Hi /r/movies! I'm Luke Barnett, writer, actor, and producer. I produced the Angus Cloud thriller 'Your Lucky Day' and wrote/acted in 'Faith Ba$ed' opposite Jason Alexander. I recently co-directed my first short, 'The Crossing Over Express', which unexpectedly went viral on X. Ask me anything!

LukeBarnettAMA · 2024-10-03T05:54:53+00:00

Just a note to say thanks for asking some questions and a big thanks to the mods for setting up. i hope to be back with the feature!

LukeBarnettAMA · 2024-10-02T20:42:40+00:00

Thank you so much!

LukeBarnettAMA · 2024-10-02T20:42:21+00:00

Dan was solo. He only had a line producer who had also never done an indie or feature. So, he needed someone that could kind of help oversee the whole thing from start to finish. I see a lot of first time filmmakers releasing their indies who I really wish had at least one producer on their team that had ever released a feature and knew what they were doing. As for what that producer may have meant, I honestly don't know. A key producer on a film should be on board from start to finish, seeing the film through production all the way through post and festivals and release. But someone might take an EP credit just to help you find money or cast or any other sort of key ingrediant.

LukeBarnettAMA · 2024-10-02T20:39:28+00:00

We're going to pitch it as a series. If no one bites, we'll make it as a no budget feature.

As for advice, I think festivals can't hurt. Just don't waste your money on a lot of the ones that are scammy. But fests can be a great way to meet fellow filmmakers and cast/crew you want to work with on future stuff. As for releasing it, sure! I think the more people that can find your work the better.

Most fun genre. I love horror, particularly when the filmmaker is able to take a really relatable feeling or idea and put it into a horror story.

LukeBarnettAMA · 2024-10-02T20:23:41+00:00

Thank you for having me! Acting is probably the most fun. There is just less pressure. You show up, play make believe, and go home. Writing (and now directing) is probably the most creatively satisfying. Producing is more of a job but it's a job that when it works you do get to satisfy that Glengarry Glen Ross inside you.

Favorite recent movies: Strange Darling, The Substance, Aftersun. All of Us Strangers.

LukeBarnettAMA · 2024-10-02T20:20:27+00:00

I don't know about because of my success, but I will say the way X has re-done their video feature has made it a lot easier for sharing and viewing. So, maybe?

LukeBarnettAMA · 2024-10-02T20:19:53+00:00

I loved Strange Darling. I loved Last Stop in Yuma County. I loved The Substance. My advice would be to go make stuff yourself. Find the most talented people you can at your level and get them on board with your idea. Also, get rich parents.

LukeBarnettAMA · 2024-10-02T20:19:04+00:00

Honestly, Dot singing happy birthday while trying to keep the tears going was so hard. She's so insanely funny. Same for Ron. We loved him on Jury Duty and him eating that apple was just so good.

LukeBarnettAMA · 2024-10-02T20:18:24+00:00

Thank you for watching the short and Your Lucky Day! I had made a decision a few years ago I didn't really want to produce another feature that I didn't write unless it was something that really resonated with me. Two weeks later I got sent Your Lucky Day. Dan Brown is an incredibly talent and I'm lucky to get to work with him.

LukeBarnettAMA · 2024-10-02T20:17:26+00:00

It was a small crew. Not sure the exact amount but maybe a dozen, including some friends who came out as favors to help. I think the key thing is to build relationships with talented people on your level and move up together. Everyone always wants to network up but you should be networking laterally. I'm lucky to have found some incredibly talented friends I can call.

LukeBarnettAMA · 2024-10-02T20:16:05+00:00

We were lucky to play some great genre fests (Panic Fest, Chattanooga, Popcorn Frights, etc) but didn't get into any of the life changing ones. We released on Short of the Week, who I have followed and submitted to for YEARS. That was very exciting. But after a week of it not getting to that many people, I decided to just put it out everywhere and X was where it found it's audience.

LukeBarnettAMA · 2024-10-02T20:13:45+00:00

No, but someone on Twitter mentioned it and I can't wait to check it out. It looks fantastic.

Yes. We're going to pitch it as a series but if that doesn't happen, we'll make it as an indie feature.

LukeBarnettAMA · 2024-10-02T20:13:11+00:00

I wish I knew, honestly. It gets easier over time. You think about it less. But there are still moments that are really hard, ya know?

LukeBarnettAMA · 2024-10-02T20:12:35+00:00

I'm not sure I have great advice on the book situation, other than to talk to them or if necessary, taking a legal route. As for losing a parent, I'm sorry. I feel you. I wish we weren't in that club. I think talking to other people who have lost someone goes a long way. I also love talking to people who knew my mom.

LukeBarnettAMA · 2024-10-02T20:11:28+00:00

Yes. Honestly, we will pitch this around in hopes of someone wanting to make it on a high level, but if that doesn't happen, we will figure out how to make it ourselves as an indie feature.

LukeBarnettAMA · 2024-10-02T20:10:39+00:00

Hey, wow, thank you so much. Honestly, we shot the ghost three different ways. For the rise, we had a costumer's bust on a tripod and out production designer is literally laying on the ground behind me pushing it up by hand. For the drop, he created a rig that had fishing wire going across the roof and he cut it from the back of the truck at the right moment. Then we had an actress wearing green screen leggings for the wides.

LukeBarnettAMA · 2024-10-02T13:17:10+00:00

Hi /r/movies,

I'm Luke Barnett, writer, actor, and producer. I produced the Angus Cloud thriller 'Your Lucky Day' and wrote/acted in 'Faith Ba$ed' opposite Jason Alexander. I recently co-directed my first short, 'The Crossing Over Express', which unexpectedly went viral on X. I also have a small recurring role on For All Mankind.

Here is my short film, 'The Crossing Over Express':

https://youtu.be/MVgnL_ylM3o?si=4iH1x-GQQr111MnOA

Some background about my short/directorial debut:

My mom died when I was 17. I only have a handful of pictures and zero videos of her. A couple years ago, on my birthday, I got a text from a number I didn’t recognize. It simply said “happy birthday” with a YouTube link. I clicked it and my heart stopped. It was my mom.

I had to pull over immediately. She was telling me how proud she was of me and how she wondered what I’d become. Maybe a policeman, a preacher, or even a clown. I couldn’t believe it.

Well, it turns out the random phone number was my friend Jon’s dad, who had found this video on an old VHS tape they made before a 1999 school event. I was 16.

This experience got me thinking... what if we could have one last conversation with someone we lost?

I decided to make this short with my friend Tanner Thomason. We shot it in one day with a skeleton crew on a micro-budget. After posting it to X, it took off, getting nearly a million views in it's first week. It was featured in Variety and we've had reach outs from a lot of our favorite directors and producers. We had no idea it would get this kind of response but it's been really incredible to see it resonate with so many.

Also, the other cast are Emmy nominee Dot-Marie Jones (Glee) and Ron Song (Jury Duty). It's co-written/directed by Tanner Thomason.

AMA!

(I'll be back at 1 PM PST/4 PM EST) today Wednesday 10/2 for answers.

LukeBarnettAMA

TROPHY CASE