IFH 328: Producing Terrance Malik & Building a Mammoth Empire with Tanner Beard

Alex Ferrari 2:35
Now today on the show. We have Renaissance filmmaker, producer, director and actor Tanner Beard. Now I had the pleasure of meeting Tanner at the mammoth Film Festival this year where he is one of the co founders of that festival. And he's just a wealth of information. He's produced a ton of movies as well as directed and also acted in some big things as well. And I truly loved learning how he was able to become a producer on a few Terrence Malick films and what it was like to be on a Terrence Malick film and talk to the man and he has a great Terrence Malick story. If you guys don't know who Terrence Malick is, please Google him. But I was really excited to talk to him about that. His vision for the mammoth Film Festival as well and what it takes to be a producer, director, actor, Renaissance filmmaker in Hollywood today. He's dropped some great, great knowledge bombs in this interview. So without any further ado, please enjoy my conversation with Tanner Beard. I'd like to welcome the show Tanner Beard, brother, thank you so much for taking the time, man.

Tanner Beard 3:44
Absolutely, man. Thanks for having me.

Alex Ferrari 3:46
I appreciate it. You for everyone watching this and not listening to it only. You have like the coolest backdrop ever on the show. It's like you're literally in a beautiful.

Tanner Beard 3:56
$30,000 backdrop. We did a blue screen. I'm actually hanging I'm actually suspended on some wires right now.

Alex Ferrari 4:03
Right? And that's not even your face. It's all like James Cameron.

Tanner Beard 4:06
I'm in Wisconsin. This is a body double here. I think it has a studio in Pasadena.

Alex Ferrari 4:11
Exactly. So we had the pleasure of meeting for the first time on at the mammoth Film Festival where you are one of the co founders of and we're going to talk more about

Tanner Beard 4:23
Our second one, by the way. So yeah, I had somebody like any film hustle out there. So thank you.

Alex Ferrari 4:28
I appreciate it, brother. And it was you know, it's we're going to talk a bunch more about the mammoth Film Festival later in the interview. But I just want to tell you how much I loved Love, love the festival. Even though I was trapped for two days by the mountain of Kubrick style snow from the shining. We figured we could sell more merchandise

Tanner Beard 4:50
If we had everybody snowed in.

Alex Ferrari 4:52
It's very true

Tanner Beard 4:53
Because we sell a lot of gloves and scarves and things of this nature. So it was really just a ploy by the film festival to make more money for me

Alex Ferrari 5:00
And it works or I don't know how you got

Tanner Beard 5:03
A hell of a blizzard man. Yeah, I will say like for us on the on the mechanical side of it obviously it's like man just please let it stop snowing for two more seconds so we can try to get more people to the theater or get the people from the theater back over to like a an interactive panel discussion or get them to mammoth con or something. But for everybody it's like we're internally we're like thinking like oh man are not going to have a good time. You're not going to have a good time. It for us it was like everybody was like smiling and being like do this blizzards crazy right? I'm like you're happy

Alex Ferrari 5:41
I've never crazy and a few a few episodes ago we had dairy is bred on Friday for dairies and I met him at the mammoth Film Festival and both of us have never experienced actually being trapped in a location we've we've you know, like the flight has been canceled because of weather and you are in the town where the weather's happening I've had a canceled from flying too sure but never been locked landlocked that

Tanner Beard 6:09
Close the roads and everything too. So air travel It was like physical travel of any kind. But I will say it and kind of hats off to the town of Mammoth Lakes. You know, they did they moved heaven and earth. It was it was a festival in town so the bulldozers and stuff like you know, they didn't they weren't as fast as they could so hats off to the town of Mammoth Lakes for like making it possible for us to not have to keep we don't have to cancel one thing.

Alex Ferrari 6:33
No, no, no, that's true those those those and those bulldozers were no joke man I signed like,

Tanner Beard 6:37
And the tires on them or like, I'm like looking up at the tire. So it's pretty awesome

Alex Ferrari 6:43
It was pretty insane. Alright, so let's get so let's get into it, sir. First, how did you get into the business in the first place?

Tanner Beard 6:49
I started off as an actor. I moved out to Los Angeles in 2003. I used to be a if I was if I didn't get into the motion picture business. To be a pro golfer. It's what I was really into. Snyder, Texas. Shout out to Snyder Texas, Patrick Malone, Barry Tubb powers booth Kevin Alejandro. So moved. I got a I did this film contest when I was in high school. And I was really into like Guy Ritchie films at the time.

Alex Ferrari 7:17
Sure, as everybody was when that when that movie came out

Tanner Beard 7:19
Back from like lock stock. And I shot I think about what I did when I was in high school. I shot this town like run around with guns, and like the town square. But it's Snyder, Texas to like, Nobody. Nobody really cared. But there's also like, on any given Sunday, you'll see like to Turkey walking down the street in like our town square. That's how I kind of West Texas is places. So it's like, it's just kids with guns in the town square and not a big deal. They're kids, you know what I mean? So I'm thinking and we're dressed up like mafia guys. Anyway, I think about it now. And it's just so crazy what we used to do. And maybe that's why I won this film contest, because they were like, well, these kids must have gotten permits, and they're they're really taking care of they're really on top of it. We were just like crazy enough to do it. But I made this little Guy Ritchie esque type of movie. And, you know, for that reason, just getting to use the town is my asset, got a scholarship to Auburn University, which back towards Auburn, but I just didn't want to go study film in Alabama. Right. But yeah, but but I think at that time, I kind of got like, my parents were like, Oh, well, maybe these crazy videos he's been making, maybe they actually maybe we'll get somewhere one day. So with that said, I went to the New York Film Academy at Universal Studios. They're in Los Angeles, right there and Universal Studios. Oh, yeah. No, no, look, I get it. Like I remember as a kid like Spielberg's, oh, yeah, album, offices, there. And I remember one day course we used to smoke cigarettes back in the day, it was so much cooler. But I remember there everybody, everybody in the film business had to take their cigarette break. And they were all like, there was this one grouping area. But what was cool is you could see into Spielberg's office there. And I remember seeing him and Tom Hanks in there going over some storyboards for, I believe it was terminal at the time, and I just remember thinking like, I'm, I feel like I'm in the right place. You know what I mean? It's like, it was such a reward to be like, if I'm here learning film and Steven Spielberg's over there doing film, it felt like a really good place. So I've always kind of had a love for New York Film Academy just for that. And then you get to film on the background of Universal Studios. And this is like such a commercial for them right now. The big deal on my life is an 18 year old kid coming from, you know, tumbleweeds and pump Jacks out to seeing Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg do a storyboard together. So that got me out to Los Angeles. And I really meant was just trying to do the acting thing for a long time. I still do. I mean, I still love to act as long as I could do like one or two projects that I don't make a year. I still feel like I'm in the acting game, you know. So I've gotten to do some, some pretty great projects there. But My real, I think passion is just filmmaking in general. You know, I like to I like to be a part of great teams, great people, great projects. And luckily, over the span of 15 years, I've been able to work with some amazing people. And it's funny, I've gotten to do some really big movies, but like, the smaller movies that you have far more, you know, your hand dipped in are the ones I'm like, more proud of, like, I got to do a movie with like Christian Bale. But anybody somebody would talk to us, like, tell us what it was worth, like. What was it like to be a part of knight of cups? I'm like, yeah, it was great. So we did this movie in Spain, for like, $80,000 called six bullets to hell, and I just sold it. You're like, Yeah, that's great. So you know, it's just like a fourth of like, Who cares?

