Actor and director Keith Sutliff follows up his ridiculously impressive debut The Mason Brothers with the equally polished The Refuge, a crime drama about a getaway driver, played by Sutliff – that opens in theaters June 28. We had a chance to ask him more about himself and the film. Here’s what he had to say.
You’re an everywhere man, Keith. What do you consider yourself – actor, filmmaker, writer?
Keith Sutliff: Good question! Well I would say a filmmaker or director overall just because I feel my strong point is creating a vision for a story on screen from start to finish for how it should be shown. But I feel acting is something I do too.
Have you been in the game a long time? Are these ‘starring’ roles a long time coming?
KS: Been in the business for about 7 years. Yes for sure! The roles I am writing for myself and playing in these films I have wanted to do since coming to Hollywood 7 years ago. So it has been a treat and dream come true. I feel like the only way to get it done is to do it yourself.
You do it differently to many. Why did you decide to fashion starring vehicles for yourself?
KS: I feel like this business is too saturated to wait around for work and doing the audition runs can get old after awhile unless you land good quality roles for yourself. Writing/directing roles for myself works best I feel. I know what character I wanna play for a film and these characters I am playing are ones I have wanted to play since coming to Hollywood. However, people have to do what works best for them. Doing this route to be an actor isn’t always the best for someone and also the same with the audition runs. Some people do better going the audition route but for me this is what works best then doing the audition runs.
Can you tell us about your first starring vehicle, The Mason Brothers?
KS: It was a great experience I will never forget and learned a lot from. It was a cool bank heist story I have been wanting to make and I think we succeeded with what we wanted to do with it. The film premiered at The Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. CA, had a theatrical run, and is on every Video on Demand platform. The film is on DVD as well on amazon and other sites. Was good for a first film debut.
Did you learn a lot on that one?
KS: I did. I learned smaller can be better as far as cast/crew. Less people to manage and less work. Also learned a lot about distribution and the life cycle of a film for distribution which made me want to distribute this next one on my own because of that experience.
Was it harder the second time around or easier?
KS: Was easier. I knew what worked and what did not. Anyone’s first feature is usually not as smooth as the ones after.
How similar to your character are you?
KS: Kind of similar as I’m outgoing but not over the top. For all my characters I like to play the quiet stoic type that does not talk a lot kind of like Alain DeLon from 1967’s Le Samourai. Always letting his actions speak more than his words. I don’t like a lot of dialogue. I like to focus on the actions of the character. With music, a good story, and cinematography it can come off a lot stronger then with a lot of dialogue.
What makes him tick?
KS: People coming after the people he loves.
Is L.A. another star of the movie?
KS: Yes, I would say so. The majority of the movie takes place all over the city at night. So it really adds a lot of atmosphere/backdrop and creates another character for the film.
And you’re releasing it independently?
KS: Yes I am. For all forms of distribution to include theaters, Video on Demand, DVD, etc.