Community Building in the Washington, DC area!!

SFP Editor: How did you become interested in film production? Mark Pagan: It started as a kid. Initially, I wanted to be John Travolta when I was younger. When I realized there was someone who told Travolta what to do and what words to say, I decided I wanted to do that. Also, I don't have a cleft chin.

SFP Editor: What inspired you to film your latest short?

Mark Pagan: The inspiration came from a lot of places. I suppose you make what you'd like to see on screen. That being said, I like seeing people of color onscreen and I like narratives that are quiet, reserved, and unforced. From that, I pulled stories from my years in social work and was inspired by the dynamic that exists when females are raised by men.

SFP Editor: What is the key message about your short film that you hope to communicate to your audience?

Mark Pagan: I like when people invest in their community. Hopefully, that's a start. Also, I want to see DC onscreen. Such an interesting city and community of people. I hope that more people gravitate towards making and wanting more honest, interesting interpretations of this place and not just another movie that has the Capitol building in the background while Will Smith runs away.

SFP Editor: What challenges did you encounter filming the short?

Mark Pagan: There are always a bunch. Working with kids and non-professional actors is considered a real challenge, but it was a real thrill and required much more investment from me...I loved it! I did have to apologize profusely to a group of 8-10 year-olds (and their families) when pizza we had ordered for a rehearsal came with some dead cockroaches in the box. I guess I ordered the wrong toppings.

SFP Editor: What did you learn which was the most surprising from this process?

Mark Pagan: People like to help. I remind other people of that, but I forget it myself. I'm always shocked when people offer their help to me in any way. It's so humbling. That being said, from the parents to friends to random people invested in the project, there was such a wonderful ring of support and assistance.

SFP Editor: What brought you to the DC area?

Mark Pagan: grew up in Montgomery County, but my dad had an office on K Street. DC had an illicit allure as a suburban teen and we used to head down here to grab our underage alcohol, sneak into clubs and shows, and go to movie theaters that were the size of my bedroom to see Hal Hartley & Russ Meyer films (I miss the Biograph, Key Theater and the Dupont Circle Theaters). I left when I was 18 for almost 10 years. I did a lot of moving around and came back to spend time with family and revisit the place as a working adult.

SFP Editor: How would you describe the DC film scene? Mark Pagan: Supportive and bigger than one would imagine. Since it's a place that brings in an very educated demographic from all over the world that come here as professionals and experts in a variety of fields, you have a very smart and multi-talented group of people.

SFP Editor: What do you hope to gain from participating in the rosebud film and video festival?

Mark Pagan: Further support and interest for the film as well as the feature ("Raymond & Lina" is based on a feature screenplay that's in the process of getting funded).

SFP Editor: What advice do you have for aspiring film makers?

Mark Pagan: Know the medium, history, format. After or before that, live a life and have tons of experiences. I'm shocked at the amount of films that come out that seem to say nothing. That being said, I have a few projects that I would like to have erased from history.

SFP Editor: How did you come up with your production company name?

Mark Pagan: I was working with street kids in Chile years ago. A real tough kid who always liked to instigate said something to me in Spanish (unrepeatable, but it's a South American phrase related to one's mother). I turned and asked, "what did you say?" Caught off guard, he fumbled and quickly replaced the phrase with, "con...con...con chocolate." I had to give him credit for covering his ass. I used it as a name because it meant getting away with something I shouldn't.