Freelancing Pro Interview: Jason Caminiti, Filmmaker

At just 32 years old, Jason Caminiti has cultivated his career as an award-winning Public Access Television Show host and produced, “Pawtucket Rising,” his first wide audience feature-length documentary film about Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Jason’s in a highly coveted role as a filmmaker, a position that he dons in addition to working full-time. That’s why I thought speaking to this creative freelancer would not only give more tips on balancing your passions with your day job, but inspire those who have always wondered if they have a movie—or a book, for that matter—in them.

Tell us about your creative career. Do you freelance? Do you have a full-time job?

My creative career is just starting. I have been a public access producer for over 10 years, in several different locations including Plymouth, MA and Fall River, MA. Everything I have done up until now has been given away free of charge. Mostly what I have done is filming for small city activist groups. I hosted a show in Plymouth called “Mass After Dark” back in the late 90s, early 2000s.

I work full-time in the IT field, so I have to work on my part time filmmaking on nights and weekends. It’s been difficult, because I’ve had to take vacation days from work to meet with people to interview in my film.

I’ve been able to manage my time by forcing myself to work by creating hard deadlines when the film had to be finished. I had two showings set for September. By August all the principle filming was done, but I needed to finish editing, and make it coherent. I was able to get my creativity flowing by forcing myself to work, by creating a deadline. It had already been almost a year in the making by then, and the group I was making it for really wanted to get it out in September. It also helped that the Pawtucket Film Festival was in September, which was a place I definitely wanted to show it.

Tell us about the documentary. How’d you come up with the idea?

This idea, almost literally, fell into my lap. I was asked to be a board member of a group in Fall River called Arts United Fall River. I didn’t know much about the arts, and working artists at the time. Fall River was just about to pass an Arts Overlay District to help spur activity in its underused downtown. Having learned more about this idea, I decided that I should bring my camera to one of the communities that is making a go of it.

Initially Pittsfield, MA, and Lowell, MA, were where I thought I should go. At that point the President of Arts United, Jeff Carpenter, said “Why not Pawtucket?”  I have to admit I was taken aback. Having grown up in RI, I had no idea that Pawtucket was becoming a burgeoning art community. I called over to Herb Weiss Pawtucket’s Director of Economic and Cultural Affairs, to see if I might get an interview with him, and perhaps the Mayor. I thought for sure this was a request that if I did get, I would get about 10 minutes time with him, and maybe not even meet the mayor.

However, when I called Herb Weiss, not only did he want to make time for me; he wanted to make it immediately. He told me that he thought it would be a great project, and that he would help me in any way he could. I set up a time to take vacation time, which happened to be the day before Thanksgiving, for my first shoot. I borrowed some equipment, and some crew, and off I went to Pawtucket. I didn’t get to interview Herb or the Mayor that day. However, I interviewed about 6 or 7 people in a row that had a lot to do with bringing Pawtucket to where it is today. After bringing back the footage, I knew I had a story, and I wanted to tell it, and bring it back to Fall River.

What unique aspect did you bring to the film?

Over the years, I have realized my strengths and weaknesses. One of my traits that is both a strength and a weakness, is that I have a short attention span, but I like to learn as much as I can about a subject in that time. I was able to take my interest in the subject and get myself to work hard to make it a reality. This is one of the things that makes me most proud that I completed the film. I was able to overcome my own flaw that I tend to move on from a subject too soon. This took almost a year, and I was able to make it happen.

What was the most important lesson you learned throughout the process of making the documentary?

The most important message, is what I hope is the underlying theme of this documentary. If a city has the will, it can succeed. For this to happen, the entire city has to be together in one focus, one thought of ultimate success. The Mayor, the city government, the city businesses, the activists, and the people, need to come together to make the dream a reality. That is what I hope people take away from this film.

How can you carve out a name for yourself in a competitive creative niche such as filmmaking?

I believe that in the Internet age, we have an unlimited audience. As an independent filmmaker I want to try to find my audience. I know that I will never sell as many copies as the big Hollywood films, but I don’t need to. I can find a niche that works well for me, and sell enough copies to the right people. I think the future of filmmaking is going to be this way. I see many ‘Internet celebs’ with their own niches, and they seem to be doing well.

How have you used the Internet to promote your documentary?

I’ve had a website since before the first showing of the film. I have been adding content to the site over the past few months, and trying to highlight a group or person that is in the film. I’ve been using email and evites to get the message out about my film showings. I’ve used my own social networking account to put up info on my film. Others have been placing my screening info on their LiveJournal, MySpace, and Facebook pages.

You recently got picked up by PBS. How did that happen?

I’ve been picked up by the local PBS, RIPBS. Although it is named after the smallest state, it’s actually broadcast into homes all over our area, in fact about 140 cities and towns.

Technically speaking, it wasn’t difficult for me to get onto PBS. I’ve been doing Public Access for years, and knew the formats. However, I never would have even thought to approach PBS on my own. This is an example of who you know, and having the right people at the right place at the right time. A Fall River Activist that I know, CJ Ferry, came to my first showing. When he was leaving, he told me how much he liked it, and said that he thought PBS might be interested, and that he knew someone from the station. He then followed up and gave me the information I needed to contact RIPBS to get the film on.

I sent RIPBS a copy, and once they decided they wanted to show it, we worked out the technical details from there. They were extremely helpful, and made it a great process.

What’s next for you as a filmmaker? What’s your ultimate goal?

Now that I am a “filmmaker” I have all sorts of ideas I am thinking about making. There are a couple local Fall River stories that I feel need to be told. I would also like to visit my hometown of Newport, RI, and talk about what made Newport the tourist attraction she is today. That is a great story that I feel needs to be told.

Kristen Fischer is a copywriter living at the Jersey Shore. Visit her at www.kristenfischer.com.