Alex Ferrari 10:44
Yeah, yeah. They just want to see who the big star stuff all the big stars and stuff. Yeah, yeah. Cuz you actually kind of made your bones coming up doing kind of DUI, DUI. Kind of filmmaking?

Tanner Beard 10:55
Yeah, man. I have a production company called silver shell entertainment, which I just found this old at this house. I just found this old like puppy thing is fantastic. I've been looking for these. But silver. So entertainment. We've gotten to do some really great films. We did Helion with Aaron Paul went to Sundance that was actually speaking of being snowed in at places. So my first Sundance experience. I was also snowed in, but up in a house. A bunch of us have rented a house, what year what year, that would have been 2010. Okay. And it was a horrible snow year, but like, we all thought it would be great. But that said, there's like 15 people staying at this thing, a bunch of just different organizations. I mean, it's like where I met Shane West who became a good friend of mine. But if you were up in that house at the time you were there you miss three days of the festival because there was no way they could like get you out of this house. So it was like this really weird scenario. Speaking of the shining man, you know, it's like this giant, somebody like giant mansion and we were just there, but it's where I get to meet you know, Steven Garcia, who I do business with today, Jeff caligari produce Waterstone entertainment. meet these people. Today, a couple other producers I stay in touch with and I was like how fortuitous. You know that kind of relationship where you said you got snowed in with with derrius you guys got to connect. It was cool that when I got snowed in at Sundance, I still talk to these people to this day. business with them. So it's kind of weird how the snowy mountain film festivals can sometimes really bring people together. Oh, absolutely. No. new slogan for mammoth is gonna be

Alex Ferrari 12:28
Snowed in that's the best that's the best networking you could do that working to do. What do you can't go anywhere? No, it's absolutely true. Like you got no Internet's down. You can't do anything all this kind of stuff. You're like, what are you gonna log? It's I'll talk to these guys.

Tanner Beard 12:42
Yeah, exactly. What's great. Hey, you know what? It's old fashioned. Just talk to another human these days?

Alex Ferrari 12:47
I know. Right, exactly. So you kind of tipped out a little bit about kind of projects you worked on. I mean, you've done a lot of indie work as well as a producer. You also direct as well, and do some directing as well. But you also produced with this, this young upstart? What's his name? Malik.

Tanner Beard 13:05
Going places

Alex Ferrari 13:06
Terry Terry Malick is

Tanner Beard 13:08
This kid he's gonna beat them speaking in New York Film Academy. I there was a class I used to study Terrence Malick in film school. Sure, because he is after getting the luxury of of meeting him. And I haven't had that many conversations with him directly when I have met them all years, that's for sure. Sure. And he's such I mean, he's you can ask anybody in the business. He is the kind of he's, he doesn't even make movies, he makes something beyond them. You know, that's how I've always kind of felt, when I got to know him a little bit better. I always thought of him as like, I was like, Man, you're like the Albert Einstein of filmmaking, because you're just you just see them in a different light in a different in a different way.

Alex Ferrari 13:49
He's on a different wavelength than the rest of us. There's no question about it

Tanner Beard 13:52
His his artistic nature is probably the most true to form because he doesn't care who you are. If it doesn't work. You're just if you're just not a part of the story, like you're just you're gone. You know what I mean? He's like, Edward Scissorhands. Yeah.

Alex Ferrari 14:03
And he doesn't care who it is.

Tanner Beard 14:05
No, no, he does it but but not in a tacky way. It's just like, like visionary way, you know what I mean? He doesn't play into like it, you know, and, and on the day when he got to shoot them, it's like, it's I feel like it's more for him. I can't speak for him. But I feel like it's more for him where it's like, he got to see the whole story himself. So he'll show you the story that he wants to put together. And if you're a part of that, I think a lot of people are like I made the cut. It's like being you know, it's like an audition.

Alex Ferrari 14:34
Because I remember I mean, and for everyone, for whoever's listening who doesn't know who Terrence Malick is please Google Terrence Malick. He is a legend up there with Kubrick in many ways, when Kubrick his Eyes Wide Shut, Terrence had come out that same year and I think I forgot them I think it was last week or the new world. He was doing that. That same year, if I'm not mistaken might be mistaken. But and they were like to wrap Lucy's have been released because he hadn't made a movie in like 25 years or something like that.

Tanner Beard 15:05
Yeah, now he's I don't think he had made a movie since the Fed red Thin Red Line, right, which was which was the a one of my favorites. It is the most beautiful piece of art. It's incredible.

Alex Ferrari 15:15
It's amazing. It's amazing. So that's that's who Terrence Malick is. And you've been able you were able to produce for three or four of his projects,

Tanner Beard 15:23
It turned out to be four because one of them was extended. So I met Sarah green. I can't mention Mr. Malik, without mentioning Sarah green, because I wouldn't know you know, have had the luxury of being a part of those films had it not been for her. But with when Silverstone or timid did hellion Sarah green, took that to the Sundance Institute, the Sundance lab and had been working with them. So we got partnered up with her and Jeff Nichols, who's also just the best. And I was like, Wow, man, these are just two incredible people in their fields. And I was so you know, I've been working with Suzanne Weiner for so long. It was nice to get to meet Sarah green through her. So when that happened, it just allowed me to, you know, it's kind of like put yourself out there right place right time. You just never know, I can go opportunity's going to open up for you. But if you're never out there, you're never going to be able to be in that situation, you know, so I can't really describe how it happened. It was just a lovely time in my life. I guess you know what I mean? But in the back of my mind, I'm like, well, I've been grinding for 11 and a half years with not getting to that place where I feel like I'm getting to do something substantial. You know, it's a lot of indie films. I've done 25 movies up into that point. And nobody I you know, people ask you like, so if you've been in anything that I've seen, I'm like, No, have you seen like an indie film that came out like two years ago at NAB? I mean, it's just like, no, but then you say these names like, oh, have you seen Christian Bale's knight of cups? names on that one somewhere even though I had zero to do with it creatively. But, but but in turn, uh, you know, where I got to come in is in helping the team get that movie to the finish line. You know, those films like literally had practically already had been shot, there was just, you know, so much so much going on with all of them. Mr. Malik had shot so much and to get them out individually, that, you know, they still need to kind of bring on team members to come and help assemble. And so that was like a big deal, but it was the night of cups. With Christian Bale, Natalie Portman. Cate Blanchett, just the list goes on. Yeah, it's insane. And then there was another film called song to song. That was Ryan Gosling, Michael Fassbender.

