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 which docu-
ments the
NOTEBOOK
resolutions
of three ISSUE NO. 124, VOLUME 24
never-say- SUMMER 2017
PHONE: 310/828-8388
die individ-

DREAMS
EMAIL: [email protected]
uals to learn WEB: WWW.MOVIEMAKER.COM
the ropes of

DEFERRED AND
moviemak- PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
TIMOTHY RHYS
ing and tell EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER
cinematic SCOTT SCHOTTER

REKINDLED stories. Of course, fighting adversity to get a

film made is foreign to precisely zero inde-
pendent moviemakers, so their tenaciousness
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
PAUL TUKEY
DEPUTY EDITOR
KELLY LEOW
B Y K E L LY L E O W ART DIRECTOR
is immensely relatable. And their optimism:
RAINE BASCOS
that feeling of having a vision so grand, so DIGITAL DIRECTOR
thrilling, that at any second itll burst from MARK SELLS
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
E R E A L L A B O U T behind your mind and right out of whatever four MAX WEINSTEIN
the scenes here at MovieMaker, walls enclose you, into the world. ASSISTANT EDITOR
In our interview, inmate Spencer Penney KO RICKER
a tenet I thought Id apply to the EDITOR AT LARGE, EAST COAST
magazine itself, for a change, and talk about argues that inventing criminal schemes and PETER WEED
a story Im glad to have helped develop for inventing movies featuring criminal schemes EDITOR AT LARGE, WEST COAST
GREG HAMILTON
this issue: Associate Editor Max Weinsteins come from an almost identical drive, and
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
The Conviction of a Misguided Visionary, while, clearly, the results are completely SAM ADAMS, CARLOS AGUILAR, TED ELRICK,
differentI see what he means. The heist ADAM M. GOLDSTEIN, CALEB HAMMOND,
pg. 40. JIM HEMPHILL, MADDY KADISH, GREGORY R. KANAAN,
For years, our editorial staff has been movies mentioned in our celebration of the JEFF MEYERS, BRIAN OHARE, JOSH RALSKE,
receiving correspondence from prison genre (pg. 38)topped off by this summers STEPHEN SAITO, ANDY YOUNG
Good Time (pg. 52), Logan Lucky and Baby INTERNS
inmates around the country interested in LIZ BONET, VANAMARY B. MOSES, JOSHUA SINGER,
making movies. Some letters are inquiries Driverall bear that undertow, that fascina- RYAN WILLIAMS
about MovieMakers ancillary programs, such tion with constructing the perfect crime. In
as MovieMaker Production Services, which fact, Baby Driver director Edgar Wright took MOVIEMAKER PRODUCTION
the writers plan to participate in after their inspiration for his film straight from a for- SERVICES DIRECTOR
TIMOTHY RHYS
release; some are basic update my subscrip- mer bank robber he met named Joe Loya. In MOVIEMAKER PRODUCTION SERVICES
tion information instructions. We get the a July NPR interview, Loya (billed as a Baby PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Driver technical consultaant) talked about JESSICA RHYS
occasional notice that such-and-such issue
has been banned from a facilitythe Arizona the soundtracks hed curate for getaway driv-
ingi.e. the premise of Baby Driver. Wright, FESTIVAL & PARTNERSHIP LIAISON
Department of Corrections, for example, has MAX WEINSTEIN
censored multiple issues for being detri- meanwhile, recalled marveling at Loyas SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR
mental to the safe, secure, and orderly opera- expert knowledge of crime movies, though JEFFREY STAR

tion of the facility as they feature nudity Loya pointed out that every criminal watches
crime movies: This is where we learned to TO SUBSCRIBE TO MOVIEMAKER:
(a decision that, needless to say, we think is CALL 888/881-5861 OR VISIT
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from readers who simply thank us for the guys are still using the metaphors. TO ADVERTISE IN MOVIEMAKER:
So theres a fine line between depictions IAN BAGE, 800/677-4424
inspiration they derive from our pages, and MARK SELLS, 310/403-2266
share some of their lives with us: their rou- and the depicted, lest we forget about the
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TRADEMARK OF MOVIEMAKER MEDIA, LLC.
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We reached out to a number of men wed we get bogged down in terms like reach and MANUSCRIPTS BUT
RESERVES COMPLETE EDITORIAL CONTROL OVER
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AND CANNOT RETURN THEM UNLESS ACCOMPANIED
tually, a small handful of them replied. Via as Gunds story drives home, theres noth- BY SELF-ADDRESSED, STAMPED ENVELOPE.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN
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4 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
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M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 9
CONTENTS

