Meet the 2014 Tribeca Filmmakers #46: Ryan Piers Williams Embraced the Imperfections of Making ‘X/Y’
Meet the 2014 Tribeca Filmmakers #46: Ryan Piers Williams Embraced the Imperfections of Making 'X/Y'
Ryan Piers Williams currently lives in NYC and started making films when he was 12 years old in El Paso, Texas. Upon graduation he worked for Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney on several productions including “Ocean’s 12,” “Good Night and Good Luck,” “The Good German,” and “Ocean’s 13.” He wrote and directed “The Dry Land” (Sundance 2010), and “Kilimanjaro” (SXSW 2013). “X/Y” is his second feature.
Biggest challenge in completing the film? I wrote, directed, produced, and acted in X/Y. The biggest challenge I faced in making the film was to perform all of my duties without sacrificing the integrity of the project. It required me to be extremely prepared and exercise a great deal of discipline – while at the same time being flexible and willing to embrace the imperfections in the process. I was also very fortunate to have a seasoned team of producers, crew, and actors who were very supportive in helping me rise to this challenge.
Did you crowdfund? We did not crowd fund for X/Y. We were able to find our financing through private investors.
What camera did you shoot on? The RED Epic 4K HD
Did you go to film school? I started out at the University of Texas at Austin in their Radio-Television Film Program and then transferred and graduated from USC School of Cinematic Arts in the Production Program.
What films have inspired you? There have been so many films that have inspired me, but the two films that I continue to love and look to for inspiration are “Apocalypse Now” and “The Goonies.”
What do you have in the works? I am working on developing a couple scripts right now, a sic-fi and a biopic. I also look forward to the opportunity to direct another writer’s script.
Indiewire invited Tribeca Film Festival directors to tell us about
their films, including what inspired them, the challenges they faced and
what they’re doing next. We’ll be publishing their responses leading up
to the 2014 festival. Go HERE to read all the entries.
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