News
Just a quick update I was alerted about a few days ago. Four of my feature works are now available on the US Streaming Platform Tubi, including THREE WORLDS (2018), MAN (2018), WHALE (2010) & RAINBOW SEASON (2019). Like most of these distro services, it is time-bound.
I believe Tubi is North America only, but, VPN, maybe….i dunno?
Cheers & enjoy the beautiful day my friend….
Clicked up in the studio with my friend & collaborator Nima Rezai (CANYON) recently as he’s launching his new project CINIMA. This is our first collaboration between our two projects, CINIMA & Mirs.
Our first single, “Rain” drops on all major platforms Oct 25, 2019.
Rain - CINIMA & Mirs
Rain - CINIMA & Mirs
©2019 TrueGrooves / ANIMALS
Our second feature film for 2018 (Three Worlds) is now available for pre-order! Please show your support by committing early & locking into our lovingly easy pre-release rates.
Available on Vimeo On Demand (worldwide) starting Sept 7th, 2018. (i think we'll let it drop Thurs ;) )
Premieres on Amazon Prime Video in the latter half of Sept, with a full digital rollout in the following months.
The full OST (soundtrack) by Julian DW Brink premieres on all music platforms Sept 14th, 2018.
This release marks the conclusion of the "Three Marks, Too Many Signals" series of works.
PS: If you haven't yet watched MAN yet, now is a good time, after you pre-order this! 💚
Written & Directed by Amir Motlagh
Produced by ANIMALS, Amir Motlagh, Charles Borg
Director of Photography: Amir Motlagh
Starring:
Amir Motlagh
Samantha Robinson
Rey Deegan
Keaton Shyler
Gregory Linington
Editing: Bryan Tuck, Amir Motlagh
Original Score by Julian DW Brink
Sound Designer & Re-Recording Mixer: Stephen Holliger
“It’s always exciting whenever a distinct new voice makes itself heard on the indie landscape. Amir Motlagh is such a voice.
honest and soulful.. ”
— Adam Schartoff FILMWAX RADIO
“It’s rare to mix rawness with beauty.”
— Pinnland Empire
““These unique experiences are made even more exceptional for their Iranian-American perspective.”
...the experience of both films (MAN + Three Worlds) is one that any film connoisseur must have. To sit with an awareness of the film, and, an awareness of how you are watching it, is a surreal act that can only be described as “art.” Motlagh’s work is definitely a piece of art in the medium of film.”
— Jonita Davis THE IRANIAN
“there is without a doubt a definitive boldness to “Three Worlds”, both in its tone and aspirations, and it will certainly require viewers to lean in a little closer, which is never a bad thing…..a curious and fascinating watch.”
— David Fowlie KEEPING IT REEL
Chris loved cinema. He passed doing what he loved, (though that which he loved was immensely stressful), a quiet consolation. I hadn’t talked to him in quite a while, making this a bitter sting. He came from cinema royalty, his father being Celso Ad Castillo, the “enfant terrible” of Philippine cinema. Chris grew up as an actor, famous in his native country before making his way West and deciding that writing/directing was his calling.
Of course, I’d been meaning to call him for months now, to bury minor hatchets, every day putting it off for the unknowable future. He was in great spirits the last time I saw him at our mutual friend Rey’s play in Pasadena. Chris was one of the first people to screen a film of mine in LA (Still Lover), at a series he was curating at the ArcLight. He was also an OG member of LADS (L.A Death Squad), & had many great stories of 80’s LA punk street life (pretty hardcore stories I’d add).
May he rest in peace, the same peace he found on the 2d screen & while working to fill the flicker in his heart. A combination of sweetness and unpredictable anger rolled up in a soft Filipino shell. Rest in Peace, Christopher Ad Castillo.
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Post Script:
While Chris was shooting a feature film (i had a minor acting role as MIRS), we teamed up to co-direct this MIRS music video (i just remembered the name MIRS was, in fact, his suggestion after bouncing the idea of a solo music project I was pursuing). We had collaborated a few times prior & after, but this was my favorite, mostly because of the spontaneity. We shot the performance in-between setups for his narrative feature project. That project never saw the light of day I believe, but nevertheless, it was an interesting time & actually fun in hindsight (time softens blows). Chris had caught the DIY bug from a sort of bubbling cabin fever from having multiple projects fall through the Hollywood development crack, and without letting anything get in his way, he steamrolled through the project, much to his cast/crews terror. But it was a grand learning lesson for him, and a jumpstart to being prolific after many years sitting on the sidelines.
As part of the promotional run for the 4/21 double feature screening, I got invited to do the popular film podcast, FILMWAX Radio. The episode should air later this month.
My producing partner Charles goes in to film an interview segment with CHICAGO FILM NEWS later this week.
All in all, things are moving along on getting these films out into the public space. We have gotten several distribution offers (for the only film we are showing to companies right now), and are weighing our options.