Alex Ferrari 17:43
Natalie Portman, Yeah.

Tanner Beard 17:45
Planted a lot of the same teammates and that, and again, the list goes on and on with that. But one that I was that's really special. I got to I mean, Brad Pitt was a producer on it. And he also did the narration. But it was a film called voyage of time, which was a 45 minute documentary that Mr. Malik had been making for and I kid you not 40 plus years. He has been on this documentary for 40 plus years. And there's a much larger version of it too, that Cate Blanchett narrates, and that's the one that we premiered at Venice Film Festival. And like, I've never been, you know, my redneck Texas West. You know, West Texas asked had never been part of something like that. Like, I'm at the Venice Film Festival standing next to Sophocles who did a little, little thing called planet Earth. Sure. And, you know, like, a couple other gentlemen, like one of the gentlemen that produced Titanic, I'm just like, sitting there. Like, this is like, so surreal. And then after it's over, you have to you have to sit through like a 10 minute standing ovation, which is to marry and you know, the end, the Venice Film Festival, and even Berlin and stuff. So that for me was just like, it wasn't like a rite of passage, it was kind of like, I felt like a, like a, like a final Wish Foundation or something.

Alex Ferrari 19:06
I make a wish, make a wish, wish or something. I Make A Wish Foundation. Yeah.

Tanner Beard 19:10
Um, but I will say, you know, sometimes you do have to take a step back and, and really be grateful and also feel gratified for for the work that you do put in, you know what I mean, if you don't have if you don't take those minutes and say, like, you know, if you don't kind of reward yourself with saying, like, Well, you know what, man, maybe I do deserve to be here a little bit because of the work that I have put in for all the years and hell just being honest, and doing business in an honest form. I feel like got me here faster than trying to, you know, Snake my way through this industry where it's just like, you know what, man just keep putting in the time and the work honestly, and it will reward you. You saw an invoice and it did heavily from 2014 to 16. Really. Those are some big years, big years of my life. So I think I went to like 1215 festivals during that year because not only did I have my own press projects, but we had all these, you know, Malick films and stuff coming out. And then one thing that was really cool, went to the Toronto International Film Festival and Brad Pitt version of Voyager time was the first IMAX movie that TIFF had ever done. So I was like, oh, man, like now when they're doing IMAX movies, like 16 years down the road, or whatever, I'll be like, I got to do the, you know, I get to be part of the first one there. Which was kind of cool. But um, but yeah, it was just absolutely educational, and, you know, breathtaking to even get to have conversations with with Mr. Malik. And these films are, you know, they're they were well received more. So in Europe, I think, in America, just the storytelling and what people are used to, but they're made, there's some of the most beautiful, you know, some of the most, oh, my God, forgetting a huge piece of it. tchibo

Alex Ferrari 20:52
not to say chivo. Evo did the cinematography for these pictures, by the way, for everyone listening. chivo is arguably one of the greatest cinematographer of all time, and he won three Oscars in a row.

Tanner Beard 21:03
Yeah, I don't think anyone's ever done that before. And honestly, man, like, if he shot these movies before he went and made those, that's how long these were in post, you know what I mean? So like, this was his, you know, this was like his, like, starter, but he's, he's incredible man. So to have my name anywhere close to Sarah green, Mr. Malik, tchibo. And all of those amazing actors. He still feels like I'm not doing anything in the world.

Alex Ferrari 21:26
So Alright, so you have my my recognition there. So now you've done a couple, you had a couple of conversations with Mr. Malik, what is the best? First of all, what is the best story you've heard? Or like the best experience that you can share the interaction with him? And then also, what is the wisest thing? Or the biggest lesson you took away from working with him?

Tanner Beard 21:48
It just, these are both great questions, and they're just really cool stories if you're a fan of his at all. So one thing I kind of heard was on set that like, you know, he'll kind of do some takes, and the there's no scripts, you know, really, like, he's had conversations with the actors, they kind of find their way as they're making these films, which I think is why a lot of these actors get excited about the challenge of coming on and doing something so completely an utterly different, and then knowing that they have, you know, the safe hands of Mr. Malik holding them as they as they perform, and he will, he wouldn't ever let them fail. But I did hear that, you know, he would occasionally just write something down and just slip it to them. You know, like, for instance, I think it was camera, if it was Ryan, or Michael, or excuse me, Mr. Gosling, or Mr. Fassbender, who might call them by their first names. But I remember there was a scene where they were shooting, and then I think he'd wrote something like jump on his back, or something just out of nowhere, just to see how they would react to it. And also, that actor has to go and make that circumstance of real of why he would go jump on his back, he in his mind had to go figure that out, too. So that's the lovely challenge from the actors perspective of like, Okay, well, why would this character jump on his back? Let's figure this out. So I think that is such a lovely thing. But, you know, a couple takes one binding. On the note, the next thing you know, that actors having to pull it off, and this actor is having to react to it. I think that's what tchibo is there to can't capture so well. And for and for, you know, them to all kind of, you know, it's like Mr. Malik's the left hand and she was the right hand and for them to capture that. And work in tandem is just, I think, what makes this movie so special. So that was one instance where I thought like, What an interesting way to go about directing your picture. And then another one is when we were at the Berlin Film Festival, excuse me. Now, I'm just talking so much, but we were at the Berlin Film Festival. And this was even my first time meeting like Christian Bale, which was obviously like, really exciting to me. Just trying to like, maintain composure. I'm really excited to chat with Mr. Malik. there because I was I was kind of surprised. He came all the way to Berlin. he's not, he's not known for typically showing up but, you know, Film Festival, he didn't go to the actual film festival, but I got to talk to him at the after party and stuff afterwards. And we were sitting there and we kind of had this great conversation, which I wish I could say I really remembered, but it was just so like, I was just hanging on every word he said. And really, we were talking about everything but the film we were talking about sushi spots in Austin and you know, this is like, I got to have like a, like a buddy buddy conversation with you know, Mr. Malik, which was so much cooler. We're talking about like, why this whole foods is better to go to the mat and like, more cool because I'd spent so much time in Austin at this time. So I'd come back a little little while later and maybe the you know, the single cocktail that I had gave me a little bit more courage, but I was like, You know what, man? I would just I'd be I'd be I'm gonna regret it. If I don't go up and say like, you know, I would love to have this picture. You're with Mr. Malik would ever be up like a real special wall hanger and since we've been able to work together, maybe it wouldn't be that big a deal. So I walked up to him, and he was like speaking with kin cow and Christian Bale and I just my big dumb six four ass just walked over to him was just like, Hey, mister man, you got a second. He's like a Tinder Oh, yeah. And I was like, Hey, Mr. Malik, I'm on my way out before I went, just want to say thank you for everything, and it's gonna see if I get a photo with you. Oh, he's no, it was it wasn't like a bad meal. Okay, and I was gonna say he never takes mixers.

