We were lucky to catch up with Matthew Eberle recently and have shared our conversation below.
Matthew, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
I believe risk taking is in a lot of ways intrinsic to success, and something most creatives continuously face. Pursuing an artistic career can feel incredibly risky due to the immense amount of vulnerability that can go along with it. Each time I write a script or shoot a film, I’m putting a piece of myself into that film and asking any number of strangers, “Hey, I think this is good, what do you think?” Am I nervous every time I put a piece of work out into the world to be analyzed, interpreted and reviewed… sure. But it can be both rewarding and exhilarating at the same time.
Many people will doubt you and a lot of times you may even doubt yourself, but the risk of a creative career is trusting your instincts.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
While I am a California native, I split my youth between the Bay Area and Toledo, Ohio. Somewhere in the crossroads of these two places came a love for both storytelling and filmmaking that I just couldn’t shake. Both as escape for my own anxieties and an avenue to explore my various creative interests. I have now lived in Southern California for several years.
I have a Master’s degree in Film Production and Directing from Chapman University and have had the immense pleasure to work with an ever growing list of equally talented and aspiring actors and film creatives across an often challenging, but always rewarding industry. Since graduating I have had the opportunity to be creatively involved with several short narrative films in the past few years. In particular, I was able to bring a passion project to fruition in the form of my graduate thesis; James Joyce’s The Sisters. An ambitious adaptation of Joyce’s short story from his first work “Dubliners”, where we had to opportunity to shoot both in Ireland, and with the help of an incredible art crew, were able to construct multiple period sets on the stages at Chapman’s Dodge College.
While the pandemic had brought its own set of challenges and obstacles for everyone, I spent the time refocusing on my work and new projects to tackle, including writing my first feature script. Most recently, I wrapped post-production on a short film where I had the pleasure to work with the always talented Kelley Mack. We are in the early stages of festival submissions and hope to bring the film to audiences soon. I also recently produced a short film that shot in Georgia this past summer, by the incredibly talented Yelena Krivosheyeva, called The Magic Ticket, which has recently been accepted into a number of film festivals.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Hmm… this is a tough one. Any number of skills and avenues of knowledge can help you on your chosen path. Even if they don’t feel like they necessarily align with your career goal long term. But taking in as many skills as you can, as early as you can, because frankly you never know. And to that, if I had to say one skill above all that I have leaned on the most… adaptability.
The ability to adapt, pivot or change course completely. Whether personally or professionally, or even just in more specific circumstances. In my case, when on set, the need and skill to adapt to the reality in front of me, can be the difference between a finished film, and nothing but hours of footage.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
As a filmmaker there is no shortage of books or essays both studying and teaching the craft. However, if I was to have to point to two books in particular that have had an impact on me personally, it would be Notes on Directing by Frank Hauser and Russell Reich and Hitchcock by Francois Truffaut.
The first in an awesome bible of sorts on directing thoughts and tips for approaching your work and working with actors. Though the book itself is focused more towards stage directing, I feel has though the book can impart a lot of valuable tools for film directors and set management regardless if working for stage or screen. The second, is less of a book, than a collection of interviews conducted by Francois Truffaut with Alfred Hitchcock. The book is a once in a lifetime opportunity to read the thoughts of two heavy weight filmmakers discuss the craft they love.
Appreciate that character is the result of conduct. As Aristotle taught us, we know people primarily by what they do. What others say about them, or what they say about themselves, may or may not be true.
― Notes on Directing: 130 Lessons in Leadership from the Director’s Chair
Contact Info:
- Website: http://matthewjameseberle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewjameseberle/
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7329007/ (IMDb) https://vimeo.com/eberlematthew (Vimeo)
Image Credits
Justin Moore Stephen Ho
