Emily A. Benton

Today I start a new interview feature on my blog - People Who Make Things - in which, you guessed it, I interview people who make things. 

The purpose behind this feature is to open a window into another creative person’s life so that you may find inspiration for your own creative engine. I almost called this Procrastinator Interviews, because nothing makes me get off my rump more than hearing and seeing someone else doing something extraordinary. But I didn’t want to imply that these people are procrastinating in any way other than by filling out my questionnaire.

I also believe that as artists, whatever kind you are, we all benefit from learning how other artists do things. I hope that these interviews will provide information that can be used to help complete your individual projects as well as launch collaborative ones.

I’ve been very fortunate to be surrounded by creative friends in my current home of Charlotte, North Carolina. So, to launch this feature, I’ve gone to none other than my close IRL friend and fellow blogger, April. She’s always been a source of inspiration, encouragement and comedic relief for me, and I’m so proud to see her recently focus all that positive energy toward herself and her DESTINY as a filmmaker. So without much ado…

Name:  April Lynn Swartz

Age:  25

Astrological Sign:  Sagittarius – I’ve never given much thought to my sign, but I recently browsed Wikipedia out of curiosity and nodded my head silently in agreement with this bit of trivia, “They stand high and walk high like a Centaur. They have the tendency to stoop or slouch as if grazing for grass.”   

Website:  http://slurredpress.wordpress.com ,  http://www.myspace.com/appleswartz

Place:  Charlotte, NC

What are you working on right now?

My horror enthusiast lady friend and I are putting together a short for the upcoming American Zombie Horror Film Contest.  Finalists will be judged by George Romero himself right here in Charlotte come September, but I’m less interested in winning and more interested in dressing my poor friends up like zombies and splattering them with my first batch of unconvincing fake blood.  Did I say poor friends?  I meant lucky.  We’ve also enrolled ourselves in a month long Zombie Filmmaking class with local horror director, Tony Elwood, of Synthetic Fur Productions.  I do have a touch of social anxiety, so I’ve been practicing raising my hand and asking myself in the mirror, “Do you know of any place where I can find enough false severed limbs to fill a refrigerator?”

What is something you have done to improve your creative and productive life?

The best thing I ever did for myself was enroll in the Videography Certificate Program at Central Piedmont Community College.  It has motivated me and put me in touch with several like minded folks in the Charlotte area who are more than willing to take an enthusiastic beginner under their wing(s).   

What do you need to make your work better?

An Olympic sized swimming pool full of money and an ocean of self confidence. 

Tell us something you learned recently while working on a project.

In one word, patience. 

On a Friday night, I could find you ____:

I’ll answer honestly.  Friday evenings are reserved as a mini vacation/date night for my significant other and myself.  So you’d most likely find me nursing a swollen belly full of Mexican food on the couch.  That makes me sound like the female version of Al Bundy.  And I hate that I know he only put his left hand down his pants on Sundays. 

What are you consuming this month?:

1.      Currently reading:  The Time Travelers Wife

2.      Current internet distraction:  Reading Rainbow episodes from my childhood on YouTube.  One in particular still has me shaking my head in disbelief.  In it the host, LeVar Burton, raps about turning a Clorox bleach bottle into a birdhouse.  Really, La Forge, you should know better.    

3.      Movies I most recently enjoyed:  Spanish thriller/horror film, El Orfanato (The Orphanage) and the hilariously heart warming Donkey Kong arcade champ documentary, King of Kong:  Fistful of Quarters. 

What scares you?

The dark and the thought of being stuck in a corporate office for the rest of my life.  If the power goes out in here I’m screwed.  

What projects do you have lined up?

I was invited by a classmate to join his team as a Jill of all trades for the upcoming 48 Hour Film Project.  I’m looking forward to spending a weekend in Greensboro making new friends, working really hard and bathing/sleeping very little.  Although that last part might hinder the friend making process.  Note to self:  Pack deodorant. 

What is your greatest accomplishment thus far?

For the first time in my life at the ripe age of 25 I feel like I’m on the right track and that’s an accomplishment in itself for a Swartz.  I come from a long line of very lovable slackers.