Meet Randy Kent

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

Randy, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
Movies and current television inspire and continue to keep my creative juices flowing. Television especially these days is extremely important and inspirational because of the depth of character work they can get into over the course of many episodes.

There is nothing more creatively charging than seeing something different or fresh on screen, whether that be a particular camera shot, a piece of music, an actor who has a unique way about them or the way a story is told. It gives you a jolt and makes you think that there are so many more ways to do things. Everything has been done as they say but, how can you do this ever so unique that makes the viewer turn their head and say “Okay, that’s something I haven’t seen before!”. That’s what keeps my creativity alive. Always striving to make it unique, even in the smallest of ways. A lot of the time “old ways” of doing things are the best way and you must go with it but it’s that ONE thing you live for when you make a film. I know every director has that one shot or moment or even an edit they created that really makes them beam with pride for a job well done and that’s what keeps it alive.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am an award-winning director and editor in the film industry and have been pounding the pavement for about 30 years now. My career actually started with acting in high school and then I was doing stand-up comedy when I was too young to be in the club. From there I began doing improv theater and a cable access sketch show where I learned to write, shoot and edit shorts and that over time moved me behind the camera. I still do acting jobs from time to time but my creative passion is directing.

Because of my comedy background, a lot of my earlier work tends to fall into that category but I have been lucky enough to do a little of everything as far as the projects I take on. I’ve done many genres at this point, from comedy and drama, to horror/thrillers, action or experimental and anything in between. I’ve also done a lot of commercials and branded content work as well. I think that’s what is special to me about working in this business is that I can, and like to, tackle any and everything so each project is different and keeps me going creatively.

Things on the horizon for 2024 for me are:

I’m in the final stages of post production on a horror/thriller feature I directed in the UK called “Bring Me A Skin For Dancing In” that will be released by this summer with Black Coppice Films.

I just wrapped another feature with my filmmaking partner, John Luksetich called “Loose Ends Down” starring Bai Ling. It’s another unique project in our catalogue and it’s about the world’s first down syndrome hit woman and should be out the end of the year under our newly formed company, There Is No Box Studios. TINB Studios is a filmmaking collective we started that has a slate of independent films we plan on rolling out in the next 2 years so stay tuned for that.

Also coming up this year will be the worldwide streaming release of the film I did in India called “Road King” which had a successful theatrical release last summer in Bangalore where I was in attendance. It’s a fantastic place and wonderful people and I can’t wait to go back, which looks like it may happen as we are planning another film there this year sometime

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?
I think one of the most impactful things I learned in this business is to know a little about everything on a set. You don’t have to know it 100% but it certainly helps to convey what you want or need if you have knowledge of what the other person is doing. For instance, and this can also answer the second part of the question, I feel knowing how to edit is a HUGE bonus in being a director. You can solve so many problems you didn’t even know you had once you get in that edit room. Knowing that when on set helps you to move quicker and can answer at least a few of the dozens of questions you are asked on a daily basis. Knowing what actors go through is also important. You have to be so vulnerable and that’s tougher than you think. I still have a hard time with it when I’m acting.

Another quality that is key is probably to try and stay humble. It’s a cliche but it is very true. Stay humble, work hard and try not to yell at people working for you. On set, you are all working towards the same goal so try to remember that everyone is on your side in this and want this to be the best it can be.

And finally, keep working honing those skills. I learn something on every single job I do even to this very day. It never fails that there is some knowledge that I come away with that I didn’t know before I started.

And finally my advice is to follow your own path, listen to everyone and try to have fun. You’re making a movie! Not a lot of people can say that. I even have a hard time remembering that but I have people around to keep me in check (it works half the time but that’s because I’m stubborn…)

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
I am constantly busy and working so I get overwhelmed quite a lot, to the point of getting sick and forcing myself to take a break. For the last few years I’ve had to juggle so many different projects in various stages of progress that it gets really hard to manage. You just want to stay in bed and not face the day sometimes. So I create a simple checklist – what is THE most important thing that needs to get done first and start from there. It’s easier said than done but that’s what we have to do in the independent film world, manage our careers and life at the same time. The more you do it, the more you learn how to juggle. Sometimes all the pins stay in the air, sometimes you drop a few. You just have to pick it up and keep throwing things in the air…

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