Artist Interviews Magazine takes you behind-the-scenes of the making of Mark Vasoncellos independent movies: “Triple Threat” and “Paco’s 2 Bean Double Frozen Margarita.”

Vasconcellos has two passions: traveling and making films. Flying around the world, capturing moments and different cultures with his camera, inspired him to write stories and take them to the silver screen. As Mark said: “We should embrace and learn about people with different backgrounds and cultures, rejoice in their traditions and festivities as they do with ours. No matter where we come from, what language we speak or lifestyle we live, we are all the same. We are all human beings.”

Artist Interviews enjoyed two of his productions: “Paco's 2 Bean Double Frozen Margarita” and “Triple Threat.” The first one, a short film with a long title is an ingenious story which has hilarious scenes but is actually a drama. It has already received 2 awards. His recent movie “Triple Threat,” the long film with the short name, is a story of espionage and assassins. The movie features actresses in bikinis, bikes and brawls which creates a fun and exciting ride for you to enjoy.

We spoke to Mark Vasconcellos in a very interesting conversation about what it takes to fulfill your Hollywood dreams with a low budget and a high talent for creation as well as imagination.

You have written, produced, directed two films with a very low budget. You have even performed in them. Your first short film “Paco's 2 Bean Double Frozen Margarita” won 2 awards. We would like you to let us know about the excitement, the dreams, the joys while accomplishing such bold work.
"Paco's" is still running in the film festival circuit. It has always been a life long passion of mine to act and to make films. Making an award winning short and completing a feature length film is an incredible achievement. So many people don't really understand or think about what it takes to make a feature film. It is an enormous task. I had some great help from friends that crewed and some awesome actors, but prepping and producing the feature was all done by myself. I am amazed that I stuck it out and actually finished it. “Triple Threat” was not an easy film to shoot. We were not just in one or two simple locations, we were all over Los Angeles and I even had a 2nd unit shoot in Hawaii. We have action, espionage, motorcycles, bar scenes, restaurant scenes, pool scenes, boat scenes, surfing scenes and did I mention a singing number? It truly is an independent film made guerilla style which made me push my imagination on how we could get it done with very little money and not sacrificing production value. It looks, sounds, and is acted better than most ultra-low budget features. (Can I brag?) I am stoked! I am thinking of writing a book on how to make a true independent, ultra-low budget film that looks like a big budget film.

Tell us about the collaboration with Victor Hightower.
Vic Hightower and Rich Lang (writer of Paco), both writers by nature have always been there for me when I needed them. It is a sign of a true friend. They are both very talented writers and we have had some great stories while making these movies, especially shooting "Paco" down in Baja California. We actually had to lie to Mexican authorities at the border to get our equipment across the border and back without being detained or having to pay fines. Saved a lot of money for us, so we could feed all the crew “carne asada” (bbq stakes) and drink “mucha tequila.” We like to have a good time when we shoot, but we also get the job done quickly and efficiently to make a great product. It was great having top notch people working with us. Free electricity for our lights! We could not afford a generator, so the guys knew how to tie into the local electrical lines without blowing out the town of Puerto Nuevo and without being noticed by police.

How was the process of getting the actors for your films? Did you work as a casting director too or somebody helped with that?
I usually cast all the projects that I do. To me, casting is very important and there has to be a connection and a feeling that I need to have with my actors. I did not have the money to pay for a casting director. I had more than 400 submissions for “Triple Threat,” (even one from Eva Longoria, prior to “Desperate Housewives.” Too expensive and few credits on her resume. I ended up casting only one role from those submissions and casting the rest from friends I have here in LA that are very good actors, but not in the big spotlight yet. There is a lot of undiscovered talent in this town and they need a chance to shine whenever possible!

You have traveled around the world with your camera. Would you share any interesting anecdotes with us?
I lived in Italy for 3 years working as a videographer/segment director for Italian and French television, and every couple of weeks they would put me on a plane with an assistant to go shoot something somewhere in the world. What an awesome experience. I remember one time shooting a road rally race in Tunisia and we would have to shoot, hand the tape off to an assistant who would drive to the capital city where they would have the tape flown over to Italy so it could be on the news or in a television show as soon as possible and then my assistant would meet me somewhere out along the race course in the desert. Myself and a Tunisian driver tried to take a short cut through a rough mountain pass to jump ahead of the racers to the next point and we blew out 2 tires (including the spare). We luckily made it back to the main road and sat there for two hours waiting for a car to pass and help us. There was not even one in sight and then guess who happened to come zooming by us? My assistant and his driver who had gotten lost trying to find the finish line for that days race. They were able to give us a spare tire for our car and we made it to camp before the sun went down. The odds were a million to one!

You have studied in Europe and the U.S. How have these two different cultures have influenced you?
I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly in different parts of the world and it truly has made me aware of what a great country we live in and how we truly have the opportunity to succeed at anything we wish to succeed in. I am grateful. More people should know about how other countries function in comparison to ours. I think people in general would be more tolerant. It has also made me more interested and understanding of other cultures and people throughout the world. I enjoy and am drawn to people's cultural differences.

How do you see the industry has changing in the next years?
The digital age has arrived! Anyone can make a movie now. That doesn't mean the movie is going to be good, but it opens the world of entertainment and education to a huge influx of perspectives, which is great, because we all see things and interpret them differently. It truly is amazing. The outlets for film distribution are huge now, compared to what it was five years ago. Independent filmmakers can get their films out there and seen by the world in a variety of ways including the internet. I like that aspect and the fact that one can make a very good looking and excellent sounding movie for very little money such as my feature film: "Triple Threat"! (Smiles.)

What are your projects for the near future?
Currently I am directing, shooting and editing a music video for a hot new band called: Big Rig and I am starring in a low budget indie film entitled: “The Prototype,” but I have a few projects that I would like to bring to the big screen and small screen. An educational television show that teaches kids how to take care of the environment and the world they live in. A video travelogue and two other feature films which will have real budget and a full size crew. I am really focusing on my acting now, but if there are any producers out there looking for good projects, give me a shout, I have a few in the arsenal!

You can visit Mark Vasconcellos' Production site at: www.bigbask.com