The universe has a humorous method of holding onto a movie like a dusty reel within the attic, ready for the proper second to disclose it. On as we speak’s episode, we welcome the endlessly persistent Greg Travis, a filmmaker who proves that good films by no means die—they only take their candy time getting made.
Greg Travis is a veteran actor, director, and comic who’s labored with cinematic giants like David Lynch, Paul Verhoeven, and Milos Forman, whereas carving out a gritty, self-made path in indie movie.
Greg’s journey is certainly one of artistic endurance. In highschool, he picked up a Super 8 digicam, made his first function, and thought, “This is easy.” That optimism, after all, could be examined throughout a decades-long profession in stand-up comedy, tv, and movie. But his true ardour at all times pointed in a single path: directing. And that keenness lastly culminated within the long-delayed launch of his 1984 function, “Dark Seduction”—a black-and-white, movie noir throwback with a chew of ‘80s vampire sleaze, now reborn on digital platforms.
“There’s a lot you could go back and say, well, I could have done this, I could have done that… but for the most part, I got what I was trying to get,” Greg shares in regards to the movie. He dives deep into the post-production battle tales: funding shortfalls, misplaced momentum, technical delays, and rediscovering the unique movie damaging a long time later. The switch to 2K revealed particulars he by no means imagined potential again when he shot on 16mm. Ironically, the very delay that almost buried the movie made it higher—due to the evolution of digital know-how.
Throughout the episode, Greg opens up about working with a few of the finest administrators within the enterprise. He recollects how Lynch would dab faux blood on his face himself, with meticulous consideration to the smallest bodily element, whereas Verhoeven got here at a scene with daring, putting visible selections. The widespread thread between these administrators? Vision. A transparent sense of tone and visible continuity that carried from script to display. “Tone is hard,” Greg admits, “but it’s everything. That’s what holds a film together.”
As an actor-turned-director, Greg has a uncommon twin perspective. He understands the right way to learn efficiency, modify power, and communicate the language of character. He encourages younger administrators to take performing lessons—to not change into actors, however to know the method, rhythm, and psychological prep behind a scene. “Some actors drop character the minute you call cut, some need to stay in it. You have to respect that,” he says.
He additionally champions the artwork of improvisation—although not the lazy type. He believes in having a script, a good plan, after which leaving simply sufficient room to find one thing higher on set. This was very true in his movie Midlife, which started with improv-heavy scenes and ended up being trimmed from two and a half hours to a good, lean function by way of sharp enhancing.
Greg’s reflections on writing are equally sensible. His recommendation? Start with an in depth three-act define. Give every scene a objective earlier than you write a single line of dialogue. “You’ve got to know what your character is going through at every point,” he explains. “If you don’t map it out, you’re just wandering.” He discovered this from working with main producers like Brian Grazer, and it stays his go-to technique for getting scripts production-ready.
His newest movie, Dark Seduction, isn’t only a style mashup—it’s a love letter to noir, cult horror, and sensible filmmaking. With a Forties detective vibe and a modern-day wink, it straddles eras, types, and sensibilities. It’s full of grit, humor, and a complete lot of character—every part you’d need from a filmmaker who’s seen either side of the Hollywood coin.
Greg’s story is a masterclass in taking part in the lengthy recreation. It’s about sticking together with your imaginative and prescient, even when it takes years—or a long time—to see it realized. He’s not promoting a shortcut to success; he’s providing a blueprint for survival and longevity in a brutally aggressive business.
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