Oh, no, he doesn't. But that's what he said. And like me, you know, I'm 2028 29 years old this time. I don't care. I'm gonna go ask anybody for anything. Jordan, I'd be like, Hey, man, I'm on my way out. But do you care if I get a photo? And he'd be like, yeah, hurry up. Yeah, you know what I mean? So it's just, it's just what I did. But what was so cool about it? Is he was like, oh, tinner, I actually have this horrible phobia of cameras and pictures. He's like, but I would love to take a picture of you. And I'm like, saying I've ever heard so so he grabs my phone. And like he like, directly directly up against this doorway. And I'm just like, this is the coolest bone in my life. Meanwhile, my audience is Christian Bale and kin cow who's kin cows, one of the biggest producers in the world, new Christian Bale is like sitting there, like, is this kid doing? You know, in my mind, anyway, I'm sure he was like that pairing. But Mr. Malik kind of pulled me aside, and he just kind of like, got down. And he, he took a picture. And they handed it to me, and I was like, This is 1000 times cooler than me being like, no, with him in a picture. And so I have the picture here. I don't know if the camera can see it or not. But this is the picture that Mr. Malik took with me. Wow. And I was just like, I'm keeping it forever. And, you know, I need this to get a frame. But it would just be like, why is this picture of you in your bathroom? I like quick, that picture of me. You know, as a as a young filmmaker, as a person who never wants to stop learning and somebody who doesn't take for granted who they get to work with sometimes. That was a really special moment because it was so endearing from him. Yeah. And he took the time with me and just it was just a really cool thing that makes you want to kind of pay it forward. If you ever get to that point.

Alex Ferrari 27:22
That's insane. That's a very long winded Terrence Malick sport. Now what is what is the biggest lesson you learned from him? Um, well,

Tanner Beard 27:34
I mean, he just has this overwhelming fanbase of people that work for him. There's not one person that I've ever heard of working with Mr. malloc. That is like an asshole shoots forever. You know, it's like, everybody's kind of like, they're, like, being a part of his picture. You know, it's like, he's he's got the canvas. And you're either the easel you know, the brush or the paint, you know what I mean? If you're working on his set, and I think everybody really appreciates even being the easel, you know, or, or what have you. So, I don't know, I would say the way he treats people is a long way. You treat everybody nice, and then all and then people want to work with you next time. Even if even if the situation is great. Even if a blizzard comes in and wrecks your film festival. I found it very endearing from my team that they were like, you know what, man? We're gonna we're gonna take Saturday this next year. You know, so I think the way you treat people is probably the biggest thing I've picked up working for Terrence Malick, for sure.

Alex Ferrari 28:40
And one one last question in regards to Mr. Malik. There isn't anybody alive that I can think of that has his kind of clout or power to to make the kind of films he wants to on his in the way in the fashion he wants to do it? With the kind of cast I'm you're talking about the biggest movie stars in the world coming in? I'm assuming that working for $20 million is that's not these budgets of these films. They're they're basically like, I just want to work with you. What do we need to do to make this happen? The only person I can think that did that. Prior to me, too, was Woody Allen. And then also Kubrick and other than those three, there was really never like a carte blanche. Like Spielberg of course has that and Scorsese has that but but they play in different sandboxes their sandbox is a much more expensive. Yeah, you still like just to come out for like the mere fact of work part of it. Yeah, yeah. There's not that many guys alive doing it.

Tanner Beard 29:39
A lot of people show up for Rodriguez. But you're right, that's a different sandbox.

Alex Ferrari 29:43
That's also another different sandbox as well. You know, so what do you think it is about Terence? Is it just a myth? I mean, the mythos of him because he's

Tanner Beard 29:52
a big it's a it is because obviously, he didn't know him and you like there's people that don't know that, you know, I have actor friends. And they were like, dude, you gotta get me on the next family picture. I'm like, I don't have that capability. You're talking, you're barking up the wrong tree, pal. Yes.

Alex Ferrari 30:10
We'll be right back after a word from our sponsor. And now back to the show.

Tanner Beard 30:21
You know, but it's I think it's the people that he surrounds himself with his production team, you know, Nicholas gandha, kin cow, Sarah green. I think a lot of those people have a big thing to do with it. Because they're all Jeff Nichols. I mean, you know, her and Sarah green, him and Sarah green, excuse me, you know, they make incredible films to with incredible cast. But I think it is just the fact that he offers such a different kind of theme park, that it's these actors want to come and ride those rides, because they've never written anything. I've never seen a theme park like this before. And I think the freedom and also the challenge, I think he's the only person who has the mental finish line in his head that, that allows them again, such a safety net to come and fail, Be courageous, make mistakes, and be brilliant. And I think Mr. Malik provides such a platform for that, that that's the allure of anybody I mean, to, to show up on set and have a little inkling of your character, but still not knowing what you're doing. But knowing that you're working with Natalie Portman across from you like that's, that's fun, man. That's that's about

Alex Ferrari 31:32
it's, it's terrifying, but yet fun.

Tanner Beard 31:35
And parents fine. Dad joke one, six are coming up. So stay tuned.

Alex Ferrari 31:43
I appreciate that. So when you so when you're producing that, how do you pick your projects? I mean, I'm assuming you get bombarded, especially after your track record, that you get bombarded with people going, Hey, can I make a movie, I want you to produce my movie, what's what's in a story or in a project that makes you go? That's it?

Tanner Beard 32:01
Yeah, man, I'm the worst producer on the planet. For the simple reason that I have my own projects, like we have our own slate of films, I'm still trying to like I'm trying to get this Christmas movie off the ground that I intend to direct. And I've been trying to do it for so long. But all these other things keep coming in where it's like, when it's your project, you're like, I can get to that anytime let me go run off and do this or whatever. I've been very fortunate and just, you know, I don't have any representation. I don't have people working for me, or, you know, I get a lot of emails that people wanting stuff for me because they assume I can do something for them. But I'm so out just trying to make my way in the world today. That I don't fund movies. You know, the little bit of funny, I just did a Bone Thugs and harmony documentary with my director, Tim new thing, but that was the only in house project we've really done since hellion, which was the 2013. So it's, it's hard to say man, but I, I'd love to talk about producing and help producing but I think these movies just kind of fell into my lap due to the circumstances of what I was working for. It assumes like I'm out there just producing a lot of stuff. I'm really out there, man, I'm writing, I'm grinding. I'm acting, I'm trying to get my own stuff off the ground, we have a great slate coming out. And really, I was so busy making these films up until about the end of 2016. And I'd always had this dream to do a festival in Mammoth. And Funny enough, there used to be the mammoth Film Festival in 2008. And that was the first film festival I ever went to. And, and, and you know CUT TO 10 years later, I've competed in everything from Sundance to Berlin, to Venice to TIFF. I've competed in probably the top eight of the 10 film festivals in the world. But my very first one ever was man, a film festival, which they stopped doing about 2010. And I think it kind of was going on during the 11 and 12. But they weren't really having a film festival. So I'd always just kept my eye on and I tried to take it over in 2010. But at that time, I was like dude, you couldn't even there wasn't even an airport in Mammoth, you could like fly into commercial. So much has changed. mammoth has grown to where I'm glad I got to go off and build my career up a little bit where I could come in and have a little bit more knowledge and like we bring in great panel discussion people because I've met them in film festivals from all over the world. So the festival world's been my life, huh? it you know, even I remember the one of the coolest film festivals ever had was South by Southwest I believe in 2017 where we had the opening night movie with with Gosling's song a song. And then I had a movie that I produced in Baltimore called Silvio. And then I had acted in a film that we shot there in Austin. And, and I was just like, dude, I've got a movie I produced, got a movie that i've you know, produced an accident. And then I got a movie that I just acted in all here at South by all premiering This is probably like the highlight of my life. So I took That standpoint and said, You know what? This is pretty cool. Things are going well. I think it's time to go and try to build mammoth Film Festival because I just acquired the name in 2016. So, I grabbed Theo Dumont, who's a friend of ours.

