Meet Michael Thomas DeLano | Film Director and Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Thomas DeLano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael Thomas, can you tell us about an impactful book you’ve read and why you liked it or what impact it had on you?
Quentin Tarantino’s book, Cinema Speculation. If you are interested in the history of film. This is a must read. It is a rare treat to hear one of the master directors of our time give his thoughts on a pivotal time in the film history. The end of the 1950s through the 1970s was a tumultuous and fascinating time for films and of course he gives it a flair and perspective that only he can give. The parallels between that time and now are startling and give a pretty solid clue to where the industry can and should go in the near future.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
If you have not read Quentin Tarantino’s book, Cinema Speculation yet, you should go do that now. He talks a lot about a period in movie history where the big Hollywood studios were stamping out cookie cutter formulaic movies at industrial factory speed. They were boring the audience and the industry was in trouble. It might sound familiar since we are in a similar place where the large studios are pumping the sludge pipe at full tilt giving us formulaic films and shows at a blistering pace. The same excuses are being tossed around. The audience doesn’t want to go to the movies any more, they are looking to other forms of entertainment now, attention spans are shrinking, etc. These arguments might be convincing if it weren’t for films like Oppenheimer, Barbie, Godzilla Minus one etc. When good movies are in theaters, people will go. Even when ticket and food prices are completely insane, they still go. The solution in the 1960s and 1970s ended up being studios taking creative risks on smaller budget projects. Movies with universal human appeal, with strong characters, with good solid stories brought the industry back to life. The directors led the charge, a shorter and more pure creative journey from idea to execution with an artist who has a vision at the helm. This medium is a collaborative process, period. A director can not create on this monumental scale on their own, but it is also important that someone has a strong creative vision or anchor for everyone to tie to and keep steady. It is also vitally important that there are checks and balances and creative collaboration to keep things from going off the rails, at times a director needs to be reigned in or elevated by department heads, again collaboration is key. We have watched Hollywood slowly corporatize and lose its way, I feel lucky to be entering this world with a perspective from a different era where film was respected as an art form and also revered for it’s magical ability to provide a temporary escape and joy in a world that can get too dark and real.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am still madly in love with the Prospect hotel in Hollywood. If you want old school Hollywood charm and super personalized service just steps away from the equally glitzy and trashy heart of Hollywood. Any time I get a chance to plug this amazing spot I will. Very close by is Black Rabbit Rose a cool speak easy style bar that is worth visiting on its own. They also have a magic show on the weekends, the speak easy entrance, the ambiance and the performers are absolutely charming, please go see a show there and tell them I said hi.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate this Shoutout to all the film makers that sparked magic in my life. From my earliest exposure on TV, 70s kung fu movies, John Wayne movies, most likely directed by John Ford, which I didn’t know at the time but greatly appreciate now. To the movies that inspired me to make movies, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure by Tim Burton, Dusk til Dawn by Robert Rodriguez, Reservoir Dogs by Quentin Tarantino and last but not least Clerks by Kevin Smith. Thank you for going to war or running that marathon, whatever analogy works best, thank you for putting your asses on the line to make life a little more joyful. I want to give that back to future audiences best I can.

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