Today we’d like to introduce you to Eli Rothstein.
Hi Eli, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Well, I’d say my interest in film started when I was about 6 or 7. On a quiet fall weekend, my Father put on “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.” That really was the film that got me interested in the process of filmmaking. I knew that no matter what, I had to do what George Lucas and Steven Spielberg had accomplished. So after weeks of begging, my father lent me his cassette video camera. Over one weekend, I made my own version of Raiders. My first short film has unfortunately been lost to time, but the passion for filmmaking still remains.
As I got older, I began pursuing other interests, namely outer space. By the time my senior year of high school came around, I had to choose between going to a school for aeronautical science or a film school. I decided to tour SCAD with a friend of mine and never looked back. I was so entranced by the culture and the city of Savannah that I didn’t even apply to any other schools. My passion for space is still quite strong, and it shows in the films that I work on and create.
During my freshman and sophomore years at SCAD, I wasn’t really sure what exactly I wanted to do in film. For a while, I was interested in production design, more specifically props. That lasted for a while, and I still have a passion for replica prop making as a hobby. But over the summer of sophomore year, I worked on a project with a few friends of mine, directed by my friend Matison LeBlanc. This is also where I met Bailey Selvidge, who was the Assistant Director for this short. Seeing him in action made me want to become an AD, and ever since then that’s all I’ve wanted to do. I’ve worked some odd jobs here and there and even got my armorer’s license to be able to handle weapons on SCAD sets, but mostly I’ve AD’d.
Over the last year, I’ve had the pleasure of AD’ing quite a few senior theses, including Bailey’s and Matisons, and have also gotten the chance to work professionally in the AD department of professional shows, including Sony’s “Clean Slate” and independent projects like Rebel Wilson’s “Bride Hard.” I plan on staying in Savannah for at least two years, working on sets, and getting my 600 days to become a member of the DGA, and officially becoming an Assistant Director.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When I was in middle school. I wasn’t a very social kid. One big thing about the film industry is that it is very much a political and social profession. Thankfully, during my time at SCAD, I’ve become much more of a social person, specifically thanks to being on film sets. A good amount of the time, getting a job might not be dictated by your experience or skill level but by who you know and how well you get along with people. I’ve found that being kind and providing brevity and wit to a situation goes a long way and makes people want to work with you again.
Another setback, I’d say would definitely be Covid. A year and a half of my college experience that I will never get back. Although I had a nice time being with my family, I wasn’t a part of any projects, and it was certainly a time of creative stagnation for me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an Assistant Director. If you think of a director, they are the main artists on a film set. They have to be making all of the creative decisions on a set. What should this prop look like? What costume do you want to see this actor in? How should she deliver her lines? Because of this responsibility, the logistical and technical decisions cannot be made by the director. That’s where ADs come in. We handle everything from scheduling the day to handling on-set conflicts to communication between the departments. Ultimately, that’s our #1 job – communicating to the crew. We are the epicenter of all information on a film set.
I’ve been lucky to work on many film sets as an AD at SCAD, most of which being large, ambitious projects. Ambitious projects can come with a lot of issues, most of which are unforeseen but must be solved nonetheless. I like to think I’m most proud of my problem-solving abilities. I don’t stress, and I don’t crack under pressure. This is paramount as an AD because most of the time, you dictate the vibe on set. If you’re stressed, the director is stressed, which means the whole crew is likely stressed as well.
Getting my armorer’s license also was a big learning experience that I think sets me apart from others. Safety should always be a top priority on a set. When firearms are involved, that practice of safety must increase tenfold to ensure that no accidents can happen. Learning to be an armorer has taught me a lot about safety on set, and I carry that knowledge with me to every set I’m a part of.
Lastly, I like to think I’m a very hands-on AD, sometimes to a fault. If something needs to get done, I’m usually the person to jump in first. However, on a film set, people have very specific jobs, and it’s important to not get in the way of them doing their job. I’ve learned to trust my crew and to delegate tasks instead of trying to fix them myself.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Marcus House on YouTube is my source for space-related news. Not really work-related, but he definitely keeps me sane. His show is my safe space (no pun intended).
I like to think I’m a well-read individual. I’m currently reading Frank Herbert’s Dune, which was recommended to me by my grandfather. It’s a great lesson in world-building, and the most recent film did an amazing job of accurately capturing the world that the book creates. However, my favorite book is “The Sun Also Rises” by Hemmingway. It’s the most relaxing, easy book I’ve read, and it does a great job at calming the senses. Hemmingway is a master of descriptive storytelling.
Lastly, and most importantly, is my notebook. It’s an 8.25 x 5 inch Moleskin planner, and it is my way of keeping my head clear of clutter. One of the most valuable things I’ve taught myself is that writing down everything in your head, whether that be plans, dates, to-do lists, ideas or problems, magically transfers them from your brain to the page, and you can think clearly. Building that habit was hard but so so worth it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elirothstein.artstation.com/
- Instagram: @elirothstein
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eli-rothstein-7a9609263/
Image Credits
Offworld (Space suit photos) – Courtney Beauchamp Godsend (Bloody face ones) – Andy Pedroza
