Matt Robinson's Early Life and Interest in Film
Matt Robinson grew up in Voorheesville, New York, a small town located just outside the City of Albany. His parents, Dennis Robinson, a high school health teacher, and Roselyn Robinson, a real estate attorney, played a significant role in nurturing his love for film. They would regularly watch "classic" movies with him on a weekly basis, making it a family tradition to either rent movies or attend the theater on weekends. As Matt entered his teenage years, his fascination with films evolved, and he began to experiment with making his own short videos using a small Sony Handycam.
College and Writing Film Reviews
Matt's passion for film continued to grow as he attended SUNY Cortland. During his college years, he wrote film reviews for the college paper, The Dragon Chronicle. After graduation, he took his writing skills to the Times Union, a prominent Albany-area newspaper, where he continued to write film reviews.
Short Films and Collaborations
As Matt's filmmaking career progressed, he invested in a more advanced camera and began writing and directing short films. He frequently collaborated with local Albany talent, which led him to meet another aspiring filmmaker, Chris Faulisi, who lived nearby. Chris acted as the Director of Photography for two of Matt's short films, and the two quickly formed a strong bond. Together, they decided to take their next step and create a feature film.
A Proper Violence (2011) and Cannes
Matt and Chris wrote the original screenplay for A Proper Violence (2011),which they would go on to produce and direct themselves. After completing the film, they received rave reviews at test screenings, leading them to bring A Proper Violence (2011) to the Marche du Film at the Cannes Film Festival. The Chicago Sun-Times praised the film, calling it "an emotional roller coaster."
