Filmmaker Pete Bollinger On Five Things You Need To Shine in the Entertainment Industry
An Interview With Guernslye Honoré
Beware of distributors. Properly vet and understand what you are signing with that organization — We signed with a guy from New York for two films, a year and half later not a penny or a report! Luckily, I had placed an out-clause in the contract.
As a part of our series, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Pete Bollinger.
Pete Bollinger is a U.S. Air Force veteran and retired law enforcement officer, and currently, a filmmaker based out of Los Angeles who has an eclectic taste in stories. He has the benefit of an exciting career on the street, from which he draws in writing and in directing his films. Pete is always looking to collaborate to make the best possible people in the industry. It’s not the credit he desires, but the outcome!
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
Yes, I grew up mostly in Orange County, California. It was a tough time for all of us as my father was an alcoholic which led to financial issues. We rarely stayed in one location longer than a few months. My four siblings and I had minor issues with hunger. It taught us to be tough and persevere. I don’t regret a second of it as it made me who I am today!
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
I saw Willy Wonka at the theater as a child and fell in love with cinema. I continued to be into movies growing up and at some point thought I could tell the story even better than the director. I never dreamed of being a filmmaker and entered the United States Air Force. After four years I honorably discharged and applied and was accepted at a Law Enforcement Academy. The Academy in 1988 was a stress academy, meaning they did what they could to “weed out the weak.” It was the hardest thing I have ever been through. Luckily, my favorite movie during that time was An Officer and A Gentleman which premiered in 1982 with Richard Gere and Louis Gossett Jr. When times were tough during the Academy, I silently repeated the famous line from the film, “You can kick me out of here, but I’m not going to quit.” That film helped me get through a very tough time. I had a great career in law enforcement, along with normal police work, which isn’t normal. I met informants and the other side of the law, who were now working on this side of society helping us. One of the former bad guys I met in the early 2000s was a killer named Mundo Mendoza. Mundo, also referred to as Machine Gun Mundo, was a notorious Mexican Mafia hit man who assassinated over 30 people. Mundo and I eventually collaborated to write books together to educate police officers on the dangers and intricacies of the street. Around 2015, I woke up with a very strong feeling that I was supposed to make a film about Mundo Mendoza, a notorious Mexican Mafia hit man and his road to redemption. So, not having the slightest idea on how to accomplish this I embarked on the path to make a movie. Since then, I have been involved in a dozen or so features, even one winning an Academy Award.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Yes, I guess we are speaking of my film career. I founded a law enforcement publishing company while employed as a police officer and I encountered a retired officer named Ron Stallworth, who worked undercover against the KKK. What made it even more interesting was, this officer is black. I assisted with the book and it later became the Academy Award-winning film BlacKkKlansman directed by Spike Lee. I knew from the moment I spoke with him, this story would be internationally lauded and recognized!
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Well, I don’t know about funny, but when Charlie Wachtel and David Robison came over to my house to discuss writing the script for BlacKkKlansman, I was totally supportive in a naive way, as I was unfamiliar with Hollywood protocol. I should have attached myself to the script as Charlie and David and the agent Andy Frances shopped it and it eventually found Jordan Peele who loved it. Next thing we know Spike Lee signed on and the film became part of history. Had I been a little wiser and less helpful (I didn’t want to ruin my friend, Ron Stallworth’s opportunity) I would have an Oscar as Charlie, David, Kevin Wilmott and Spike Lee stood on the world stage and accepted the trophies!
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
Oh really too many to mention, but the best and most fun is a film we are currently shooting and and also shooting its scheduled sequels. It’s titled Rogue Cops. The concept is that police officers are the most important people in society. Imagine a country without law enforcement — there would be total chaos, the weak and unarmed could not leave their house, women and children would be victims at will. This is the premise of Rogue Cops. We delve into personal issues, bigotry, racism, transphobia, alcoholism, PTSD, and the yearning of each cop to make a difference. I aim to bring a different angle and visceral response to cop films like none other before Rogue Cops.
We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
I think one of the problems with the mainstream representing diversity is a formula of acceptance. Very rarely do you see the opposing opinion allowed to roam and develop; not addressing the root cause of unacceptance limits the ability of the film goer to learn from the situation. Rogue Cops hits diversity head-on, not sugar-coating the issue like most art does. Our film embraces the problems with diversity and different points of view, with some hard core anti-whatever expressing their opinion and naturally accepting the opposition as worthy and right. The evolution of thought in Rogue Cops is unorthodox, but beautiful in its ultimate expression.