My real drive at the moment is showing these films together since they are all part of the same series along with CANYON. But, of course, I'm flexible on this since this is not all under my control.
In any case, if you're reading this, and program film slots, let's talk. It's a win, win.
Looks like both the new features will be screening together late April. While MAN is locked, still working on finishing THREE WORLDS. My big aim all along was to be able to screen these two works along with CANYON in a single show. Basically, the THREE MARKS, TOO MANY SIGNALS series as one piece.
A long road indeed. Stay tuned. If all works well, I should be able to announce the location and date. One really big thing to note, it's not an LA show. We don't do arthouse well in LA :)
Just a few more days, and with that, I will have (mostly, if not completely) wrapped up several projects that have been, works in progress for several years. What a beautiful relief.
Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Years :)
I'll leave you with a picture of my fathers bunnies, Mr Totoro and Marshmellow.
MIRS project CANYON goes live one week from today. (hopefully)
What is CANYON:
a deep gorge, typically one with a river flowing through it.
Two steps required:
a) Order the pre-sale
b) Subscribe to MIRS Youtube Channel to experience the correct mode of transmission.
a deep gorge, typically one with a river flowing through it.
ANIMALS Media Labs (my startup development/commercial house) delivered ahead of schedule our first major broadcast spot for American Supercar Maker, Rezvani Motors.
We present, THE BEAST supercar.
Credits:
Produced by Nima Rezai, ANIMALS, Merge Productions
Directed by Amir Motlagh
DP: John Honore
First AC: Alex Lim
Key Grip: Marty Anthony
Steadycam Op: Tim Dolan
Art Direction: Ali Sabet
Written by Charles Borg & Amir Motlagh
Voice: Amen-Ra Palacio
Sound Design: Ojan Missaghi, Mike Moeding @ STEMSPOST
Score: Randin Graves
Color: Kelly Reese @ DELUXE
Grooming: Mikal Sky
Not only do you get a 2D cartoon representation of me, you also get some quotable gems I've probably (wisely) moved away from.
Cartoon Amir.
In all honestly, this is a cool film series published by FOCAL PRESS with some interesting, and talented(this word is meaningless in many ways, but not always) filmmakers.
I however, did not reread this after it was sent 6 months ago to be published, because, what is the point of revising archived opinion?
With that said, can it possible be the best thing I've ever written? Not sure.
Enjoy, share and let me know your thoughts.
Here we are again, another week, another shoddily manifested video. But, a commitment is just that, and my word is bond.
This week's subjects and links are here below for you to peruse.
MIRS DAYZ Music Video:
http://youtu.be/wJaqYO9cQfU
Jonas Mekas 365:
http://jonasmekas.com/365/month.php?month=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonas_Mekas
Drops in the Stream:
http://www.amirmotlagh.com/drops-in-the-stream/
Record Sales:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/reggieugwu/who-buys-music-anymore-a-statistical-inquiry#.nyY9q9Lq6
I recently read an article in CURBED about the possible demolishing of a NORMS restaurant on LA CINEGA and Rosewood. First, i've probably been to NORMS under 5 times in my life, and every single time it was after a night of drinking, when other options did not exist. Needless to say, I don't really have an opinion on the food they serve, and in all honesty, I don't remember too much. It probably wasn't that great, but that's just assuming shit.
But, the article was not about NORMS itself, but the building that housed it. The architecture of the GOOGIE STYLE, (50's-60's) and one of the real identity markers of Southern California. The style is so fantastic and timeless, by the shear dated quality of it. Yes, it's a contradiction, but the wholly unique attributes make it a style that stands apart. It also was a staple of some of our favorite cartoon designs.
And it's being erased from the landscape as more and more of these cafe's, bowling alleys and motels get demolished. So, maybe it's a good thing to save this little NORMS, but maybe not for the coffee.
Take a second of your day and enjoy our creative human endeavors with a little click of the mouse.
look at how remarkable this is.
Whether you like it or not, JAMES FRANCO is the character of the future. He is constant, consistent & working in PRESENT TENSE. Franco is the stream. And that stream is not going away because the stream demands stuff now.
Gone are the days where you could sit and toil on a concept for years, or turn a MALICK and show up 15 years later. Gone are the days where you could do or be ONE THING (however, if you love that one thing, more power too you). Because the world is turning so fast, if you don't pivot when you are required too, the media you are on top of will turn into OPERA, and then you'll be bitter. And pivoting becomes increasingly difficult as time goes by. It's as skill you must learn to survive.
Franco and his cohorts are also the few characters around who are almost completely immune to criticism. This is not unprecedented. Woody Allan has already mastered that art, by the only effective method. By not giving a shit and immediately moving to something else. The new school just does it faster.
In a world where media is completely ubiquitous and a million paths of communication exist, dealing with a bad review is akin to wiping your mouth after eating a bowl of spaghetti. Who gives a shit. And if you do, well, you're fucked.