Alex Ferrari 35:14
Yes. The,

Tanner Beard 35:15
By the way, Theo also is Spike Lee's publicist. Yes. Tonight a couple years ago or a couple years ago, geez, couple days ago, there's

Alex Ferrari 35:23
recording. Did you see the picture of him holding the the Oscar?

Tanner Beard 35:26
Yeah. Awesome. Awesome. So Holly shorts is, you know, probably arguably the largest Short Film Festival in the nation. They do like 10 days of shorts. It's incredible. But that's all for your Dumont, who's a co founder of mammoth Film Festival. So I grabbed Theo. And I was like, Hey, man, I really want to make this festival in Mammoth. I kind of have the name mammoth Film Festival, nobody else can use it. Let's take a trip down there in January 2017. And go check it out, see if we could do something down there. And we grabbed Tomic Mansouri, who is who I was also doing a film with called Riptide. They got pushed. And I think that was another thing. We were doing this movie with Val Kilmer called Riptide. And he had some medical issues that held the movie. And so we we decided, well, let's not let's stay proactive, let's go do this film festival thing. This is a sheer sign of like, it's time to take a step back before you can take a leap forward. So we went out to mammoth, and it literally, by the time we got out here in January 2017, we left a couple days later, of you know, can we do a film festival here too, we need to pick a date. That's kind of how excited some of the people that we were talking to her about it. And with you know Theo having his experience, you know, me coming being kind of a film festival rat. And then Tomic with his, you know, work at events and coordination and overall design. It was kind of a Dream Team. And then we brought on other people like Alexandra chando, who's a great actress who's, you know, has had her own television shows and everything else. Excuse me, Dylan Efron, who's one of my best friends, Zach's brother, came on board. And Nicole Castro, so kind of started to build this dream team. But it really was like filmmaker, like filmmaker Festival by filmmakers. Everybody has like ties into the industry, which was really exciting. So CES kind of stopped producing, stopped making movies, and really started to concentrate on mammoth, which was hard for me because 2017 was the first year I never acted in a film I had acted up into in something. Every single year, from the year I moved out to LA to 2017. So I was like, Damn, man, like, this is the first year. I can't call myself an actor, which is like, what my overall passion led me to do. Like, I hate the acting industry, not not being able to have control of your career. So I think that's why I started, you know, making films and doing other stuff. But then those became far more lucrative. We're just kind of like, left my love in the dust, you know. But for me mentally, I don't have to say, I'm an actor, I don't need to go out and tell people that I just know that that's what drives me, you know? Sure. So that was the first year I'd never acted anything, because we're building you know, this festival. We're kind of building like a six lane Street. And like a town of shacks at the moment, you know what I mean, it's kind of filled with this festival. But if we don't build this six lane street in 10 years, you know, won't be able to facilitate. So we started out big and ambitious, and everything else. But with a name like mammoth, you're not gonna do anything small. Right? So I hope to get back into some movies. Like I said, we have a Christmas movie we're trying to do. But I think if I take even like another year off, and just really concentrate on building the solid foundation, there's no telling how high this building can be,

Alex Ferrari 38:43
you know, no. Oh, without question. I think the again, my experience with mammoth, I mean, this is the second year and I remember I remember Theo and them telling me about the first year of and it was an insane launch. Like it was the biggest first year ever for a film festival. You showed up, you showed up wherever you showed up big. I mean, you guys came with the guns blaring. And then this year, too, when I was there, I was like, this is a second year. I mean, I've been to hundreds of festivals in my life. And I'm like, this is a second year festival like this is insane. Like, you know, Yeah, I know. You've got amazing talent. You had amazing stars around you had great films, you know, and, and the only thing you could equate it to is like a mini Sundance like it. That's the only thing you can equate it to anyone who's been to Sundance and been to Park City, you're like, Oh, I can smell that same thing happening here. And I can see 10 years down the line, or even faster. This turning into a really serious, you know, one of those big top tier festivals without question. It's got the potential to do it without without question. Also, I

Tanner Beard 39:51
think during the timing that it's in, it's you know, it's right after Sundance. So some people are like I just went to the cold I don't need to go back to the cold but also you Sundance is getting up there in age and I would never disrespect Sundance in any form or fashion. But I think a lot of people have been Sundance. You know what I mean? I think a lot of people be like, I've been like three or four times. Yeah, but not a lot of people. You know, it's kind of like we're just offering kind of another alternative. And right now, there's so many fantastic movies that don't make it into Sundance. And sometimes won't make it into South by, because everybody kind of based on that Sundance check. You know what I mean? So what's been kind of great, and I think the reason we've had so many world premieres is it's very difficult to pull off a festival in February, because you have to start planning damn near in September, because you got to go through Halloween break, you got to go through Thanksgiving break, you need, like, it's all through the holidays, you got to like, it's like, your gears are turning and just the machines shuts off. And it takes like, several minutes for that machine to get cranking again, and then boom, it shuts off because it's Thanksgiving. So you know, it's it's taxing to do the festival in February, but at the same time when February rolls around, it's a great timing for people to like, have a little bit of time to go and stuff like that. I know, there's a little bit of pilot season and award season stuff like this year was kind of interesting, because Sundance went a week late. Yeah, Lin went a week early. And then the Grammys magically showed up during our festival. Last year, the only thing that impeded our festival was the Olympics, which we had Olympic parties, and we watched him here in Mammoth, hell, half the town, you know, practice here and the Olympic team practice here in Mammoth. So it was kind of like we embraced it, you know, as part of our festival last year, but there was no you know, Sundance was still back in January where it's supposed to be they weren't coming into February. But we do you know, we are we do like this time of the year we do like this event. And I think like I said, it's hopefully going to be if you didn't get into Sundance, maybe you got into to mammoth because we are offering like a marketplace here with so many great companies which I'm sure you got to you know, meet a lot of but you know, Scott so many people Paperchase films was here looking at spotlight pictures was here looking at movies, Lionsgate was here looking at film. So the fact that you can now hopefully by year 2020, come here to know if your movie got accepted as a world premiere, or even not a world premiere, or just a movie without distribution, you can get bought and sold at mammoth Film Festival, that's going to be the game changer for us. Because as me as a filmmaker, I know that would make a huge difference. Fine, go and, you know, dunk through Indiana, that's fantastic. But if nobody's going to play my AR, by my film, it's just just some people watching it. And that's cool. It's great. And so what this industry needs to continue to have, but like, also, it's a business, you know, I want to get my stuff bought and sold, I want everybody to see it not just you know, at people in a Film Fest

Alex Ferrari 42:48
Are you going to start doing you're going to try to do kind of like TIFF does with like a little mini market.

