Thom Rockwell

Talking with Thom Rockwell
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Biggest projects in last 12 months:
I was lucky enough to get to play a Jedi in a Star Wars fan film for my favorite director in Utah – James Cawley. I’m a lifelong Star Wars fan and when James put out the call I would have been happy to be one of fifteen people in a wide shot just to be in a Star Wars movie. We’re excited for everyone to see it soon. James does very amazing work and I know it’s going to be spectacular.
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Favorite person on set:
Michaela Bell is one of the best sound professionals I have had the honor of getting to work with. Steve Berlin is not only the best gaffer I have worked with, but he is also one of the kindest people I know. Randin Graves has always provided me with scores that exceeded my wildest dreams. Randin is probably one of the best kept secrets in the indie filmmaking world.
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Project that made me a better professional:
Trish Strank had created an event called “Zombie Prom” that was a very fun fundraiser and I wanted to help her promote it. I had to be on top of every aspect of the pre-production and production. We had multiple rehearsals for the big dance number, we had multiple location shoots, we shot a scene with about 15 zombie extras at three in the morning in the middle of 25th Street in Ogden. Lots of moving parts and lots of things that could go wrong. I am happy to report that we pulled it all off without any major issues at all. Zombie Prom definitely made me a better professional.
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Advice…
We are all playing together. No one ever needs to get hurt and no one needs to feel uncomfortable or unwelcome. It is play. It should be fun. Take the craft very seriously. What we do should be fun, but it often is a lot of work. Preparation is more important than anything else in having a successful project. Beyond that – always be studying. Our craft has a rich wonderful history and it is always evolving and changing. But the fundamentals never change. Be willing to help others practice and learn. All of us are here doing what we love because at some point in the past someone else let us come play too. Keep that tradition going. It is the heart of what we do.