Mike Ascher
Mike Ascher is a multi-talented filmmaker with a wide range credits within the industry that include Cinematography, Acting, Producing, Directing, Stunt Coordinating and many more.
Mike's first directorial narrative short film Flash (2007) was the recipient of several awards at the Rochester Minnesota Independent Film Festival, including Best Picture and Best Visuals. Mike is attached to two upcoming feature films: Lake Runs Red, that tells the story of two college girlfriends who go to their parent's secluded northern Minnesota lake cabin to prepare for final exams, only to find themselves at the mercy of an uninvited visitor and Emma's Revenge, a kidnap/revenge thriller that centres around a posse of martial arts divas who force karma on human traffickers that mess with the titular character's family.
SN: First, I hear the words ‘great cinematography’ used quite a lot and not always in the right context. For those that are unaware, please explain to us the role of a cinematographer and what importance that holds in filmmaking.
Mike: A cinematographer’s job is basically to secure the shots and visual identity the director wants. This means working closely with the director to understand the vision they have for a scene and how they want it to play out. It is the cinematographer’s job to choose the correct lens, choose the camera and film stock, and to and manipulate the lighting for each scene. It's also his job to determine how to move and where to put the camera. The cinematographer is almost always the camera operator as well. The director in many cases has a clear vision of how they want the shots to look and it’s up to the cinematographer to collaborate with him or her to create the visuals wanted. Many times the director relies on the cinematographer's expertise to help create the best way to shoot a scene. It is also the job of the cinematographer to work with the gaffer (the person in charge of lighting) to make sure the lighting is correct, where the shadows should fall and how to achieve the desired mood.
The cinematographer may also be responsible for scenes shot without actors such as setup shots and/or other non-actor involved shots, often times without the director present. Sometimes this responsibility overlaps with that of the assistant directors or 2nd unit depending on the film's size. A director will often use the same cinematographer for many films once a relationship is established. On "Lake Runs Red" I served as the director of photography (cinematographer), camera operator, and gaffer for the film. By holding that robust trifecta of camera department responsibility, Jason Riesgraf (the director of Lake Runs Red) truly entrusted me with his vision. It helps that we're in sync on most filmmaking decisions and that we've had a prior working relationship built on trust and friendship.
SN: Tell us a little about your background and how you got into the film industry.
Mike: I got into the film industry when I was in my twenties, which would have been the late 80s. I started on my father’s primitive handheld camera shooting family events and creating silly videos with my friends. I eventually started to shoot events that had their own story and my documentary style was born. This was a great thrill to shoot events that were not scripted and unpredictable. I had loved films my whole life and by the mid-2000's I had decided to try my hand at storytelling. I directed and shot my first narrative short, entitled "Flash" in 2007. I was fortunate that it immediately won several film festival awards at the Rochester Minnesota Independent Film Festival! It won best picture, the best visuals, the best audio, and best female performer. It was after this initial success, that filmmaking became my new passion. After working on a series of short films, I wanted to write and direct a feature film of my own.
My day job for many years was as a martial arts instructor. I loved the physicality of martial arts, but also loved watching kung fu films and complex fight scenes in movies. For my first feature I wanted to see if I could create some decent action of my own on camera. This led to me directing my first feature film, "Emma's Revenge" in 2011. To stay afloat in between those years, I have since worked for hire as a camera operator or production assistant on dozens of features, shorts and documentaries, including notable films "The Blood Stripe," "The Control Group" starring Brad Dourif, "Looms," and of course "Lake Runs Red." I've even won an additional award for best director at the Z-Fest Short Film Festival here in Minneapolis for a short I directed called "Three Card Draw" in 2014. Needless to say, I'm loving every minute of it.
SN: One of your latest projects is home invasion thriller Lake Runs Red. Talk to us about your experiences, approach and vision whilst working on this film.
Mike: I actually met Jason on my own film "Emma's Revenge" in 2011. I hired Jason to be my camera operator, and we immediately clicked. I actually had trouble finding the right camera operator before Jason, so when he came aboard things really started to take off. Jason was very skilled and his deep background in news and commercial production was well suited for the hand-held, run-and-gun, quick cut action style I was going for. So when it was time for Jason to direct his own feature film, he asked me if I would collaborate with him on his little home-invasion horror. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity to work with a close friend again. Originally, I came on as the assistant director, but as the exploratory process took hold, I started to transition to a larger role as cinematographer and production designer.
As a fan of horror myself (I'm a horror collector of sorts), I had a clear visual take that jived cohesively with Jason's vision. As the story got hashed out we started talking about the look and emotion he wanted to capture for "Lake Runs Red." Early in the exploratory process, we headed up to northern Minnesota where I have a cabin and started location scouting. After one trip around the small Minnesota mining towns in the area, Jason decided that this was the area he wanted to shoot his film. Cabin culture in Minnesota USA is prevalent and these northern Minnesota towns can be quite secluded, even sometimes creepy. The vision Jason had was of an isolated lake home surrounded by a rural town and intimidating forest. We wanted to capture the panic and despair of being far away from help while something bad was happening. The main goal was to create a spooky and helpless situation for his characters.