FEATURES
62. The Laws of Nature,
the Study of Violence
An actor-turned-screenwriter
turns director to make one of
2017s tautest thrillers, Wind
River, starring Jeremy Renner
and Elizabeth Olsen
By Phillip Williams
34. Directing Your Attention to
Television
Take a page from the books of
David Fincher and Cary Fukunaga,
and try your hand at TV
By Jeff Meyers
38. The Irresistible
Lure of the Heist
This beloved genre is as old as
film itself, and going nowhere fast
By Daryl Lee DIANE KRUGER,
40. The Conviction of a PHOTOGRAPHED
AT CANNES FILM
Misguided Visionary
FESTIVAL IN MAY 2017
In prisons around the country,
dozens of incarcerated
moviemakers are dreaming up wheeling, devastating childhood 24. Indie Law 86. Production Journal
cinematic masterpieces By Stephen Saito Who owns student films? A Ghost Storys director
By Max Weinstein By Gregory R. Kanaan, Esq. reflects on the halcyon days
68. The Best Film Schools in
45. The 25 Coolest Film in between films
the U.S. and Canada 26. How They Did It
Festivals in the World, 2017 By David Lowery
Our annual film education issue is Shooting the action-packed,
Secret screenings, secret bars, backwith 40 top moviemaking long- take Bushwick involved an 88. Things Ive
secret handshakes we schools, alumni advice, and study obstacle course in Brooklyn Learned as a Moviemaker
(and some of our coolest friends) abroad tips By Toni Collette
By Cary Murnion and
let the cat out of the bag on By Carlos Aguilar, with Jonathan Milott
these awesome events Kelly Leow and Ko Ricker
By Greg Hamilton and Kelly Leow 30. Flash Forward
Raucous indie hit Patti Cake$
50. The Trip to Spain COLUMNS & DEPTS. reveals two major talents:
Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon
director Geremy Jasper and star
rendezvous again in the latest
4. MM Notebook Danielle Macdonald
edition of Michael Winterbottoms
By Kelly Leow By Carlos Aguilar
European foodie trilogy
By Josh Ralske 12. Contributors and Letters 32. The Innovators
52. Labors of Love 14. Callboard The 10 most indie-friendly
Robert Pattinson lights up Martin Scorsese preserves African products to emerge from NAB
Josh and Ben Safdies Good Time, cinema, high-school moviemakers Show 2017
a tale of dangerous brotherly love direct big talent and a Palme dOr By John Bucher and
in Queens By Kyle Turner goes on the auction block Jeremy Casper
By Ryan Stewart 74. Festival Beat
54. Of Bad Apes
and Twisted Revenge 18. Whats in Your Kit? The faces of Cannes 2017, and
PHOTOGRAPH BY FABRICE DALLANESE

ON THE
Director Matt Reeves, The team behind Chasing Coral a delectable selection of
springtime fests
COVER
devoted performers and the shares everything you need to
shoot underwater
Elizabeth Olsen,
worlds best performance 83. Call for Entries /
capture wizards stun with By Jeff Orlowski and Jeremy Renner and
Marketplace Taylor Sheridan,
War for the Planet of the Apes Andrew Ackerman
By Ted Elrick 83. Advertiser Index photographed
20. World Cinema
by Sandro Baebler in
58. Spinning Glass The sun sets on an Indian film 85. On Location
Take a gamble: Los Angeles, California,
Destin Daniel Cretton adapts exhibition marvel, as depicted
The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls in The Cinema Travellers Try shooting in Nevada June 2017
bestselling memoir about her free By Ritesh Mehta By Ko Ricker

