Determine if someone is critical of you, due to facts or emotions and act accordingly. It’s important to listen to constructive criticism to make your project better not to stop you from pursuing it all together. It’s important to have a good strainer in your head.
As a part of our series about “Filmmakers Making A Social Impact” I had the pleasure of interviewing Bud Rebel of Bud Rebel Productions.
Bud Rebel is a dynamic and multi-talented filmmaker, known for his creative contributions to the world of cinema and digital media. His creative repertoire extends to writing and producing, with eight short films and two feature films under his belt including “The Undead” and “All Screwed Up,” which have garnered attention on various streaming platforms. Bud has established a unique voice in the film industry and has decided against all odds and naysayers, to defy expectations and continue to rebel and create.
Thank you so much for doing this interview with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit. Can you share your “backstory” that brought you to this career?
I was pulled into the world of film from my earliest years as it was the great escape from many difficult times growing up. I wanted to share my own vision in the world yet I was brought up to be “practical”. Therefore, I hid this desire as I wrote screenplays out of passion not with an inclination that this could be reality. Then 40 hit as did Dov Simmons class and I knew if not now, then when?
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
It is important to try and keep your film on budget and when White Castle sponsored our day I decided why not have the leftovers for the following day. This act nearly caused a strike on my film set luckily a pizza place came in to save the day. I personally still enjoyed my White Castle leftovers.
I learned; saving money on a film set is important but it’s more important that your cast and crew are happy even if you might taste it differently.
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
This is such a tough question because in some way all the wonderful people I’ve had the pleasure to work with are interesting in their own “unique way”. I must include the celebrities that revealed touching stories of themselves like Chyna Layne, Bourke Floyd, Abby Gumpper and Tanna Frederick which added so much more to the character they were portraying. Furthermore, I must also consider the wonderful crew such as Mena Guy, Matt Pellowski, Neil Stephens, Mike Canale, Cori Shimko that took pages from my heart and gave them a soul.
We had planned a nice warm day to produce “Help” for it was Memorial weekend but instead ended up with one of the coldest days on record. To make matters worse we were filming and sleeping outdoors. I was ready to call it a night but my cast and crew somehow kept me warm enough to finish this project even though it got colder and colder. They inspired me so much that I missed my fathers family birthday just to put this in the can which did the same for my immediate relationship with dad.
During the making of “All Screwed Up” the opening scene was shot in a location which GPS couldn’t find and I was in charge of picking up the crew. I was so lost that what was a twenty minute trip took over an hour. Furthermore what was supposed to be an 8 hour shoot took over 24 hours.
Which people in history inspire you the most? Why?
I’m inspired by Alfred Hitchcock for his tenacity not only to get the job done but done right whatever it takes.
Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview, how are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting social impact causes you are working on right now?
I hope my latest film “The Undead” allows individuals to be more open about their own dysfunctional families and how they work to try and make them functional in some way. It should also inspire those who have loved ones suffering from mental health conditions to know that they are not alone and help is there for them as well.
I believe by being “authentic” I’m opening the door to others to do the same without being overbearing. We should be able to bring back constructive conversations about anything as long as we are respectful to others that might not share such views and still have F-U-N with them.
Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest it. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and take action for this cause? What was that final trigger?
I don’t know if it was one moment as I have loved ones who have “suffered” all through my life with “mental health conditions”. Maybe the impact of the homeless crisis led me to wonder what it would be like if these individuals had strong families supporting them? I would say the final trigger is the homeless crisis I witness everyday coming into NYC and understanding this is someone’s brother, sister, mother or father dying on these streets all because they don’t have adequate mental health treatment.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
I wish I did. You never know how your films and art impact the community yesterday, today or in the future all you can do is try.
Are there three things that individuals, society or the government can do to support you in this effort?
1. They need to implement policies that allow loved ones to directly intercede for those that are suffering even if it’s involuntarily and before they threaten themselves or others. Of course within reasonable boundaries.
2. Resources must be provided so that this is something that every community has access to no matter what their means might be.
3. This must also include after care so individuals are less likely to be hospitalized in the future and can grow to their G-D given potential.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
1. Determine if someone is critical of you, due to facts or emotions and act accordingly. It’s important to listen to constructive criticism to make your project better not to stop you from pursuing it all together. It’s important to have a good strainer in your head.
2. Work with a crew and cast on a short project before the full production. This way you can determine if you truly have a good mix before stirring the pot.
3. No, is a maybe with costs. Most things in your mind can be accomplished on the big screen but you have to determine the cost in time and monies beforehand.
4. Less locations are more productive and inside is better than out. Write scripts that don’t take you around the world unless you can afford to travel. Furthermore, controlling inside environments is much easier than outside.
5. Have FUN!!! Films are extremely risky business so make sure you take a moment to enjoy the process along the way.
If you could tell other people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?
It’s important when dealing with a loved one that has a mental health condition that you take care of yourself and set boundaries of what you are willing to accept and what crosses the line.
We are very blessed that many other Social Impact Heroes read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would like to collaborate with, and why? He or she might see this. 🙂
I’d like to collaborate with Mark Manson who wrote “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” (not my title) because he has an interesting take on mental health.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
It might not be your fault but it is your responsibility.
How can our readers follow you online?
@BudRebelProductions — Instagram & Youtube
“The Undead” Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CKLY8CGZ/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r
This was great, thank you so much for sharing your story and doing this with us. We wish you continued success!
Filmmakers Making A Social Impact: Why & How Filmmaker Bud Rebel Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.