Matthew Carauddo loved watching Starwars films, but was frustrated that they were not “real enough”. The lightsaber props were too cute. Not realistic enough! So he put out the audition listing to build a cast. In a controlled environment, he directed, produced, built all the lightsaber props to produce a thrilling performance with his team called Balance of Power. “It was more of a test for me to try that out and see like, is this possible to make something that's competent and also exciting, but not simply cute little demonstration.” - Matthew Carauddo Back then (2005) Youtube was relatively new, so you can imagine how exciting it was for his show to reach 50k views! This goes to show you, it pays to sometimes just put the content out there on new platforms, you never know how well it will perform! (Tik-Tok anyone?) Matthew Carauddo and more of his work can be found at www.diamond-dragons.com/
Mentioned in the Show:
Amora Brown:
Hello everyone. And welcome back to Corpartainment. I am here with a phenomenal actor, a phenomenal creator for a phenomenal video game.
Matthew Carauddo:
No, I don't make any video games.
Amora Brown:
Okay. Why do I keep thinking this is a video game? I'm terrible. I just want to believe that it's a video game because the concept of like hero's journey to me, I just connect that with video games all the time. I'm sorry.
Matthew Carauddo:
That said, even though I'm not a video game creator, I would say that. Yeah. Eventually one of the goals is to have Diamond Dragons become also a game. Not, not because, Hey, let's capitalize on it.
Amora Brown:
Yeah, that's what it was.
Matthew Carauddo:
But it's for one thing. And then really the second thing is some of the intentions that I have with building the world of Diamond Dragons, my plan is to film it and I should put film in air quotes because we're not really gonna use real cameras. The idea is to generate everything in a 3D environment. And so if we do that and build it with the unreal 3D engine, which I've been trying to plan with some of my designers and most everything exists in this kind of virtual space, well, then we can film the shots the way we want. You can truck, the camera it's called or boom and jib, which is a lifting of the camera or tilt, which is referred to up and down motion of the camera.
Matthew Carauddo:
If we build it in there, then it's almost like people say, "Wow, dragons and a fantasy world and castles and mountains and canyons and rivers and deserts. This sounds like a great video game". I'm like, yeah, right. I mean, it's not like, oh, we're trying to make, a video game out of Inception, you know, like Inception is a great film, but I'd be like, I don't know if you could make a competent video game out of it. It would be pretty difficult to kind of, you know, work that into a game. But with this dragons, you know, everybody could imagine flying as a dragon and landing somewhere and completing some quests and oh, no, there's some enemies and therefore, you know, fire must burn or, or whatever, you know? So it, it could, it could be a thing and still have a storyline behind it.
Amora Brown:
*pause* I have to put myself on mute. So I don't get any weird sounds from my microphone. I haven't started editing yet. So I don't know what the quality of this is going to be. Like, I'm just muting myself so that the audio sounds as perfect as possible.
Matthew Carauddo:
That's okay. I mean, also you can always do little experiments, like do a fake recording, go and edit it and see what it looks like.
Amora Brown:
Right. Right!
Matthew Carauddo:
Yeah. I understand. That's another thing about filming and generating videos that most people don't think about is the editing process is it can be pretty robust. Because you're dealing with sound, you're dealing with lighting, you're dealing with, what are people saying? Is it interesting? Is it engaging? You know, it really depends on the editing. Yeah.
Amora Brown:
Right? You have all this wealth of knowledge in general. You do so, but what, what's your more, you call yourself like a director, we see diamond and dragons, and you've had all these different projects that you've worked on and created. What is your most favorite project or creation that you've created and why?
Matthew Carauddo:
I'm not exactly a director in the most, vanilla and homogenized sense, but yeah, I've directed a lot of my own projects and work with Actors and associates and in like set designers and these kinds of things, because of all the crazy things that I've done over my past, I've mostly focused on acting and performance and theater and film and singing, and a lot of things that all relate to storytelling. I was a, professional fencing instructor for many, many years. And I coached hundreds, if not thousands of students behind the mask at one point after doing a lot of that, you know, just like one of my buddies, I'm like, "you know what I've never seen". And they're like, what's that? I'm like, "I've never seen a live Star Wars fight performance of any real. Substantiality like, sure. You've seen two people in costume run up and they're like, 'ha ha'.
Matthew Carauddo:
And do some silliness and runaway and oh, everybody's like, 'that's so cool and how neat' no one's ever seen it live". And they're like, "well, maybe that's because the lightsaber prop- I don't think we can build those. Can we?" This is going back to 2003 and 2004. The idea of having a electronic prop that could light up and take abuse was extremely rare at the time. Most, saber products out, even in the corporate world were mostly for display. They were not meant for high-level stage combat. And also they were not very bright. So fast forward to, as I started doing more and more projects, I finally put together one of the first ever really live serious, stage performances with a complete, you know, story and sound and music and vocals and staging and all these kinds of things.
