The Marczewski Brothers Explore Big Narrative Ideas With Small Budgets on the Sony FX3

Filmmakers Interview: The Films of the Marczewski Brothers

From an early creative childhood of molding clay and drawing comics to growing up with older brothers who had their own creative streak, it wasn’t a surprise that the Marczewski brothers picked up a Sony Handicam to film their own projects. Even as Scott and Brian began exploring both animation and VFX, the call of cinema never ceased, leading them to a 48-hour film festival that evolved into a portfolio of work. 

And even though they are now in two different states, with Brian in Pennsylvania and Scott in Iowa, the Marczewski brothers still find ways to work together or elevate each other’s individual projects.

“We always push each other, which I think makes us better at what we do and always improve,” Brian said. “Even when it comes to our own personal projects, we still bounce stuff off each other constantly.”

“It's nice to have a twin brother who does the same work that you do. Someone that can influence you and inspire you,” Scott added. “[We also] use the same Sony FX3, the same lenses, and we can really bounce ideas off each other, as far as the narrative and cinematography. We’re constantly working back and forth, even though we're half a country away.”

Their two most recent short films, Do Androids Dream and The Fall of the House of Usher, are not only a testament to their creativity but also reveal just how far a filmmaker can push the FX3. 

Directed by Scott, Do Androids Dream is a Blade Runner fan film set in the year 2037, while The Fall of the House of Usher, an adaptation of the poem by Edgar Allen Poe, was directed by Brian. Both filmmakers also shot their own respective films, edited, and did the VFX.

“Accessibility really drives our productions and what we're able to narratively make,” Scott explained. “Brian and I are not shy about reaching out to individuals and property owners to say, ‘Hey, this landscape is beautiful. How can we film this? What is it going to take for us to be there for an hour, two hours max?”

“Pennsylvania has so much rich history and so many beautiful landscapes,” Brian added. "Being surrounded by that and being able to just reach out and [find] a tavern an hour from me built in the 1700s, or a Victorian mansion two hours west of that, just sparks that ‘Hey, I have something that someone might not usually have.’”

Filmmaker Interview: The Marczewski Brothers and Their Sony FX3s

Both Scott and Brian have tapped into their respective communities, bringing together other filmmakers, actors, and unique locations that you won’t often find in hubs like Hollywood, New York, or Atlanta. But the FX3 has elevated this foundation, allowing Scott and Brian to explore different visual languages and genres. 

“I love doing that gritty, spooky look,” Scott said. “And the Sony FX3 lends itself very well to doing anything low-light. Like Brian filming in candlelight for his adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher, or on my fan project, Do Android Dream.”

“With Do Android Dream, it was neo noir,” Scott continued. “It's more the expressionism, the shadows, and how the light and shadow play with one another, which is completely opposite from what Brian did.”

In the hands of the Marczewski brothers, the FX3 lets them be the director, cinematographer, and editor. Everything on their sets is streamlined, and their camera fits perfectly into the indie workflow they’ve honed over the years.

The FX3 is such a lightweight, user-friendly camera. I can put it on a mid-range gimbal like the DJI RS3, and the balance is fine,” Scott said. “Brian and I have the same rig, so we don't worry about cable connectivity or video village. As long as you trust the director or cinematographer, which both Brian and I do, you can move around your set with a lot more feasibility.”

“And you don't have to wear yourself out. You don't have to pick up and set up somewhere else. That's what we like about the FX3.”

“For The Fall of the House of Usher, I only shot using one lens, the 24-70mm f2.8,” Brian added. “I just love being able to run and gun, which is how I handle productions as well, directing and filming at the same time.”

The Filmmakers Who Do It All, With the Camera That Does It All

The Marczewskis still remain in different states and continue to find new ways to work together on projects. With a new short film soon to be released and Brian developing a feature-length film adapting other classics, the two brothers continue to rely on the FX3 for their visual language, using it as a conduit to creatively communicate over long distances. 

“It's constantly gonna be that way, the back and forth, always looking over each other's shoulders, even if we're states away,” Brian said. “Our latest film project we did…we both edited over Discord and Scott handled all the VFX while I was chopping up scenes.”

“Being half a country away and just trusting Brian to do the cinematography, with both of us directing,” Scott added. “I think we work pretty much in tandem when it comes to these projects, and there's no one I trust more than Brian to bring about a vision, especially for cinematography.”

To see other short films shot and directed by the Marczewski brothers, visit their YouTube channel. To learn more about the Sony FX3 and the other cameras in the Sony Cinema Line, explore our Camera Comparison Chart.