Corey Deshon

What is your name, company name, and URL?

Corey Deshon, Thirteenth Floor Pictures, and I can be found online on social media @CoreyDeshon

What is your specialty: filmmaking or screenwriting? If filmmaking, which aspects?

I consider myself a Director first, a Screenwriter second, and a Producer out of necessity.

What are you currently working on?

At the time of writing this, I'm getting ready to go out and pitch my first original series to networks. I guess we'll know by the time this gets published whether or not it sold, so fingers crossed! Otherwise, I'm in the early stages of putting together my next film to direct, and writing the film I'll be aiming to direct after that.

Who do you consider your mentor and why?

I didn't have a dedicated mentor as I was coming up in the film industry, but I would give this credit to all of the generous writers and filmmakers who take the time to share their experiences and insights with others.

Why do you think the horror/sci-fi genres have such a large following?

They're just lots of fun. They can challenge and stretch our imaginations, surprise us, and even terrify us, unlike any other genres can. They're a rollercoaster ride from start to finish.

What do you love most about this business?

As tough as it can be, at the end of the day to succeed is to get paid for your imagination, and that's a pretty cool way to make a living. It gives us a reason to keep dreaming up new things, and to keep trying to bring them to life.

What do you dislike most about this business?

That the same line of work that inspires dreams is also just as good at killing them. Some might even say better.

What career accomplishment are you most proud of?

Directing my first feature. When I first got into the industry and said, "I'm a director," the industry promptly responded, "No, you aren't." I like to call finally directing my first feature "getting over the curse of the first-time director." No matter what happens next, this is something that can't be taken away from me, and has changed the nature of every conversation I've had since.

Any advice you'd like to give to newbies?

Play the long game, and prioritize building genuine relationships with people. The friends you make today will be the colleagues you make films with 5 or 10 years from now.

Anything else you'd like to say?

Hold my beer, watch this, is a perfectly acceptable thing to say to people who doubt you.