Director Mike Flores Web Series Network Interview "I Wanted Production Value And Something You Don't See Often In Other Web Series"

"Western X" Director Mike Flores talked to Web Series Network. He speaks on his directing style, his love of Westerns, social media marketing, and much more!

Rich Mbariket: I don't get excited easily, but the trailer from your web series "Western X" got me fired up. First, introduce yourself.

Michael Flores: That makes me get excited, knowing that someone actually digs the hard work you’ve put yourself completely into for the last 8 months, it makes it worth while—it really does. Well, my name is Michael Flores and I’m the shows Creator, Producer, VFX supervisor and one of the series directors. Like many of the talented folks that get into this whole filmmaking thing, I love movies, I started writing when I was twelve but never took it seriously until I was in my mid-twenties when I decided to forget my old career (I ran a few different fitness facilities in AZ) and do something I was really interested in. So I went back to school to brush up on a few skills and jumped head first.

RM: Tell us a bit about the show and when it's coming out.

MF: The best way to describe this show is that it’s a genre bending gritty supernatural western that combines realism with surrealism to create a real world that’s unlike our own. The world that we know no longer exists. That’s a simplified explanation; but definitely at its core it’s a Western filled with mystery, war, politics, hate, magic, religion, mysticism, folklore and good ol’ fashion evil.

Release date—that’s a good question. We’ve shot Episodes 1-2 and most of 3 and we move into production on the remaining ten episodes in mid-December I can say that the first 3 will be ready to roll out within the 3-4months and the remaining episodes I’d say 4-6 months at the most. Some things have come up recently where I may have to give myself some strict deadlines.

Watch the "Western X" Trailer below.
RM: You don't see many westerns in web series. Why were you attracted to this genre?

MF: Like I mentioned earlier, I just love Westerns; they represent pure American badassness. But besides the love of the genre, it was a business decision too. The Western genre has won the world over many times, it’s a genre that doesn’t just play well domestically but it is able to cross over internationally as well and if you wanna keep making episodes and maybe make a little money on the side, that’s a very important component. Although I’m an avid web series viewer I found that most of the web series out there were comedy and some were very funny at times but “American comedy” isn’t a genre that crosses over very well and in essence you’re limiting your potential audience.

RM: The moving overhead shot. How did you do it?

MF: The shot was relatively simple to achieve but getting to that shot was a whole other issue. From the very start I wanted production value and something you didn’t see very often in other web series. One of the ways I figured we could do a cool ass moving shot, like you see in the trailer, and keep the landscape unique to anything else you’ve seen before, was to build a miniature set. So I built an 8’x 8’ miniature model all in N scale which allows me thousands of feet of original landscape never seen before. The coolest part is yet to come; in Episode 5 we will see an overhead shot of a battle sequence between X and the indigenous inhabitants of the Bandit Hills---it’s going to be epic.

RM: I love characters who are conflicted. In the trailer I saw a scarred face, a patched eye, weathered faces, a woman in tears, people going through hard times and you captured it so well with close-ups. Westerns tend to do well with less talk and more action and most web series I've seen are more talk, less action. How important is keeping dialogue to a minimum and telling your series through actions?

MF: I couldn’t agree with you more, and my directing style kinda lends itself to that, I like when actors share us their thoughts through “acting”, they don’t necessarily need to say anything for them to say a thousand words. Now, I’m not saying there is no dialogue because there is plenty of it but there are and will be a lot of visuals---after all the art of cinema began as a visual art form. Let it be stated that there will be plenty of blood shed, but it won’t be in your face deliberately trying to be over violent, if the mood of the episode calls for it—it will be there. You mention “conflicted” these characters couldn’t be more conflicted, they all have their demons and they all have a story to tell. My goal was to give longevity to this series, to show that there are so many different angles and stories to tell.

RM: Tell us about your marketing plan and the steps you're taking in getting your series talked about.

MF: Social Networking is the best way to get your series talked about. Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter are such great tools to get the word out and at the same time you meet a lot of great people. The only thing is that you have to spend “quality” time on the sites for them to work. One of my biggest pet peeves is the selfishness on the sites, when it all becomes about you and what you have to show, sell, or want to get from others—that’s what is killing Myspace. It’s has become a social networking site with no socializing; it’s a spam fest. You have to communicate with others, and not with selfish motives, you’ve got to be sincere. Read postings, watch videos, visit sites and blogs, and comment on them. It’s about sincerity, it sounds cheesy but it’s what works, show interest in others and they will show interest in you—it is a full time job. This issue is so important to me that I honestly try and read every tweet, Myspace bulletin, and Facebook posting.

RM: As mentioned, your production value, costumes and set design are on point. How did you accomplish this?

MF: Production value is always on my mind and to do a period piece of any kind is always tough because of the budget. So from the start I planned on casting talent from the local western stunt shows in hopes of getting some wardrobe and set pieces donated to the production and it worked. Also some of the sets seen in the trailer was actually accomplished by green screen, so by doing a little bit of digital compositing I was able to create some environments that would have been impossible or the very least difficult to get.

RM: What tips and advice would you share with emerging web series producers?

MF: Wow, I feel weird offering advice--but I guess it would be to take your time. Take your time with your series; don’t be so quick to get something out there that you end up bypassing important steps to making a successful and professional looking series. I see people shoot stuff all the time and three days later its on the net, I don’t see how anyone can really have a decent looking piece in a few weeks let alone a few days.

RM: Where can fans find more information about "Western X" and what else would you like to share about the series in this interview?

MF: The website www.westernxtheshow.com will be the place to find the most updated and detailed information and the company website is www.cazadorproductions.com. I think the only other thing to say about the show is to expect something very different, the titles in the trailer touches a very small part of what the show is really about. There will be some very rich story content. And for the horror fans, because there have been some questions if there are vampires in this story, we will have to find out—it’s not a horror series but it is deeply rooted and based on mysticism from all over the world.

RM: Anyone you'd like to thank?

MF: I would like to thank all the supportive people out there who believe in the art and ever changing world of cinema. It’s a whole new world out there for independents and the only limit is our own creativity. Also, a few select loyal crew members, who at times put up with my tyrant behavior and lastly people like you and the WebSeriesNetwork.com that take the time out to listen and give us a platform to talk about what we love. Thank you.

Web Series Network proudly interviews dynamic individuals in web series. To nominate an individual to be interviewed on Web Series Network or to sponsor an interview, please email richmbariket@gmail.com.