10 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
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 age of 9. Most of her summer is spent on the cold, the difference between em- and en-dashes. She
windy beaches of Denmark. no longer wants to eat salmon.
CONTRIBUTORS
SONIA LAZO, who il- KYLE TURNER , who
SANDRO BAEBLER , lustrated the 25 Coolest Film interviewed Ben and Josh
who shot this issues cover, is a Festivals in the World, is from Safdie about Good Time for
celebrity, portrait, advertising small, tropical El Salvador. this issue, is a freelance writer
and editorial photographer. He She started drawing as a way based in Brooklyn, New York.
grew up in the little mountain to express herself and a form of therapy, sharing He has contributed to Esquire, The Village Voice,
village of Mollis, Switzerland, where he spent his her work on social media. She has participated Playboy, Paste Magazine, Brooklyn Magazine,
time snowboarding, hiking, eating chocolate and in projects and exhibitions in Guatemala, the Slate and Indiewires/Bent. His writing focuses
playing in the snow. He studied graphic design in United States, Spain, Taiwan, Greece, Ukraine on identity and issues of queerness and race.
Zurich, during which he discovered his passion and Dubai. Her work is focused on feminism, Accordingly, he spends most of his time yelling
for photography and built up his portfolio. His gender identity and sexual orientation. She wants about being queer on the internet. He is relieved
portraits of celebrities and other notables have to contribute to the eradication of stereotypes to know that he is not a golem. You can follow
appeared in Elle, GQ, Wired and LOfficiel Hom- and defy gender roles. She also has a strong inter- him on Twitter at @TyleKurner.
mes. Sandro splits his time between Los Angeles, est in magical language, frequently representing
PHILLIP WILLIAMS,
New York and Zurich. that in her illustrations.
who wrote this issues cover
JOSEPHINE KYHN, KO RICKER has recently story, has been inspired by the
who illustrated our film educa- joined the MovieMaker team many artists he has inter-
tion stories, lives in Copenha- as assistant editor. She grew up viewed for MovieMaker over
gen with her boyfriend and two in beautiful Portland, Oregon, the past decade: including Pedro Almodvar,
cats. She shares a studio called where she spent her youth Anthony Minghella, Jean-Jacques Annaud, Lone
Kulklderen (which translates to charcoal- eating fresh, local salmon and wiping rain off her Scherfig, Alfonso Cuaron, Tarsem Singh, James
basement) with eight other illustrators. She glasses. Ko has just returned to L.A. after a much- Cameron, Michael Mann, Wong Kar-Wai and the
illustrates for childrens books, editorial work, needed two-year break from her alma mater city, late, dear Jonathan Demme. In his spare time,
murals, etc. Currently she is working on a small which included a yearlong foray into guiding Phillip has worked as a recruiter in visual effects
short comic for an anthology by Kulklderen, Austrias youth and a brief stint writing for her and animation, putting people to work in what
and some stories for children that she hopes to hometown rag Portland Monthly. Her passions Taylor Sheridan refers to as the symphony of the
one day publish. Her other big passion is beach include dumpling hunting, loitering in art book- 21st century, or the greatest game on earth. He
volleyball, which she has been playing since the stores, and educating unsuspecting victims on lives in Santa Clarita, California.

production company called Tunnel Light guy. Smart, insightful, and passionate
LETTERS & FEEDBACK Pictures. We hired on two producers, about every aspect of the work.
Tina Carbone and Thomas Hennessy, Stafford Douglas, @staffordouglas
and set out to make our first feature film. This. As a filmmaker, this is what helps
Our crowdfunding campaign, shot by DP me stay grounded in my art.
Tom Meredith, caught some steam and Aaron Hamilton, @Zombiewolfclaw
ultimately raised $17,000. However, we
were still $15,000 short of our budget. So I have so much respect for @JamesGunn,
we begged as much as we could. The especially when he talks about
people at The Brickwood bar in Riverside writing.@Geo_Was_Here
bartered with us to be a location, and I stand by all of this.James Gunn,
countless companies donated props, @JamesGunn
makeup and gear. The biggest one was
Arri donating an Alexa Mini camera kit! (I
told them Id get a tattoo of their logo on
my wrist and sent our pitch video. They
told me not to get the tattoo. But I did it
anyways.) Thank you Arri and everyone
else who helped out on Philophobia!
Hi MovieMaker Magazine, Tyler Cole, director/producer of
I was inspired by Tim Rhys article about Philophobia: or the Fear of Falling in Love
how young filmmakers have to beg, barter Los Angeles, California
and steal to make their films a reality,
READERS ARE TALKING ABOUT
so I wanted to share our story. After
Persistence Pays Off by Sam Fragoso
three years of trying to get financing, Eye Piece: The Wall by Roman
Love her candor. Cant wait to see more
my production partner, Aaron Burt, Vasyanov
great meaningful roles go to Katherine
and I realized we had to make a change Bigger directors are inspired by indies but
Waterston.Karen Yeo, @souterrain
if we ever wanted to make a film. So I rarely work with our short schedules. Doug
quit my full-time job and moved onto Top Gunn by James Gunn Liman did The Wall in 14 days.
Aarons couch, and we co-founded a Cant tell you how much I love this Andrew Droz Palermo, @DrozPalermo

