Meet Ian Clay | Writer-Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ian Clay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ian, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
Filmmaking is an art and it’s a business. I’ve been at it for many years and I’ve seen people persevere and quit along the road. So much of the industry is about sticking around, honing your craft, and continuing to make films. I’ve directed eight short films and one feature, and each one of those films is a set of lessons. My feature won some festival awards and was invited to screen on Netflix—and I self financed it on a bank loan of 10K. That story helped teach me where to put the camera, how to work with actors, and the world of film festivals. Since then I’ve written more features and have attached talent and producers, but short films have always been an outlet for directing while I’m putting together financing for a feature. At one of the recent Sundance film festivals I attended, the short films were equally as resonant as the features. I’ve also found that noticing and appreciating the stories and textures around me have continued to inspire me as a director.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a writer and a filmmaker. My films tend to be dramas, and increasingly, they incorporate rural textures. I’m excited about a recent film I directed called “Palomino” that takes place in the equestrian area of Burbank. “Palomino” began for me on a guided horse tour. I grew up on a remote farm in rural Canada, and we had horses and cows, and I always loved the animals. To find horses in the urban sprawl of Los Angeles was a discovery of joy because I found myself connected to home.

I was struck by something Gustavo, our guide, said after the tour—he said that he slept near the horses. His close proximity to the animals was a revelation, and I thought there could be a fictional narrative inspired by his guided tour. I met with Gustavo, a young man originally from Guatemala, and crafted a narrative short script out of our mutual affection for horses. Part of this process included my imagining—I imagined that for some tourists who rent a horse, the transaction might be more pragmatic. I imagined the contrast, the juxtaposition between Gustavo’s love for these animals. My intention was to create a film that highlights the differing feelings about and from a Hollywood tour horse. The film wrestles with identity: how we see, how horses might perceive us, and how relationships have moments of both connection and disconnection.

Stylistically, I chose the anamorphic frame and vivid colors to illuminate the textures and to emotionally bring us closer to Gustavo, the horse, and lush landscape.

I was guided with the less is more axiom. I chose to film in a minimalist and subtle way because of the gentle spirit of this animal.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had a friend visiting Los Angeles, I’d recommend starting out with Korean Barbecue at Quarters on West 6th Street. The food, atmosphere, and service are absolutely outstanding. I’d recommend going for a boxing lesson at Freddie Roach’s Wildcard gym on Vine. Freddie is there every day and is the glue for people from all parts of the city. For watching a film, I’d take anyone visiting to Tarantino’s theater, The New Bev. He curates the collection and there’s always fresh films being projected on actual film.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Ken Morris is a film producer who has helped produce several of my short films. He has been a continual inspiration in my work.

Website: www.ianclay.net

Instagram: @ianclay.film

Twitter: @thatianclay

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2420359/