Eric Norcross knows a thing or two about good movies - he has made a few.

This past summer, the premier of Caroline of Virginia (written and directed by Norcross) was very well received. The film is an incredibly tender story of love and personal sacrifice with a little bit of magic intertwined for a splash of fairy tale nostalgia. With it's seeming success, it's easy to assume that Norcross would continue working in the same genera but he decided to go for something different.

Lipstick Lies is just-about done filming but it's already generating some underground buzz well-before it's anticipated release in the Spring of 2012. Unlike Eric's last film this is not a heart touching or uplifting film of sweet love, Lipstick Lies is a mystery style, sci-fi thriller with an elaborate plot and some unexpected surprises. Given Norcross's ability to make movies that have intriguing stories, there is plenty of reason to expect this film to be exciting. He not only has has a good eye for interesting cinematography, Eric is also a fantastic story teller.

The film is about a woman named Allie. She is newly married and away on her honeymoon. On the last morning, she wakes up and realizes that her husband disappeared, her wedding ring is missing, and her things transformed into other belongings. Her very location changed. She begins to investigate what could have happened but the process is made more difficult by the fact that her family and friends insist that the three years Allie remembers spending with her husband, never actually took place.

Eric is thrilled about his cast. Samantha Cole who plays the lead (Allie) is the perfect embodiment of her character, according to Norcross. "She is great to work with and has real ability and presence. She can convey what she needs to, she can even express emotion through her movement and her eyes without a lot of lines. Samantha has good body language". Samantha has been attached to the film for about a year before filming even began, casting her was easiest.

Mathew Krob was a bit harder to find. He plays Allies missing husband. "I looked at  a lot of potential actors but many of the guys just did not look the part, the character is supposed to be charismatic, a charmer". When Eric met Mathew, in no time he realized that this man was his long sought after male lead. "He just seemed like it was so natural for him". It certainly helped that Mathew is a trained actor in his own right. The rest of the cast was just as carefully selected as the two key actors.

The title existed for years. The words "lipstick lies" were uttered to Eric by a fellow student in elementary school, Eric thought they were perfect for something, but what exactly was not clear just then. In 2003, a story of murder, blood and gore began to form, the tittle (so long in existence) was attached to it. The initial direction of the film was very different from what the end result became - a mystery and thriller.

Eric Norcross is a talented, young filmmaker with an original approach to movies. His convictions about what makes films good, are unique and modest. His idols are respected veterans in the field, and Eric himself may one day become a role model for a rising director.

Times Square (TS): What makes a good film maker?

Eric Norcross (EN): A good filmmaker is someone who can maximize every aspect of the medium, both aesthetically and on a technical level, to tell the story effectively and efficiently with as little exposition as possible. A good filmmaker does not need to resort to fancy toys and gimmicks to capture and hold the interest of his or her audience, but know how to tell the story in the medium with as few tricks as possible. A good filmmaker can tell stories in a way that transcends multiple demographics.

TS: What makes films interesting and why you make them?

EN: Films are a medium for telling a story that, while it doesn't leave a lot to the imagination, can stimulate inspiration to create better circumstances for ones self. A good example of this is the work of Frank Capra - I've never met anyone who has walked out of a movie that Capra was involved in and not been inspired to give a little bit. I suppose the same is true for the work of Jim Henson.

TS: What is the ultimate movie you want to make?

EN: The ultimate movie would be something timeless, a story that is simple, but the morality tale within can educate future generations and the aesthetics and technical workings would never be outdated. The ultimate movie would be very difficult to create.

Lipstick Lies is written and directed by Eric Norcross, produced by Jan Major.

Cast includes Samantha Cole, Matthew Krob, Bill Woods, Katie Jergens, Gerard Adimando and Donna Ross. 

Photo Caption: Lead Actress, Samantha Cole.