SN: What can audiences expect from Lake Runs Red?
Mike: "Lake Runs Red" is about two college coeds, Melissa and Lauren, who want to get away from the non-stop party culture of their downtown Minneapolis big-city college campus. They take a last minute road trip to their parent's lake home in northern Minnesota. There, they have an awkward family reunion of sorts. Little do they know that the girls were followed by a mysterious and mercurial stranger who is desperate to confront the family with some unsavory information. Jason really stressed two key themes when we were making the film, rejection and choices. It's definitely a home-invasion horror, with influences of other subgenres of horror. But it's also a crime mystery, with hopefully big surprises in store. I think audiences will experience a lot of fun, a lot of scares, and a lot of mystery when watching "Lake Runs Red." Home invasion is always a frightening thought, mostly because of its plausible isolation and helplessness. Being in a situation like that, while in the comfort of your own home is horrifying to think about. We wanted to bring a real creepiness to the film through the isolated locations and unique visual identity we chose. The audience can expect thoughtful characterizations, suspenseful drama and a sense of familiarity. The characters are everyday people caught in extraordinary situations. In short, I think audiences will be really pleased with my visual look for the film. The production value is high and you can definitely feel the dark and gritty atmosphere of my locations. I hope the audience will feel a little scared when they arrive home alone to their own ‘safe’ house after seeing "Lake Runs Red."
SN: Aside from cinematography, you IMDb page list you as having stunt, producer, director, actor and many more credits. That’s an impressive variety of skills. Where would you say your passion lies, and why?
Mike: My passion within the film world is to create thought provoking films that grab an audience’s attention and make them go along for the ride. I love making the viewer feel what the characters are feeling. I’ve worked in many aspects of filmmaking from production assistant to writer, director, producer, cinematographer, fight choreography, set and art design and many other areas, but my background as a martial artist makes shooting action probably the most fun. Fighting and action on screen always makes for an exciting shoot! Having fun on a shoot means I’ll keep coming back for more. I also take great joy in helping others create the vision and feel they want for their own films. That's why I was so eager to contribute my talents to "Lake Runs Red." I love being a director, but I’m also passionate about being a team player. I just love being involved with the filmmaking process. Being on set provides a youthful energy that is unparalleled in other businesses. I’ve worked with many wonderful local filmmakers to create realistic action and fights as well as helping to produce their films. I’m just giddy to be able to work with so many great people on so many wonderful films, regardless of the genre.
SN: You have a forthcoming film, which you have written and directed, titled Emma’s Revenge. What can you tell us about this?
Mike: As I mentioned a little bit previously, "Emma’s Revenge" was shot a few years back and I'm just finishing it up now. If all goes to plan, I hope to release it Summer 2016. This one's a little different. It's not a horror film like "Lake Runs Red," rather it’s a kidnap/revenge, drive-in type feature with lots of action and in the style of the old exploitation films of the 70’s. "Emma’s Revenge" stars many top notch and well known names from the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul film, television, and theater community. Those names include, the great Charles Hubbell, Brandon Van Vliet, Roger Wayne, H. Thomas Altman, Faith Udeh, as well as a host of other minor cameos. When I began this project, I was fairly new to the local film community, but was able to convince the best talent that Minneapolis had to offer to take part in my film. It was funny because when I put a casting notice out for "thug members to get beat up by women", the response was overwhelming. It appeared that every actor in the Twin Cities wanted to get their ass whooped by our badass female stars. "Emma's Revenge" is about a mother and daughter being kidnapped for the human trafficking trade. Emma, played by the uber talented Krisha Saxon, manages to escape and this starts the downward spiral for the thugs who kidnapped her. Emma, along with her merry band of ‘Psycho Action Hero’ friends, go on the rampage to retrieve her daughter. It’s a basic revenge film. It should be fun, dramatic and even campy at times. My goal is that the audience will go along for a fun and adventurous ride with me and feel great when the final credits roll.
SN: Talk to us about some of your fondest career moments so far.
Mike: My fondest career moments would have to be working with talented people and making new friends. Every production becomes a family (of sorts), especially when the entire production is part of one primary set. This really bonds the cast and crew together and makes for a more dedicated production. This is especially true of our "Lake Runs Red" team. The producers really promoted a family-first oriented set. I can honestly say that I'm still close with everyone from "Lake Runs Red." I’ve also had the pleasure to work with some of Hollywood’s best. A couple years ago I spent a few weeks working with the great Brad Dourif on a horror film, titled "The Control Group" in Fergus Falls. That was an awesome experience, as Brad has always been one of my favorites. I also got to work with Timothy V. Murphy on a short film called "Looms." If you don’t know the name Timothy V. Murphy, look it up. You’ll go “Oh, I know him”. I would have to say though that the best part of this work is meeting new people and the lifelong friendships that develop.
SN: What are some of the greatest challenges you face working in the film industry?
