Michael Stafford

He is the filmmaker of The Last Rung on the Ladder Dollar Baby film.

SKSM: Could you start with telling me a little bit about yourself? Who are you and what do you do?

Michael Stafford: Well, by day I’m a psychotherapist for the military. I have a Master degree and specialize treating PTSD in military veterans. Then I spend the rest of my time making film and promoting boxing events. Then I’m left with about 5 minutes to sit down with the girlfriend, sleep for ten minutes, get up and do it again. 😅 But really, I’m a small town guy with a big personality that grew up on the farm way out in the country.

SKSM: When did you know you wanted to become a filmmaker?

Michael Stafford: I was sittin’ at work one day bored out of my tree. Of course, then I get to dooms day scrolling and see an add for the Fredericton 48 Hour film competition created by Robert Gray. I had no clue how to make a film, I didn’t even know what a key light is. I just said to myself “I’m gonna do this” and from there I knew. And then I just kept organizing and doing bigger and better things that ultimately led to my first mini seried called StrongSide that was aired on CHCHO TV on bell fibe. Then my short film Visit that won awards and now The Last Rung on the Ladder.

SKSM: When did you make The last rung on the ladder? Can you tell me a little about the production? How much did it cost? How long did it take to film it?

Michael Stafford: Pre production took a year, that included our crowd funding campaign. I wont lie to you, when Alex Vietinghoff, my DP approached me with the idea I was not optomistic. But we did it and the reaction was humbling. We raised through crowd funding alone. We’re now into June so it’s been a year since we filmed. Currently, we’re almost to the finish line and are waiting on a very talented audio expert Nick Power Grimm to finish his vision for the score.

SKSM: How come you picked The last rung on  the ladder to develop into a movie? What is it in the story that you like so much?

Michael Stafford: Like I said, I grew up on a farm man. But also, when I read it, I just felt the connection between brother and sister and sort of how a cruel unforgiving world can cause a wedge between love. Ultimately, you can sense the need for love everyone has in the story but pride, circumstance, ambition, finances strip it away and strip the fabric of our souls sometimes. I think on a certain level, I hope anyways, that people will relate.

SKSM: Can you tell us about your experience on this Dollar Baby film? Was everything planned ahead or did some things change during filming?

Michael Stafford: Everything was meticulously planned. I don’t go into any film without having it mapped out. Other than some scheduling and running a little over schedule on days of shooting everything went exactly as planned.

SKSM: You are both the filmmaker and the actor, what were your greatest satisfactions and challenges in these roles?

Michael Stafford: I much prefere being the film maker. There’s nothing in the world that sets my soul on fire seeing something I imagined in my mind come to life on screen. That’s the greatest satisfaction. The greatest challenge when you’re both the filmmaker and actor is not being behind the camera during scenes. Fortunately, I’m lucky I had Alex who I trust whole heartedly to get the shots.

SKSM: You also wrote the script and you made some changes from the original story. How do you think (or would you like) the audience to react?

Michael Stafford: I don’t know that I made changes to the script. Every detail is drawn from information in the short story. I’d say I contemporized it and went further in depth with the details that were left to assumption. The barn scenes are almost completely what is written in the short story. I really don’t like telling people how to react. I know how I would like people to react but I’d rather not plant the seed and hear perhaps interpretations I didnt think of.

SKSM: One of the changes of your adaptation from the original text is Larry going through different stages of grief instead just one. I loved it. I was shocked when I saw this in the screen.

Michael Stafford: I guess I’ll give one thought on the interpretation of Larry in the film. It’s easy to empathise with someone you like but finding just a glimmer of empathy in someone you dislike, that’s a skill. Adult Larry by design is not the most likeable guy on earth but I think the story breaks down that mask and exposes his vulnerability.

SKSM: I noticed you choose a local cast in the crew you’ve worked with before at StronsSide Productions.

Michael Stafford: Yes, I tend to cast people I know can pull off the performance I need. So much of my work deals with deep seeded emotional issues and trusting that your actors can tap into that is crucial to the success of the film.

SKSM: You have special effects artist Marc Devault on your team. He had already worked on other films based on Stephen King stories. How did you convince him to join your project?

Michael Stafford: I had met Mark on set of a horror comedy film called Curse of the Reefer Beast directed by Dave Mullins. He did amazing sfx work there and later I found out he had also worked on Stephen King. Even without that fact I still would have hired him because the man is extremely gifted.

SKSM: The final scenes are truly terrifying. It’s a clear example that magic can also be achieved with a low-budget film.

Michael Stafford: I think the magic is found in the performances but I think the story taps mostly into the human experience. The best demons in film reflect our real fears and insecurities. Which is why our mind can be a scary place we can’t escape.

