Exclusive Interview: Michael Sean Hall (Lockdown 2025)
What made you want to get involved in the film industry?
As a kid, I grew up in a single family home with my mother and two sisters. I am the oldest and the TV became our BABYSITTER as well as our teacher at times. That’s where my love of cinema began. Watching the epics that use to play like clockwork year after year… Lawrence of Arabia… Doctor Zhivago, Logan’s run. That’s when I fell in love with movie-making.
From script–to–screen, how close did LOCKDOWN 2025 come to its original vision?
Pretty close in parts very different from others. The actors, the environment began to take over and a mood develops on set. You become the audience different than when you were writing it. That’s if you wrote it.
What was your favorite day on set and why?
It was about halfway into the two-week shoot and we were running out of days. I had to cut out stuff that’s when I found myself actually directing, molding the story as we went along. It was truly being in the moment and having to just react. I’ll never forget that day the difference from directing to writing.
What scene did you enjoy directing the most?
It’s the big reveal between Glenn Plummer (South Central, Saw 2, and Menace to Society) and co Star James Black face off… There was just an electric energy that had built up and like two prizefighters they went at it. I have always wanted to work with Glenn he is truly a talent. After one of the takes, everyone started to clap and cheer it was spontaneous… I look over and one of the makeup artists was wiping tears from her eyes… I heard in the background that’s the best scene. As a writer, it’s what you live for.
What is the biggest obstacle you faced while making LOCKDOWN 2025?
Time and experience. Being a first-time director, My lack of understanding of the art form of telling the story visually. The experience has changed me as a Screenwriter.
What was your proudest moment during production?
There’s a picture of the crew behind the editor looking over his shoulder to see if we nailed the shot. We could only do two takes it was a money shot. To see that level of engagement was a joy. I’ve worked on plenty of sets where that wasn’t the case. That felt good.
How do you get a film to stand out in the crowd in today’s movie industry?
That’s a good question (LAUGHING) I think you have to put in the retail shoe leather hard work of spreading the word. No matter what the technology is that surrounds us you still have to do that. The grind of letting people know by any means necessary. I think if you can concentrate on your niche, be creative, and have done your homework you will find your audience. Well, that’s what I keep telling myself anyway.
What other filmmakers inspire you to do what you do?
I like M. Night Shyamalan, Gullemo del Toro, David Fincher is bad ass. So many more. David Goyer can’t forget him.
What is your favorite horror decade and why?
The 80’s for sure. The Thing… The Fog… A Nightmare on Elm Street so many good ones. The fear of the unknown, what’s coming was big then and I think is now.
What is the next step in your filmmaking career?
I have two projects one that start’s in the fall a big-time sports movie. It’s crazy when you get a spin at the wheel! Details coming soon. I also have this really cool project an interactive horror/action /Game/film six different endings and six VR scenes that put you right inside the film, it’s amazing what’s happening with technology in this space.