12 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
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M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 13
CALLBOARD

SHINE A LIGHT
Martin Scorseses
Film Foundation leads a
charge to preserve 50
endangered gems of
Africas cinema history
B Y R YA N S T E WA R T

AV I N G
TOUCHED ON
the rich cultural
heritage of West Africa with
Feel Like Going Home, an epi-
It became clear that this agreement, with the restoration (L-R) AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL
sode in his 2003 documentary DIRECTOR MAHEN BONETTI,
was a world heritage cultural of celebrated Mauritanian direc-
series The Blues, which explored FEPACIS ABOUBAKAR SANOGO,
patrimony issue, so we sent a tor Med Hondos 1969 drama
the African roots of the Delta MARTIN SCORSESE, UNESCOS
proposal in to UNESCO, said Soleil O (Oh, Sun). A critique IRINA BOKOVA AND NYU ASSOCIATE
blues, Martin Scorsese had
Bodde. UNESCOthe Paris- of neocolonialism, the film was PROFESSOR YEMANE DEMISSIE LAUNCH
another fortuitous opportunity THE AFRICAN FILM HERITAGE PROJECT
based agency of the United shot over a period of four years
to engage with the continents
Nations dedicated to cul- and tells the story of an African
artistic offerings in 2007. That
tural, educational and scien- immigrants journey to Paris to made difficult by the fact that
year, he was invited to Mali by
tific endeavorsresponded two find his ancestors. African screens were occupied
Souleymane Ciss, a celebrated
months later. The films restoration took by Hollywood, Bollywood, Hong
Malian director who shared
UNESCO Director-General place at the LImmagine Kong films and European films.
with him the joys of African cin-
Irina Bokova explained: Ritrovata lab in Bologna, Italy This partnership is about put-
ema, as well as its struggles.
Protecting African audiovisual and was financed by The Film ting these films back into the cir-
Ciss was very urgent in
heritage is inseparable from the Foundation and the George cuit in Africa itself.
expressing the need for African
cinema to be preserved, said safeguarding of African cultural Lucas Family Foundation, with The films selected for pres-
Margaret Bodde, executive and natural wonders. It is a the work being completed in ervation will include narrative
director of Scorseses preserva- source of pride and dignity. It is time for a screening at the 2017 features, documentaries, avant-
tion-focused nonprofit organi- a driver of social cohesion and Cannes Film Festival. Having garde works, shorts and news-
zation, The Film Foundation. belonging. It is also an acceler- seen the film, Bodde describes reels and will be broad enough

PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVE ALLOCA/ STARPIX / COURTESY OF THE FILM FOUNDATION

The great flowering of African ator for economic growth, job it as a film of righteous anger in their temporality to paint a
cinema of the 1960s and 70s creation and revenue genera- poignant and heartbreaking. multifaceted portrait of a 20th-
has not really been available tion. Films shape our opinions The partnership with the century Africa, both indepen-
where the films were made. So and the way we see the world. Film Foundation will help fur- dent and under colonization.
weve had it on our minds to They give confidence and cour- ther increase the visibility of By confining its selection from
tackle this issue. age to transform societies for Soleil O across the world, said 1889 to 1989, the partnership
The right circumstances were the better. Bokova sees the Aboubakar Sanogo, North hopes to reconstitute, in the
ultimately initiated by FEPACI, project as a source of enrich- American Regional Secretary words of Sanogo, a really cred-
or The Pan African Federation ment for humankind. for FEPACI. This film more ible history of African cinema.
of Filmmakers, an organiza- A letter of agreement between than ever contributes to bring- We have to go far back
tion formed in 1969 in North the entities was formalized on ing us together in a world in time to be able to resitu-
Africa to be a continent-wide June 7, 2017, with the creation where misunderstanding ate African cinema properly
(and diaspora) voice for promot- of the African Film Heritage among people is increasing. in the general history of cin-
ing African cinema interests. Project initiative. Going forward, Sanogo also stressed that an ema itself, Sanogo said. Those
FEPACI developed an idea for a the partners will rely on the overarching goal of the part- who write that history tend
program to identify and select expertise of a FEPACI advisory nership will be bringing the to begin African cinema his-
50 films across the continent for board of archivists, filmmakers films of Africa to Africans them- tory with independence in the
preservation. They also began and scholars tasked with seeking selves. An objective [of FEPACI] late 1950s and early 60s, but
having discussions with The out the initial 50 films. The alli- is to have a conversation with even around the time of the
Film Foundation about joining ance already has a success under African audiences through the Lumires, Africans were mak-
the effort. its belt that predates the letter of cinema, Sanogo said. That was ing films. MM

