Interview: Greg Santarsiero of Ice Grill USA

I was lucky enough to be able to interview one of the creative minds behind IGU, Greg Santarsiero, and get some questions answered that have been on my mind as of late.

First and foremost, how are you? All is well, man... Life can be stressful and complicated and it beats you up from time to time, but it is a beautiful fucking journey. I feel like sometimes I'm riding on fumes, grinding it out from day to day, but I catch that second wind and it is electric. A lot of people are really struggling out there right now, and it makes you count your blessings. You see some real shit and it makes you feel like a pussy for every complaining about trivial nonsense. 

What was your inspiration behind the story of Ice Grill, USA? We grew up in Brigantine, NJ an island literally yards offshore of Atlantic City. Our entire lives, and those of our parents and friends, revolved around this hectic, crazy, polarizing, multicultural city built upon the vice of gambling. That place instilled us a strong desire to do something bigger and grow past the city limits... To give our all to being something bigger than our circumstances dictated we should be.

Why the title Ice Grill, USA? Mark (Bernardi, IGU's co-creator) and I were in Park City, Utah promoting our first film a few years back. We noticed that when we passed people on the street, we'd make eye contact with them and they'd look straight down at the ground. We realized that we were inadvertently and unknowingly being aggressive and intimidating people through that subconscious gesture. We realized that it was an ingrained part of who we are, growing up where we did on the East Coast. You tend to size people up in a territorial fashion, and try to not be the first to look away, even if you don't mean to do it. That "ice grill" style of cold stare is part and parcel of the Atlantic City experience. Some folks are from Small Town, USA or Any Town, USA. We happen to be from Ice Grill, USA.  

Do you see some of yourself in any of the characters? Sure. Auggie (played by Connor Fox) was semi-autobiographical for both Mark and I. His character embodies the desire to hold on to your moral code and your virtues all the while doing whatever it takes to better your station in life. I spent 4+ years in my early twenties working as a bouncer and a security supervisor at a big club in AC. When you're in that world, you have to figure out how to negotiate that landscape, get ahead, mingle with every walk of life and keep your head on straight... All the while staying true to yourself and watching the backs of those you care about. That job represented the transition from childhood to manhood for me personally. It underscored the issue of class and how important our socio-economic standing is in dictating our future and the access we each have to the American Dream. The character of Auggie Logan is completely infused with those aspirational, working class sentiments. 

Were most of the actors local, or did you have to go far to find people just right for the roles that you were looking to fill? We cast IGU largely out of the greater Jersey area, including NYC and Philly. But early in the process, we were so particular about the parts being filled by the right people. That is why the ensemble is what it is--Connor, Denise Ramirez, Ty Noble, Michael Angelo Ortiz, Los Jones, Ray McKnight, Rory Dunwoody, Kevin Interdonato, Mark Kochanowicz, Aaron Mathias... The list goes on and on. So many talented, young, undiscovered actors don't just fall out of the sky. We certainly got lucky, but we scoured the area to find them. Our casting director Kat Hinchey and Weist Barron-Ryan, an amazing old school Hollywood-style agency based in Atlantic City, were amazing assets for us in bringing IGU to life and getting the characters just right. Those guys aren't just actors to us anymore, they're like family. We want to succeed for them and to continue to create vehicles specifically with them in mind. 

How did you balance writing, producing, directing, editing, marketing, and promoting for the film while working a regular full time job? I'd be feigning humility were I to say it was "easy", but in all honesty, there is no greater joy in the world than expending your life force to pursue your dreams. If I have to give up sleep, money, whatever, to get there, so be it. If your dream is important enough to you, then you make the time. That said, I also realize how hard people out there are working right now just to feed their kids and make ends meet. They are the ones who make the world go around and face the most serious challenges everyday and overcome them. They inspire me. 

Is there a story behind Enlightened Party Multimedia? EP was born out of the youthful idealism Mark and I had deciding we were going to get into the business ten plus years ago. That eventually once we broke through we could have the sort of influence that could impact society at large. Maybe even be a viable political third party. Not to the left or right, but above. Give us some time, we'll get there. Rome wasn't built in a day. Nothing great ever was. 

Any projects in the works you can let us in on? We have multiple scripts in the works, ranging on a wide variety of subject matter, but all embedded with our signature style. We plan on breaking ground on something new and epic in 2012. The rest is classified for now, but bet your ass that when the time comes, you'll know. 

Any thoughts on having any projects here in Detroit? We had a chance to show IGU in a small festival last year in Detroit and we loved it. It is a great, real, authentic American city. Definitely the sort of place that we'd strive to add to our creative landscape as our horizons expand in the industry. If folks like those in Detroit can appreciate our shit, then we're doing something right. 

What inspired you to get in to writing/directing? At a young age I knew I had a gift to write, Mark had a similar experience as a kid. Around the time we were in high school we started getting into indie film and had already been hip-hop heads since the '80s, which greatly influences our artistic vision to this day. We thought that the best way to bring our words to life and to share our unique view of the world with others was through the powerful medium of film.  

Are there any inspirational words you can lend to the masses? I'd just tell them to let nothing deter them from pursuing their dreams. Accept no excuses, take no short cuts. Knowing you could've achieved something but weren't willing to make the great effort is truly one of the worst regrets a man must carry. Believe in yourself to the point of arrogance, because there will be days where you're the only one who does. You have but one life to live, so give it everything you've got. Keep the pedal on the floor and fight with all of the force you can muster for as long as you must. When you get there, as you no doubt will, be thankful, stay humble and keep working hard. Take nothing for granted. 

Any people you wanted to thank? Of course. My parents for believing in me and building me into the man I am today. All I want to do is make something special, to give back to them for all they gave up for me. Tara, my fiancee, for being my muse and inspiring me on a constant basis to be the man I strive to be. Mark, one of the most brilliant human beings I've ever met, for sacrificing so much to try to make this daunting dream real. My family and true friends for their support and loyalty. Every hustler out there fighting every day for their rightful piece of the pie. And dudes like you for having my back, supporting my journey and giving me a chance to speak mind. I'm truly and sincerely blessed to have such good people in my life. 

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Having been lucky enough to see the film at the festival here in Detroit, and knowing Greg Santarsiero well enough to call him friend and brother, I am blessed to have been a part of this interview. Greg, or G as many of us know him as, is one of those people in life that EVERYONE should get to know, even if just for a minute. He continues to be an inspiration to myself and many others, and will be for a long time to come.

**The above interview is being published with the knowledge and permission of Greg Santarsiero. The above image was taken, with permission, from http://www.icegrillusa.com **