You may not know the name Walking Wolf Productions yet, but if the three principal filmmakers involved have anything to say about it, that will all change soon. Rene Fornari, Frank Battiston and Kevin Walton have been making movies in Southern Florida for many years, but they recently decided to join together to work towards their goals.
In an exclusive interview, Walton said, "We all have our desires and dreams of what we want to do in the industry, but we also want to take control of it ourselves." And so when Fornari and Battiston, who had started the company in 2007, asked him to join the team, Walking Wolf became a powerful trio. Fornari declared, "We call ourselves the three-headed monster."
He explained that the name came from a vision quest he did with the Lakota Indians. After dreaming of a running wolf, the Shaman named him Walking Wolf. Fornari explained, "I was always running through life and she said that I needed to learn to walk through life, [take it] slower." They then decided to use this Indian name for ther company.
The Trio Behind Walking Wolf Productions
Fornari discussed his theory for what makes the partnership work. "The beauty of us three together is that each of us brings something different to the table. The checks and balances is always there between us… We understand what our strengths are and what our weaknesses are and we help each other out by working together."
He was also the first to come forward and admit what those assets and shortcomings are. "I'm a very passionate person and I can very explosive… And I get very angry if I see people wasting money or not doing stuff that is constructive."
Walton came to his partner's defense. "Rene's strengths definitely are he's a bull. He's strong headed. He knows what he wants and wants to push forward. So he's very focused in that regard and has the big ideas in mind for what he wants, and just wants to see it done."
He also described his other co-worker, saying, "Frank is detailed oriented, very organized… And then I bring the balance between the two. Where Frank can get overwhelmed sometimes if there's a bunch of things on the plate and Rene gets frustrated… I come to the middle and keep everybody calm and delegate whatever's necessary."
Battiston interjected, "Kevin is our little Buddha." He went on to profess, "We’re very centered. And to be centered and to be organized and to know that you have a target and going after it, is just something crucial that we haven't been able to find very easily here in Florida."
Fornari added that despite the inevitable disagreements, there is a secret weapon to how they can always work through them. "We were brothers before we even met each other… We're just like a close family."
'Fractured Minds' Is Walking Wolf's Latest Production
The most recent Walking Wolf venture is the short "Fractured Minds," which they began shooting in November of 2010 and finished in February of 2011. The movie explores a group of couples who have been kidnapped and the journey they take to get free. Walton expanded, "In order for them to survive they realize how small and insignificant whatever problems they were having with one another are when it's life or death. And they find the love that they have for one another to survive and make it out." It's that age-old theme of love conquers all.
The short has been submitted to over 150 festivals and to date has garnered six awards. Frank noted, "We are going to travel in two weeks to England. The film got nominated as best short in the International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema."
Walking Wolf Is More than Just Horror Movies
While their latest project is in the thriller genre, Fornari was quick to point out that they do more than just horror movies. "Every movie that we make has to have a message in it."
He continued, "Our movies have three goals. Our movies have to educate, elevate and entertain the viewer." He commented that entertainment is a given. "Who wants to go to a movie that is boring?" As for education he remarked, "I don’t ask people to come to my movie and leave dumber than when they got it. I want them to leave smarter."
But most importantly he thinks Walking Wolf films should, "elevate their soul. Elevate their mind to think outside of the box… or just to think, to feel, to breath new air into themselves."
Watch for Walking Wolf's New Ventures
Next on the plate for Walking Wolf Productions is a new approach to distribution for the team. So far the company has made three short films, but getting distribution for a project that is not full-length is a challenge. So they are creating a compilation.
Battiston revealed, "We wanted to do a feature that had three different stories about survival. In a way we knew the three films have a common theme, which is survival." They hope this angle will allow them to gain distribution on iTunes, Netflix and some of the larger outlets.
In addition, the company has an Internet TV channel in the works called WalkingWolfProductions.tv. They plan to start off with two series and expand as time goes on.
And finally they have four scripts that have come to them recently and they are concentrating on re-writing two of them to go into production next year. One is a military conspiracy thriller/action drama and the other, which has a completely opposite tone, is about a father going to great lengths to save his child who is dying from heart failure. Fornari confessed, "We're hoping that that is the one women go to see and think of 'Steel Magnolias.'"
Stay tuned for more from Walking Wolfe Productions and check their website for updates on their current projects.
Nancy Harrington - Sisters Amy and Nancy Harrington, the Pop Culture Passionistas, are huge pop culture fans. In fact, you could say it's their passion. ...