Tanner Beard 42:53
We started it this year, it was more of like, kind of the they had the outside looking in, there's not like a physical room that we're we're establishing yet. But I think already going into next year. A lot of the people that speak on our panels will also be there. You know, having meetings, you know, like trying to, you know, kind of like Cannes does, whereby just goes and sits on the beach and talks movies. And you know, so that's why I want to create here, but also can goes on for several days. And there's so many things going on, there's so many people there, you don't feel like you're missing out. mammoth is so tight knit and small. That like if we schedule something at two o'clock, I don't want people to go miss the world premiere of a film that we're having to show it two o'clock that maybe should be shown at seven so everybody could see it. So I don't want to South by Southwest and just spread us out and just other chaos. But I do want to have it like controlled areas where like everybody feels like they can go and catch at least 90% of everything at our festival, so keeps me old and condensed. I don't want to get too big for our britches too fast. But I wish that I said that you're one because we kind of heard we started off way too big, you know, never change it.

Alex Ferrari 44:08
You know? That's, that's awesome. And now I wanted to ask you, just from your point of view, what do you think the future is for independent media, moving forward independent films, independent series independent things, because the landscape is changing so much, and I'd love to hear your perspective on it.

Tanner Beard 44:25
It's going to struggle, you know, but I don't mean that in like a way that it's like, we should be fearful of it. Let me let me take that back. It's going to have to pivot a little bit and be it's kind of I think it'll tear off where it's like you have indie film, and it'll have its own world and that that world will eventually have its own walls around it because right now, so many people don't really go to the movie theater, which means everything you're watching is is on your your television or on your devices. But I'm very guilty of that, too. I have such a fast paced life. I try to catch stuff when I can. But when I do go to the theater, I'm like, Yeah, I love going to the movie theater six times a year for me. You know what I mean? I'm here. I wish it was 12. I wish it was 30. You know, but it just at the end of the day, the older you get, that's harder to get to the theater. But I think that's why film festivals, why there's so many of them. But why they're also so important is because it is that, you know, it's to say it's a car, it's a rock concert, man. It's like, I can listen to Led Zeppelin all the time. But when I hear they're having a real life performance, I'm going to do whatever I can to go, you know, so kind of the same thing with film festivals. It's like, Oh, yeah, well, I can watch this on my TV. But I can go watch it in the theater with the people that made it and the actors that are going to be there. You know what I mean, I could talk to them afterwards. I can't talk to you know, Josh, tomorrow after watching his, you know, movie buddy games, or Netflix or whatever. So I can call them up be like, Hey, man, that third scene, like, where do you shoot that?

Alex Ferrari 46:03
Exactly. There's, there's, there's definitely something very unique about the film festival experience. And that was the thing real quick, that the access, that you get to all of these celebrities and producers, is unprecedented. Like at Sundance, these people are ushered in and ushered out in the riffraff, we'll never be able to contact them. But at mammoth man, you just you're hanging out at the same party, the same everything. And there's, at least at this point in the game, it's still very open to access to them. I'm sitting there talking to producers and talking to actors and things that would never happen at Sundance, like you would have to sneak into a specific kind of party. Sure, well,

Tanner Beard 46:45
we want to grow, obviously, but we also I appreciate you seen that, because that's something that we're definitely striving to do is if you're at this festival, you're at the mammoth Film Festival, we want you to know that you're jshint standing shoulder to shoulder with everybody else's equals when you're there, you know, like, that's, that's a really cool philosophy. You know, if you if you do come to just see the stars or just see you know, a certain movie or just try to come and get an autograph, that's okay, too, doesn't mean like, you know, you're not, you can't be a part of this person. But that's why we think we try to do a little bit of both. We have these kind of, they're not networking events, they're just simple festival parties. Like we did the tipsy elves at ski lodge party. Yeah, that's something due to the nature of our location would be very fun. But also, like a good time to be like, man, I went to a party with, you know, Logan, Paul, or I went to a party with, you know, so and so it doesn't matter. Because the next day, we'll probably see, you know, Jessica Alba, like, on your ski lift, you know, went up there and then you'll see her at the world premiere of whatever showing at seven o'clock that night. So, but that was kind of my experience. My first time going to Sundance is, is I got to, you know, I got to like literally see Jessica Alba like snowboard past me my first time I'm trying to like learn how to snowboard and stuff. And like that was several years ago now. But 10 years ago, I was like, that was a really cool moment. I'm like, I want to bring that to mammoth. You know, I want to bring this this kind of accessibility, but at the same time, you're right, we do have to kind of be a little somewhat cautious and, and try to get people in and out. And also they're, they're here to to see their movies and do specific grass and you got to get them there. And you can't give me an autograph session or something like that. But

Alex Ferrari 48:21
But I will see it by the way. I didn't see any of that. I didn't ever sir. I mean, it was all very respectful. I know nobody's like you know, in for you to like have to fly up, set up shop in Mammoth for an autograph. You've got a lot you got you need some more things in your life to generate. I mean, if I'm like flying up like that.

Tanner Beard 48:40
I mean, I saw the way that the mall got mauled. And Jennifer Morrison, people love lamorne Morris, who was out here a lot of people were like, should I go take a picture? And I'm like, I'm not the picture police. Everyone's right there. Go talk to him. I don't know what to do. Exactly. Pretty we have I don't know if you get to go to the mammoth media Institute is kind of like our 501 c three. It's what kind of houses the film festival in our film summit, which is our film education program, our interactive panel discussion. But as a 501 c three we try to like do fundraisers and whatnot. So we can do things like the mammoth Film Festival. But we have a really cool bowling tournament. I don't know if you get to all I came to it. It's that celebrity charity bowling tournament. And last year was our first one and it was a blast. But what we did learn is like we just allowed too many cameras everywhere. Because we wanted everybody to capture it. It was our first one this year we really tried to structure it more so like more of a contest you know like last year it was more kind of a free for all like who won I don't know it doesn't matter. We're having fun. This year was like No, team one versus team two. You know, it was like kind of a big deal but it got really heated inside of the octagon if you will. And we had a you know stadium seating on the seats and just found got a lot more involved in that but that's another thing if you did happen To go to a panel and you might have missed seeing somebody that you wanted to see on the red carpet or seeing their film or something like that, at least with the with the bowling opportunity, if you come to that, you know, you get a chance to kind of see everybody condensed, you know where you're not bowling with them. It's a it's a tournament for the you know, the for the charity, but it's really cool to say, oh, man, I miss getting to see so and so on the red carpet, but it's really cool. I get to see him I'm three feet away from him now and they're bowling how much more fun is this? So that's something that isn't film related, but it is film related with the people we try to cherry pick the players from people who have movies, you know, in the festival and stuff like that. So it's it's become a lot of fun. But I think even next year, the bowling tournament is going to be really intense and with some heavy hitters I think we're doing a golf tournament fundraiser this year so

Alex Ferrari 50:49
you get I don't know how you're gonna golf and mammoth this time a year at least

Tanner Beard 50:53
No, not this time of year it will be in June but Mammoth Lakes does have a beautiful Gaucho beautiful golf courses here. And so we're gonna have some fun, nice when that stuff so

Alex Ferrari 51:02
So let me ask you a question in regards to your what you wish it would have happened when you were younger? What do you wish someone would have told you at the beginning of your career?

