Director Rob Diamond on Creating Cinema From The Heart

As I pulled up to the coordinates on my GPS in West Jordan Utah, a film crew was set up outside a small house at the dead end of a street. 

“Roll Sound. Roll Camera,” came the call from set. 

Quietly I made my way up the driveway to not draw attention from the actors performances. I had arrive on set at what appeared to be the end scene of “Lady in the Locket” with Scarlett Diamond, John Fricke and Kylie Rohead on the front porch. 

After a few minutes, the scene was completed and the lunch was called. After a quick lunch I sat down with Rob Diamond on the same porch that they and previously finished filming to discuss his current film “Lady in the Locket”.

“Lady in the Locket is about a family secret that needs to come to light,” says Diamond. “She’s held on to the secret for selfless reasons. It has a lot of healing aspects for the little girl and her dad who lost their wife and mother.”

This film was an evolution in Rob Diamonds body of work. Diamond has a talent to write, direct and produce his own films. He also finds time to teach actors and run an acting agency.  But this time he commissioned Kerry Stewart to write “Lady in the Locket” rather than write it himself.

“She’s worked with me diligently for a couple of years and is a fantastic writer. I told her what type of story I wanted: a small town, some sort of mansion, that sort of feel. And she came up with a really good first draft and I helped her develop it.”

As we explored the theme of “Lady in the Locket” the conversation took a natural turn to Rob Diamond’s upcoming film “Shadow of Vengeance.” Described as a vigilante film with heart, the movie explores societal issues through the lens of a Congressional Medal of Honor winner and school teacher.

“Think of an old school Charles Bronson vigilante film like John Wick or Batman stripped down to the heart,” said Diamond.

Throughout the interview, Rob Diamond emphasized his commitment to storytelling that is both entertaining and enlightening. “Story is story. I choose the ones that really speak to my heart.  Lady in the Locket, Shadow of Vengeance, Lucy Shimmers and the Prince of Peace; I tell them because there’s something about those stories that I feel need to be told. I want that to be part of my legacy.”

Our conversation also touched on the local filmmaking community. Rob Diamond shared his belief that a filmmaker’s success doesn’t diminish the success of others and encouraged a supportive community within the filmmaking industry.

“Utah is in good hands with the cast, the filmmakers and the crew,” said Diamond. “A rising tide floats all boats. And if someone else is successful, that doesn’t take away from my success. There’s room for everybody.”

Initially I asked asked Rob what makes a ‘Rob Diamond film’ but later in the interview we discussed the tendency to categorize filmmakers into specific genres, with Rob expressing his preference for heartfelt stories over rigid genre labels. He cited personal experiences and inspirations, emphasizing the power of storytelling to deeply impact audiences.

“A pretty well known actor from L.A. found me after he watched my movies. I even labeled myself saying that I mostly make heartfelt faith based drama. He was he was like, ‘Why are you labeling it? I watched your films and it’s beautiful cinema.”

By the end of the interview Rob Diamond reaffirmed his dedication to creating films that resonate on a profound level, irrespective of genre boundaries. “Storytellers are storytellers. We could tell a story in any genre we want. I’m comfortable in any genre, but the ones that my heart tells me to make are the ones that I listen to.”

“And we’re back. We’re Back,” came the call from inside the house.

Lunch was over and it was time for Rob to get back to the last day of “Lady in the Locket” and it was time for me to head to the next set and hear what stories the filmmakers were ready to tell.

About Rob Diamond:

Rob Diamond is a filmmaker based in Utah, USA, known for his heartfelt and genre-defying films. With a background in teaching filmmaking and screenwriting, Diamond is committed to not only creating his own projects but also supporting emerging talent in the industry.

Upcoming Projects:

• Lady in the Locket: A young woman inherits more than just a house as the spirit of her estranged, eccentric aunt lingers, desperate to lead her to uncover the family secret.

• Shadow of Vengeance: An Ex Navy Seal is pushed to the brink when the man who murdered his mother is released early from prison and his niece is beaten within an inch of her life.

About Warren Workman:

Warren Workman is the founder of the Utah International Film Festival. Workman’s passion is to share the stories of the filmmakers behind the movies and to encourage the next generation of filmmakers. Workman provides these services through ReelVibe PR.