What is the best thing that I love about my work? I love the ‘process’ most. The best part of what I do is coming up with a seed of an idea, then developing it, breathing life into it, and all the steps to the final result.

What is my idea of perfect happiness? As long as I am able to create – to tell stories, make movies – I’m happy.

What is my greatest fear? My greatest fear would be having to work a normal 9-5 job, and not being able to pursue creative ideas.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? The trait I like least is my tendency to try to drive the whole project. I have partners can let go of some of the logistics, and let them handle some of those aspects. It’s important to wear many hats as an indie filmmaker – but I don’t need to wear all of them!

Which living persons in my profession do i most admire? It would be easy to say Martin Scorsese – his gift of bringing a story to life is outstanding. But I really admire Nick Cave – while he’s mostly known for his music, he’s a gifted writer and filmmaker as well.

What is my greatest extravagance? My greatest extravagance, by far, is being an artist. Living a creative lifestyle is extravagant because you have to buck societal norms of a steady job, getting enough sleep, etc.

On what occasion would I lie? Well, there is a certain hustle when you’re making movies on an indie level. I wouldn’t say ‘lie’, but there’s definitely an element of ‘obscured truth’ at play. For instance, you’ll constantly be asked, “What’s your budget?”, and sometimes — you don’t have one, or you have a micro-budget you’re working with.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? Limitations and compromises. They are inevitable – especially in indie film. But there are times when you have to sacrifice an ideal location/actor/prop/stunt in order to get the movie made within the means you have to do it. But it’s also a fun challenge, too. While I don’t always like to change something I’ve envisioned from the beginning, being forced to do it differently breeds another level of creativity.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work? I am happiest when writing. There’s something very gratifying about developing a world and the people in it.

If I could, what would I change about myself? I would take better care of my health so I can keep making movies for as long a possible.

What is my greatest achievement in work? In all honesty, I would say completing my first film, ‘11:58’. Mind you, it’s not my best work, not by a long shot, but it was a ‘trial by fire’; a crash course in filmmaking. It took a long time to complete that project, but I learned what I needed to in order to keep making movies, which have only gotten better over time.

What do the words ‘The Financial Freedom to Create’ mean to me? To be honest, in some sense, I feel it’s irrelevant. I have long held the belief to make the movie you CAN make, regardless of finance. That can be said for any creative endeavor. Sure, financial freedom would be great — it would be comfortable, but it’s not necessary for me to create. I will create no matter what.

Where would I most like to live? Though I’ve never been, I feel like I would call Paris home. It’s a city filled with art, culture, cuisine, crime, passion, architecture, and bones.

What is my most treasured possession? My grandfather’s fedora. It’s been used in most of the films I’ve made. I look at it and I always feel there’s a story inside of it. Stories from my grandfather’s era, stories from my childhood, and stories yet to be told.

What is my most marked characteristic? I would have to say ‘determination’. Once I have an idea I can’t let go of it. Sometimes that might be seen as a detriment, but more times than not, just being determined has served me very well.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city? It’s less about a particular location, and more about the city itself. Portland is a very visually interesting place, from textural industrial areas to hole-in-the-wall establishments – there’s always a story or an inspiration lurking around every corner.

What is my favourite place to eat and drink, in my city? The Cardinal Club in NE Portland would have to lay claim as my favorite. My writing partner and I have written at least five feature films there, and we hold most meetings with actors and producers there. We often joke that it’s more of our office than a place to eat or drink, though we do plenty of that there as well.

What books influenced my life and how? When I was young, probably around 8 years old, I read Wuthering Heights. It triggered a creative spark, and opening my eyes to the power of imagination. It also was the catalyst for my love of dark and tragic stories.

Who are my favorite writers? I love Nabokov. He has a gift of taking something dark, and controversial, such as with Lolita, and writing about such a subject matter poetically. I’m also a fan of Raymond Chandler.

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day? As a musician, I have an eclectic mix of tastes. So there’d be, Tom Waits, Dimmu Borgir, Joni Mitchell, Nick Cave, Slayer, some Bach cello pieces, certainly some Black Sabbath.

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? The Gunslinger (Roland Deschain) from the Dark Tower Books by Stephen King.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? Nick Cave. He’s overcome a lot in his life, and still follows – and excels in – his passion.

Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime? I would simply say this – see as many movies as you can in a lifetime. It doesn’t have to be some epic, great piece of filmmaking. See something silly, see something sad, but see a LOT of different movies. That being said, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly is an example of great filmmaking. But so is Blazing Saddles!

What role plays art in my life and work? Art is everything.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? Certainly my writing partner/Producer Donna Lambert, and John Stanford Anderson, the Director of Photography. We’re a team, and it’s nice working with people who share a vision, and can tolerate one another as much as we have to!

Whom would I like to work with in 2017? If I could manage it, I would absolutely love to work with Tilda Swinton.

Which people in my profession would i love to meet in 2017?  I would love to meet Nick Cave. As I’ve said, he’s been a big inspiration for me. I’d also like to meet David Lynch, and of course, Martin Scorsese.

What project, in 2017, am I looking forward to work on? 2017 I’ll be finalized post-production on 4 feature films, but I’m most looking forward to our next project, Madeline. It’s a dark tale about death and doggie treats — a dark comedy, really. The script is almost complete, and we’d like to start production before the end of 2017.

Where can you see me or my work in 2017? We’ll be releasing South of Heaven, Little Sister, The Long Walk Home — they are trilogy. We’ll also be releasing Riders on the Storm in 2017.

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me? To me it means to never lose the excitement for artistic endeavors. And while passion never retires, sometimes it does go on hiatus, but if you’re dedicated to your creative pursuits, passion doesn’t ever wane for too long.

Which creative heroes should Peter invite to tell their story? Brian Sutherland. He is a Portland-based actor, and is amazing. He’s built a wonderful reputation for himself, and he also teaches acting to children. https://www.facebook.com/BrianSutherlandActor/

How can you contact me? ○ You can find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeffScottTaylor https://www.facebook.com/PortlandFilmCompany/ And on IMdB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4921554