Power of Perseverance Brought 'Exemplum'

Award-winning director Paul Roland recently sat down to discuss the journey of making his feature film, Exemplum, on a shoestring budget of $9,000. The film, which explores the moral and theological implications of cancel culture, was awarded Best Director at the Pasadena Film Festival. Roland's determination and passion for his craft are evident in his account of creating Exemplum, a testament to the power of perseverance in Hollywood.

"I've been studying filmmaking since high school," Roland said, recounting his early love for films by Fritz Lang, Ingmar Bergman and other classics. This passion drove him to study screenwriting in college and write seven screenplays before finally embarking on Exemplum in 2015.

He credits his admiration for 1990s independent filmmakers, such as Christopher Nolan and Spike Lee, as inspiration for taking the leap to create his own feature film.

With a small budget, Roland was forced to be resourceful and creative in his approach to filmmaking.

"You have to construct your entire story around what you know you can get for free or relatively cheap," he explained. Despite this limitation, Roland believes that his experience writing big-budget scripts allowed him to create a sense of urgency in Exemplum and focus on the emotions and character development, rather than being constrained by the budget.

Discussing the festival circuit, Roland acknowledged that it can be challenging and even "rigged." He stressed the importance of determination and focusing on creating great work, rather than getting caught up in the difficulties of the industry. "If you're committed to that, you're committed to reaching inside of yourself to craft that wonderful film that's going to unite people and inspire people, you're gonna beat it," he said.

Exemplum holds a special place in Roland's heart, as it encapsulates his vision as a filmmaker. "I want to be able to take past traditional values and traditional aesthetics and blend them with our modern age," he said. "Exemplum takes my views as a Catholic and puts it together with this modern crime thriller story and has a moral reflection about the kind of age that we're living in."

Roland's story is a testament to the power of determination in the world of filmmaking. Despite the challenges he faced, his passion for storytelling and commitment to his craft ultimately led him to create a powerful and thought-provoking film.

Aspiring filmmakers can take inspiration from Roland's journey, knowing that success is possible with dedication and a willingness to think outside the box.

Check out the trailer for the film here.