By Ava Marie LaMonica, Contributor
When Tucson filmmaker David Pike talks about storytelling, there’s a sense of lifelong passion in his voice. “I’ve always been a storyteller,” he says. “Growing up, I was always writing stories and found it was a great way to escape from things in life. I also grew up with a love of film. Hitchcock was a huge influence on me as a kid.”
As a young writer, Pike never imagined that filmmaking would one day become his career. Pike always loved writing and started off in journalism in high school and college interviewing bands and creating magazines that he would pass out at punk rock shows.
Those early DIY magazines became his first taste of storytelling in the real world. “I was working on my short story writing during that time too,” Pike explains. “I was watching a ton of obscure cult classic films and started to review those films in my magazines. I ended up writing for several music magazines, including a nationwide magazine out of San Francisco.”
After several years in music journalism, Pike felt the pull back toward his first love: storytelling. This is where his journey in film began.
Building a Creative Home in Southern Arizona
Pike found not only his passion but also his creative home in Tucson. He credits the region for nurturing his career and providing constant inspiration.
“There is a great community in Southern Arizona that supports the arts and has been supportive for what I have been doing with film, film festivals, film distribution,” he says. “Creatively, Southern Arizona has so much to offer with locations, filmmakers, and actors.”
A Legacy of Film Festivals and Independent Voices
Over the years, Pike has built an impressive resume as both a filmmaker and film promoter. In the past, he directed short films, including Red Door, along with producing some feature films as well. Currently, he is working on the distribution and exhibition of films, getting films on several platforms, and marketing of some films.”
He is also the founder and festival director of the Arizona Underground Film Festival and Tucson Terrorfest Horror Film Festival (and its companion event, Horror-Con).
His plans include expanding his flagship festival beyond Tucson with screenings in November in Bisbee and screenings in Phoenix in late February.
From Marketing to Film Distribution
Pike’s path to film distribution and festival management came through persistence and relationships. “It’s all really who you know and hard work in the end,” he says. “A friend of mine was working with a new film distribution company in town, and asked me if I could work as a marketing guy for their films part-time. I took the job, and in a couple of years, I was running a film distribution company.”
That same year, he founded the Arizona Underground Film Festival and the Tucson Terrorfest.
Balancing Creativity and Business
Running festivals and distribution companies leaves little time for directing, but Pike admits he misses being on set. “Getting back behind the camera would be a huge goal for me right now,” he says. “I would like to write more scripts and get more involved in writing, but I think about the scene as I write it, so writing does lead me to directing.”
Like most artists, Pike also deals with creative challenges. “I really enjoy being creative, and there are certain days where I don’t feel it,” he says. “Watching a film, reading a book, art, or just going somewhere helps me with that. Understanding where your ideas come from is what can help you get back into being creative again.”
Advice for Emerging Filmmakers
When asked what advice he would give to young filmmakers in Arizona, Pike says, “My advice to filmmakers would be to go out and make something, anything really,” he says. “One minute short, five minutes of something, really anything. You could end up making a great short that turns into something bigger.”
He believes success comes from showing up and staying connected to the community. “Also take opportunities when they come up,” he says. “If it’s helping out at a film festival, editing, interning at a place that works for film, be there at film events. It’s always good to talk and network with people who might not be filmmakers, but work in the scene. You can learn a lot, and it might lead to something else down the line.”
A Tucson Filmmaker Still Telling Stories
Whether he’s behind the camera, programming a festival lineup, or helping other artists get their films seen, David Pike remains dedicated to storytelling in all its forms.
Pike’s creative journey reflects both the do-it-yourself spirit and deep sense of community that define Tucson’s arts scene. His work continues to push boundaries and inspire a new generation of filmmakers to pick up a camera and start creating.
