Running towards the goal: NM-based filmmaker Justin Hunt brings 'The Post' to theaters Oct. 20
Oct. 13—Being an independent filmmaker isn't easy. Period.
As with any medium of art, there are plenty of obstacles in place that one must overcome.
For New Mexico native Justin Hunt, he didn't let any of that get in the way of him getting the feature film, "The Post," off the ground. It was filmed in Albuquerque and Farmington earlier this year.
"It's not easy," he says of filmmaking. "Especially with an independent film in regards to getting a theatrical release. When you are an independent film, you have to pay attention to a lot more than what you think."
"The Post" is a thriller about a loving father in a football-crazed Texas town.
He is left devastated and seeking revenge after a video is posted on social media of his murdered teenage son being beaten by unidentified classmates.
As he investigates, the classmates involved end up dead one by one.
The film stars Angus Benfield, Kimberly Bigsby, J. Elliott, Sarah Minnich and William Sterchi.
"The Post" is getting a theatrical run beginning Friday, Oct. 20, at theaters in New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Indiana, Kentucky, Wyoming and Maine.
"What I'm hoping happens is that the theaters wait for them to see how the film does," Hunt says. "I'm trying to pique the interest of not only moviegoers but the theaters for them to carry the film. It's so vital in the first couple of weeks for a film."
Hunt is getting a lot of response from the Farmington area with the film.
"The Post" filmed in the area while in production — and Hunt is from the area.
"To see that support humbles me because the area has supported me since I was in TV news," he says. "This story is unique. I try to make films that are cognitive and they create questions within yourself. And then you talk about the content of the story."
Hunt and crew had a 23-day shoot schedule.
"We didn't have bad weather until the first day we started shooting," he says. "It snowed in Farmington and I managed to flip the script literally and figuratively. We actually didn't lose any days there."
With only 23 days of filming, Hunt created an environment on set making sure to not add any more stress to the cast and crew.
"People weren't stressed out and I wanted to give the cast and crew time to rest," he says. "I wanted to make a quality film. If you are rested, then you feel creative as well. The crew got their weekends off and we picked up shooting on Monday. That was my style as far as directing is concerned."
Hunt pulled double duty as writer and director of "The Post" and worked on it under his White Whale Pictures.
He also got the chance to direct both his children — Abbey and Lantz, who play Penny Sanders and Dickey Burnham.
"Being able to direct them is a highlight of my career," Hunt says. "Since they were born, it's boiled down to just me and my son and daughter. At the end of the day, the core of what happens in my life is me, Lantz and Abbey."
Returning to Farmington, Hunt says it's a community that has always supported him.
He got help in Aztec, Bloomfield and from San Juan County in using some of its locations.
"I did my first newscast when I was 18 years old," he says. "The community watched me on the station for eight years. They've watched me travel and I try to go back to the community as often as I can. There's a wrestling award named after me. There's a mutual love and respect for each other in that community."
SEND ME YOUR TIPS: If you know of a movie filming in the state, or are curious about one, email film@ABQjournal.com. Follow me on Twitter @agomezART.
