Meet Courtney Daniels Filmmaker | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Courtney Daniels Filmmaker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtney Daniels, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Independence. I used to think it was important, but now I think it’s everything to me. I like not having a boss and not having to take input from studio executives or financiers. But collaborating is different. I love the cool contributions actors, editors and composers make to a project.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
After writing and trying to sell spec feature scripts for about 8 years and getting nowhere, I made a short film. It was a good experience, but I didn’t know how I was going to finance a feature shoot. So, I spent a few more years writing and trying to sell spec scripts, again getting nowhere. Finally, I decided I was going to make a feature for “no money.” We ended up deciding on a budget of about $15K, and of course spent more than that. The finished film, What Other Couples Do, premiered at Pasadena International Film Festival and has been seen by over 2 million people on Amazon and other streaming platforms. I think the hardest thing about making a movie is that it’s a long haul. You have to just take it day by day, and resist the frequent urge to give up. But if you think about it, who cares if it takes a year or more? What else are you going to do instead? What’s more worthwhile? If there’s something else you value more, then you should do that thing. Otherwise, try to develop the long view needed to turn out a movie.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When a friend or relative visits LA for the first time, I like to first drive them around, so they can get the lay of the land. I’ll usually take Sunset Blvd, and traverse the city from the east side, showing them Silver Lake and Los Feliz and Sunset Junction, to the west side of the 405, showing them Brentwood, Santa Monica and the Palisades. For a great casual meal, I like to go to Akasha in Culver City. For a festive celebration and fantastic food, Ivy at the Shore. To see the swans and enjoy a beautiful setting, I like drinks and appetizers in the piano bar or brunch in the indoor-outdoor dining room at Wolfgang Puck at Hotel BelAir. For cocktails, a fun atmosphere and good people-watching, I like Gracias Madre in West Hollywood. For incredible views of the entire city, I love hiking to the top of the trail in Griffith Park that begins where Commonwealth dead ends in Los Feliz. To see art, I like to go downtown to Geffen’s MOCA and The Broad or to Hauser & Wirth (and I would finally try Manuela restaurant). For dessert, there are a few great bakeries and ice cream places on Larchmont, or you can get a healthy treat at Gratitude Cafe. It’s fun to see musician Jon Brion or famous comedians at Largo’s Coronet theater or a lineup of known and rising standup comedians at The Comedy Store or the Improv. Uncabaret, hosted by Beth Lapides, is always good and is currently being hosted at El Cid Mexican restaurant on east Sunset. The Mark Taper downtown and the Kirk Douglas theater in Culver City are usually showing productions worth seeing. Quentin Tarantino’s New Beverly or The Vista are great places to see movies. And of course a trip to Zuma beach and lunch at Malibu’s Cross Creek shopping area is great.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband, Jim Armogida, is supportive of everything I do. Besides helping me make all of my movies, he has encouraged me to keep going at times when I’ve felt discouraged. I’m grateful for his belief in me. I also appreciate the actors I’ve worked with. I value their talent and skill, as well as their friendship, good conversation and positive energy. My frequent editor, Jason Barnoski, is one of my favorite people. It’s a pleasure to debate with him what to cut, what to keep. And I am thankful for my friends and family, whose love, support, and enthusiasm for my work help me keep going.

Website: www.courtneydanielsfilms.com

Instagram: @courtneydanielstoyou

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-daniels-9abb0864