Movie director to head film department
Film writer and director Greg Mellott will take over as the new film and video professor this fall.
Although this gig is far from Hollywood lights and major actors, it is a challenge he is excited about and ready to accept.
“Directing a film is similar to directing a department,” Mellott. “It’s all about teamwork.”
“I’m really looking forward to working with all of these great professors [at OCCC].”
Mellott has his name tied in with several movies, including “First Strike,” starring Jackie Chan, and “Direct Action,” which was directed by Sidney Furie and starred Dolph Lundgren.
Currently, Mellott is working on the original script for the movie “The Four Horsemen,” a movie about young Marines after they return to the United States from the war in Iraq.
Mellott has enjoyed wor-king with Furie, who directed “Ladybugs” and “Superman IV.”
“That’s been great to work with Sidney on these [movies] because you’re able to see a film from just what the idea should be,” Mellott said. “I have been able to participate in all those areas and it’s been a great education.”
Mellott was born in Los Angeles and moved away when he was young. He has lived throughout the United States and spent a small amount of time growing up in Italy.
He said he even spent a couple of years in Oklahoma City.
Mellott received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and his master’s degree while attending University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
He said he became interested in theater and acting while living in Ohio and being involved in some high school plays. He said what prompted him into directing and writing was the freedom that went along with it.
“Once you get into acting, you see that you’re at the mercy of what plays they are putting on,” Mellott said.
He said he realized he didn’t have enough control and that’s what propelled him into the writing-directing role of film.
From there, Mellott was a teaching assistant while he finished his master’s at USC.
Some of the films that inspired Mellott are “Rebel Without a Cause,” “The Godfather” and “Taxi Driver.”
When it comes to his favorite project, he said there is no way to choose.
“All I can say about favorite project is they are like children, you really can’t have a favorite.”
Staff Writer John Savage can be reached at StaffWriter2@occc.edu.
