Meet Avai D’amico | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Avai D’amico and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Avai, is there something you believe many others might not?
If I’d listened to everyone who told me I needed a million dollar budget to make my movie the “right” way, I’d have completed zero movies, because I’d still be waiting for the right investors. My latest movie, A Question of Guilt, just released on Amazon Prime streaming. I also have other movies streaming on multiple platforms. There isn’t only one way to get a movie made.

Each of my movies has its own story. Of course the screenplays are different, but I mean the approach to getting each movie filmed and released, that’s been a different process each time. I understand and respect standard practices, but if your end goal is to get your movie made, sometimes you have to take a less traveled path to get it done. That doesn’t mean you’re making your movie the “wrong” way. Independent filmmaking requires thinking outside the box, and adapting to overcome challenges.

When I started filming shorts with my friends, I didn’t know anything about lighting. I experimented at home, using lamps and sheets. I didn’t have an actor or model, but I could place a bowl of fruit on a table, and try to light that dramatically. I watch tutorial videos made by gaffers with experience, who share their methods, and now lighting isn’t some big mystery. If there’s a skill you don’t have, and you don’t have the means to hire someone with that skill, you can learn the basics if you’re willing to put in the time.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I take “do it yourself” to an extent many people probably wouldn’t. Having worked through a temp agency, I experienced all sorts of work, including commercial construction. Now I’m building my own modular movie set in my garage. Filming in a controlled environment can be easier than filming “on location” where many variables are beyond our control. For example, restaurants can’t turn all their refrigeration equipment off, which impacts our audio recordings. While watching movies and shows, I note how much is actually seen of different locations, to determine just how little I need, in order to sell the idea we’re filming in a real coffee shop, instead of inside my garage. Learning to build my own movie sets has expanded the variety of stories I’m able to tell through my filmmaking.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I film in both Arizona and Texas regularly. If you’re visiting Southern Arizona, you have to try adobada with pineapple, and Sonoran hot dogs. You can find them at BK Tacos, or at Filiberto’s if you’re in a hurry. The Catalina mountains have plenty of gorgeous rock climbing spots, too. If you’re visiting Texas, stop by any of Merit Coffee’s locations, and check out the River Walk and the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Elizabeth von Isser is one of my consistent collaborators. She played a character in my first full length movie, and we’ve made several productions together since. Most recently, I filmed an installment of our anthology series which she wrote and also acted in. She’s worn a few different hats on our movie sets, and has become a trusted confidant. Her continued support and enthusiasm means a lot.

Website: https://www.avai.media/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avaidamico

Twitter: https://x.com/avaidamico

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@avaidamico

Image Credits
Dark Wolf Media