Filmmaker looks for answers about his brother’s death through motion picture

By Michael Picarella Acorn Staff Writer

MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn REMEMBERING--John Altobello III made a movie based on the experience of losing his brother, Jeff.

John Altobello III, 26, has written, produced and directed a short movie called "Brothers" that’s based on the passing of his older brother, Jeff, who died of an accidental drug overdose. The movie will premiere at the Breckinridge Festival of Film from Sept 11 to 14. For more information about the screening, visit the Internet site at www.breckfilmfest.com. "Brothers" will also play at the Malibu Film Festival from Sept. 26 to Oct. 2. For more information about that event, go to the Internet site at www.malibufilmfestival.org.

In an interview with Altobello, the Agoura Hills resident talked about his movie, his filmmaking roots, film studies at New York University and what’s up next for him.

When did you graduate from NYU and how can you describe your education and how it’s helped or not helped transition into a career?

I graduated May of 2002 in the top 2 percent of my graduating class, with honors. I think that NYU film school helped me prepare for the business because it is primarily "hands on" filmmaking with regards to all aspects of filmmaking.

Education is what you make of it and I used all the professors’ knowledge. I tried to get involved beyond what was requested of our curriculum so that I could try every aspect of filmmaking.

I transitioned from a career into film school and back into a career. All the transitions just pushed me further along, letting me gain more experience and respect for filmmaking.

Can you briefly explain the 30-plus short movies you produced?

A few of the movies were pre-NYU. Many were done in school, but the majority were mainly independent shorts or festival pieces, some of which got mild notoriety. 

Did you act in TV or on stage before or after film school?

I started as a child actor. After watching "The Garry Shandling Show," I said, "I want to do that!" My parents were supportive enough that they put me in acting classes two weeks later. I did a few commercials and TV shows while growing up, mainly guest-starring roles. When I got older, I decided I didn’t want to be in front of the camera anymore so I stopped and worked as an intern for a few years at a couple of production companies.

One (company) in particular, Film Roman, ended up hiring me until I decided to go to college. I did mainly post-production work there, which gave me a great opportunity to gain the high level of respect that the post-production process deserves. I also did a couple of plays while growing up.  I starred with Bill Atherton and Gregory Harrison in Santa Monica. 

During my time at NYU, I appeared in about 20-plus student films. A lot of people felt that I had a great knack for both comedy and drama and they used me a lot.

Where did your interest in filmmaking come from?

Believe it or not, one of the first films I remember ever seeing was "Clash of the Titans." It was one of the only movies where I actually acted out what was happening on the screen. Around the same time, I also remember seeing "Jaws." That really freaked me out, especially the music that John Williams did for it.

From that point on, I was pretty much hooked on watching movies. It wasn’t until I was about 13 years old and saw "The Godfather" that a film truly touched me. A few weeks later, my older brother Jeff took me to the theater to see a film called "Goodfellas" by Martin Scorsese. I was awestruck.

Can you tell me a bit about "Brothers"?

"Brothers" is a short film that I wrote, produced and directed that pays tribute to my brother Jeff who passed away in 1995. It runs approximately nine minutes long. In a way it acted as therapy for me. I wrote it based upon certain aspects of my life ... of our lives.

My brother passed away at a very important part of my life, about a week before I graduated high school. He died so suddenly that it left a lot of questions that I didn’t have answers to. So I went ahead seven years later and decided that I was going to gain some sort of closure. I treat this film as the conversation that would answer all of the questions burning in my mind.

It was very difficult for me to make, but I am glad I made it. I would like to someday expand this into a feature film later on in my life. I just don’t have the strength to do it now.

What are your plans for the future?

I now own and run a small production company here in Calabasas called Altobello Films. We currently have one feature in pre-production and I am also in the midst of adapting a screenplay from a book entitled "Thug," written by Todd Robinson, a writer whom I feel will change the whole detective genre.