Talented filmmaker and actor Hunter G. Williams (The Crying Dead, The Road Home) is back with a new feature, The Madness Within.
Available December 6 from Midnight Releasing, the film tells of a man, a businessman seemingly on top of the world, whose secrets, addiction and faulty relationships ultimately start to unravel his ideal existence. The film, a powerful look into the lives of Hollywood and the side-effects of living within its world, is a real conversation starter.
When did you craft the idea for the film, sir?
Hunter G. Williams: We had lost the financing on another one of our films that had been greenlit by a studio. Literally at the finish line, after all the legal had been handled, and we were just waiting to sign the long form. When that fell apart, I knew it was going to take a while to get things going again on it, and that’s when the idea for The Madness Within started taking shape.
Were you always going to act in it?
HGW: Yes, that was always the plan. I had stepped aside as the lead on our other film we were going to do, since they wanted to do it at a much larger budget, which requires name actors in the lead roles, so I made the decision early on that this would be a vehicle for Edin Gali and myself.
How personal is the movie? Has this been close to your experience?
HGW: That’s a tricky question. Yes, and at the same time a resounding no. There a certain aspects of the movie which I’ve experienced, or witnessed firsthand, and there’s some that are complete fiction.
Are any of the supporting characters based on people you know?
HGW: I’m going to have to plead the fifth on that one.
Being an indie film, I imagine you personally know most of the actors involved in the film? Was that the case with Edin and Lily, too?
HGW: I know a lot of the cast and crew personally, and have worked with them on several of our projects. Like a lot of filmmakers, it something I prefer since I know what to expect with them. And the same goes for Edin and Lily. Edin and I have done six or seven projects together, and this is Lily’s third. I consider myself very lucky to have an icon like her have anything to do with one of our projects. She’s a major supporter of a lot of filmmakers/writers/actors/etc who are trying to navigate their way in the industry. It’s a very rare quality to see in someone of that calibre.
One critic described the movie as Wolf of Wall Street for the Hollywood crowd. What do you think of the comparison? Is it the closest one there is, you think?
HGW: I believe you’re referring to Nerdly.co.uk’s review.., Just to have anything I’ve done mentioned in the same sentence as a Scorsese film, especially one that stars Leonardo DiCaprio, is an honor. There are a lot of similarities story wise (not going to compare my work to the likes of Martin Scorsese or DiCaprio), and off the top of my head that’d probably be the closest, but there’s also similarities to films like Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and Eyes Wide Shut.
Hollywood – it’s not so glamorous, from the looks of the movie? What don’t people see?
HGW: A LOT. I don’t want to come off like I’m bashing the entertainment industry though, because I do love what I do, and feel lucky anytime we’re working. That being said, something most people don’t realize, and certainly don’t see, is the grind that EVERYONE trying to navigate the business goes through. It doesn’t matter if you’re an Actor, Director, Writer, Grip, P.A. etc. You’re ALWAYS looking for your next job, always putting yourself out there, and usually have to work unpaid for a few years no matter what you’re doing, just so you can build a resume.
Have you encountered a lot of ups and downs as an actor and filmmaker?
HGW: Quite a few, yes. If you haven’t, you’re not doing it right. It just goes with the territory.
What pushes you to keep going?
HGW: Everyone who’s put their faith in me. I’ve been lucky enough to have a lot of great, very talented people who not only believe in me, and the goals I’m working towards, but have stood by me for years. That’s something I don’t take lightly. So, I’m not going to let anything stand in the way of making sure we’re going to grow together as a team, and make sure we can keep working on bigger and better projects in the future.
What can we learn from the movie?
HGW: Sometimes you can find the strength to pick yourself up, and carry on in the most unlikely of places.