Amora Brown:
Were you working for Lyft during all this time as well, too? Like how were you able to like sustain yourself and go off into all of these things?
Matthew Carauddo:
Oh, yeah! This was a different time in my life. I briefly drove for Uber and Lyft in the most recent years, but Uber and Lyft did not exist in 2004 and 2005. So going all the way back there, I did one of my first lightsaber performances that I directed and produced, and I built all the lightsaber props called Balance of Power and it can be seen on YouTube. So that was a lot of fun. It was more of a test for me to try that out and see like, is this possible to make something that's competent and also exciting, but not simply cute little demonstration. We wanted the audience to be like, "Wow, holy cats". Like, you know, "I think they're going to kill each other", you know? That, that kind of, you know, mentality behind it. And you have to understand too, Amora that this isn't a time where YouTube was brand new. In fact, at the time that I was thinking about the project, YouTube didn't exist yet. I basically put out the feelers into the world and I was like, "Hey, I'm doing this project. If you want to audition". At the time, it was even a Craigslist ad I think is one of the things that I did.
Amora Brown:
I still use Craigslist, you know?
Matthew Carauddo:
Yeah. You know what I mean?
Amora Brown:
It was bigger than like Facebook groups. It wasn't like we have Facebook groups and stuff like that on there.
Matthew Carauddo:
You're getting my drift. That's the thing, I'm at one point YouTube was not a thing in fact.
Amora Brown:
Yeah! It wasn't a thing.
Matthew Carauddo:
Yeah. In fact, If I recall it was basically 2005, I think basically when I started doing this project, so this is the point. So then one of my cast members, Saya, Saya is like, you know, "Matthew, you should upload this on YouTube". And I'm like, "what the hell was that? Like, I don't, I don't know. Like, I don't understand". And she's, "Oh, it's this new video platform. Matthew it's like user content". I listened to her and I said, "Yeah, you know, I'll, I'll upload a few little rehearsal videos and we'll get to this" and dah, dah, dah. And then finally we upload the performance video. And then I remember like, literally I like forgot about it was doing other things. And then she's like, Matthew, you ought to check it. Like, a lot of people have seen it. I'm like, oh, okay. Whatever. And I didn't know what she meant by a lot of people, you know?
Amora Brown:
Right right right
Matthew Carauddo:
Over there. And it's like, not, there's not a message saying this, but it's basically like, I'm like, you have 50,000 views. And I'm like, "What the hell! Like, what happened?"
Amora Brown:
I've never even seen 50,000 people ever. Like, what do you mean? What is this thing?
Matthew Carauddo:
And now the irony Is here in 2021, everybody would say "50,000 views is nothing that's- no, blahblah", but back then, when it was absolutely brand new-
Amora Brown:
That was a big deal.
Matthew Carauddo:
But also what was great about it was the reaction was primarily positive. Like I believe at the time you could do, I don't think it was just thumbs up and thumbs down. And he was like, stars. I think it was stars or something.
Amora Brown:
Wow!
Matthew Carauddo:
It was mostly like, you know, four stars, five stars, four stars. So everybody was like, "This is amazing. And I love it. And Ooh, this is so nice. And, oh, did he do a back flip?" You know, and I was like, what is happening? Like, I didn't know that this is, could be a thing, you know, like I had no idea. And so then I just sort of, kind of kept going with that. And cause they'd ask about "how did you build the lightsabers?" And it was like, well, now that forty, you know, 40 or 50 people asked that I better, maybe I ought to do a video about that.
Amora Brown:
Yeah, make a video about that.
Matthew Carauddo:
And so I'm like, here's the saber and this is this. And this is that. And I explained a whole bunch of things about it. And that sort of, became like a cascading effect of, I met new people in the community and then more people were asking this. And then I met this designer in France of all things who was making an electronics board that made custom, sounds and or allowed I should say. It didn't make them. It allowed for custom sounds and custom controls and lighting configurations for custom saber props and the big shout out to Irv Plecter of Plecter Labs. What started in 2005 and 2006 as just a bunch of people doing a few things, has now become literally a ginormous industry where other companies have popped up. Custom led sabers now are, I almost want to say common and they were not, 15 years ago.
Amora Brown:
Question for you, and this is a question from like the previous person that I was interviewing.
Matthew Carauddo:
Oh okay, sure!
Amora Brown:
Do you prefer- I hit my mic, so it might sound weird. Okay. So here we go.
Amora Brown:
Do you prefer getting direction on someone's creativity or being creative yourself and hoping it fits someone else's direction?
Matthew Carauddo:
I understand.
