The Real Deal: A look through the lens of a young Long Island filmmaker

The Reel Deal: A look through the lens of a young Long Island filmmaker

By Randi Satnick

Perhaps it is the reserved demeanor, slouched in a laminate clad booth not far from his Long Island home, that makes one feel as if they are meeting a man of mature years. It might otherwise be the heavy subject matter he brings to the screen and conversation that weighs on both this filmmaker’s psyche and art, which belies his mere 22 years. Topics such as camera angles, blocking and editing are then brought to the table and the jubilation of a recent college graduate enjoying recognition for his work emerges. Max Hechtman is a mix of both, an old soul with the excitement and purposefulness of youth, eager to tell stories.

Hechtman first picked up a camera while a student at Woodland Middle School in East Meadow, NY. It was during these formative years that he realized both his passion and burden. As resident videographer for the school he developed an interest in shooting and editing. It was also during this time that the budding filmmaker lost his father to 9/11 related leukemia. The passing of, as Hechtman puts it, “One of my best friends,” would birth his resolve to address social issues through film and create an abiding connection to topics such as loss and grief. So, when teen suicide was the focus of an assembly in his school, Hechtman’s idea for a documentary was born. As other middle school teenagers struggled to find their identity, Hechtman unearthed both the art form and themes that would define the beginnings of his career.

Max Hechtman navigated middle school and high school behind the lens of a camera honing his skills at sporting events and theatrical performances. He attended practices and rehearsals pre-determining the blocking, moments and angles to shoot. One of his fans commented, “Usually, Max’s video of the event was more entertaining than the event itself!” Apparently others agreed. Hechtman cites one of his proudest and most pivotal moments as being the time his peers stood to offer him a standing ovation. “I felt special and respected,” Hechtman admits.

Respect for his work would come again and again. First, it gained him entry to FIT’s (The Fashion Institute of Technology) new Film and Media program. Max was intrigued by the ability to work with the newest, professional equipment and felt the program would be, “a good fit” allowing him to explore his aesthetic and hone technical skills. The latter was also bolstered by employment at Reel Life Cinematography, a production studio on Long Island. Hechtman credits Reel Life’s Christonikos Tsalikis on much of his work and for his mentorship since 2012. Documentaries produced by Max during his school tenure would again earn him praise, as they were deemed worthy of entry to various film festivals.

Hechtman’s documentary on teen suicide, Stories of Strength and Hope recently won for Best Documentary in the 22nd annual Long Island International Film Expo this July in Bellmore, NY. Although a recent graduate of FIT, Hechtman’s documentary is anything but elementary. His work is evocative and faceted and seemingly the product of a seasoned filmmaker. The emotional subject matter doesn’t strive to answer questions on topics Hechtman obviously still grapples with, such as loss and grief. Instead he sets out to break the stigma of suicide, discuss statistics and warning signs and address the media’s portrayal of the topic. Interviews, cinematography, dramatic imagery and the effect of Netflix’s provocative 13 Reasons Why series, along with Hechtman’s signature theater references; this time, Dear Evan Hansen’s Broadway musical, breathes life, drama and truth into the 12 minute documentary.

Abigail, a one-scene script Hechtman optioned and built a story upon, is the latest material on which he cuts his creative teeth. The short film, shot in a cemetery in Middle Village, also features interior shots from a Merrick, NY home. Again, the themes of loss and grief are explored as a lonely old man, grieving his wife’s death, meets a young girl at the gravesite. The meeting changes the man with a plot twist Hechtman is sure will shock the audience. He is eager to bring “the short,” now in post-production, to a viewing audience and make its rounds to film festivals.

No longer a Film and Media student, Hechtman will surely always be a student of film. He cites well-known filmmakers and some less known whom he admires. He talks about producing documentaries, drama, comedy, sci-fi films and of course reinterpreting his beloved theater by bringing that to the screen. Hechtman casts his net wide. He plans to work on both the production and post-production side of filmmaking and continue to tackle social issues in his projects. The artist at the table waxes on, “I hope to take what I see and introduce it to a wider audience, hearing songs that relate to a story with true messages and themes and even learn about the past so no one makes the same mistake again.” The statement, although tinged with a healthy dose of youthful naivety, comes from a filmmaker with an editor’s eye. Max Hechtman visualizes the ending he wants to create and he’s got the skill and creativity to take us there.

Max Hechtman’s work can be followed: Maxbhechtman.com Instagram: @maxhechtman or @maxhechtmanfilms