Film

Article at OC Arts & Culture Magazine, and another "whale" impression

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Did a new interview over at OC Arts & Culture Magazine. Taken straight from the site:


"Evan Vincent: Please tell us more about yourself, your background, education and what you do.


Amir Motlagh: I am a filmmaker, more specifically, a film director. Initially, I started as an actor, spent a few years getting professional training (Stella Adler, Meisner, Strasburg etc.), then one day, came up with an idea for a film, got a few people together to help, hustled my way into some equipment, and made my first film, Dino Adino in 2001. That was the start of a long love affair with media creation. At that point, I also had a BA in Psychology from UCLA. In some strange misguided way, I thought that this would help me be a better actor. After another five films, some success, some failure, I went back to school to get an MFA, specifically in directing, at Chapman University, mostly to better understand the process of film directed, not just my way, but also in a way that’s been established through a hundred years. Education, any way you can get it, can only help motivated people grow as artists; that’s the bottom line. But of the same token, if I were to listen to everything that they feed you at film school, I would never make another film again. Thankfully, that didn’t happen to me. And, at this point, I have made ten films, which have played all over the world.'


To catch the rest of the article, please swing over here:

http://ocartsandculture.com/2009/04/reel-people-amir-motlagh/


_____________________________________________


Second on the agenda is this little item regarding "whale":


Taken from 1 Way Presents, we have this interesting tidbit regarding "whale"


"There is an exciting use of photography that is as cinematic as any of the footage. The music is emotionally driven and the realistic dialogue only takes second place to great characters. Whale comes in at a trim 75 minutes and though I wanted more, the pacing was perfect, the ending was excellent! The highlight of the film, for me, was the skateboarding footage. Recalls to mind, some of the beautiful skateboarding photography in Gus Van Sant's "Paranoid Park". This is a film that I am proud to have seen early and am sure is going to be well received by the indie film community as a fresh new voice, in a seemingly outspoken indie film community."


To read the rest of the article, please peruse this useful link:

http://onewaytv.blogspot.com/2009/03/whale.html


Plain Us in full view

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First film: Plain Us_24minute film
Then info
Then explanation


Plain Us_full short film by Amir Motlagh from Amir Motlagh on Vimeo.

Info:
Distributor: Movieola-The Short Film Channel & AYA Films
Premiere: Hells Half Mile Film and Music Festival, Oct 2008

Synopsis:
Cy, an Iranian American indie rocker drops into the city he grew up in while on tour, to visit the family he could have had. Thing is, life's never so easy, even when you're in a rock and roll band.

Crew:
Written, Directed and Starring Amir Motlagh
Producers: Joshua Virnick, Amir Motlagh
Cinematographer: Zamir Kokonozi
Production Design: Tom O'Connell
Sound Design: Brock Carter
Music: Shanks and the Dreamers

Cast:
Amir Motlagh
Kindy Barr
Nadia Anwar
Art Toussi
Tom O'Connell
Rami Askar
Kristen Penza
Joshua Virnick

Technical:
Shot in 35mm, DV Intro

Aspect
1:85:1

Total Run Time: 24minutes
©AYA Films, Amir Motlagh
_____________________________________________________________
Explanation:

To be honest, this has been a relatively strange time for me.  I just finished releasing an album, and am about two days away from finishing my first narrative feature that has been three years in the making.  In between time, i have been very busy as usual.

But i have wanted to make some changes in pattern, and in all honesty, believe that i have been behind the curve on the internet for quite some time.  Maybe i have been to busy, but probably i have been to near sighted.

I finished a film in 2008 called Plain Us.  It premiered at the Hells Half Mile Film and Music Festival in Oct.  A few weeks after, it was solicaited by Movieola-The Short Film Channel for broadcast rights in Canada.  This was very early in my usual cycle to go for this type of deal.  I thought about other screenings and festivals and the usual pattern that films "must" go through.

But this time, instead of thinking it over long, i signed away on the contract, thinking that broadcast, the internet and a non-exclusive contract was best, and the sooner the better.

This time, i don't have the time nor the money, nor energy to dive all my resources into the festival thing. The "what if's" is not something i want to experience right now.  I have been there, done that, and in the end, want to try something else for once.

I am coming on my 8th year as both a professional, and at many times amateur filmmaker, and i have put in my dues.  So, without further ado, i present Plain Us, in full, for free on the web.  Watch it, enjoy it, hate it, love it, be indiffent, but please send it to someone else, many people else.

Also, it is 24 minutes long, so take a deep breath from your twittering, and sit back.

