My name is Ian Carlsen.

I'm a producer, writer, and filmmaker who lives in Portland, Maine.

I have more than a decade of experience in media production working for such clients as: CVS, Dish Network, Hasbro, Dunkin', Ninja, MaineHealth, Northern Light Health, NH Lottery, Central Maine Power, and many others.

I started my journey as an actor and voiceover artist, but have transitioned over to film and commercial production, where I've found my superb people-skills and knack for creative problem solving to be a great asset. Every now and then I can be convinced to come out of acting "retirement" for the right gig.

I have lived in the great state of Maine for 30+ years. I am a husband, and father, and in my limited downtime I enjoy travelling, looking at birds, making music, playing tabletop RPGs and practicing my French.

Birds

I'm very into birds. I have observed 887 species of bird in the wild, which is only about 12% of all bird species on the planet. If you want to learn more about my birding check this page out.

Current Recommendations

NARRATIVE FILM

Elling (2001) dir. Petter Næss

Norwegian odd couple buddy-film. My answer to the question, "What film is the most you?"

Luz (2018) dir. Tilman Singer

A young woman and a police officer go head to head in this hypnotically demonic chamber piece.

TELEVISION

Chernobyl (2019) created by Craig Mazin, dir. Johan Renck

You had me at moody period piece about Soviet hubris written by Craig Mazin, and starring Jared Harris.

Severance (2022-Present, AppleTV) created by Dan Erikson, dir. Ben Stiller

Mind-bending thriller with the best television casting lineup in recent memory.

Fishing with John (1991) dir. John Lurie

This is a thing I love. It's not for everyone, but it is very much for me.

DOCUMENTARY

Dead River Rough Cut (2002) dir. Stu Silverstein, Richard Searls

Essential Maine film-watching, hard to get through a winter without thinking about it.

FICTION

Summerland (2018) by Hannu Rajaniemi

Necro-punk spy novel where death doesn't stop British Intelligence. Rajaniemi brilliance.

The Water Knife (2015) by Paolo Bacigalupi

Anxiety inducing near future techno-thriller where the MacGuffin is Colorado River Water Rights.

the Aubrey-Maturin series (1969–2004) by Patrick O'Brien

Nobody writes ships like Patrick O'Brien. I'm on book 16 of 21 of my first "circumnavigation" of the series.

NON-FICTION

Slaying the Dragon: A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons (2022) by Ben Riggs

An honest look at the completely bonkers business decisions behind the most important books of my adolescence.

Producer to Producer: A Step-by-Step Guide to Low-Budget Independent Film Producing (2010) by Maureen A. Ryan

Ryan has some of the best information out there for low-budget producing. An essential.

MUSIC

Bonny Light Horseman (2020) by Bonny Light Horseman

I've been to four concerts in the last two years. Three of them were Bonny Light Horseman.

Kensington Blues (2005) by Jack Rose

Jack Rose winds a path through blues, folk, and raga-inspired psychedelia all on one guitar.

PODCASTS

Scriptnotes (2011-Present)

The best conversations about writing and the writer's side of the film industry.