Max

When I was 15, I visited the edge of Area 51 with a DV camera. My dad was working as a camera operator on a TV episode about UFOs, secret aircraft, and Area 51 — and I got to tag along. This old tape has Janet flights, warning signs, security trucks, the Little A’Le’Inn, the famous Black Mailbox, and a brief appearance by George Knapp. #Area51 #ufo #GeorgeKnapp #documentary #indiefilm

In this scene, a young girl tries to bring her father, a homeless veteran struggling with PTSD, back to reality as his military training kicks in and a dangerous moment escalates. Clip from Princess of the Row, a feature film directed by Van Maximilian Carlson. Executive Produced by Morgan Freeman Featuring Edi Gathegi, Tayler Buck, Tim Abell Produced by Shawn A. Austin Princess of the Row is now available to watch online. #IndieFilm #Filmmaking #ptsd #SkidRow #veteran

Meet Piñata Man. By day, he makes piñatas. By night, he fights crime. The rule is simple: whatever the piñata is shaped like… that’s what’s inside. Clip from my short film The Piñata Man. Watch the Full Film on YouTube! Featuring @willguirola and @robertofernandez4478 Shot on RED with Nikon lenses. #ShortFilm #ComedyShort #IndieFilm #ActionComedy #piñatas

Sanjay Verma, my friend and brother in spirit, passed away recently. He was 41 years old. We were born in the same year — 1984 — which is also the same year the Bhopal Gas Disaster occurred. Sanjay was just a baby, yet the disaster shaped the course of his entire life. We first met in 2009 while filming Bhopali, and from that time on, we remained good friends. Sanjay lost seven members of his family in the disaster, yet he carried such light, humor, and energy. He had a way of lifting people up even while carrying so much himself — often with a great joke. This seven-minute clip is an introduction to his story and to who he was: a bright, charismatic soul who never stopped fighting for justice, and who reminded me what resilience and heart look like. I will miss him greatly.

In honor of Halloween, I’m sharing a short film I made 11 years ago called The Carnival. It was inspired by a late-night drive through Vernon, California, when I passed one of those eerie pop-up carnivals, which I’ve always enjoyed. So I called up Flannery Lunsford and Emma Choy Brown and said, “There’s a carnival in town. Let’s film something tonight.” What followed was a mostly improvised experiment — a loose script, spontaneous moments, and the strange beauty of the carnival itself. 🎬 Starring Flannery Lunsford @goldenfeverdreams Emma Choy Brown @bodegababy Tony Abatemarco @abatemarcotony 🎵 Music by Trevor Friedman @trevortreeriver 1st AC - @ani_violet 📽️ Directed / Shot / Edited by me Shot on Red Cam - Nikon Lenses Happy Halloween, everyone. #TheCarnival #ShortFilm #Halloween #Filmmaking #BehindTheScenes

On February 23, 2025, my sister, Ruby Jane Carlson, was joined in holy matrimony with Hrag Andrew Bedirian. It was a truly special day. In fact, I remember remarking to myself that it was a “perfect day.” Congratulations to my sister and to Andrew. May you both have a long, healthy, and beautiful life together.

It takes a lot of people to make art and many of them don’t get the recognition they deserve. So every Thursday I am shining a light on fellow creatives that I have worked with (or would like to)! Today I am spotlighting Van Maximilian Carlson, whose work as the director of the 2019 indie film PRINCESS OF THE ROW really impressed me. He never shied away from intimate, vulnerable moments. He has a storyteller’s eye. And he knows that he must be versatile: sometimes creating his own work and following his own vision, and other times serving someone else’s project. But always being an artist, first and foremost. I asked Max a few questions and here is what he had to say: JOB TITLE: Director, Editor, Co-Owner at REBEL AV WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB? I wear multiple hats. I’m an independent film director, writer, and editor of both feature narratives and documentaries. I co-own a movie trailer advertising company @rebelav , we create movie trailers. For Narrative Filmmaking my favorite part is dreaming the story into fruition, with a strong emphasis on arc of character and plot. It’s like an imaginative puzzle that kick-starts the whole filmmaking process. For Documentary filmmaking, it’s being an investigator and trying to find the truth in what I’m exploring. For Trailer Editing it’s finding an emotionally satisfying mix of music, story, and performance to create an engaging trailer. WHAT DO YOU WISH ACTORS (OR OTHER CREATIVES) UNDERSTOOD ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?  I think every director approaches work in a different way. For me, I would like actors to know that I want them to explore, dream, and pursue what feels truthful. I would like them to engage the material head on and not be afraid to push boundaries in their exploration. I want them to know that this is a journey we are on together, trying to find the true heart of the material we are exploring, and in a sense, there are no rules. Max has more to share with you! KEEP READING IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!!! You can follow Max at: IG: @vanmaxcarlson #CreativesInCommunity #ArtIsATeamEffort

Trailer for THE TROLL, a short film I wrote/directed/edited back in 2013. It’s a love story about a troll that lives under a bridge in Los Angeles, who falls in love with a human. You can find the full film for free on Vimeo. Starring: Patrick Saxon, Tony Abatemarco, and @gdcapetra Cinematography by @johnsimmonsasc Music by @snowingmusic Produced by Christopher Folino Production Manager @tendicott Make Up by Jeff Farley I grew up right near a cool old bridge called the Shakespeare Bridge in Los Feliz, which was part of the inspiration for the story. Have you paid the troll toll? #shortfilm #trolls #indiefilm

Remembering my uncle Lon Carlson (1952-2023), a man of incredibly unique humor, a pillar of a marriage, a great father, and an all-around great guy. His presence enriched our lives. I’m sure he is now reunited with my father and his parents. This video is a tribute to him. Rest in peace, Lon.

In honor of Father’s Day, here’s a video I put together back in 2011, about my dad, Van Theodore Carlson. It was originally screened at his memorial service. It touches on different aspects of his life, from his upbringing in Colorado to his pursuit of film, his cinematography, his family, his interest in tai-chi, his uniqueness. #fathersday

Happy Fathers to you dad. Miss you.

Sharing some behind the scenes photos of @princessoftherowmovie - If you haven’t had a chance to check out the film, it’s currently available on @hbomax #filmmaking #film #filmmaker #cinematography #cinema #director #movies #movie #photography #cinematographer #filmmakers #behindthescenes #shortfilm #actor #art #filmproduction #films #videography #setlife #video #indiefilm #filmphotography #videoproduction #cinematic #hollywood #filming #filmfestival #bts #camera #bhfyp