An Interview with Connor Britton, Director of Life Is Pain(t)

by Mike Haberfelner

January 2026

Films directed by Connor Britton on (re)Search my Trash

Your new movie Life is Pain(t) - in a few words, what's it about?

Life is Pain(t) is about the lengths someone will go to leave a mark on the world. Legacy. That is whether you are looking at it through the protagonists' perspective with his creations and paintings, or the curator's perspective of putting on good shows that people will remember.

What were your sources of inspiration when writing Life is Pain(t)? And is any of it (apart from the ending I presume) based on personal experiences?

Haha. With this film in particular I never consciously thought about my inspirations. Thinking about it now, I would say Whiplash probably influenced the visceral levels of obsession, and maybe the confrontation. Ari Aster's work also always influences my own in some way, so his blunt and often disturbing storytelling is definitely in there in some form.

Being a creative yourself, to what extent could you identify with Rob, who's ready to die for his art? And to what extent with the much more controlled Eddie for that matter?

I have a lot of respect for Rob and also a lot of disapproval. He is clearly dishonest and troubled, but he also is passionate and caring. I always wanted his artwork to be inherently bad, and I think his character is aware his work is bad. Yet, he still has a confidence and desire to share it with the world that I respect. I think Eddie's anger comes from a reasonable place, but his solution to the problem is pretty unethical. It's a strange line between revealing the sad, dark addiction that ended this lonely man's life, and marveling at what beautiful art the habit caused. I think everyone identifies with Eddie in a sense; choosing to display vulnerable things through art.

Do talk about your directorial approach to your story at hand!

Getting the characters right was the most important thing by far. A lot of that came from the script (which I wrote) and a lot came down to finding the right actors. I was fortunate enough to have some really good options. Both characters are very flawed, yet trying to do the right thing. I think my actors were able to sell that in their performances. Because of the budgeting and time restrictions on this project, PD and lighting were sort of placed on the backburner. Both will definitely get the attention they deserve in my future projects.

What can you tell us about Life is Pain(t)'s cast, and why exactly these people?

Rob really needed to be super soft and vulnerable, yet unwell. I casted Mike Zaller after seeing him in another friend's short film and being impressed by his ability to show a variety of emotions in one short. He has this ability to play a very serious tone, as well as a lighter and softer one that was pretty much perfect for Rob. Eddie was a bit tougher. Eddie is this sort of customer service-type nice guy with a dark side. I don't really know anyone like that, but I have a friend, Xander Penot, who was eager for the role. He was able to play up the friendliness/niceness in a sort of uncanny way, and it really felt satisfying when his anger built up and his true self was shown. These people were also chosen for their ease to work with and collaborate on projects. That is something I really value, especially when my crew/cast is made up of friends and peers.

A few words about the shoot as such, and the on -set atmosphere?

The shoot was great. My first time really directing. Going in with a serious plan, schedule, and cast. It was all very fun. There were some difficulties but we managed to work through them with relative ease. Like previously mentioned, the cast/crew was all friends and peers, so the atmosphere was really supportive and positive. Of course, there are things I will definitely do differently next time, but I am proud of how things went and the film that resulted.

Any future projects you'd like to share?

I am currently in pre-production for my Senior thesis! It is a surreal-dramedy short Meet The Parents scenario that goes wrong from the get-go. The girlfriend and her parents grow increasingly weird until the boyfriend sees something he is not supposed to witness. I wrote it and will be directing it alongside many of my friends and peers who worked on my last film. I am super excited for it.

What got you into filmmaking in the first place, and did you receive any formal training on the subject?

I really got into filmmaking during high school. I grew up shooting short videos with my brother and with friends, and I have always liked watching movies. High school was when I really began to appreciate the artistry and meticulous storytelling. There were a handful of movies I saw during that time that really solidified my desire to pursue filmmaking in college. I have spent the last four years studying film and television at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

What can you tell us about your filmwork prior to Life is Pain(t)?

Before Life is Pain(t), I had only really done smaller projects and some class related stuff. One of my favorite works came from a class at SCAD. It's called A Forrest Gump Retelling, and it's exactly that. It is pretty much the beginning bench scene; just reworked to take place at a shady bus stop at night and Forrest is a homeless man. It has some good comedy and a darker tone that I think really works.

How would you describe yourself as a director?

I would describe myself as a director as I would describe myself with any other art. I am very detail-oriented, but only when it matters. In a lot of my art, I like to go with first iterations. I find my best ideas come from my first attempts. If I really like something, I know it, and then I often shape that into something more realized. The sort of improv comes from the moment, and then the best ideas continue on. I love leaving mistakes and messiness in my work because that is where a lot of the character hides. It is a bit tough to direct that into performance, so I think establishing that style with my talent is essential and will continue to be.

Filmmakers who inspire you?

I definitely take lots of inspiration from Ari Aster. I am a big fan of his work and his ability to tell gripping stories that can fluctuate between pure horror and comedy. The Coen Brothers are another huge inspiration for their snappy dialogue and humor. Charlie Kaufman's surreal writing. Not film, but I often think about shooting things in clever ways of promoting visual storytelling over dialogue because of Vince Gilligan's work. I'm sure there are more but it's always tough to answer.

Your favourite movies?

Some of my favorite movies are The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Big Lebowski and Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were Rabbit. Again there are most definitely more but I always have trouble remembering everything.

... and of course, films you really deplore?

Feeling lucky? Want to search any of my partnershops yourself for more, better results? (commissions earned)

The links below will take you just there!!!

Find Connor Britton at the amazons ...   amazon.com   amazon.co.uk   amazon.de Looking for imports? Find Connor Britton here ...   eThaiCD.com Your shop for all things Thai

Your/your movie's website, social media, whatever else?

Yes! My film has an Instagram page: @life_is_paint_film! My new film also has one: @floater_film. My personal account is @cnor__, and my personal website is https://ebritt209075.myportfolio.com/

Thanks for the interview!

Thank you so much for both the interview and the review! Take care!

© by Mike Haberfelner

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