Bio
Adam Stein is an American reality TV contestant who's a contestant on the filmmaking reality show On The Lot.
Adam's On The Lot Q & A:
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Hometown: Miami, FL
Occupation: Freelance Film Editor
Age: 29
Why am I here?
Why are any of us here? Well, when a mommy and a daddy love each other very much... Seriously though, it has been my dream to work as a film director, and I've been hiking the long path to get there. On The Lot is an exciting opportunity because it represents a shorter path to the dream. Plus I get to make a movie every week, which is my favorite thing in the world to do.
A quick tour of my life
Miami. Pac Man. Zelda. School. More school, like you're supposed to. My dad got me a camera when I was 8 and I fell in love with photography. In 8th grade, I played Toto in a production of the Wizard of Oz. That was fun. All the 11th-grade girls wanted to pet me. I started directing theater later in high school which naturally led to film. The first short film I made was about a whipped cream fight. It wasn't that good, but it had some cool slow motion. I went to film school and now I live with my girlfriend Dena. We're only 3 blocks from the most amazing gelato place in the world.
Describe yourself in one sentence...
In my favourite sandwich shop there's a sign on the wall that inspires me and describes how I try to live my life; it says "These are the good old days."
Your theme song?
"Magic Store" from The Muppet Movie: "Life's like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending..."
First movie you ever saw?
When I was 4, I got chicken pox and my dad bought our family's first VCR. I still remember him hooking it up and being able to watch Star Wars again and again in our living room. Chicken pox was awesome. I also really loved The Secret of Nimh.
Favourite line from a movie?
"You can't fight in here! This is the War Room!" -- Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
What made you want to be a filmmaker?
There aren't many jobs where you get to do everything. I love working with people and with computers and cameras, all at the same time. I also love sitting in a dark room with an audience, knowing what they're about to see and waiting to see their reactions to it.
When you make a film what do you want the audience to leave with?
I want to take people on a ride, no matter how long or short the film is. I want them to watch the movie and remember back to the first scene and feel like they're a million miles from where they started. I love that feeling when I watch a great movie, and I want others to feel that way too.
When I'm behind the camera...
...I am like a happy little kid at a birthday party.
What do you think it will be like working with other Directors?
I think it will be awesome. In the couple of weeks we've spent together so far, I've been excited to see what a talented bunch of folks they are. It's a filmmaking summer camp -- I get to talk about movies all the time with other people who love movies (and making movies) as much as I do.
Favourite joke about Directors/Actors?
I don't really know any. Do you? So I did some poking around the Internet and found one that I thought was funny enough. Tip of the hat to joke compiler Richard Clabaugh...
The world's best director dies and goes to Heaven. When he gets there, St. Peter greets him at the gate and says, "Welcome. We are sorry to make you leave your life, but God has personally called you here to make a movie for Him."
The director is startled to hear this: "God Himself wants me to make a movie for Him?"
St. Peter continues: "You will have the best of everything Heaven has to offer. Michelangelo will be your art director, Leonardo da Vinci is designing the sets, there will be an original score by Mozart, and William Shakespeare will be writing the script."
The director is flabbergasted: "I am overwhelmed. This will truly be a magnificent experience."
St. Peter shrugs and looks down, shuffling his feet: "There's only one small situation."
The director asks, "What? What could possibly be wrong with such a production?"
St. Peter replies, "Well, you see, God has this girlfriend who wants to be in the movie..."
Movie that best encapsulates who you are?
The Karate Kid
While On The Lot you have a week to make a film every week. What's the biggest challenge?
Making a film every week is how I would love to spend every week of my life. It will be amazingly fun. The biggest challenge will be finding time to sleep.
When you get the power, how will you use it?
Um...with great power comes great responsibility?
I wrote a couple scripts that I think are ready to be made into movies that people will like. It will be a privilege to make them. Maybe some kid with chicken pox out there will watch them.
What's more important talent or ego?
Ego is a nuisance, especially on a film set.
Adam's Favourites:
FILMS
Out of Sight, Run Lola Run, Being John Malkovich, Office Space, The Ice Storm, Being There, This is Spinal Tap, North by Northwest, Noises Off Brazil, Nashville, The Apartment, Requiem for a Dream, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Amelie, Walkabout, Rosemary's Baby
DIRECTORS
Jim Henson, Hal Ashby, Steven Soderbergh, Frederico Fellini, Michel Gondry
PRODUCERS
Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemekis, Michael Shamberg, Danny DeVito, Stacey Sher, Judd Apatow
WRITERS
Charlie Kaufman, Harold Ramis, Tom Stoppard, Aaron Sorkin
ACTORS
Steve Carrell, Robert de Niro, Eddie Murphy, Alec Baldwin, Mark Feuerstein, Michael Caine, Bill Murray
ACTRESSES
Mary Louise Parker, Edie Falco, Sigourney Weaver, Stockard Channing, Reese Witherspoon, Catherine Keener
SOUNDTRACKS
O Brother Where Art Thou, Pulp Fiction, Stand By Me,Vertigo, 21 Grams, The Muppet Movie, anything by John Williams