ADRIAN: You are an independent Filmmaker in Amarillo, TX. What kind of films do you
make?
CJ: I mostly make horror, but I’ve been exploring other styles like documentaries and drama
recently. I even want to get into romance!
ADRIAN: What draws you to making horror?
CJ: I’ve always loved horror. Horror feels natural to me. It’s been a genre that I not only
enjoy watching, but found that I enjoy making.
I feel like making low budget horror, you have to find creative ways to make certain
things work. And that’s where I have the most fun expressing my creativity. Problem
solving is used in any genre of filmmaking; but horror is a lot more messy & dramatic.
Especially independent.
ADRIAN: What are some of your favorite projects you have done so far?
CJ: All of my films hold a special place in my heart… but strangely enough, my smaller
projects (like trailers or promotional videos) have been more fun for me recently. I’ve
been exploring my love for vibrant colors, and campy horror. Different, non traditional
angles, and kind of “out there” music choices. I think the less serious I take a project,
the more fun I have with it.
ADRIAN: What do you love about creating films?
CJ: I could go on about this forever. It’s my artistic expression. I am really big into
cinematography. Symmetry, parallel lines, rule of third… that's my jam, I can’t explain it.
On set, when I get a beautiful frame, with stellar lighting and top notch acting… You can
ask my crew, I do a lot of happy dances on set. It feels like magic. Making films is magic
for me.
ADRIAN: What inspires you as a filmmaker?
CJ: I never really know how to answer this question. I think a lot of things inspire me, day to
day. And capturing stories in motion is my way of acting upon that inspiration.
Recently a friend asked how I go about filming with no budget. I answered by saying my
films are heavily location based. Anywhere I go, just about every day, there is a little
voice in my head that asks “how can we make a film in this area? What stories could we
tell in this room? What props could make the scene even better?...”
And especially having a horror movie mindset, i like to think, how can i turn this location
scary? I made a short film called ‘The Hallway’ based on a hallway I was scared to pass
by, when spending late nights at work. It was a free space that genuinely made me
uncomfortable to be around.
I filmed my first horror film in the back hallways of the Arts At Sunset, because they
were long, eerie, and hidden. I filmed a short film on what happened ‘after a werewolf
attack’. The shed we filmed in was free, and my team and I created a whole scene
around it. So, I'm very location based. What's accessible for my budget? What’s
unique? Is it scary? How can I make it scary? Etc…
ADRIAN: Do you have any funny set stories you would like to share?
CJ: One of my favorites was filming my feature, back in 2021. (the film is being remade, but
that's another story). For a week straight, my team and I used a giant pumpkin as a
dead body prop, we named it Tony. My actors would swing an axe into it, to give the
effect of hacking into a real body. Obviously we’re low budget, and I was 21 at the time
so; it was genius to me then.
Anyways, we wrapped the final scene with Tony. It was at least 11pm. My assistant
director, Bryan, and actor, Ryan went to dispose of his corpse. They wrapped his body
in giant black trash bags, and drug him outside. He had to be over 15lbs, covered in
fake blood, and pumpkin guts. They drug his body out to the alleyway, using all their
strength, they hurled him into a dumpster. They both yelled “FUCK YOU TONY!” “Yeah!
Fuck you Tony!” Panting, in a sweat, they turn to the side to see a homeowner smoking
a cigarette in the alley. Staring at them. They smiled and waved, then walked as quickly
as they could back into the house.
I could only imagine what that man was thinking, and how funny it would have been to
witness that. R.I.P Tony.
ADRIAN: What are you working on at the moment?
CJ: 2025 is going to be STACKED. My feature film is a whole thing in itself… but short film
wise, I just made my first drama, with horror elements to it. I’m working on a mini
documentary about the Amarillo underground art scene. And coming up I have some
more campy and lighthearted horror, that i think our community will get a kick out of…
I also have been learning how to make music & ambiance for my films, using my friend's
synthesizer. Finding the perfect music is so hard when you’re picky like me. And I'm the
type that likes to fully submerge myself into my work. So thanks to my friend Reux, I am
able to play around with that. I’d eventually like to create a whole soundtrack around my
films. Short and long.
ADRIAN: You recently had a short horror film accepted into the Amarillo International Film
Festival. How was that?
CJ: So fun! I’m always so impressed by how Amarillo is growing. I never thought the city
would be expanding the way it has been. I’m so thankful our team was selected to be a
part of the festival, and it was wonderful to watch other local films and support our
community’s hard work.
ADRIAN: Where can viewers see some of your films? Are any of them streaming?
CJ: None of my films are streaming (yet!) but you can find them on my youtube channel,
CJFilms. Some of my films are GASP!, Hush, Dinner For Two… The icon is a sketch my
friend made of me with my logo!
https://linktr.ee/cj_scott?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=91b7a8fe-0703-485e-
ADRIAN: What are you looking forward to?
CJ: I’m looking forward to finding my voice in other avenues with film, aside from writing and
directing. I’ve really enjoyed creating the cover art for my films recently. I’m exploring
ways to make music for upcoming projects. I’ve been learning about foley, and how to
create weird noises. Which is so fun (and disgusting) for horror films. I’m learning SFX
work, and enjoying that.
But overall, I’m looking forward to making more memories with the people I love. Making
movies takes a team of people, my movies wouldn't be made if I didn't have a cast,
crew, or non-film friends that believed in my vision. I’m looking forward to laughing with
them again, problem solving, exploring ideas, and creating films we can all be proud of.
I’m looking forward to making more movies with my film family.
