411: No Pain, No Gain

After completing his first film, “The Art of Pain,” independent director Matt Brookens learned that when there’s drama on screen, there’s usually more to follow when filming wraps. Brookens hit the road to promote the film on the festival circuit, got creative with marketing the film, and in the end, the film was pirated and viewed by thousands online. “It’s so random what kind of things will affect your film,” Brookens says. “But with a niche film, it’s a matter of finding your audience.” The fledgling director could catch a break when it comes to finding a supportive audience when the film is screened at the Gene Siskel Film Center June 5-10. “The Art of Pain” was filmed in Chicago and centers around Jack, a movie theater employee, his sci-fi geek friend, his “actress” girlfriend and a ninja-in-training who is hell-bent on kicking Jack’s ass. Brookens will fly back from LA to attend the event and discuss his experience making the film. “I learned that I love making films. It’s a really difficult process but I love doing this,” he says.