Aaron: That's good question. Rhinoceros Eyes and my short films are all deeply personal and come from a internal place. I try to be fearless in my writing and really put myself out there and not worry about whether or not people will like me or not. It's usually about 50/50 love or hate. My films have so far come from a child-like place. That may change, but I've always felt very strongly about the innocence and the imagination of childhood. If I could only make one film at this point I'd make a dark fairy tale. That's just what I love and what I'd want to pour my heart and soul into for 3 years of life. And I am developing a couple projects that are exactly that.

JXM: Tennessee has been getting quite a bit of attention as it stars this 'larger than life' pop star. Do you feel that the enigma that is Mariah Carey can or will overshadow the film?

Aaron: Mariah is truly a wonderful person. She's coming at the part from the right place, wanting to blend in and not be "Mariah Carey" but rather the character who is very different from herself. I think she's going to really suprise people and show her true acting chops. People will forget they're watching a pop diva immediately. I'm very excited for her because she's a lovely person and she deserves it. She's really been pouring herself into the role and taking it very seriously. I think the film will be really good and stand on its own and not be overshadowed at all.

JXM: Tennessee doesn't seem to have your signature black comedy or dark overtones and is instead the "straight up tearjerker drama." Was it difficult to take on a different sort of genre?

Aaron: At this point I have moved off of the Tennessee project and onto another fillm called Drone which is more in line with what you might expect having seen my other work. I may go back to the Tennessee project, I may not. I was excited to direct Tennessee not only because it was a fantastic script, but precisely because it would help me not get pigeon-holed as a director who makes weird, quirky, dark movies. I thought it would be great to show people that I'm capable of different things early in my career. I've also always loved how someone like Stanley Kubrick could genre jump so effortlessly and never repeat himself.

JXM: You've said you don't want to be pigeonholed - would we be seeing you direct a Disney-esque film soon? An animated feature film?

Aaron: Disney? Hm. Haven't thought of that one. I don't know if Disney would hire me. But an animated film absolutley. That would be wonderful. Animation gives you so much freedom because you can do absolutely anything. You can let your imagination take you wherever it may and not think twice or worry about the budget. It's so freeing artistically. I find many animated films don't take advantage of that. They stick to reality (other than having cute little talking animals who behave exactly like humans). You can go so much further with animation and so yes, an animated feature is a must for me. I need to start writing.

JXM: Going through Madstone was a harrowing experience for you. But out of the experience what would you say you've taken most out of it?

Aaron:Madstone was insane. One day I'm going to write a book about it and nobody is going to belive that it happened and I didn't make it all up. Maybe that will be my animated film. But what I gained is a great producer and friend Jessica Levin whom I recently started a company with Twilight Films and also the sense that after that experience, everything is going to be uphill. Which is great really because now I feel like there's nothing and no one that I can't handle. I got the worst out of the way my first time out of the gate and I made it through and I'm still here and I haven't left the business and I wasn't institutionalized. I guess it helped me build up new coping mechanisms which all directors must have. The more the better. Believe me.

JXM: As a member of iKlipz.com, do you think these sort of outlets - internet, broadband, video phone downloads - help to open up the often exclusive film community for independent directors?

Aaron: Sure. With short films in particular. Really the only places you can see short films are at film festivals or on the internet. Time will tell if the phone downloads catch on, but certainly the internet is perfect for shorts and I've always belived that the more exposure you can get them the better. You make films to be seen, not sit on a shelf in your room.

JXM: You were a speaker at Ryerson University for their film students not too long ago and you seem to be very involved in wanting to help mentor filmmakers. Do you think there is more of a need in the film community for this type of fostering (especially in the Canadian industry) and a more hands on approach to connecting students with professionals?

Aaron: Yeah, I think it's great to have people in the industry interact with film students. When I was a student at York University, Atom Egoyan came in, as did the guys from Rhombus and it was inspiring because it brought that world which you felt is so far away, closer to your own and makes it seem more attainable. You can do it kids! If I can you can!

JXM: Can you tell us more about Drone?

Aaron: It's a film I'll be directing in November. We're shooting in Toronto with a Canadian cast and crew. Garth Drabinsky and Joel B. Michaels are producing, and the script was written by Jon Felson and Rusty Gorman based on a short story by T.C. Boyle about a family who adopts a child with an unusal obsession for bees. It's a great psycholigical thriller and I'm in pre-prodduction and casting right now. I'm expecting to get stung a lot. Last I checked I wasn't allergic.

JXM: Thanks for talking with us!

Aaron: Thank you!