Go Behind the Scenes with Producer/Director, Jonathan Baker While Being Mentored by Jodie Foster & Warren Beatty on "Becoming Iconic" with a Touch of Hollywood Hospitality.

 By Laura Medina

https://www.youtube.com/user/liferomp

There's a reason there's"business" in show business, but producer/director/lifestyle maven, Jonathan Baker shows you can still have fun and still be a nice guy while playing the Hollywood game.

He's having fun as a reality star, actor, producer, and now embarking on a directing career. Out of all these, being a director is the hardest of them all.

In his "behind-the-scenes" documentary, "Becoming Iconic," Jonathan Baker used his years as a producer, an actor, and appearing on reality shows to gain and learn from legendary directors as he,  simultaneously embarks on his very first directing gig on his thriller, "Inconceivable," with Nicholas Cage.

In his "behind-the-scenes" documentary, or what Jonathan calls, "360 Intertainment," it's his all-inclusive approach to movie-making, documenting inside-out and all around.

This scribe calls this "in & out, comprehensive instruction" on how to be a director.

In "Becoming Iconic," he reaches out to legendary directors, who straight-up told him, on his first directing venture, that if he's three to a week behind filming schedule, the studio represent, the insurance person, and the bonds person have every right to pull you out of your production then replace you with a more competent director who can deliver the complete, professional movie or tv show on time or ahead of time and under budget, without skimping on professional production value and quality.

Yes, Jonathan is gracious enough to throw an open house and luncheon to screen his documentary but also to prove a point in showing stories and providing greater opportunities in showing women's perspective and minorities' points of views, through movies and projects, giving them a voice, equalities, and long, over due respect.

In his "Becoming  Iconic" and during his questions and answer discussion, Jonathan the Producer, was dismayed when studios said they're not to finance a movie, unless there's a male lead; and "Inconceivable" is a women-based thriller.

He was lucky that Nicholas Cage came on board, as the male lead.

During "Inconceivable" filming documented in "Becoming Iconic," Nicholas was kind enough to offer advice to new director Jonathan; and Jonathan welcomed it.

The reason why his documentary is titled, "Becoming Iconic," Jonathan's directing journey was dotted with him seeking directing advice from experienced, legendary directors he grew up admiring, who bluntly told him the cold-heart truth: Taylor Hackford, Adrian Lyne, and Jodie Foster.  

They warned, in the documentary, about not losing control over the production or else, the studio will take it away from you.  Preparation is key yet no matter how long and hard you prepare, shit happens then learn to recover from it.  There is a world of difference between the lean, mean crew of documentary film-making versus a real studio movie, with a budget, and being responsible for every say in the movie, dealing with costume, art design, set design, the cinematographer, and don't forget the actors.

His idol, Warren Beatty told him, "That 50% of the movie, are actors. Don't treat them like shit!"  As a director who needs to carry her or his vision all the way through, he must respect the actors while giving them guidance, to inspire confidence in them, the crew, and the director, or the production will go down the drain.

Yes, a director is fearless leader.

Jonathan's "Open House" was his gracious way (His Maidstone Hotel is his hospitality branch of being Jonathan Baker) to show his journey from being actor/producer to director by showing his production books for his three films, the Nicholas Cage-led "Inconceivable," "Fate," and "Icon."

This scribe swear that any film student would kill to touch, view, read, and flip these exclusive production books.

Jonathan Baker's "Open House" screening, and luncheon was an Afternoon Delight in "How to be a Director."

Rewarding the early birds who show up on time, Jonathan treated them to an appetizer of mini savory pancakes of blinis, where guests can smear then dollop all-you-can-eat sour cream and caviar, paired with champagne.

Since he got their stomachs and ears with a roasted salmon luncheon, Jonathan got a captive audience open to him discussing bringing women's and minorities' stories to the screen.  The pressure being put upon a director's head when she or he is doing a studio movie.  He said being a producer is like playing chess, in dealing with the business end of the movie.

An open house with Jonathan Baker is an open master class in directing.