Making films is not an easy task let alone getting your project out to the public. This is a hurdle many young creatives in the film world face daily. At the same time if someone has the drive and enthusiasm, they can make things happen. This is the case when it comes to up-and-coming directors / actors Kyle Gaunt and David Frey. Both have begun to make some headway in the indie film circuit with their projects.
Kyle first attracted the “film bug” at a young age with his love for films and would eventually develop his own YouTube channel titled “Kyle Gaunt Reviews” where he critiqued specific films old and new. He would study filmmaking at Hofstra University and where he met David, and they decided to work together on future projects. David was not a film buff at first as he was a stage performer but like Kyle before him, he was also stung by the film bug.
“I did small, friendly dance competitions after learning the craft and hone in on the technique. Nothing too big, or grand, but just performing on stage had given me a sort of awe. Seeing the audience cheer and clap would give me the confidence to have me go from just dancing to trying to act as well. But watching films and being a “critic” after watching them has always been a hobby of mine. And a thing I enjoyed doing even after watching a movie. So, watching movies as a hobby and performing on stage has always sparked a passion for filmmaking,” added David.
It was only a matter of time before they would end up putting out their own film. They made their first stab at it with a project called “Kill Me Dead” which was based on Kyle’s senior thesis film. They enjoyed working together and would release another film titled “Necklace”. The latter was a more promising work for them both. When it comes to getting your work out there many filmmakers utilize a site called Film Freeway where you can submit your project (s) to festivals worldwide. Kyle did just that with “Kill Me Dead” which was selected to The SoCal Film Awards. The other project we mentioned earlier “The Necklace” had been selected in ten different festivals. It has won an award from the One-Reeler Short Film Competition, and an Honorable Mention nomination by the SoCal Film Awards. In addition, it qualified as a semi-finalist at the Serbest International Film Fest. Outside of these accomplishments Kyle and David had also been selected in multiple in person festivals set in New York, California, Florida, and Georgia.
“I started a YouTube channel entitled “Kyle Gaunt Reviews” where I would critique the movies I saw in theaters, new movies I rented, and movies I loved growing up. This process allowed me to express my love of cinema in ways I couldn’t with my peers and family,” said Kyle.
Only recently David began working on a new project which would fit in the Western type of genre. The project is in its fourth year of development only because David is always fine tuning the script to his specifications till it is where he wants it to be. A current project that David and Kyle are currently percolating is an action/crime/suspense/thriller film. They are hoping to present it as a feature not a short. Both talented artists are on their way to create amazing works as they grow in the indie film industry and beyond.