Tanner Beard 51:15
I think I people did tell me that. I think people told me to be patient, you know, like it's a marathon, not a race. It sounds so stupid. But I'm actually I don't know, what would have been any better than what I'm getting to do right now. Right? I mean, I'm so fortunate to I mean, I don't forget where I came from. I'm a small town kid from West Texas man. You mean idolizing people like powers booth and Barry Tubb and Patrick Malone, Kevin Alejandro that left Snyder and became like, kind of, you know, bigger name actors and stuff. And I was like, that's cool. They showed me just simply getting out of something that isn't like, how do I put this gracefully? somebody that doesn't, you know, that isn't necessarily like your dream or your ambition of your location. going do that. I feel like I'm really getting to do that. And what's tough, but something I wouldn't change is I kind of get to do it on my own terms. Not to say that I don't wish I had like a badass agent at CAA. That was like, getting me Marvel auditions or something like that. Like, of course, like I'm not stupid. But at the same time, there's a there's a huge gratitude that comes from doing it yourself, which I think you're one to speak on that I think darious is want to speak on that. And when you do it yourself long enough. Like eventually, people just assume that you didn't do it yourself and they want to come they want you to come play on, you know, on their playground too. And I think I've had a lot of that. So just, man, just all the next thing you know, like 10 years went by, but you feel like you haven't accomplished much. And then you look at some of your accolades. And you're like, Damn, actually, if you'd have told me at 12 I'd have gotten to do this or like I have a an office inside of a movie theater right now with some great guys like Brian hammers and boundaries and flashbacks are grown. They're together, and we all do the film festival together. And I'm like, Guys, do you realize that we have a often office, a top of movie theater, but if you'd have told me this when I was like, 15 would have been like, life is gonna be just dandy. But also, man, you know, I've been out in LA for 15 years, I would hope that I have a smile on my face at this point. I don't and so I'm just really grateful. But I'm damn sure not done. And we damn sure ain't plugging away and trying to, you know, take over the world. Right. But it's, it's cool right?

Alex Ferrari 53:33
Now what is next up? What's up next up for you?

Tanner Beard 53:36
Well, we are we have a movie called just be Claus. And I think we were gonna, there's so much snow on the ground that we're kind of teetering of like, do we actually try to go ahead and go take the kind of pre production? Like, can we shoot this somewhere in May? to look like, early, early December? Or do we just wait until next year? Oh, yeah, cuz there's so much there's so much stuff going on. Otherwise, I mean, there's I have like 11 projects in the works. Awesome, dude. All of them are just like, waiting for the like the green light to go. You know, we have a comic book that we just did a graphic novel called in the name of the gun that we're trying to turn into a series, but we just wanted to own both IPS. And it's really fun. And we want to go out and shoot it in Spain. I'd love for like the El Rey network to pick it up or something like that. So we'd love to, you know, I'm going to talk to aiza about talking to Robert about that. You have the Christmas movie, we have a video game that we're pitching. There's I mean, there's a ton of stuff. There's all sorts of stuff, man, but it's the things that are going right now actually mean if I could plug anything. There's a great film. I don't know if you get to meet Kyle tequila, who was Yes, Yes, I did. Um, in cheering Einstein, both those guys are now board members of the mammoth Film Festival. But they did a movie this year together with their I think it's the first collaboration with their company. common enemy that starred Alexandra daddario Johnny Knoxville and some some just great actors key and Johnson that was just considered a leader right now. And your old pal Tanner beard got to finally like, like not play a bad guy and something. But again, you know great connections of mammoth Film Festival going off and spring. Other things, this movie called we some of the darkness, I think was a big contribution, you know, to some some collaborations that happened at mammoth Film Festival, but that should be out either later this year, early 2020. But really awesome film. And very excited about that. We shot it up in Canada. Cool, was a really cool deal. But Kyle and those guys are just the best and are killing it. So well.

Alex Ferrari 55:43
I want to ask you a few questions. Ask all my guests. Yeah. What advice would you give a filmmaker wanting to break into the business today?

Tanner Beard 55:50
Find a good core group of people that are like minded and just start working with them. Some may get weeded out as you go along. But if you have five you know men or women that you want to work with, to throw off and start shooting little shorts, little things. Hell, you can do so much on your iPhone these days. It's ridiculous. You have an outlet on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, even if you can get one of these. That's what it's all about. But find that core group of people because you will probably wind up working with them for the rest of your life.

Alex Ferrari 56:19
Can you tell me what book had the biggest impact on your life or career? The Bible? Yeah, and you know, I knew you were going to be trouble.

Tanner Beard 56:31
I know, um, I will say, as a product of being a stubborn cowboy in West Texas. I didn't read a lot of books. What I will say the biggest impact of my life was another stubborn stubborn cowboy who didn't read a lot of books played Wolf Man and Top Gun a gentleman named Barry Tubb. He did a movie when in my hometown in Snyder, Texas when I was 16 years old, and allowed me to come and be on that film set, which has Julia Roberts Bruce Willis. Natalie Maines from the Dixie Chicks Joey Lauren Adams. Mr. Robert, what movie was this with called grand champion?

Alex Ferrari 57:09
Oh, yeah, I remember that movie. Yeah,

Tanner Beard 57:12
Grand champion. Essentially, it was like Free Willy but a boy and his cow in West Texas, but for me, it was my film school. And I got to have it at 16. And the fact that this gentleman Barry Tubb allowed me to come and be you know, not only on his set as a kind of a, you know, a gopher, but eventually, like he would, you know, I was just there for access, and I just got my driver's license. He's like Tanner, take Jr. Over to the Coliseum. You know, it's like, okay, so you're driving around Julia Roberts, like Miss Daisy style. And you're like, so how's things I'm like, 16. But to get that engagement like you just that's when he caught a bug and to get to sit and watch 35 you know, 35 millimeter being and Mike my job became cable Wrangler. Like, when they're doing the dolly, I had the core to the monitor. So like, I learned how to wrangle cord. And like I took it so serious man because like I didn't want to get fire you know, fire

Alex Ferrari 58:09
Let's just say there wasn't like a little like $5,000 independent movie or some big players

Tanner Beard 58:15
$3 $5 million movie or something like that. It just the people that would come by I remember like, they'd be like Tanner, you need to go escort George straight from you know, this room to that room because there was just nobody there. And I'm like, the stuff that I got to do so young and like trusted in, made you kind of grow up in the business and also Danny motor, who's Julia Roberts husband now, he really kind of took me under his wing and showed me a lot of stuff about cameras. I learned a lot.

