Meet Michael J. Banks

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael J. Banks. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Michael, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Being 26 years old and endeavoring to shoot a feature film with no formal training or experience, saying I encountered imposter syndrome would be an understatement… I knew the key would be to surround myself with a team of people who not only understood the vision for the script, but had the means and the drive to help bring it to life. The key to overcoming those feelings of trepidation throughout this process was to trust in my love for filmmaking. If you have a true passion for storytelling and refuse to cut corners, you can’t help but be successful. The more I reminded myself of this fact, the more I realized that the cast and crew were there not only because they believed in the script but also because they believed in me.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Since I was 10, I’ve been mesmerized by the movies. I’d spend all my free time watching old DVDs I rented from the Chicago Public Library, studying writers and directors, and writing film reviews, short stories and scripts to hone my craft. After graduating college with a business degree, I made it my mission to excel in sales for the next four years to be able to self-finance my first feature film. When I got the opportunity to move to New York and meet numerous talented artists through acting classes, I knew it was time to make my move. I put in my 2 weeks’ notice and began actively casting actors, hiring crew members, and scouting locations for a script I had written and knew had great potential to be something special. I realized very early on in this process that greatest part about telling stories, is seeing how people internalize your words, good or bad. Being that filmmaking is such a collaborative medium, it’s been a marvel to see how everyone involved has been able to add a piece of themselves to this movie and bring it to life. After months of pre-production, 24 hard days of shooting, and almost half of a year in post-production, my first feature film ‘Blades of Grass’ will finally be seen in theaters and festivals across America at the end of this year. Additionally, through the connections I made on ‘Blades of Grass’ I had the opportunity to co-produce another feature film ‘That Creep From the Bar Last Night’ which will also premiere this year, so make sure to look out for both at a festival or theater near you!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The three most important skills a new filmmaker should endeavor to possess are communication skills, drive, and adaptability. My high school track and field coach used to always grill the saying “improvise, adapt, overcome” until it became somewhat of a mantra. Anyone passionate enough to pursue this crazy business must possess those skills because nothing will ever go exactly according to plan. If you’re able to effectively communicate your vision, while also being open to listening and trusting the opinions of your team, you will be successful. When an unforeseen problem takes shape on set, and you have the soundness of mind to overcome that hurdle, you will be successful. If that same hurdle offers you the easy way out but you have the versatility to push forward without compromising your creative integrity, you will be successful.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

As we close out post-production on ‘Blades of Grass’ and ‘That Creep from the Bar Last Night’, It’s time to pursue the next story to tell. With several newly penned feature length scripts on my desk and an appetite for the next challenge, I’m actively looking for studios, artists and entrepreneurs interested in working with a new voice. Reach out to me at [email protected], let’s chat about our next project!

Additional Links:
IMDB:https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29344454/
Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/film/blades-of-grass/

“Blades of Grass”: https://www.instagram.com/bladesofgrassfilm/
“That Creep From the Bar Last Night”: https://www.instagram.com/thatcreepfromthebarlastnight?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bladesofgrassfilm/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/thatcreepfromthebarlastnight/