The last few have been very busy. Two new collaborative projects are currently in various stages of production, along with early planning on the feature. (Pre-pre production)
Hope this picture helps in passing the time. A tribute to Al's Bar (traction and 3rd) in the beloved old days of Downtown LA, the seedier times.
This is the first image from my new moving picture Khoobi. I hear that the movie is pretty interesting.
The first of three posters was designed by one of my animators and good friend Ali Sabet. Guy does amazing work. Check him out here.
This is the full interview.
This is the just released music video (first of four) for the track Spring (bombs) of the MIRS Spin Cycle ep. Usually, I don't go into the behind the scenes stuff, but I do want to frame this, so that it has some contextual backdrop to work from. Initially, the video was going to be some elaborate live action piece, with some "familiar face" as the lead. But the production was endlessly getting pushed back, weeks and weeks with no end in sight.
Now, at the same time, I had been thinking of another visual treatment, one that I had always considered more central and "authentic", but was hesitant to follow through because of this larger scale production which was already in movement, and also for the very fact that this idea lacked so called production value.
But instead of delaying yet again, and in reference to this track in particular being at times labeled as Chillwave (a genre that I was never fully aware of when I was recording this) I decided to trash the production, and go with my more honest instinct. The general trends in music videos now(especially in these genres) is the feeling or mood of nostalgia. But usually as it applies only in meta feeling, not in actuality, since most of these musicians weren't even born during the visual time clock that the images represent. And the other type of nostalgia based music video of late is the home-movie aesthetics but with a clear cut narrative, rendering it to skillful artifice and craftsmanship. (ie: Mark Ronsons' I Need Somebody to Love Me" video).
So, given these distinctions, I wanted to cut of the oxygen to those particular forms of nostalgic pandering, and so I came up with this. This is actual footage, taken many years ago, at the second renaissance of break dancing. It includes myself, and several of my friends, when we were in a crew. The only narration is the actual "session". Pairing it up to the music, it renders the scene wholly different, and in my opinion, gives the music its own unqiue breathing space as well.
Things that are happening now. Right now.
1. WHALE is now on Vimeo, Youtube and Dailymotion for streaming. In fact, you can watch it from the comfort of this website. You can also still purchase a DVD because hardware is more valuable then bytes.
2. The interview I did last year for VOA's Shabahang show (The Late Edition) is now available to watch here. The shorter version is also available on Youtube.
3. I did several interviews regarding MIRS. When and if they go live, you can see it here.
4. Insound is going to stock some of those limited MIRS CD's.
5. Khoobi (are you ok) is finished and awaiting some music clearance. More infor coming real soon.
Slated as the first AYA release of 2011, Khoobi (are you ok) is at the tail end of post-production. The picture is locked, and we just started the online edit (motion graphics, sound design, etc). I've been blessed with an amazing team that I'm incredibly indebted too. And a new member just joined, alleviating my final trepidations.
They all shall be named in the next update.
Looking at a May/June release, although, if I were to deliver it to the web first and forego the film festival route, I would predict a March release.
It's is a tricky world to navigate these days, but don't worry, I'll figure it out.
As for "what its about", well, just wait a bit. Why spoil the fun. I can say one thing with certainty; that in fact, I got my father to do old school hand drawn animation in one of the sequences.
Best
AM
MIRS "Spin Cycle" is now available on Itunes and if you are into collecting hardware, a limited pressing CD is available on Amazon for Pre-Order. It officially comes out this Tuesday, the 23'rd of November, 2010.
While MIRS remains elusive right now, it won't be long before someone else tells you about it. So, be the curator, the tastemaker, the leader of your crew. Don't wait until someone else tells you what to listen to man.
Spin Cycle is now available on BandCamp, followed by a larger digital and CD launch Novemeber 30th, 2010.
Don't waste your fucking time here, go grab it before all the digital files are gone. I would also like to make the case that you pick up the full EP instead of singles, because they are made to go linear, and because its pretty good.
Also, with your purchase of the album, you get a PDF translation page that will come in handy soon.
"Spin Cycle", the first release from MIRS comes out Tuesday, November 2nd on BandCamp as a digital only (MP3, Wav), followed by a limited edition CD pressing & full digital release (including Itunes, Amazon, Etc.) November 30th, 2010. The EP includes the following four tracks:
01. Spring (bombs)
02. Summer (farahavar)
03. Fall (birds)
04. Winter (little tokyo)
I will be announcing some exciting news in the next few days. Please come back on Tuesday, Oct 26 to here of what I speak.
Mirs has been sitting and watching me neglect it. It needs care, it needs attention. But it just sits. Why? Well, the finishing funds are just not there right now. But, I have a plan. This is not a national campaign, there isn't any ROI in place.
Instead of the Kickstarter, I want to privatize the matter. So, if you are my friend, and want to help, please go here. The goal isn't too far-fetched, and unlike the Kickstarter stuff, I won’t bother you, I won’t send you emails, I won’t send you lyrics and I won’t pitch you my ideas on how this is going to change the world. Instead, I'll spare you the details and will give you the record once it’s mastered and pressed.
I never wanted to do a crowd funding campaign, so I'm not. This is a private version, this is my own version. But, if you don't know me and feel like giving anyway, maybe because you are curious about the work, please roll on over to:
http://www.amirmotlagh.com/mirs-10x100-campaign
P.S: If you want, I can throw in a Shanks and the Dreamers, "My Darling Dia" retail CD, or, a DVD copy of WHALE. But you have to let me know.
Mirs is the name of my new music project. Shanks and the Dreamers are on permanent hiatus. What to look forward too? The debut EP, Spin + Cycle is mixed, and waiting to get mastered. Look for an end of the year release.
More information will be filled out here very shortly.
I've been busy with the website. Finally gotten around to scanning four years of photos taken by my trustee Nikon FE before it broke. A good portion of the photos where from a series I was doing called, "Mothers, Lovers, and Fuckers", which was never fully completed.
A few individual pieces made there way into shows, although I never gathered them all together as a proper series. And now, its no longer a series, but more of a historic document.
If the opportunity is right, I am certainly open to showing them publicly. For now, a few will make their way unto the photography+art section of the website soon.
Taken directly from "100 Films: Indies I Recommend: Whale"
"Indies I Recommend: Whale
Earlier this year, when I was naive enough to think I could somehow change the world (well, not the world as much as a city), I got in my head this idea that I could start a screening series called Indies for Indies. We had a willing venue, so armed with a bunch of ideas stolen from Ted Hope, I set up a series of indie films. And, man, we showed some great films in a stunningly beautiful. The thing is, no one showed up. And not just for the series. No one was showing up for stuff like Sergio Leone films, for Annie Hall, The 400 Blows. We put the series on hiatus and soon after that, the theatre closed. It was a shame, because we could have done great things for indie film in Pittsburgh.
What can you do, right?
Anyway, the very first film we screened as part of the series was Amir Motlagh's Whale, a beautiful film about heartbreak, a lo-fi, found art film made by a supremely talented filmmaker. It's messy--intentionally so--but has more raw, honest truth than any film I've seen this year. Amir very quickly jumped to the top of my list of filmmakers to watch.
And now Whale is available for your home viewing pleasure. You can buy DVDs all over the place, and you can even rent it for a mere $0.99 on YouTube. Don't tell me you can't afford that. Do it. Rent it. Buy a DVD. You won't regret it."
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Personally, I would like to point out that you can no longer get WHALE on youtube for a mere $0.99. Its now $1.99. See what happens when you lag.