Alex Ferrari 58:38
Was he was te assistant camera cameraman.

Tanner Beard 58:40
He was the he was the DP

Alex Ferrari 58:42
Oh, he's a dp gotcha.

Tanner Beard 58:43
He just come off of the Mexican with Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts. I think that's where they met. And then he was recommended to be the DP on this movie. I think it was his first dp job actually. But like, just getting to learn about panel vision and seeing film, even though we don't use it today. It was like, I feel very grateful for getting to see that where if I was 10 years younger, right now, nobody would have the luxury of getting to hear that.

Alex Ferrari 59:09
Just, you know, money, just money money.

Tanner Beard 59:12
Like $1 dollar flashes. But for me, that was kind of my film school. You know, I saw people just doing it and like, just, it's kind of like when you go to an NBA game for the first time you see on TV, then you're like, this is just people playing basketball.

Alex Ferrari 59:29
Like it's at a very high level.

Tanner Beard 59:31
You know, yeah, it's bad. But at the other day, you're like, these are just huge dudes playing basketball. Like, wow, this is you know, it's like, just the realization of you can do it too. That's all you know, I think is what, what that what that kind of meant was so

Alex Ferrari 59:45
Now what is the lesson that took you the longest to learn whether in the film business or in life?

Tanner Beard 59:50
patients, man, because you know, you want it now, right now. You know, back when I was just doing acting, it's like if you didn't get an audition, you know, it was like Like the end of the world when you're 22 you walk, CSI New York and you're like, God, man, that guy only said four effing lines. And I didn't get it.

Alex Ferrari 1:00:11
I'm not good enough for the four lines. Like who you got a Harvey Weinstein in this business? Wow, he's become an adjective. Right? Right. He's become an adjective.

Tanner Beard 1:00:24
Man, it was like, it just was everything was like so life or death, especially like when you're out there. You know? You know, you're trying to find a job. Hell, man, I had a new job every week, just because I didn't want to have a job because I wanted my job to be acting full time. But am I okay, well, now I'm a taste tester for Burger King for 20 bucks, so I can put gas in my car to go to the next thing, you know what I mean. And then Luckily, as time went by, you're able to start garnering more money and I feel very grateful and stuff, everything I have now. But you know, it's just the grind at the time, like I guess just picked if you can just know that like you're in this business for a long, long time. And I see friends of mine that have been like, been in huge franchises. And then like, you know, four or five years later go by like they're back to auditioning and stuff like that. So you know, it's we all we have this great team of people again, best advice I could give is grab yourself a great group of people and allow them to be like minded, you know, friends of yours and because you're gonna help each other throughout the years, I mean, absolutely, man, my friends. You know, they support me and everything I do. I try to support them and everything they do, we wish we exchange stories, we exchange triumphs, you know, exchange of victories and sadness. And it's a, it's a family that you have to build. Because it's such a independent and very lonely industry if you allow it to be but it can also be the opposite. If you find a family, you know, very cool.

Alex Ferrari 1:01:43
Now the toughest question of all three of your favorite films of all time, tombstone. Cause my favorite movie of all time I love Tombstone, man, Val Kilmer. Why did he get in an Oscar for that?

Tanner Beard 1:01:55
It just black bad time it came out in like December. Yeah, it's just bad timing. Yeah. But absolutely be one of the best performances ever put on film. And everybody says that to this day. Oh, no. Yeah. JACK was at the film festival, his son. I always want to go up and say something to him about Tombstone, but I got to keep it cool. But that one was definitely my favorite movie. Braveheart is another one of my favorite films amazing film. And you know man, it used to be gladiators number three but when I really break it down No Country for Old Men Wallace film

Alex Ferrari 1:02:35
Its perfection

Tanner Beard 1:02:37
You know there's not a there's there's no music in that movie except there's a little bit of a little bit of ominous tone when we first see Javier Boredoms character get by get out of the car. There is a little bit of ominous tone and not one stitch of music for the rest of that movie. Can you believe that?

Alex Ferrari 1:02:54
It's so well. flawless. No, it is it is that as the as the Cohens at their at the height. I mean, I mean, they're just and Josh Brolin was all of them Javier, I mean, just

Tanner Beard 1:03:07
They shot it in kind of my old stomping grounds in West Texas out there and about four hours from Marfa, but that's where they kind of shot.

Alex Ferrari 1:03:14
Now, where can people find you and the work you're doing?

Tanner Beard 1:03:18
Um, yes. I'm @BradPitt. So yeah, well, you know, I would rather plug I am. I'm terrible on social media. But I do have Instagram. It's @TannerBeard. Everybody gets mad because I don't follow them. Because I only follow mammoth Film Festival and silver cell entertainment. But nobody's like, dude, if you follow me, do I follow you? But like, I look at stuff.

Alex Ferrari 1:03:39
I got things to do, man, I got time to follow.

Tanner Beard 1:03:42
It's not even that I'm more on Twitter, if anything at Tanner beard on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and the whole nine. But really, it's it's at Mammoth Film Festival on Instagram, @MammothFF on Twitter. And I believe it's @mammothFF on Facebook. So and then silver, silver silver team entertainment. That's another plug. So man, Tanner, it

Alex Ferrari 1:04:07
has been a pleasure talking to you, brother. I really has been congratulations on your success. And I look forward to to hanging out at mammoth many, many years to come.

Tanner Beard 1:04:16
Absolutely. Well, Alex, thanks for let me talk your ear off because I get really excited and I just ramble on from story to story. So I appreciate you listening to me.

Alex Ferrari 1:04:23
Thank you, brother. Appreciate it.

Tanner Beard 1:04:25
All right, man. Have a good one.

Alex Ferrari 1:04:27
I like to thank Tanner again for coming on the show and sharing his knowledge bombs with the tribe today. Thank you so so much Tanner. And if you guys want to check out anything we talked about in this episode, please head over to indiefilmhustle.com/328 for the show notes. There'll be links to the mammoth Film Festival as well as contact information and how to reach Tanner himself. If you guys want to submit to a really, really cool festival. The mammoth Film Festival is pretty epic. I've been to hundreds of film festivals in my career and I gotta say it's one of the ones most fun experiences I've ever had at a film festival. And they truly truly, truly love filmmaker. So definitely check them out. And if you guys haven't already, please head over to shootingforthemob.com and pick up a copy of my new book shooting for the mob. And if you already read it and purchased it, thank you for their support, but please leave a review on Amazon. The more reviews I get, the better the ranking is on Amazon, the more people get to read this book I'm really really proud of So thank you again, just head over to shootingforthemob.com. And that's it for another episode of the indie film hustle podcast as always keep that hustle going. Keep that dream alive and I'll talk to you soon.