We had the good fortune of connecting with Michel Monty and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michel, why did you pursue a creative career?
I was lucky. I had a teacher in high school recognize an affinity for creation in me (and frankly a lack of mathematical ability). Their encouragement convinced me to choose a career in film. I’d been making shorts with classmates that would air on the school’s news station once a month. They were goofy and often painfully unfunny, but the collaboration, the artistic decisions, the engagement. It was just fun. I didn’t see it as a viable career until a mentor suggested otherwise.

Making television or films is great because you’re constantly changing projects, locations, and meeting new people. I tried a nine-to-five job, shooting corporate industrial videos for all of three months before almost suffocating to death. I then dove into a complete freelance lifestyle and have been doing that ever since.

I’ve always loved movies, but being in Atlanta during this explosion of production for the last twelve years has been unimaginable. I’m from Atlanta and couldn’t be prouder to be a local filmmaker. I shoot gig to gig and after years of working through almost every department, I’m kinda back where I started in school; directing videos, with people I like, seeing what we can get away with.


Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
To me, the difference between something that is art and something propagandist is that art allows for conversation. When a piece denies you a rounded understanding of what it’s like to be a part of this world or denies you the chance to engage with it openly, you are outside the realm of art.  It’s a similar difference between approaching life with a scientific curiosity versus one hemmed in by an unchallenged belief set. This is a sliding scale. My hope is to create something I’m proud of that encourages engagement. I define this less by the number of people a piece reaches and more by that dialogue. I’m most proud of the instances in my career where my cast, crew, and I were brave enough to start something without dictating the final result.


Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my friend is here for a week first thing I’m taking them to The Porter. Cardiac arrest induced by their goat cheese fritters is how I’d like to eventually die.

If the Plaza is showing a print of an old movie we’ll check that out. If we have some nice nights in, we’ll go to Videodrome and rent some obscure Blu-rays you could only find there. The best Mexican food here is Nuevo Laredo so that is happening. Antico’s Pizza, same deal. MJQ if they want to dance and Putt Shack if they don’t. Finish the whole thing with some Jeni’s and a walk on the beltline. That sounded kind of flirty now that I’m reading it back.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Mrs. Sherri Wyile was the teacher I needed at exactly the right time.

As for personal resources, I highly recommend online channels like Studiobinder, Lessons from the Screenplay, Every Frame a Painting, and the Nerdwriter. Fantastic books for people who want to be filmmakers are Directing Actors by Judith Weston and Making Movies by Syndey Lumet.

Most importantly is being exposed to different types of cinema. Nothing teaches you more than critically analyzing other films (the good and bad). An added trick I would challenge young directors to do is watch movies with the sound off. You will become very aware of camera placement and the editing choices the filmmakers made.

Website: michelmonty.com

Instagram: Full.Monty.Python

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michel-monty-b857782a/

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