With Luv,
AM/FM 

knock. knock., Neil Hamburger, postmodern thought, and Saturdays show

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knock. knock. movie still

On Saturday Nov. the 15th, 2008, which is tomorrow, i screen a little short film called knock. knock. at The Cat Hotel in Burbank, before a comedy performance by Neil Hamburger (staple on Drag City Records, Poolside Chats on Tom Green's internet show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, toured with Tenacious D).  Now, when I'm writing @ The Cat Hotel, i mean it in a literaly sense.  Its not only the name of the space, but its oddly and logically enough, a luxury boarding house for cats.

This is a strange, strange scenario indeed.  To take matters further, the main lead in knock. knock. is a friend of mine, Chris Manz.  Chris Manz in real life does an internet comedy show named The Chris Manz Show.  In the film knock. knock. the character Chris, played by Chris Manz, is a comic who host's an internet comedy show called aptly enough, The Chris Manz Show. 

I commented on this once before.  Did the film come first, or the show.  I think the idea's were birthed at the same time.  So, in a sense we get a little romantic comedy that is in fact, a little postmodern.  When i first screened the intro to people who didn't know my work well (and remember this film is over a year old now) they thought it was a documentary.  Others who are familiar with how i make films generally understand that its part of my filmic language, well, some of the time.  But like everything in life, we change, adapt to new syntax, and evolve.  So am i working a style?  Thats not really a question i'd like to delve into now.  One question answered at a time, and there is time for everything, right?

Ok, now can a little comedy-romance be postmodern.  Of course silly.  Just take a look into the context for clues.  This is all a valid discussion for Sat, because our anti comedian Neil Hamburger has been labeled as a postmodern comic.  One can say that the title of a film called knock. knock. as a comedy is a postmodern act alone.

But i think that both Neil Hamburger and knock. knock. are steeped in ironic self-reference and in Neil's case, certainly absurdity.  So, without further digression...

See you Saturday @ The Cat Hotel in Burbank.  A crazy cast of characters will be there including industry guests, and its only an RSVP event, so here is the info if your in LA and interested.  Show starts at 9PM

Taken directly from Neil Hamburger's myspace page:______________________________________________

In little over a week, I will be performing at a "cat hotel" in Burbank to an audience of mostly cats.

There will be space for a few human beings to attend as well. As this is a cat kennel, alcohol will not be served, though cookies, coffee, and cat food will be available to patrons.

Rescued cats will be available for adoption. Admittance to this unusual show will be a mere $7 suggested donation. Prior to my performance, the cats and humans will be shown a short film written by Chris Manz, entitled "Knock. Knock."

Here are all the details for the event:

Sat. Nov.15 9:00PM 
The Cat Hotel 
1807 W Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91506

You will need to RSVP, as space is limited.
RSVP to chrismanzshow@gmail.com

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

And now here are two clips from the film to consume. 

For further enquiry on knock. knock. sales, please give me a shout or contact the distributor Ouat! Media

Clip 1: Chris tries to convince Sharon the actress that his show is a worthwhile way to spend an evening.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BywRjRwdMg[/youtube]

Clip 2: Chris and Karla hang out "on top of a parking structure"

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00quK9-RYjs[/youtube]

 

 

 

 

New "The Photo Journal" feature on the site..

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So I'm adding a new feature on this site called, "The Photo Journal".  I understand that its hella clever in the Bay Area sense, but i'll be updating whenever i get a chance, and when in fact at least a week or several have past.

The page is located on the sidebar (pages section).  So after this first preview, i'll only link to it from this point on.  Maybe not.

So, without further verboseness, this is the first edition, November 2008.

Shanks and the Dreamers live at Evocal  11-04-08

Shanks and the Dreamers

 

On stage with Dubfire_Nocturnal 2008

Dubfire_Nocturnal 2008

 

Before playing, 11.04.08

Mr. Amir Motlagh

In the "small" Studio_ I keep my mutherfukin sunglasses on in doors..

cuttin it up meng

knock. knock. playing with Neil Hamburger

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The 2007 short film i directed, knock. knock. screens at a comedy event headlined by America's $1 funny man, Neil Hamburger at a secret location in the second week of November in Los Angeles.  The other comic set to perform is Chris Manz, who plays the lead in the film, about, well, about an internet comic who is just starting to get noticed.  The film is currently being distributed by Ouat! Media.

If your in LA, and are interested in checking out the event, send me an email.  Its at a bizarre, but perfectly apt location.

knock. knock. a film by Amir Motlagh

Plain Us and the world of Distro

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This is an interesting time to say the least.  I don't particularly like to go out of my way with opinions about the state of business on my own personal site, but i want to address some interesting things of late.  While Plain Us just got its festival premiere a week or so ago, i had seven short film distribution companies contact me regarding the film over the last few weeks.

Mind you, i'm not quite sure how they got wind of the film, and it wasn't from public screenings because it just premiered, but nevertheless, it's been a good sign.

