Christian Review Magazine Issue 3 - March 2015 | Page 12

working on a feature film, and
with the Erwin Brothers?

Some of the children saved by Pastor Lee and his team
Jusarang Community Church in Seoul, South Korea.

authority. I was the genius with a
thousand helpers. So if I were to
do it all over again, I would be the
kind of director that I hope to be
now. One whose job it is to get
the very best out of everyone else.
CR: Based on the quality of “The
Drop Box,” you are a very gifted
and talented filmmaker. Where do
you draw your inspiration from?
BI: My favorite director is Peter
Weir. He’s made films like “Dead
Poet’s Society,” “The Truman
Show,” “Witness,” and “Master
and Commander: The Far Side of
the World.” I like Peter because
his repertoire doesn’t feel like one
big movie, cut up into 10 or 15
pieces like Alfred Hitchcock or
Wes Anderson. I also like how he
deals with brokenness and
friendship. It’s all very authentic.
It’s a lot harder than you’d think to
make truthful things appear

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truthful on screen, but Peter
seems to understand how that’s
done. Cinematic reality is not our
reality. People don’t actually talk
like they do in most movies. And
that’s okay. Beyond him, I draw
inspiration from lots of directors. I
love how Steve McQueen uses the
long take; I love how Frank Capra
handles romance; I love how
Stanley Kubrick sets the mood; I
love how Rob Reiner blends comedy and drama; I love how Steven
Spielberg pushes in on people’s
faces; I love how Cameron Crowe
talks about being uncool; and I
love “The Goonies.” That one
reminds me of how I made movies
as kid. But more than that, it
reminds me of how my friends
gave up their summers to make
them with me.
CR: You recently worked on the
upcoming Erwin Bro's movie
“Woodlawn.” What was it like

BI: The whole experience humbled
me. I remember first seeing a
trailer for “October Baby” and
thinking to myself, “Hey, these
guys get it. They actually get it.”
Working with Jon and Andy was
like working with my heroes. They
were like fathers to me on the set.
And by that I mean they loved me
but also seriously challenged me
to be more than just a student
filmmaker who got a big break. I
also got to work with real actors
and Sean Astin even made fun of
my skinny jeans. It was bar none
the best filmmaking experience
I’ve ever had.
CR: Do you have any projects
lined up for the future?
BI: Yes, I’m currently working on a
documentary called “The Jesus
Revolution.” We’re taking a
rickety old tour bus up the
California coast, from Orange
County to San Francisco and
exploring the last great
awakening in America.
It’s a God adventure.

Read our review of
The Drop Box