Rogue Cops also attacks race in every direction, with an intensity never seen before in a police film. We address the LGBQTIA+ community as a non-binary officer breaks into the ranks…This is definitely not a Pollyanna type conversion within the characters — the battle is within and fierce, before finally realizing we are all just people.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why.
- Beware of distributors. Properly vet and understand what you are signing with that organization — We signed with a guy from New York for two films, a year and half later not a penny or a report! Luckily, I had placed an out-clause in the contract.
- People think they are worth more than they actually are. Know what their true value is and pay fairly. I paid an individual too much for a screenplay adaptation from the novel I had written. Learn how to do things yourself, including a script!
- Actors and named actors are vital to your success and you CAN afford them. Many actors do small budget films because it’s easier to get paid quickly and they can do more of them. Find out who is available via a casting director on breakdown and pick a few. Not only are they great actors they give you a name to attach to your film.
- Hire a director who cares. So many will just show up to get paid. If they don’t have lengthy pre-production phone calls and have not read the script, fire them and find someone else. Early in my career I utilized a very talented director who was never available to have meetings even on the phone… I finally moved on… The set is not to hold preliminary discussion! Find someone who cares.
- Always download sound and camera with DIT before they go home. It is tempting to allow them to leave as everyone is tired. So many things can go wrong if they leave including digital extortion; I have the data, I need x amount of money! Once you have a hard drive, make two other hard drives and store them elsewhere.
And to shine in the entertainment industry?
1. Passion — Without it, life is not worth living.
2. Talent — Some are talented, some are not, but it’s better to be talented.
3. Money — People that work for you have bills they must pay.
4. Personality — It is possible to succeed with a bad personality, but so much easier with a good one.
5. Define what the word ‘shine’ means to you, for some it is a blockbuster film, for others it may be a documentary on a specific subject important to them.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Make what you want to make. If you are creating a film just to make money, then well, it’s just a job! Understand that you are different and your interpretation of whatever you are bringing forth is important and is yours and yours alone. Show the world what you see in your mind. I recently had lunch with a scriptwriter and she asked me “What audience are you writing for?” I answered “Me.” I found it sad that she writes for somebody else, but to each their own. Do what you love is the best answer!
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
Wow, this is a big thought, and I could literally write a book answering this question… But I’ll keep it short for the sake of this interview. Everyone should have a bed, we have the ability to build small cubicles where at least a homeless individual can fall asleep in relative safety, cuddled in a warm blanket. I would start there and develop programs of early readership that would break the generational cycle of poverty in the inner-city… Education does work!
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
I have so many people that have assisted me in my personal growth, but most are deceased; so I will focus on one individual. Jeff Armstrong was a corporal at the police department when I was a rookie. He was searching for a suspect on the roof when the roof gave way and his leg punched through. All of the ligaments and tendons were shredded and he was forced to be on the desk as the station supervisor. His injury was so severe he could no longer be a police officer and had to retrain into a different career. Jeff attended classes at the local college trying to figure out what his future would be. Then one day he signed up for a marine biology course and that was it; he fell in love with the subject of water and nature’s effect on it. He is now in charge of a large county water treatment plant with the responsibility of keeping all of us safe. He turned lemons into lemonade, but what I remember most about Jeff is his leadership. Those of us new on the job and hesitant to ask for help and/or show weakness gravitated toward him as he would assist us and teach us without judgment. Such a great person!
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
If you think you can, or can’t, you’re right. — Henry Ford
Before I knew the term Law of Attraction and Oprah’s Secret, I believed in it…. I will things to happen and continue to live in that manner! I can do anything, I know I’ll win an Academy Award in the next decade… I also have a script that will rival Training Day and hope to make it soon… And if everything I dream of doesn’t happen… It’s only because I ran out of time!
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)
Nicole Muj
She is an amazing publicist and an individual that makes things happen. I love people like that!
How can our readers follow you on social media?
https://www.policeandfirepublishing.com/ Website
Policeandfirepublishing YouTube
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
About the interviewer: Guernslye Honoré, affectionately known as “Gee-Gee”, is an amalgamation of creativity, vision, and endless enthusiasm. She has elegantly twined the worlds of writing, acting, and digital marketing into an inspiring tapestry of achievement. As the creative genius at the heart of Esma Marketing & Publishing, she leads her team to unprecedented heights with her comprehensive understanding of the industry and her innate flair for innovation. Her boundless passion and sense of purpose radiate from every endeavor she undertakes, turning ideas into reality and creating a realm of infinite possibilities. A true dynamo, Gee-Gee’s name has become synonymous with inspirational leadership and the art of creating success.
