Fortunately, Max gives his own experience with beginning, stating:
“Its not that hard to get started”
Additionally, Max says that failure and rejection shouldn’t be things to fear. He admits that of the many film festivals he submits his work to, he gets rejected by almost half. This doesn’t faze him, as he continues to confidently work and show off his talents through his passions.
In conclusion, Max Galante is one of the most creative minds currently at Jesuit and we all look forward to experiencing amazing work he plans to put out.
Sources
Link to Max Galante’s Youtube page including all his films:Â Max Galante Films
Link to Walkin’ The Bridge: Walkin’ The Bridge
