IndependentFilm.com

Corey Boutilier with Tom Noonan. Photo's are courtesy Jeremy Carr of Crutch Films and are used with permission.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Tom Noonan on the set of the short "Ice Cream Ants" for the "making of" documentary. (side note, This was also my first experience shooting with the new HDV format). Tom Noonon has a big part in the film.

Tom has appeared and shared screen time with some of the biggest A-list stars of today. A very short list of his extensive resume includes Manhunter, Law and Order, Heat, RoboCop 2, The Pledge, X-Files, C.S.I., and The Last Action Hero.

"Ice Cream Ants" Director Jeremy Carr first met Tom at the Slamdance Film Festival where the two found themselves showing up at similar movie screenings.

Tom has been doing a bunch of short films recently and a lot of people have been calling him to be in their projects. He recently did a short called "Bullet in the Brain" that has done very well. I asked Tom if so many people are asking him to be in their short films, why he chose to be in "Ice Cream Ants."

"I liked the script a lot, but there was something nice about the way Jeremy talked to me. And it's been like that the whole time and it's been really easy to work with him. I like that. I find that I work well with people that...they want me and like kind of what I do."

"Were you attracted to the character?"

"I don't believe in character. I just say the words and get through the scene somehow. I don't really think about that stuff so much. But I liked the words. There was something about it that was funny and kind of sweet."

"What are your thoughts about filmmaking in New York City?"

"The problem with New York is that it's very expensive to live here. Which is unfortunate because when I moved here 25 years ago people could afford to have a part-time job a little apartment and continue to do what they do and act and write and direct and learn stuff. You can't do that now. So there's a lot of pressure on people to not go from their heart as much as going for what they think is going to get some sort of business advancement. Which is understandable because there is no way they can survive if they make one short film or even one regular film.

You can't change the whole real-estate situation here but there could be some better support for filmmakers here. I have a theater in New York where I help the development of projects but I can't do much to affect things because I can only produce a couple things a year."

Toms advice is to always keep writing. If you want to make movies there is always some way of figuring out how to do it.

For more information about Tom Noonan you can visit http://www.TomNoonan.com

For more information about "Ice Cream Ants" you can visit http://www.crutchfilms.com