Film director, producer and writer Christian Rousseau and his wife Ashley, of Steiner Ranch, are working on their first full length film “No Loss//No Gain” which is scheduled to start filming in January
“No Loss//No Gain” to be released fall 2018
By ALAINA MALONE, Four Points News
Film director, producer, writer and entrepreneur Christian Rousseau and his involved wife/teammate Ashley have been striving passionately to make their first full length feature film a reality, “No Loss//No Gain” a heist film starring a modern day “Robin Hood” and characters whose actions will hope to make one question their morals.
“With this film,” Rousseau said. “I want people to question, ‘What do you believe in? Why do you believe in it? How are you backing it up?’ If I had to pinpoint what I want the audience to take in is its authenticity, earnestness and honesty.”
Rousseau Rousseau has made several short films in the past which have won awards like “The Overman”, which won the Accolade Competition Award of Merit and was a semi-finalist in the Action/Cut Competition in 2011. He also founded San Austin Productions where he has worked with companies like Prevention magazine, WP Engine, Saatva, the Moody Theatre and Austin Young Chamber of Commerce. He was an assistant cameraman on “Bug” (2016) and the director of photography on “Seven Hill City” (2017).
“I first decided I was serious about filmmaking around high school,” Rousseau said. I went to the North East School of the Arts in San Antonio and then to the University of Texas for college.”
Around this time was when Rousseau and his wife, Ashley, first met on Match.com. They both claim to have “understood” each other from the first date. The couple moved into Steiner Ranch about three years ago, seeing it as the perfect place to start their lives together.
“When (Ashley) first walked me out into what is now our backyard, facing a greenbelt, showing me all of these trails, a block away from a park and an elementary school, I knew,” Rousseau said about moving into their current home. “We love living here. We haven’t looked back since. She likes to say it’s like a vacation home.”
The couple consider their latest work as what the film industry describes as a “passion project” and their baby. The Rousseau’s feel that the most important thing right now is getting this film done with full force and attention before having children. Ashley explained that when they do decide to put forth full attention on a real baby, they are considering adopting. She has previously worked at the Helping Hand Home for Children for two years, where she helped to improve the lives of less fortunate children in foster care system. This, she says, is where she first sought interest in fostering herself.
“From the beginning of starting my video production company, Ashley has been critical,” Rousseau said. “She’s always served as a producer in everything I do.”
Rousseau’s new film written and produced by his company is slated to begin filming in January.
They raised just over $19,000 through IndieGoGo over the summer, “which is great for a rag-tag indie film with no huge names attached,” he said.
Until next month they are in pre-production mode with planning, scheduling and design. They are raising final funds through private investors who are interested in a percentage of the film distribution sales or in exchange for video production services.
The film will be screened online and in-person for supporters, and then is expected to hit the Film Festival/distribution circuit by Fall 2018.
The couple expressed their excitement for the release of their first full length feature film and expect for it to be an inspiring piece.
Rousseau understands that because his newest work will be a heist film, it may be considered cliche to someone who hasn’t seen it. He believes his work is unique because of his personal style. He believes the actors themselves have made a very large impact during rehearsals in making his movie different from all others. He lets his actors mold their characters into individuals. His strongest bet is that audience members will realize each character may have a fatal flaw, but is also not a bad person. The approach is hoping to impose a deeper meaning in making one question ‘What would I do?’ as well as highlighting one mistake does not define a person’s character entirely.
“I think that every single person watching is going to get something different,” Rousseau said. “That to me is what’s so beautiful about filming.”