Local cinematographer brings newly-released movie to life
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A new action thriller movie released for streaming this month was filmed thanks to the skill of Sandpoint-based cinematographer Jimmy Matlosz.
“F.E.A.R.,” an action thriller, follows a young family in the Pacific Northwest facing a group of bandits who steal the last of their supplies in a pandemic dystopia. As a result, they must team up with an alliance of outlaws to protect their children.
Whether that was dumb luck or a stroke of prophetic genius on the part of director Geoff Resiner and star Jason Tobias is hard to say, Matlosz said, but the movie was filmed in 2019.
Filmed on a “shoestring budget,” Matlosz said he wanted to challenge himself to create a high-quality film with a tight budget. Matlosz, who has shot a variety of commercials for years, decided to make the transition to narrative film work a few years ago.
He launched The Idaho Film Company in 2019, which was incorporated last year. Since then, he has shot an array of short films and penned the first screenplay that he plans to have the company produce, which is currently in its outreach and fundraising stage.
Matlosz is hoping that “F.E.A.R.” will stand as an example of what he’s able to accomplish on even a “shoestring” budget.
During shooting, Matlosz used tools including smoke and lighting to create a cinematic look, he said. One part of the film required a “fire” in the house they filmed. Matlosz achieved that look with a special light that mimicked the look of fire when set up near the camera.
“For me, it was important in this film, especially since we're so budgetarily challenged to keep moving the camera in a very effective way where it didn't bring attention to it yet lead the viewer in the right direction and didn't pull them out of the story,” he said.
In addition to his own cinematography aspirations, Matlosz said he wants to create more of a community for filmmakers in Idaho. The state isn’t known for its movies, but he believes the enterprise has as much economic value as it does artistic.
“Businesses and business owners, and most of the community seems very receptive towards it,” he said. “Of course, my pitch is that if we bring in a movie we're going to bring in jobs and with jobs comes money and money and jobs are what keep this community alive.”
“F.E.A.R.” is available to stream on iTunes and YouTube, with DVDs available on Amazon. Matlosz is also working to get screenings at local theaters, he said. The movie’s Fandango page will be updated with any screenings as they’re determined.
