L.A. filmmaker, Adam Collis, director of the film Car Dogs, is also a Professor who teaches film courses at Arizona State University. He’s an outstanding individual who takes other people’s welfare to heart when making certain professional decisions. Wanting to see the film Car Dogs made, being involved by directing and helping to produce shows proof of that. There isn’t any, ‘all talk, no action’ with this guy.
I’m happy to say that he was triumphant in accomplishing his goals with Car Dogs and that, luckily, he learned a big lesson along the road to success… share your knowledge and support those with whom you can if you have some influence to do so. Meeting and chatting with the director of the film, which features actor and writer George Lopez, Patrick J. Adams (Suits), Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures), Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), and Christ Mulkey (Whiplash), was very enlightening. I had an enormous amount of fun picking his brain not only about his film and how it came to be but about the local talent here in Phoenix that he used. Collis was more than happy to give people who have only worked on smaller films, or who have never at all but always wanted to work on films (both in front of the camera and behind), the opportunity to work on a true Hollywood production with a substantial budget. He’s able to do this through his internship program at ASU called Film Spark which connects film students with professionals in the movie industry.
Film Spark and his involvement in it is something he’s quite passionate about. With his attitude about filmmaking and love of the craft, he’s being instrumental in growing the Arizona film community as a whole, connecting individuals with one another which gives us all a reason to be very proud of him. He holds his head high acknowledging the accomplishments of Film Spark, knowing full well what he’s offering his students. Through his connections and ability to get a film made, not only do they get to learn from him, but they get the hands-on experience that not many would have a chance to if it weren’t for the program he so happily embraces. He cheerfully tells me that he loves, ‘giving them the opportunity to learn filmmaking on a real film set and to work with an Oscar-winning cast and crew.’ Adam was thrilled with how the film turned out. The cinematography by David Stump is beautiful and captures all the allure of the city of Phoenix. He concentrated mainly on Papago Park where he said he knew, ‘It was meant to be shot.’ A shot from above gives his audience a full view of the area and if you live near there or have driven by, you’ll agree that it was a good choice. It’s a gorgeous shot. He’s excited for everyone to see the film, especially if they were involved with the production.
A close friend and past student of his, Mark Edward King, wrote Car Dogs. ‘He had originally written it as a short film and I thought it was excellent and encouraged him to turn it into a feature.’ King had been a car salesman himself and had an interesting take on the business and all that goes on in the life of a salesman or a car dog as they’re referred. He concentrated his story on these particular car dogs having to meet a quota by end of day. It was almost kismet that he ended up making the film. He teaches at ASU and King is from Scottsdale, Arizona. King had been shopping his script in L.A. and it was doing well but it wasn’t getting picked up. Collis liked it and thought this would be perfect for the internship program. Collis tells me, ‘It’s set in Scottsdale, written by a Scottsdale native, shot here, made with dozens of student interns. The film is going to be shown in Phoenix’s own Harkins Theaters. What we’ve done here is really special.’ Scott Derrickson, who Collis had gone to film school with and who later went on to direct Doctor Strange, had also been a car salesman in a past life so it seemed there were plenty of good sources at Collis’ fingertips if he needed. After seeing it done in the film, I asked him if salesmen really listen in on buyers discussing, in private, whether or not to buy, as is suggested in the film and he replied, ‘You’ll have to ask Mark.’ He stands firm that car salesmen will do a great deal to sell a car saying, ‘Everyone would serve themselves well by watching this movie before going and buying a new car.’ So I took that response as a yes. This is a warning, everyone! No buying a car until you’ve seen Car Dogs!
