Nick Durante graduated from Film Connection nearly eight years ago, and has since built an impressive career in film production, as well as, maintained his relationship with his mentor, Richard Brandes. I sat down with Nick to chat about his life, work, the industry, and the nature of the mentor/mentee relationship.

How did you first get interested in film?

 As a little kid I loved movies! When I was old enough to understand what they are, I found out my uncle was an editor. When I found out it was possible to work on movies, it’s all I ever wanted to do ever since.

Did you originally want to follow in your uncle’s footsteps and be an editor?

 I was never interested in the post-production side of things. It was always writing, eventually it shifted a bit towards directing, but writing is definitely the primary focus.

What kinds of stories do you like to write? 

I’m a horror writer. Strictly horror with some sci-fi.

Who are your favorite screenwriters?

Roger Avary, John Carpenter, Debra Hill. I love old spaghetti westerns, Sergio Leone, and stuff like that. It’s varied, though, I love Martin Scorsese, Taxi Driver, stuff like that too.

There are so many different approaches one can take to horror– social commentary, personal trauma, decadent gore. What is your personal strategy in constructing a horror narrative?

I love and appreciate a lot of the older, grimier, less sophisticated horror that focuses on gore– but my focus, with writing, is definitely more character driven, less jump-scare, and more psychological. I still utilize a good dose of gore, but I definitely lean towards character, which I get from being a student of non-horror writing as well.

“I love and appreciate a lot of the older, grimier, less sophisticated horror that focuses on gore– but my focus, with writing, is definitely more character driven, less jump-scare, and more psychological.”

Sounds like you prefer to strike a sort of Ari Aster-esque balance between shock and substance.

Oh man, I love all that A24 stuff, I think it’s all amazing.

What are you working on currently?

I’m currently working on a feature that I’ll shop around once it’s done. The first person I always reach out to is Richard Brandes, who was my mentor through Film Connection. I know him really well, it’s been almost eight years. We have a good rapport. I really value his opinion. He’s a great source of feedback and advice. Since graduating, I’ve been working in film, so I’ve also built my own network of people to shop to after Richard.

How did you find Film Connection?

I was about to graduate high school, and I knew 100% that I wasn’t going to a 4-year college. But I also knew I had to get my foot in the film door somehow, and my dad found it online. He told me about it, and I was immediately drawn to the premise of getting hands-on practical experience. Then he sent my uncle [the editor] the link, who had gone to a four-year college, and he thought it was a great idea. He was like, “Dude, you go and spend all this money on a four-year college and then blah blah blah, who knows when you are going to actually get work. What you really want is hands-on experience.”

How was jumping into the industry out of the program?

After graduating, I was always the youngest person on set. I immediately started working in film full time. At first it was weird to be the baby, but I ended up being so grateful. By the time I was 23 I had so much work under my belt.

Can you tell us about your mentor, Richard Brandes?

I had two mentors, actually! I was based in St. Louis. Richard was my writing mentor and was based in Los Angeles. I had another mentor, Bill Streeter who was also based in St. Louis. Bill’s a great documentary film maker and also has made a bunch of music videos. Shout out to Bill! He’s a great guy, and from him I was able to learn the more nitty-gritty hands on set stuff that prepared me to be a PA, grip, and electrician. With Richard I learned how to write a script. Richard and I still have a relationship. He made it very easy to understand writing from both a practical and theoretical perspective. He gave me insight into the politics and social decorum of the industry.

Why do you think you two have been able to maintain a relationship for so long?

I can only speak for myself, but I think we have really similar values. He’s from the south and I’m from the midwest. We also have similar taste in film. It also helped that right after I completed the program, I went and worked on two films he produced. We got to have a professional interaction, where he saw my willingness to work hard and do jobs that aren’t always fun. As long as he’ll keep opening my emails, I’ll keep sending him scripts.

Do you have any advice for someone considering the program?

I’m telling you, it’s the best decision I ever made. Do it! When I was an uncomfortable kid on set, the youngest person, I was learning so much. By the time I started working with people who had just graduated film school, they were floundering next to me. Obviously I’m not dissing film school, a lot of great people come from that path– but there’s nothing like practical experience; learning from people who have really done it. It’s a short program, but it was more than enough to launch my career.

I’m telling you, it’s the best decision I ever made. Do it! When I was an uncomfortable kid on set, the youngest person, I was learning so much. By the time I started working with people who had just graduated film school, they were floundering next to me.