Amora Brown:
Or another way to put that? Do you prefer working on a project that someone like, micro manages and gives you direction on, or would you rather be left to your own devices?
Matthew Carauddo:
Right. Uh, so there's a lot to unpack there too. So, um, when we're talking about any kind of project that is, larger than yourself. For example, your own personal workout, you don't really need a whole bunch of people involved that, you might have your own personal trainer, but you know. Or if you're like, "I would like to crochet a blanket", you don't really need a bunch of input on that and so on. But if you're like, "I'm writing a book, I am making a short performance, I want to do a piece of music". Then it, all of it almost by route becomes a collaborative process. And so when we talk about things like the background that I have, which is an acting in theater and performance and film, all of these things relate not only to collaborative projects, but storytelling and most of the storytelling has a lot of voices in it.
Matthew Carauddo:
It's pretty rare to have any kind of storytelling where it is only solely the voice of one person. Even if it's a story written by say, even Edgar Allen Poe. Edgar Allen Poe probably checked in with maybe his own associates and said, "Hey, have a look at this. What do you think? Like, is it all right? Like, do you, would you change anything?" You know, they're going to ask some questions I would think. And so what I'm getting at is this is the director is trying to achieve their vision. An actor, the job is for them to take action on what is being directed of them. A director will say, "so in this scene, I really want this and this and this, and I need this. And I think that, and the other and the other". And the actor has to be like, "okay, okay, I got it.
Matthew Carauddo:
So you want this like really this not this". And they're like, "Yeah". And you're like, "copy that. Got it. Okay". And then you try to deliver on that. Same with a director talking to a lighting designer, they might say, "Hey, come here Steven. Okay. So I imagine in this scene, it's really filmed. Like, I want to see black lighting and wide, but slotted. And it's like *music*, like, we want that kind of just- so not natural lighting. We want that mysterious". And they'll be like, "got you. I got you. I know what I can do". And then same with costuming. "Oh, I want so much color in these things. Like bigger than life". At least the costumer can go, "Okay, cool. So you want wild stuff? None of this subtle pastels, rainbow of colors. Okay". You're always working with people if you're working professionally and also like as a good creative soul. Some people, they gravitate more towards building their own projects.
Matthew Carauddo:
Possibly. It's sort of like wearing different hats. When I'm an actor. I have my actor hat on and I try to provide only advice or thought process or information and execution that has to do with acting. Not going to tell the director how to direct the movie. I'm not going to tell them, "Hey, we should change the lighting. Or I don't like that. The camera is shooting me from over here. And I think we should be-" like, I, it's just not really any of your business. If someone asks, then you might say, "Yeah, I don't think this is a good shot for me right now. It's not an inappropriate thing for the moment. This shot is to up and- up close and personal, but we're not doing something super dramatic. However, a shot like this would be where if it was like, 'now I want you to take three steps back, put the gun down and put your hands on your head.' "
Matthew Carauddo:
You know, like if they needed that shot, that was better to do it then from here. You know what I mean?
Amora Brown:
Yeah.
Matthew Carauddo:
So you kind of have to just place yourself in the right role, understand what your role is and do it. If you are the leader of a project, you better be able to lead.
Amora Brown:
Right. That makes a lot of sense.
Matthew Carauddo:
If you can't, then you shouldn't be there as the leader. And a lot of times a leader's job or a director's job is to solve problems. Pretty much all of them. Again, I know maybe it seems circuitous the way that I'm answering your question, but really what it is is if I'm an actor on a project, then I need to fulfill those objectives. And those objectives only unless people say, "Oh, Matthew, but I'd also like your advice as a fight coordinator". I'm like, okay, that's a different question. Let me put my, take my actor hat off. And let's see about fight choreography. The director pretty much has to kind of understand all the hats to wear in the case of Diamond Dragons, for example. Yeah. I'm the writer, the creator, essentially director of the project and, so I kind of have to oversee all of it. Does that make any sense? I know that's a lot to say. Yeah.
Amora Brown:
Yeah! That, that makes a ton of sense because it adds context. It's not the same thing every single time.
Matthew Carauddo:
Precisely.
Amora Brown:
Like in general, you know, basically what you were just saying was it depends on where you are in that moment. Like what is your role in that moment? And that's, that was a really great answer. Now question for you.
Matthew Carauddo:
Mhm. Sure.
Amora Brown:
What is the question that you might want to ask the next person that I interview?
Matthew Carauddo:
Oh, that's a tough one, because again, I wouldn't know the scope, like, unless you want to tell me like, oh, well the next person is a lawyer. They are a doctor. They're an actor. Or, or maybe you don't know. So it's kind of difficult to understand, what would I ask them? Do you know? And if not, then I can still think of something, but do you know?
Amora Brown:
I don't know.
