Joshua Lee Friedman. Photo Courtesy of Joshua Lee Friedman.
Joshua Lou Friedman chatted about making his directorial debut in his new film “Marrying Mary Martindale.”
A native of Hollywood, California, Friedman is a writer and producer, known for such workd as “Wineville,” “Satanic Hispanics” and “Tales of Halloween.”
Directing this new comedy thriller
“Directing this was everything I dreamed it would be,” he admitted. “I am finally breaking out after all these years. It’s about time.”
“I’ve been waiting quite a long time for this,” he said. “It should have happened decades ago in my career. When my former boss, Hugh Hefner, famously died in the news, back in 2017, I was able to have more time to transition into directing. I was his personal bartender.”
“I can deliver on a deadline when need be. There was a script on the table originally, which I was okay with, but I wanted to do my own re-write, and I made the location happen in this ranch in New Mexico.”
“It was such a joy, an honor, and a pleasure to work with the cast of actors,” he admitted. “Our two leads, Christina Nicholls and Aaron Johnson, were amazing!”
“I had full creative control in this movie, which is something that first-time directors rarely get,” he acknowledged. “I am very blessed to have been this lucky. It took a village… we had a cast and crew that really pulled it off.”
“I am really happy with it, and I cannot wait to unleash it to the world,” he noted. “This has been a long time coming. The directing was easy, working with the actors was wonderful. I’m an actor’s director, for sure, and I love it.”
Working with Philip Bruenn
Friedman had great words about working with actor and model Philip Bruenn as a fellow producer.
“Philip and I have had a longstanding relationship,” he said. “We met two years ago on a project, and Philip and I really connected. I recognized him immediately as being somebody who has what it takes.”
“Philip and I work really well together, and we complement each other. We’ve prospered ever since, and now Philip is producing my first movie,” he added.
‘Wineville’
Friedman and Bruenn both served as associate producers on Brande Roderick’s film “Wineville,” which dropped two weeks ago. Roderick stars and directed this movie.
The digital age
On being a part of the digital age, he said, “I am a big physical media champion. I have over 10,000 Blu-rays and DVDs in my library. I’ve embraced the digital age, and I have a digital library, which I cultivate as well.”
“At the end of the day, if you can’t loan it, you don’t own it. That’s how I feel about movies. I’ve embraced the digital age, and I have all the digital channels,” he explained.
“I am still a stickler for the theater experience and for physical media. I will fight those battles, and I will hold those torches high. I live and breathe film. I love making movies and talking about movies. I don’t know much else,” he said with a sweet laugh.
Advice for young and aspiring filmmakers
For young and emerging filmmakers, he noted that it’s all about “perseverance” and “never giving up.” “I know people always say that in interviews but it’s true! Perseverance is key,” he underscored.
“If you are passionate about this and it’s your dream, then you follow it, and that’s what I’ve done,” he added.
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Friedman said, “Booyah!”
“I am so ready now,” he exclaimed. “Everything has changed dramatically putting this movie together. It was nice to get things going during the strike and not sit down.”
Success
Regarding his definition of success, he said, “Just making a living doing what you love. That’s it for me. Following your dreams and achieving them without distractions. You just do it, you stick with it, and you persevere.”
To learn more about Joshua Lou Friedman, follow him on Instagram and check out his IMDb page.