Art & Life with Michael Jason Allen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Jason Allen.

Michael Jason, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Initially, I was an independent film and national television commercial actor. In 2008, I started my own production company (He Said She Said Productions) to make the genre of films I wanted to act in. Since then, I have written, produced, directed, & starred in 6 feature films as well as more than 30 music videos. I also have two music acts. One is a 1980’s pop act called “Adrian Star” and the other is a contemporary electro-rock act called “Official Version”.
My career bio is available on my IMDb actor page at: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2921854. My entire library of work with lots of information including trailers, videos, awards, critic reviews, & more are at my official website: www.heasaidshesaidproductions.com

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My movies have won and been nominated for many awards at international film festivals as well as received many praises in their critics’ reviews. I only make period films now. I love making endings that people don’t expect.

I am a very musically driven person so I am one of the very few lone independent filmmakers that releases official soundtrack albums with my movies. In addition to writing, directing, producing and acting in my movies, I am also usually the camera operator, boom operator, editor, wardrobe supervisor, prop designer, lighting/gaffer chief, artwork designer for posters/DVDs/etc.

My last two films only consisted of 1-2 total crewmembers besides myself on any given set day. I do pre-production (solo) for about 4 months. I then film for 13-20 consecutive days with about 2-4 hours of sleep per night. Then, in editing, I do that (solo) for about 2-3 months still sleeping only a couple of hours a night until it’s finished. I have hosted theatrical premieres for all of my feature films.

I am a creator of art and I can’t imagine dying someday and not having something to continue on to say that I materialized what was in my imagination. Making it tangible is what living forever means to me.

Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
I make my feature films with no financial backing by anyone. I get a lot of help from actors, crew, businesses, & private citizens who learn about my work, and to my grateful privilege, they volunteer to be a part of it. I do a lot of pre-production. I do well at stretching a dollar to look many times more on-screen.

Crowdfunding sites to raise money aren’t as helpful as they once were. There are so many people and causes that are asking for money on the “fund me” sites that it is now so oversaturated, people are donated out. I can’t really blame them. I would love to have financial backing to take my movies to the next level, but until then, I will continue to create honest art at the highest quality possible.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Many film festivals, competitions, theater premieres, & digital distribution. My movies can be seen on VHX, Amazon, & on DVD via our official website.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.hesaidshesaidproductions.com
• Email: hsssproductions@mail.com
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hesaidshesaidproductions.com
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2921854

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