Back Then: A Comedy That Pays Homage To The 90s

EMGWORLD SPEAKS WITH DIRECTOR DANIELLE L. ROSS ON HER CINEMATIC CAPTURE OF THE 90's

Fans of the 70s can revisit the decade through the film The Inkwell.  80s fans have The Wood.  Now 90s lovers have a movie that describes their decade.  Read up on how Danielle L. Ross brings the 90s back to life in her theatrical release of Back Then.

EMGWorld: How long have you been a filmmaker?

Danielle Ross: I feel like I was BORN a filmmaker.  I started writing my first feature film in high school.  Ever since then I've never changed my mind.    In 2004, I filmed my first 'official' feature film He's Not The One.  It was a faith based film that received a lot of attention in film festivals.  To this day people still ask me about that movie.  

EMGWorld: It seems like faith based projects are making their way into Hollywood as sort of a revolution.  Would you agree or disagree with that?

DR: I agree.  It started in the direct to DVD market.  The success from my first film, He's Not The One, surprised me.  It wasn't made with much money, but came back making millions of dollars for the distributor because there was such a void in the marketplace for “faith based” films at that time.  I didn't know the desire was out there.  It's really grown into a platform where it's not just a direct to DVD niche, but begging to be shown on the big screen.  T.D. Jakes and DeVon Franklin are really driving the marketplace home and putting out what people are looking for.

EMGWorld: How does Back Then separate itself from other “back in the day” movies like The Wood?

DR: Other movies have revisited the 70s and 80s, but no one's really taken us back to the 90s and highlighted the things that were important to us in our era.  It's not an east coast film or LA film.   I grew up in Pasadena and we had a different existence from LA or other areas in California.  It was a lil bit of a bubble.  We were just regular people and I wanted to highlight the simplicity of that era. 

EMGWorld: Who are some of the cast members in the film?

DR: I had a great cast and a great casting director.  Michelle Adams did the casting.  She brought in an excellent cast.  I worked with Arie Spears of “Bold and the Beautiful,” the beautiful Malinda Williams known from the TV show “Soul Food,” Lauren Williams and Sabrina Rebel.  We had the privilege of working with China Lane and Taye Hecker, Debra Wilson, Angel Cornrow, Debbie Lewis, Gabrielle Dennis, Sean Riggs, Victor Caso and Matt Grace.  We had one of the most wonderful casts around.  

EMGWorld: What was it like working the cast?

DR: It was probably the most FUN I've had on a set as a director because everyone was so in tune with the vision.  They respected the fact that it was a personal story to me and could relate to it in some form of fashion.  Jason Griffin did an outstanding job with the wardrobes.  One actor would always come to me with a story on a daily basis and say "I use to wear overalls" and stuff like that.  I really enjoyed working with the younger kids playing the 90s era because I spent the most time with them.  

EMGWorld: What sparked your interest in developing the brand and company Independent Hollywood?

DR: I remember receiving some valuable advice when I was considering film school.  One of my mentors on my internship at Walt Disney Studios told me why don't you use the money you would use for film school tuition and put it into making a film?  I didn't realize that one decision would change the course of my career.  Ever since I began making movies on my own I've always had the entrepreneurial spirit.

EMGWorld: How does Independent Hollywood seek to help other independent artists out there?

DR: With Independent Hollywood, I've learned a lot from the five feature films I've made.  There are so many different aspects of the business.  Our main focus is to let people do what they love, but also learn how to EAT because you have to eat first.  Bringing together marketing, music, art and bringing them into one organization so other artists can learn to not only show their art, but learn how to MAKE MONEY from that art is the goal of Independent Hollywood.  We're showing people that you can make a film or web-series and not have to put it in someone else's hands.

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