The Prince of Christmas - Post Production Update!

Today, Brian Russo, the head of ‘Christmas & Monsters’, was editing the first cut of ‘The Prince of Christmas!’

We caught up with him to ask a questions and get inside the head of this troubled yet gifted filmmaker.

Bee: So, how did the editing go?

Brian: Great! I worked on it for about 90 minutes and the time just flew by! It’s so much fun to put these shots together. It’s like doing a puzzle. I think I experienced what people called ‘Flow’… By the way, why did you call me troubled earlier?

Bee: I was just trying to give you some… you know… personality or something. I also said ‘gifted’.

Brian: Oh… thank you.

Bee: So, do you think the movie’s going to be good?

Brian: I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. You know, we shot this all in one day, on my birthday, which is a few days after Christmas. So, some very awesome family that was in town came by to act in it. Emily helped me with the costumes and props the night before.

By the end of the day shooting, there was a moment when things got really stressful. Babies were crying, my sister, who was playing the romantic lead, had to leave. We were racing to get all the shots, but it was also really funny and chaotic, and I think that comes across.

Bee: So… you went to film school?

Brian: Yes… NYU, Tisch School of the Arts, graduated with honors.

Bee: Whats that? ‘With Honors’ like with Joe Pesci?

Brian: No, it was my grade point average. It was a B+ or above. Great movie, by the way.

Bee: Fantastic. So, was your B+ average film degree, like has it been helpful in making ‘The Prince of Christmas’?

Brian: Yes. I made a lot of films in and after film school, so at this point I feel pretty comfortable with the parts of filmmaking that I’m comfortable with, mostly writing and editing. The other parts of filmmaking can be stressful to me, but if it’s all to serve those first two, then it’s worth it. In terms of my film degree being helpful… you know, I met my best friend at film school. We still talk regularly. We’ve worked on so many comedy and horror scripts together, that my writing style has been hugely influenced by him, and I hope vice versa. I love my writing sense of humor, for that reason, and it makes my very excited about ‘The Prince of Christmas’ and it makes me grateful both to him, and to NYU, for introducing us.

Bee: Well, Brian, thank you for your time.

Brian: Of course! Happy almost Valentine’s Day.

Bee: Oh shit. That’s right. How many days is that?

Brian: 20.

Bee: Coming up. You got plans?

Brian: Working on it.

Bee: Alright. Good luck, Buddy.

Brian: Same.