Mike: The greatest challenge working in the film industry is finding a way to support your projects, in terms of getting your project funded. There are so many talented people in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul USA) both in front of and behind the camera. Cast and crew is never a real issue but getting your project off the ground can be. People are always willing to jump in on the short film contests as volunteers, but if you have a real production, people should be paid for their time and efforts. I have stood in some strange and crazy places while operating a camera. I’ve worked on productions where the logistics are overwhelming. I’ve seen situations and plans go horribly wrong to the point where everyone scratches their heads wondering ‘how are we gonna solve this problem’? To me, those are the most rewarding aspects of the filmmaking dynamic. The challenges faced and the things learned when having to make something work against all odds is where the excitement lies for me. In the end though, problems like those are good to have. It means that your project was funded.
SN: In regards to your professional career, what are some of your personal goals?
Mike: My personal goal as a filmmaker is to continue to work with talented people on fun and creative films, much like I did on “Lake Runs Red.” I love when I’m surrounded by experience that exceeds my own. That is where I learn the most. The ultimate goal, however, is to create films of my own vision. As a writer and director I have many stories I want to commit to film. I usually have an entire film done in my head before I ever begin to shoot. This makes the vision clear and, to me, shooting goes faster when you have a clear vision of what you want to see. I have a web series I’m currently writing, as well as several short films. My goal is to bring these projects to life and get the funding to make them something special and unique. I also look forward to working with people I haven’t worked with before. There are too many fun challenges during filming and I look forward to them all.
SN: What would you consider to be you proudest achievement so far?
Mike: My proudest achievement so far would have to be the ability to call anyone up in the Minneapolis-St. Paul film community and have them be willing to help me solve problems. The community is our lifeline and lifeblood. My greatest achievement within a particular film would have to be a threeway tie between "Lake Runs Red," "Emma's Revenge," and "The Blood Stripe." I'm so proud of what we accomplished on "Lake Runs Red." It was truly a special team effort and I'm really, really pumped for "Lake Runs Red" to come out. As you can see from the marketing, the product looks amazing and I think audiences will really embrace the underlying story. I worked as a PA on "The Blood Stripe" this past summer. It's about a female marine coming back from war with PTSD and the problems she has readjusting to life and people. I love films like this that are fun and adventurous and when they have an important message to convey, it makes it all that much more rewarding. And finally, I'm proud of "Emma’s Revenge" because it's my baby. It's possibly my most rewarding experience to date. The willingness of others, who didn’t know me at the time, to do some amazing things on screen made it all worth it. We trained our four female stars, in martial arts, for several months. The hard workouts and the encouragement of the women among themselves created a real friendship that was impossible to hide on screen. I realized I could actually make a film. I also realized recently, that with these three films, they were the most fun I’ve ever had.
SN: If you had the freedom of choice to work with anyone in the industry, who would that be and why?
Mike: If I could work with anyone in the industry I would have to pick Quentin Tarantino (and Robert Rodriquez). Does that count as two? LOL. There are too many great talents to mention here including the master of all masters, Steven Spielberg. But in a dream scenario... working with Tarantino and Rodriguez would be, for me, the most rewarding. Their rock and roll attitude towards filmmaking ushered in an era of independent filmmakers who realized that you can do anything you want in film. To hell
with proper conventions. When I was young, starting a rock band was the coolest thing to do. Now the younger generation is creating film companies with the same attitude we had forming rock bands. Tarantino uses every style and emulates all his favorite directors, which are my favorites too. He honors the styles of the great masters of the past as well as the current masters. He’s bold and unforgiving and, in my opinion, one of the best writers working in the field today. Having the opportunity to work with him would be a learning experience above all as well as just a hell of a lot of fun. Needless to say, these two guys, especially Tarantino, were a huge influence on my film "Emma's Revenge."
SN: Finally, is there anything else that you would like to say or tell us about that has not been mentioned?
Mike: The "Lake Runs Red" producers will be releasing the first of five character trailers in July via their YouTube channel. They're taking a different approach than most. Instead of a standard two-minute trailer, they're doing five smaller ones, each from the perspective of a primary character in the film. I think for the story style and robust characters in the film, it's a clever strategy.
In closing, I would like to reiterate how important working relationships are in this industry. Without the support of your community you have nothing. Without the support of your friends you have nothing. Finding people you can work with over and over again makes the whole process that much more fun and rewarding. There are ups and down in every production, therefore solid relationships are the most valuable asset one can have. Finding the people who truly enjoy filmmaking and have fun with it, regardless of the challenges, is where it’s at. I value every single relationship I’ve acquired and miss those who are no longer a part of my circle. Treasure your friends and treasure those you love working with. "Lake Runs Red" is a terrific example of this. Jason was there for me on "Emma's Revenge." And I was there for him on "Lake Runs Red." All in all, please continue to support independent films, like “Emma’s Revenge” and “Lake Runs Red!”
SN: Mike Ascher, thank you so much for giving up some of your valuable time to answer our questions. Congratulations on all your achievements so far and we wish you all the best for the future.