Meet Ryan McCue | Filmmaker, Writer, Curator

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

Hi Ryan, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Taking risks is totally necessary and completely terrifying. It’s difficult to put yourself in situations where there’s potential for failure, especially if you’re already an anxious person prepared to slip on a banana peel the moment you step outside. I try (emphasis on try) to consider the outcomes rationally; it’s one thing to risk your life, it’s another to risk an awkward interaction. Oftentimes what’s in front of you is just an opportunity for growth being clouded by fear, doubt, and insecurity. Even if it all goes wrong, it’s still something you can learn from.

Directing films is navigating an endless series of risks. I’ve stared at the ceiling for hours wondering if I cast the right actor, if we chose the right lamp, if that one sound effect is way too weird or actually just right. You have to trust your gut. And lately, I drift toward making the riskier choices in my work. I find that those decisions end up being the most personal, and the most rewarding. You’ll stress for days that nobody but you will like it, that you’ve finally lost it, then suddenly it’s the one thing everyone in the audience loves the most.

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 curious about people. I like understanding why we act or react certain ways, what in our backgrounds makes us who we are. And in filmmaking, these observations are your arsenal. The more specific you are, the more chance it has at connecting. It’s kind of like a puzzle. You have a scenario, like “How would a priest react to a murder confession?”, and it’s your job as director to imagine not only what that person is feeling, but how it would manifest outwardly. There’s no one right answer; you get to draw upon everything you know about people, and make your best guess. It’s fun.

The other reason I drifted so heavily to film was its emphasis on visual storytelling. More than any line or character, it was always the core images of a movie that would stick with me. The colors, the compositions, the awe that I was seeing something I had never seen before. I started chasing this feeling in my own work, keeping the stories simple but experimenting in the presentation. How can you convey what the character is feeling without a word? What would this intangible concept look like if given form? How can you tell the whole story in a single image? Answering these questions led me to an interest in contemporary art (specifically drawing and painting), which increasingly became an influence on my filmmaking.

My proudest accomplishment, a short horror film I wrote and directed called Drawn into Darkness, was a way for all these interests to intersect. The story follows a young artist who takes a job painting an old man’s nightmares. In writing the script, I explored a lot of my own anxieties about creating art, and found the horror genre the best way to express them. Making art is scary, after all. You’re putting pieces of yourself into the work, and have to accept that it might be torn to shreds. I’ve always struggled with that. So I conceived of an artist who, afraid to put his own pain on display, borrows the pain of another. The old man’s nightmares become his inspiration. But in bringing them to life, the artist can’t avoid facing himself.

That film was produced by a dream team crew from LMU. Everyone brought their own strengths to it, which conveniently hid all my weaknesses. It’s hard to imagine ever making a film alone again. With every project now, I’m striving to become a better director, and a better collaborator. There’s always lessons to learn. Lead with genuine enthusiasm. Write a script that’s not just technically good, but fun to read. Always be willing to experiment. And right when you want to call it done, grit your teeth and do everything you can to make it 1% better. Then do that again.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The first place I really found community in LA was at the art gallery / Japanese toy store Giant Robot on Sawtelle. I appreciate how the gallery tries to shine the spotlight on up-and-coming artists whenever it can, and the Saturday night receptions are a great place to meet people. So I’d probably start there, stopping by Furaibo for a Pork Katsu and Volcano Tea for a Hokkaido Milk Tea Icy (with boba).

I went to school at LMU, and developed a soft spot for the Runway at Playa Vista. Go to the Saturday farmer’s market, get some crispy dumplings at Dan, and see a movie at the Cinemark. Benny’s is great for late night Mexican food afterwards, too. I also like downtown Culver, and the Culver theater has an amazing sound system. Nearby, you can get great ice cream at Ginger’s, and hand-crafted omusubi (rice balls) at Sunny Blue. I’ve eaten countless omusubi there and never got sick of them.

Princess Cake from Copenhagen Pastry. Graham Central Station ice cream from Handel’s. See movies at the Aero and Egyptian theaters. It’s not just film fans who go to those, but filmmakers and actors as well. Yama sushi. Academy museum. Coconut cake from Urth Caffé. Steamed buns in Little Tokyo. Al pastor street burritos from anywhere. Pizza from Apollonia’s. Lunch at Grand Central Station. Support your local art gallery. Visit an art studio. Get some sun. There’s always something to do here.

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 family back home in Florida has supported me at every turn in my career. When I nervously started making short films in high school, they jumped at the chance to be both my cast and my crew. My dad has played a priest and a vampire, my brother a robber and murderer. My mom has even played a corpse (maybe a speaking part next-time). They hung my movie posters on the walls, and always stayed up late with me, take-after-take, until I got what I needed. Because of them, I was able to build confidence as a filmmaker surrounded by people who — no matter the results — would still be obligated to like me. Thanks guys.

Website: https://www.ryanmccue.xyz/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanmccue_/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ryanmccue

Image Credits
For only the personal photo provided, credit is to Ray Dobson