Now, out of the seven, three of the companies want to acquire the film.  One is exclusive, the other two are non-exclusive.  My concern has been that if i sign the dotted line, what happens to screening the film on a festival circuit?  

Now, this is were i think that finally filmmakers should be on the upper hand.  On one side, i can just hold of and play the lottery card that has become the festival selection process, or, go ahead and get the best possible deal i can right now.  The truth is, especially for short films, is that we should be able to do all of the above.  And by that i mean, get that broadcast deal, get that web deal, and hopefully tour the circuit all concurrently.  Why should the process hold the filmmaker back.  With all the changes in the distribution models of late, i believe that the same should happen to short films to give extra opportunities for exposure.  Mind you, just because a film is available on the web, doesn't mean that screening it at a festival makes it somehow less viable.  In fact, seeing something that has garnered attention on the platform and resolution that it was originally intended makes it that much more satisfying and viable.

Its not worth waiting months on end to see whether you get in here or there....Maybe if you are on that old school frame of thought, its understandable, but as my one and only mentor told me about a year ago, "Don't take no for an answer", espcially if you completely believe in what you are doing.

AM/FM

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFC4mQeEeDM[/youtube]

"whale" first official trailer

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Here it is....

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR39tdVZaAI[/youtube]

whale


Cameron, a writer who seems to have never finished his first novel, returns home to his mother's house in Orange County Ca., after a failed relationship and lack of direction with life. Back home, Cameron spends his time reacquainting with old high school friends, only to find that life has only gotten more confusing for everyone. What is a young man to do when he seems to have lost all hope?

The film uses a cast made up of mostly non-actors, including Motlagh's real life parents. Many of the cast were first seen in Amir Motlagh's short film, Dino Adino (2001). By using an alternative narrative style, the film destroys the lines of fiction and documentary by engaging the audience in a way that traditional narrative fictions cannot. Motlagh utilized an approach that mixes the cinematic language, using influences ranging from Dogme 95, No Budget DIY, Iranian Cinema, Collage, John Cassavettes and Youtube  to string together the film in a unique and original way.

-Quotes-
"DIY meets cinema art"

"A collage of life, weaved with a sparring, gentle narrative that says more, without hardly saying anything"

"An autistic vision of cinema, equal parts beautiful, indulgent, and raw"

"Life unfolds in Amir Motlagh's new film whale"

-Cast-
Amir Motlagh
Darren Oneil
Mike Flowers
Atefeh Galledari
Yousef Motlagh
Rastin Ashtiani
Kindy Barr

-Company Credits-
Production Company - AYA Films
Produced by - Amir Motlagh, Darren Oneil
Music- Shanks and the Dreamers

Total Run Time: 72 Minutes

whale

"Absorbed", and further updates on whale

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So, the film Micro from last year is going to be titled Absorbed, and if you read my last post, i am giving it away free.  I will keep relaying why i am doing this, to give it a greater context(both social and personal), and i think that in the end, the conceptual gap between the works whale, "Plain Us" and Absorbed will hopefully mend.

 At this time, i am of the mind that as artist, we have to be very reluctant to give away our work for free, especially now that the internet audience feels entitled to media without fee, but at the same time i am starting to see a diminishing quality of work being put fourth in the ultra indie community that has abandoned both singularly(which i don't mind so much and can be beneficial in the world of low budget DV/HD) and comprehensively (detrimental to the filmmaking community), concept, craft and art.  The thing about the proliferation of DV in the nineties was that in the words of Jean Cocteau, "Film will only became an art when its materials are as inexpensive as pencil and paper", well its not pencil and paper, but damn near close, although Jean Cocteau might not have been thinking about how the internet and lack of scope was going to muddy his quote.  Because we are on the subject, this was another gem from Cocteau, "Art is not a pastime but a priesthood", which echoes the commitment to the work that one does.  

Unfortunately, quantity has taken over quality, art for commercial viability even in the lower echeln of no budget work.  DV gave us the opputunity to experiement with form and ideas, sometimes, or mostly at the expense of craft but that was OK, it was a trade of.  You don't talk about resolution when you watch the personal diary pixel vision works of the 80's, nor do you call into question the simple editing and VHS footage of Tarnation.  But these days, both craft and concept go out the window and we are left with work that neither resembles Cassavetes nor wannabe Spielberg's.  Its something more akin to the Hollywood Romantic Comedy, or shows like Flight of the Concords without any real social commentary.  And without the truth that Cassavetes forced you to watch.  In fact, Cassavetes name gets thrown out alot these days, but my god, if you compare 5 minutes of A Women Under the Influence or Husbands, you will understand what realism is, not pseudo naturalism.  I am guilty of that myself, but i would never believe that my craft is at that level yet, nor is it trying to be, nor might it ever be.  Lets just never compare these contemporary micro works to Cassavetes again, until it truly fucking deserves it OK.  And lets face it, its not going to happen because talent doesn't develop that quickly.  Now if Mike Leigh was given $3000 to make a feature film, he could pull something of.   

