Film

Voice of America interview and some Links

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On Saturday, August 7th, I was interviewed live on the satellite channel V.O.A show, Shabahang, with host Behnood Mokri. They showed a few clips of my work, talked a bit about WHALE, and a bit of the challenges involved in being an Iranian American filmmaker.

The segment ran about 15-20 minutes, and when a link is available, I will post it, although my Farsi is not so good, and I'm sure it caused a few laughs. All in all, I received lots of kind messages from people all around the world saying that they enjoyed the interview.

We are currently working on a new website which will make navigating easier, especially in trying to find some of my work, which is scattered everywhere..

In the spirit of making things easier to find, you can access some of my channels here. They are all a bit different(Vimeo and Dailymotion shows some longer films like Plain Us and knock. knock. for now, and Youtube has WHALE along with some other videos), although in the future, I will migrate them all to one place. For now, check them all out, see what you like, and connect with me.

Amir @ Youtube
Amir @ Vimeo
Amir @ Dailymotion

"The Stakes of No Stakes" a new interview and more.

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Two things on the agenda, first I am in the process of having a new website built, one in which will make finding what I'm doing easier, and as I've been quietly recently, its only because lots of things are happening.

Second, and more importantly, is a new interview I did with an M.A student in Film Studies in Kolkata, India, asking me some questions about what I thought "No-Budget Filmmaking" means, both concept and conception. This is for his dissertation paper, and since its academic in spirit, click if your only interested in such things.

The Stakes of No Stakes

Whale, "A debut well worth catching"

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3-8-10


Taken directley from Pittsurgh Examiner


Written by Sam Ippolito


"Whale", a Mumblecore-like tale of Writer/Director/Star Amir Motlagh forced by a failed romantic relationship, to move back home with his parents, at 29, to try and reclaim his once burgeoning writing career. Motlagh plays Cameron, an Iranian-American immigrant with suburban roots in Orange County, discovers through reacquainting himself with old friends, that they too, suffer from a lack of maturity and not being able to control their aimless wonder.


Told through interconnecting monologues and talkie scenes, a story begins to appear out of nowhere, similar to its shaky hand-held camera shots of the wide blue open of California skies, dotted with little fluffy clouds. The poster art of the movie even shows our two main characters staring off into these vistas. Trying to glimpse some kind of signal for the future, a glimmer of hope.


Lots of close-ups of characters' faces gives the film an immediate intimacy, making them instantly relatable. Likable. With believable acting throughout, some artistic camera flourishes and a lyrical, poetic style that enhances the film, adding a layered dimension, making it more than the sum of its parts.


Credit also goes to a weird experimental soundtrack combined with some strummed Indie rock. Motlagh also has his hands in this, his band is featured prominently. But the film, especially in its quieter moments, has a dream-like quality that rewards the viewer with its insight into just trying to be able to juggle life's hardship with an innate desire to just enjoy life.


A debut well worth catching, along with the nicest Art House in town, makes it something Cinephiles can cherish and look forward to. Trailers and one short film show before the main feature, adding another reason to attend. And if anyone cannot catch this cool film series debut, more Indies are scheduled for later in the month. "Whale" is also available on DVD, now at the film's official website.


WHALE on DVD and digital download Feb 14th, pre-order now.

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Whale DVD and Poster Art



Feb 14th. 2010 is the day that WHALE becomes available on DVD (pre-order available now). I said I was going to do it, and I'm sticking with my word. There are a few real world screenings lined up in various cities, but I don't have the exact dates yet (although I should announce that shortly). DVD comes first, then real world screenings. Doing shit in reverse this time.


I think in this day and age, a product release has to be instantaneous or people will lose interest. When I first started the project, I always thought that it would be the type of film that people would watch on dvd, or on there ipod, or phone or as a download. Its a small, intimate project, and as equally appealing as theatrical screenings are, so is the thought of someone watching a movie on something like a tablet, or netbook. This is where we are at with our media, and since music easily transitioned into the MP3 age, film and its makers have to think the same way.


People have continually asked for a DVD of WHALE, and if I hold out any longer, I would be doing a disservice to myself and to the fans interested.


So, the DVD along with a digital downloadable version will be available on e-commerce sites like Amazon, Filmbaby, etc, and I will also be offering the DVD through this website and over at the WHALE website.


Along with that, several brick and mortar stores have signed on to carry the DVD. I'll make a list of those as well.


In the meantime, you can pre-order the DVD here as of now:

http://whalethefilm.squarespace.com/store/


Or just buy clicking this buy now button:









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]