Nicholas Gyeney

How did you get into writing and directing?
It's all of my father's fault. When I was very young, he would show me all kinds of films. From Terminator, to James Bond, to Star Wars. Every Sunday was movie day for us for my first 12 years. In November of 1998, my father passed away. I was 12 years old, and his death shook my world. I began using movies as an escape and eventually realized that it was what I was meant to do. My father's death forced me to grow up very young, which made me very determined to succeed from the beginning. Everything else fell into place after that.

How did the idea for your first film come about?
The idea for The Penitent Man came from an idea to make a film based around a conversation between two people. Could we make a conversation compelling enough to entertain an audience for a majority of the film's running time? I've also been very fascinated with the idea of fate or destiny since my father died, so it became very fluid during the writing process to incorporate several themes like those that have shaped and influenced my life as well.

When did you know you were going to make it?
It was a very, very quick process. From concept to completion was a period of five months, which is almost unheard of in this industry.
I had a financier who wanted to work with me, which motivated me to dive headfirst right away.

Breaking into the industry, was it all about contacts?
A large part of making it in this industry is who you know, but more importantly it's what you do with those people you meet and how you present yourself to them.
A successful filmmaker has to be not only talented and creative, but a savvy businessman and a confident salesman as well.

How do you feel about the success of your most recent film The Penitent Man?
I'm just so grateful that people are enjoying it. It's more than I could have ever hoped for.

What was your inspiration for The Penitent Man?
My father, and of course, my favorite film, Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

You wrote and directed 'The Penitent Man'. Looking back, which part of the creative process was your favorite?
It's all one process for me. I love it all. Each step is a piece of the puzzle, a part of the adventure, and I would never want to miss a moment of it.

Do you feel any characters you have created are based on you/ relate to you?
Absolutely! Much of the conversations between the characters reflect my own thoughts, ideas, and experiences.

Do you have any projects coming up? Can you tell us a little about them?
An action film called "The Riot" it's set at the tipping point of a second Great Depression in the U.S. A group of friends must unite to survive devastating riots breaking out in their city.

Who are some of your favorite Directors?
James Cameron, Michael Mann, Christopher Nolan, and Luc Besson. They are all geniuses and masters of dramatic tension.

Is there a single actor you’d most like to work with in the future?
There are many, but if I were forced to choose one it would be Arnold Schwarzenegger, my hero. It would be my life's honor to work with him. In a recent issue of Portrait we encouraged our readers to not wait until they grow up to start pursuing their dreams. As someone who has achieved theirs at a young age, what would your advice be for others with big dreams?
Well, I do feel I always have much to learn and much to accomplish, so my dream is still in progress. But I can say that I would be nowhere if not for hard work, commitment, unrelenting focus, and determination. To succeed, you need the drive.