Nevertheless, there has never been a Micro Budget movie that i have ever witnessed to carry that type of truth, maybe interesting but without the developed craft, nor as i stated concept.  Those are two separatist ideas.  I will not ask for craft if concept is compelling enough, if the argument really exists.  In the 90's we had Dogme, but the new crop of internet filmmakers isn't shooting for that, isnt shooting for Breaking the Waves or The Celebration, but shooting work that resembles sitcoms, with people who are hipper then what you would be seeing on network TV.  In a way, Absorbed has many elements of the trend i am argueing against, but at the same time, it knows what it is.  Its critically looking at itself.  I shot a movie to resemble a youtube journal, and what better way to express that, then give it away in the format that it was mimiking.  It might be the first feature film to be made for the web, both in content and style. The work is also a self-reflexive reaction to what is availble without all the metaphors.  Where as whale is a culturalist piece cloaked as character piece, Absorbed is a character piece cloaked as a culturalist piece.  

On a more urgent note, whale has taken me around three years to complete, from its inception.   To be honest, i have no idea how anyone will view it, whether they call it adolescent or brillant, nor if i where to be truly honest, do I really care.  I do hope that people see it for more Kiarostami then XYZ filmmaking, but thats just my hope.  Of course i would love an audience, but i cannot dictate that.  I also don't have the desire to sit on myspace for 8 hours a day, adding people to view my film.  But one thing is that regardless of some of the home made aesthitcs, or what some might loosely call lack of craft(i have other films you know, and an MFA), it was made out of my understanding of what DV micro budget filmmaking might have become.  To me, its all craft, its all concept, and its all personal.  But not my life.  Ofterall, i'm not that self-absorbed that i might make it out to be, it might all look real, but is all fiction.

I am going to set up the blog or website this coming week for Absorbed.  I calculate that it will be in 16 parts with the first part going up in late August or early Sept.  I'm talking a break writing this while in the middle of finishing the sound for whale, which will be a completed, locked picture by August 18th.  

Until next time, behave yourselves.,

Peace

AM

 

Where can i find yo shit, like Still Lover and such?

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Ok, so people always ask where they can see or buy things i have created.  Well, for one, Still Lover is currently being distributed by CrushedPlanet.com which is an online pay to play website with high quality, curated content.  The company was founded by Joe and Harry Gantz of Taxi Cab Confessions, which was an amazing show at the time, and could be the first reality show to play on Cable?  Maybe.

Anyways, go and take a look, and if you sign up you get two free views, then its pay to play, or subscription based.  So this all means that you need to go and see the film Still Lover for the first time, or the third, but go and make me some money meng.    Artist deserve to make that bling too....

Also, if you're into music, and can't wait for the new Shanks and the Dreamers album to drop on Sept 16th, 2008, you can cope our smooth, last years instrumental record, "A Day Late: Instrumentals for Illegal Aliens" over at itunes, or amazon, or cdbaby, and take it easy man.

Ok, so, the new news is that knock. knock. has been picked up for distro.  So if you want to see that film, go harass the distributors Ouat! Media.  For all international sales, please click here.

 

 

 

knock. knock. gets distro deal

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To update on the most recent happenings in life, knock. knock. has been acquired by Toronto based distribution company Ouat! Media for an exclusive worldwide deal.  I can now hand over the duty of getting the damn thing seen to someone else.

In other news, Shanks and the Dreamers album is officially ready to be sent out for mastering.  I think i posted on this before, but alas, we went in and mixed some more.  But this time, its for real. It includes 11 tracks with names like, WhiteHouse, 405, Hush and Popsicles.  Nothing too pretentious, just short and sweet mutherfuckin titles.

We are sending it out to a NY Mastering House, since ART is rolling through NY in a few weeks and were getting good vibes from a couple dudes out there but...... there are a couple solid choices in LA as well, so nothing is finalized as to who will do the honors, but the field has been weeded out.

Keep it fresh

FM/AM

 

"Plain Us" movie trailer and info

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So, my new film Plain Us is finished and i 'm ready for both the love and the hate.  I wrote and directed the piece. It was shot by cinematographer Zamir Kokonozi on 35mm, who also shot my last film knock knock.

The film also features songs on the upcoming full length Shanks and the Dreamers album, My Darling Dia.

Here is a short synopsis:  "Cy, a touring musician in an up and coming band drops into the town he grew up in":

In my next few post i'll get more in depth with the process, and conception of the piece.

The film features:

Kindy Barr

Nadia Anwar

Art Toussi

Tom O'Connell

Rami Dogg

Kristen Penza

Josh Virnick

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=iFC4mQeEeDM[/youtube]