Matthew Carauddo:
You don't. Okay, well then I would make it more generalistic. What's the kind of advice that they would give, not necessarily their younger selves, but people who are getting involved in whatever it is that they're getting involved, that they've done for their lives, or they've had success at what's the kind of advice or thought process they give to someone who's starting. You know what I mean? In the things that they already know, what's something that they might say and who knows, maybe it would be something they'd say, "Oh, avoid this with like the plague, because it just doesn't work son, don't do it, its bad."
Matthew Carauddo:
Or if they'd say, "Oh, you know, actually there was something I started with and I didn't know at the time, but it was excellent. And I only wish I had done more of it. And I didn't because I didn't know any better. But now that I've been doing it for five years, I realized that something I did, even when I was starting out was a good idea. Keep that."
Amora Brown:
Ooh. Yeah. I can think of stuff like that.
Matthew Carauddo:
You know? So that's, that's probably how I would cordon off that question.
Amora Brown:
Yeah. That's, that's, that's a really good question actually. I can't wait to ask the next person that. And yeah, you don't have very much context on the next person and that's part of the fun.
Matthew Carauddo:
Yeah.
Amora Brown:
This is like a spur of the moment question. It's just, it just kinda throws like each interview, like kinda like on a different perspective. It makes people kind of think like interesting. You know? People come up with different stuff.
Matthew Carauddo:
Well, it's always good to have to think. In fact, that's what I always hated about a lot of things where you'll see conversations out there about politics or something and people say, "Oh, you're probably just a communist". And I'm like, "That sounds like an excuse for you just not to have to think." You know?
Amora Brown:
*laughing*
Matthew Carauddo:
I like it when people are forced to consider their words, think about what it is that's being asked of them and then try to present it in a context that isn't just coming from ego or personal experience. Like, for example, if someone says, "Oh, that one, I hate that movie". I'd be like, "oh really? Why is that?" Like, "nah, I just, I hate elves" and I'd be like, "oh, okay. So to you, this whole film is just junk and awful because you don't like elves" and they're like, "yeah, it's a stupid movie".
Matthew Carauddo:
And I'm like, "okay, what?" *laughter* that's a personal opinion, but it's like, you are aware that even though you don't like something, something could hold great value. It's always good to know the difference between when you're going like "my personal opinion is this. And I don't like it, but I am aware that it's very astute and powerful and a lot of intelligence has been put into this, project", whatever it is. You know, and how often I'm sure you've seen that Amora, right? Where people, they almost voice their opinion as if it's fact. And you're like.
Amora Brown:
I've seen that a lot.
Matthew Carauddo:
They're like, "well, I don't know, man. I think the earth is flat"
Amora Brown:
Seen that more than I would have like to admit I've seen that.
Matthew Carauddo:
And I'd be like, "Or really why, why Is that?
Matthew Carauddo:
Do you have any direct evidence that it's flat? Because I'm down to find out. I would love that because it means I could walk a lot more places." You know what I'm saying? Or I don't know, I'm just making it up. That sounds like if I said, well, the moon is made of cheese because I believe it, man. You'd be like what? That's not right. You know?
Amora Brown:
Oh my goodness. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day, Matthew, to come and speak on my show. Where can we connect with you and what can we look forward to moving forward regarding your work?
Matthew Carauddo:
Well, thanks again for interviewing me on the show. That's, it's always good to be able to communicate with other artists and see what they're up to and kind of get the feelers out. Essentially right now, my main goal is working on diamond dragon. So as you can see behind me, this is one of the, not the final draft of the book cover, but, I've been working with my team of artists. They're a great team artists, to get this cover completed so that I can publish the book version. The screenplay version of Diamond Dragons, I developed that and wrote it in 2018-2019. So people can find out more about this just by probably searching my name, which is Matthew Corrado. And the last name is pretty tough. It's C A R A U D D O. It's like car, like driving a car, C A R then "Aye You!" U D D O because I'm Italian. I'm Italian.
Amora Brown:
I love it.
Matthew Carauddo:
People can email me, which is DiamondDragonstail@gmail.com. If they have any questions or something pertinent about the stories, they wanted to read a few chapters, or even get a few scenes of the screenplay, there's just a wealth of information. When people go to the YouTube channel, I've created a sort of 20-minute pre visualization of the screenplay version. Give people an idea of like, "Ooh, is this what this world's going to be like, how interesting these characters could go so many ways". And you know. Like a lot of people they've said, "Oh, we really like your bad guy, Matthew". And I'm like, I know, right? He's he's a good one. Huh? Nitrozites.
Amora Brown:
Thank you so much, Matthew. And I hope that you will join us again in the future and have a wonderful rest of the day. Thank you.
Amora Brown (Outro):
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