Meet Justin Cutburth | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Cutburth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is a unique thing in that it is both scary, and exciting. It can ruin you, or breathe new life into your career. When I started darkabyss back in 2018, I was frustrated with current projects seemingly spinning their wheels, but never taking off in a direction. Companies and studios I applied to seemed to always respond back with the same “Thank you for your interest, but…”. I decided to take a risk, and venture out on my own.

I had done plenty of research of things to do, or not do; as well as what equipment I should start out with. I had written a few screenplays that were feasible with little to no budget, but still had some ambition in the story to allow me to grow as a filmmaker. I decided to have my screenplay for Extraction become my first short film. I was lucky enough to have friends that saw my vision for Extraction, and wanted to help. At that time, it was a huge risk for me to do this type of project on my own. I wanted it to be as great as it could be; not just for me, but for everyone involved. It was important that we all felt proud to stamp our names on the project. It was nerve wracking to show people this dark story. I had to be vulnerable, and take a risk in others seeing this project, and potentially feeling like a failure if it wasn’t well-received. The response from the screening was great, and I decided to jump straight into my next project, Repentance, only one month after the screening of Extraction ended.

Repentance was a major step up in ambition from Extraction. It would be the first project I would use color instead of black and white. The scale of the project was much larger. Instead of filming in one location, we filmed in roughly 5 or 6 different locations. The project would also be strictly visual with music. There was no dialogue in the film. I wanted to challenge myself to tell a story visually instead of relying on dialogue. While Extraction took one year from the first shoot to the film being completed, Repentance took over two years from start to finish (granted covid didn’t help). Following the screening, I decided to take a little time off before working on my newest short film, Desolate.

With Desolate, I decided I would not only work behind the camera, but in front of the camera. The story of Desolate is not an easy one to jump in front of the camera with little prior experience. The filming took place in multiple locations, and most nights we were filming for 6-8 hours in 90 plus degree weather. I wanted to really hone in on some skills from previous projects such as sound mixing, color grading, and some scenes that went outside my comfort zone. Currently, I am in the final stages of post-production, and excited to show everyone what the cast and crew have been working on for over a year and a half.

Had I not taken that risk back in 2018, these screenplays would be collecting dust somewhere in my room, or in a dump somewhere. Each of these projects has aspects to them that are daunting, but I have been fortunate enough to have amazing people helping me along the way. I am uncertain where this road will take me, which is both exciting and terrifying. What I do know, is that this is what I want to do. I will continue to take risks as long as I am making films because risks mean I am trying something new, and I am growing as a filmmaker, and as an artist.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a filmmaker currently finishing post-production on my third short film, Desolate. Something that I feel very proud about with each of my films is how much of each film we make ourselves. Almost everything you see, and hear in each film is done by the cast and crew of that project. I don’t use stock clips or sounds in any of my projects. None of these projects have been easy by any means. Each project has taken at least a year or longer to complete. I have worn many hats throughout each project including: screenplay writer, storyboard artist, cinematographer, sound mixer, video and audio editor, motion graphics artist, special effects artist, and visual effects artist. Doing ambitious projects like these while working full-time job requires intense drive, and time management skills. It has required me to sometimes get home from an 8 hour shift, and push myself to jump into video editing while running on fumes. Along the way, I have learned how to hone and perfect my skills so that the next film is better than the last. I hope anyone that watches my film will see the authenticity I try to bring to each project as an artist.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Picking my favorite spots is tricky since I am usually sitting in front of my computer in a dark room working on a project. The museum district is cool since I enjoy museums. Houston has a really nice fine art and science museum. There are plenty of great restaurants to eat at, but I get overwhelmed trying to find them. Max’s Wine Dive has great fried chicken. The Breakfast Klub is another great spot if you’re open to waiting in a long line. Fat Bao and Bloofin Sushi are also great spots to visit for some good food. Montrose and Westheimer have some really cool bars to visit, but I don’t recall the names aside from The Anvil, and Prohibition. Depending on time of year, it’s fun to catch a game at Toyota Center, Minute Maid Park, or NRG Stadium. Hermann Park, and Buffalo Bayou Park are great places for a relaxing walk. I’d also recommend our craft breweries like Saint Arnold, Karbach, and 8th Wonder Brewery for some cool tours, and great drinks.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shout out my friends and family who have supported me throughout this process. My wife Alia has been extremely supportive given how time consuming filmmaking is. She has been understanding when I have to step away, and isolate myself to edit or write. She has also been a great person to get a second opinion from as she is always very honest about what she likes or dislikes about the project. I’d also like to shoutout my friend Brian Cox. He is an extremely talented musician and actor. His film scores have really helped set the tone for each film, and he has been another amazing person to get feedback from about what is working, or not working with a project.

Instagram: @darkabyssfilms

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@darkabyssfilms

Other: Tik Tok: @darkabyssfilms

Image Credits
Credits for the images go to Alia Basrawi, Elsa Petersen, Emily Tangerine, Adrian Martinez, Adrian Garza