SKSM: Talking about a low-budget film, what do you think is the biggest challenge in filming a low-budget horror movie?

Michael Stafford: When it comes to the actors and crew I would say there’s other rewards than financial to give to people. Everyone had so much fun making this and looking back at the behind the scenes shots there’s smiles everywhere.

Aside from that, finding a way to condence shooting into no more than two locations and feeding people is a challenge. You need to find meals that can feed a lot for less but also be nutritious.

SKSM: Were there unexpected moments or difficulties during the making of the film that have become a new point of view?

Michael Stafford: I’m not sure. As I said, I spent a long time planning out every detail and the shoot went exactly as planned.

SKSM: Were any movie fragments cut out that you now miss?

Michael Stafford: Yes! Creating a short film I believe is more difficult to creat than a longer film. Hitting your story beats and creating a horror atmosphere in under twenty minutes can be tough.

SKSM: Can you share with us any significant moment or memories that happened on set?

Michael Stafford: I’d say one of the most gripping moments on set was shooting the scene where the mothers throat is cut. Being behind the camera and also seeing it with my own eyes from young Larrys perspective had such a dark feel, even talking about it now is giving me goosebumps.

SKSM: What has this experience left you from a professional and human point of view?

Michael Stafford: From a professional point of view it pushed me to the limits of my abilities and forced me to grow as a film maker. From a human point of view, I’m not dissapointed it’s over because I sat with that darkness and how the charachters felt for over a year. So, it certainly left me emotionally taxed but happy to know I was brave enough to go to some dark places for my art.

SKSM: Your Dollar Baby film is in the final stages, do you know where it will premiere?

Michael Stafford: Well, I don’t want to presume of course but fingers crossed we get into next years Toronto international film festival.

SKSM: Would you like to screen it at a particular festival?

Michael Stafford: See above.

SKSM: How did you find out that King sold the movie rights to some of his stories for just $1? Was it just a wild guess or did you know it before you sent him the check?

Michael Stafford: I knew because I saw it years ago in the local news. Another local film maker adapted his short story Popsi so it was always in the back of my mind.

SKSM: You got permission to shoot the story just before the program was bandened.How did you navigate that time until you finally filmed the movie?

Michael Stafford: There was no difference really. I went directly into writing the screen play and pre production as normal.

SKSM: Are you a Stephen King fan? If so, which are your favorite works and adaptations?

Michael Stafford: Oh c’mon, the man’s been around since tv was invented! One of my favorite work of Stephen King is the tv mini series Storm of the century. Watching it now, it’s loaded with cheese but the story telling and the atmosphere is gripping. It always stuck with me. Of course we could go on for days about the bigger titles but that one for whatever reason stands out to me.

SKSM: Tell us about your other films. What project are you most proud of with the final result?

Michael Stafford: I’m proud of all of them. My first tv series to me 5 years to make and I knew nothing. The quality and the story are all over the place but I’ll always be as proud as can be of that simply because it was my learning tree and I refused to give up on what was a dream and somehow I pulled it off. Then of course Visit, which won. Everyone that watches it gets goosebumps.

SKSM: Did you have “mentors”? Artists that inspired you to become an filmmaker? If so, would you tell us who and why?

Michael Stafford: First would definately be Robert Gray. He’s an amazing film maker and proffessor at UNB. When I first started, the conversations we had really empowered me when I was a guy who knew nothing. Greg Hemmings has also been an amazing mentor for me especially lately as I find myself getting back into producing bigger televisions projects. Cal Leblanc and Tony Merzetti the directors of the Fredericton film coop have played a major role in mentoring me and giving me the confidence to keep going and to keep building and fine tuning my skills. Very grateful to have had the opportunity to grow from everyone mentioned.

SKSM: What are you working on nowadays?

Michael Stafford: Now days I’m working on licensing for a couple television projects for Bell TV. One is a work place comedy and the other is a horror game show. Both I’m hoping to get the green light for in 2026.

SKSM: What one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

Michael Stafford: Typically when I’m asked that questiom the answer is I’m an actor and film maker. I think maybe my work in the mental health sector. I just finished my fourth degree by getting my masters and am now applying to do my PHD in psychology with the hopes of opening up my own facility for veterans living with PTSD.

SKSM: Thank you very much for all your support and for taking the time to answer my questions. Is there anything you want to say to the fans that read this interview?

Michael Stafford: Yes absolutely. I just want to say thank you to everyone who supported us through this journey. This project was entirely fan funded so thank you for making this dream come true and I hope I did it justice. Thank you!

SKSM: Would you like to add anything else?

Michael Stafford: I think that covered it, thank you for the interview!