Meet Matt Whitney | Artist & Storyteller

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

Hi Matt, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
You always hear that you should never risk your own money in a business; always risk other people’s.

I understand the thought process behind it, that a wealthy investor can afford to lose what may be a life-ruining sum of money to you. But if you don’t believe in your business enough to put your own money into it, then I question your passion for the business.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Telling stories has been a part of my life since I was born. I grew up with an actor for an older brother, so I was on film sets every week, and acted in my first commercial at just two years old alongside him.
My parents were also huge supporters of the arts who worked tirelessly to give me every opportunity they could. Besides the Chicago film industry, I was involved in a professional theatre company, had access to every musical instrument on the planet, and of course made home movies in my basement and backyard.

This love of art and storytelling took me to Huntington University, where I was able to focus my creative passions into writing and directing films. Being immersed in a community of collaborative artists that supported each other helped me to hone my specific style and become confident in my abilities.

After college, I took the typical route of driving West to Hollywood to make a name for myself. What I found is that Hollywood is a place to make other people’s visions a reality (which can be a whole lot of fun) but it’s not the best place to tell your own story.
Armed with that knowledge, and lots of on set experience, I returned to the Midwest to make my first feature film, 4.0
This was the quintessential indie film, shot in 11 days with no money. It’s not very good, but without 4.0, my career would not be where it is today. Everyone starts somewhere, and I started on the 3rd floor of a dorm on the campus of Goshen College.

Since then, I’ve directed two more films, and worked on many others. In 2017, I travelled to Turkey to make a documentary on the world-famous archeologist, Dr. Mark Fairchild. This was a wholly new experience for me, since up to that point, I had only directed narrative films. Making a documentary is a different animal entirely, but one I was happy to tame for a time.

Most recently, I wrote and directed the musical comedy “Moondance”. This was the culmination of years of work, and something that I will always be proud of. It’s a story I started writing when I was 13 (though it wasn’t yet a musical), honed in college, finished writing in France, and finally directed in Kalamazoo, MI. Not only did I write and direct the film, but I collaborated with David Starck, a brilliant Parisian composer, to write more than a dozen original songs.
I have yet to eclipse the elation I felt walking into the recording studio when we started the soundtrack, and hearing music I had written being played by musicians.
Creatively, Moondance has been the most fun I’ve had telling a story. I hope to return to the musical genre many more times over my career.

Today, I run Squatch Film, which not only is my vehicle for producing the films I write and direct, but also has the goal of helping indie filmmakers tell their stories.
One thing I learned all the way back in college is that there is no shortage of brilliant storytellers in the world. Unfortunately, the technical and financial challenges of producing a movie often choke out that brilliance before the world has a chance to experience it.
I’m not just passionate about telling stories, I’m passionate about hearing other peoples’ stories, and through my company, I’m able to do that.

Moving forward, I am working towards opening Concord Studios, a multi-purpose production facility that will be the premiere spot in the Midwest to make movies. Hollywood was the epicenter of film for over a century, now it’s time for the Midwest to take that mantle.
Concord Studios will offer affordable production support in the form of sound stages, post-production facilities, offices, catering, housing, and much more.

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.
Elkhart County, where I live, is home to some of the best food and entertainment in the Midwest. If you remember the incomparable Jordan Mullins from earlier, then you’re in luck. When he’s not delighting you on the screen, he’s building a food dynasty, which includes Fatbird in South Bend (my favorite Cajun restaurant and I lived in New Orleans), Oak & Ash in Dowagiac (the best BBQ in the tri-state area), and The Breakfast Club (for those who love their food with a dose of ironic nostalgia) just to name a few.

There’s also the Flippin’ Cow in Elkhart, situated right on the river. You can eat yourself silly on every variety of beef known to man.

If you want something sweet, you’re in luck because The Chief is one of the ten best ice cream shops in the country – just be prepared to wait in line at least 30 minutes; they’re popular!

Now that you’ve eaten your fill, it’s time to work off some of those calories at The Warehouse bouldering gym. I recently discovered a love for bouldering when I walked into The Warehouse, and I can’t stop going back. It’s located in an old brick train depot and is one of the coolest places you can go. Honestly, it’s the highlight of my week.

Goshen, where I reside, is home to a great walking trails along the Mill Race. You can spend hours exploring the twisting routes without hearing a single car or train (and we get 300 a day).

Goshen is also home to the aptly named Goshen Theater, and its sister site, The Arthouse. Together, they provide indie and classic film screenings to the area (and were one of the first theaters to screen Moondance). The Goshen Theater just underwent a massive restoration and is as gorgeous as ever.

You will never run out of things to do in Elkhart County. It’s a beautiful place to call home and a wonderful place to make and discover art.

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?
Working in the film industry, I am fortunate enough to collaborate with dozens of artists and technicians every time I take on a new project. Every one of these people has been instrumental in shaping and elevating my art.

On the granular level, I have to give specific thanks to Jordan Mullins. He is an actor I’ve worked with for the past 4 years who I’m fortunate enough to also call my friend.
You will never know a better champion of your ideas and your success than Jordan. He is always in my corner, cheering me on and supporting me in any way he can.

Website: www.squatchfilm.com

Instagram: mattjmwhitney

Image Credits
Moondance Poster: Nick Begnaud The King in Yellow Poster: Tyler Savino Group Photo: Greg Kraus