Tracing Steps // Chad Hartigan

1. As a film maker I feel this is pertinent, what was your favorite movie when you were 10 years old?

As a kid I loved this movie Court Jester with Danny K and Disney's Jungle Book. At the time I suppose I loved what every kid loved about the movie. I did recently get to see it again and I really enjoy the hand crafted style animation of that day.

2. What about in theaters, what's a movie you remember seeing when it first came out in theaters?

Jurassic Park terrified me, I thought all the dinosaurs were actually real.

3. You are a grown man and you just ordered a hot fudge sundae. I assume you are a pretty nostalgic guy...

Yes, I really loved and enjoyed college and high school but I am not just nostalgic about the past. I actually have fond memories about every period in my life. I suppose my mind tends to erase whatever might have been unpleasant about a memory.

4. So you don't have any bad memories? Are there any periods in your life that you remember as being particularly challenging?

Yes, I was born in Cyprus and my first year in America was at 12 years old. I went from 10 kids in a class to 100 kids in a class and developed a phobia about being abandoned by my parents.

5. Wait, so your parents abandoned you?!

When we first moved here we were staying at a hotel. My parents left for about 9 hours to look for a house and a car. It seemed like a long time and I thought they had just left me there. I ended up fearful that they would abandon me and would call home from school on my lunch breaks and otherwise never leave their sight.

6. What did you take from that experience?

I have a firm belief in the power of the mind.

7. How far are you in your career from where you want to be.

Well I in some ways I am very close, financially I am very far. I am making the kind of work I want to but I am homeless. The work is more important to me. Being poor doesn't scare me, I've been poor all my life.

8. What's up with women, are you in a relationship?

No, I was engaged back in college, I am single now.

9. Did that end badly?

I guess you could say so, she doesn't talk to me anymore. I would say it was a mutual feeling we should end it but she would probably say otherwise.

10. Do you recommend getting engaged young?

Not really, I am sure that had we gotten married it would have been fine but because we didn't I was able to have a completely different type of enriching life, one I wouldn't trade.

11. So you are homeless... how do you find places to stay?

Well, sometimes I'll just post something on Facebook looking to house sit for a couple days but I also have a few friends that let me crash. I am a good house guest I think, I know when it's time to leave. I am actually going to be traveling a lot for the film.

12. Oh yeah, you made a movie. What is it called?

It's called This is Martin Bonner. It is based on my father, Martin is his middle name.

13. So what is Martin's birthday? What is he like?

That is the kind of thing actors always ask, I usually tell them " Whatever you want". I am only concerned with the details of the film. My dad's birthday is April 25th.

14. So how do you put together a movie that debuts at Sundance?

Well it helps to have a strong community of artists. You usually start off with a script, then you try to raise money. 6 or 7 months later with no money you start making a film. Just start. Figure out how to pay for things as you go.

15. You seem like a smart guy, were you a good student?

I tested as a genius, not that I am calling myself a genius but I took one of those tests when I was little. My parents always wished I would have applied myself more when I was in school. I knew I wanted to make films and the stuff I was doing had very little to do with that so I did what was needed to get by. I do wish I had paid more attention though. I wish I knew more, as an artist it comes into play.

Tracing Steps is a monthly interview series between BUNCH contributor Maceo Paisley and an evolving roster of intriguing individuals. Maceo Paisley's words appear courtesy of Citizens of Culture.