14 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
MM Full size ad.indd 15 7/7/17 1:11 AM
CALLBOARD

BLUE IS THE
WARMEST
COLOR
BUT GREEN
MATTERS
MOST
DREAM-COME-TRUE SCENARIO CUT IN HALF, DIRECTED BY
LEEN SHUMMAN, IS ONE OF 29 SHORTS
PRODUCED BY SCENARIOS USA
Abdellatif Kechiche is the
latest moviemaker to sell an
Scenarios USA pairs students with big-name professional award for emergency cash
talent to create shorts with cultural currency Almost all of the budget for
Scenarios films (around $40K
for each film) goes toward B Y R YA N S T E WA R T
B Y R YA N S T E WA R T
raw materials, travel expenses
and feeding everyone on set.
Despite relatively unglamorous HOSE WHO VE
C E NA R I O S USA , paired with director Doug working conditions, there has B E E N waiting
A national nonprofit Liman and actress Rosario been no shortage of industry patiently these last
with an educational Dawson. Twenty-nine films and talent willing to volunteer. four years for the next opus
mandate, teams its annual writ- 30 directors later, Scenarios York proudly notes that weve from cantankerous Tunisian-
ing contest winner with a work- alumni include major directing even had a couple ofAcademy French auteur Abdellatif
ing filmmaker to collaborate on talents such as Michael Apted, Award-winners, such Kechiche may be waiting a bit
a short with cultural and educa- Karyn Kusama, David Frankel ascinematographer Guillermo longer, as the writer-directors
tional relevance. and Joel Schumacher. Navarro, who shot one of our two-part drama Mektoub,
I had heard about the pro- Since 2006, Scenarios has had shorts, Toothpaste. My Love (also referred to as
gram through a number of New a deal with Showtime Networks One of the shoots most Mektoub is Mektoub) has seen
York filmmaker friends who to begin broadcasting the rewarding features for its bank financing abruptly
had worked on some Scenarios shorts once they are completed. Seidelman was watching the yanked during post-production.
short films in the past, said Scenarios Director of Media enthusiasm of the young film- In a statement released to The
Susan Seidelman, director Production and Distribution makers and watching Leen Hollywood Reporter, Kechiche
of Smithereens, Desperately Robert York described the net- see her vision coming to life. declared Mektoub to be in
Seeking Susan and She-Devil, work as a huge supporter Seidelman added that an unex- limbo after its line of credit
about her recent decision to whose engagement has helped pected bonus of the experience from Cofiloisirs, a leading lender
volunteer with the education- bring our youths voices to mil- was the opportunity to work on for French films, was summarily
focused nonprofit on a two-day lions. Each short stays on the a more gender-balanced film blocked. No reason was offered
film shoot in Brooklyn. network for approximately two set than a female director in by either party as to the block-
I thought it would be a years and is broadcast several Hollywood could reasonably age, but Kechiche apparently
fun and interesting challenge times a month. have expected to in years past. believes the bleeding can be
to get back in touch with my Seidelman was paired with I thought it was very cool to staunched with the controversial
early, no-frills indie filmmaking 17-year-old Brooklyn student see the large number of female step of auctioning off his 2013
roots and work on a low-budget Leen Shumman, screenwriter of crew members, she said.When Palme dOr, the highest prize
PHOTOGRAPH BY NICOLAS NEGRON

shortfilm with a tight shooting a 16-minute short called Cut in I started out several years ago, it awarded at the Cannes Film
schedule, especially on a proj- Half that focuses on an Arab- was rare that youd find many Festival, which he won for Blue
ect that had a lot of emotional American teenager, Sareen (Da if anywomen working in the is the Warmest Color.
integrity, she said. Julien). Sareen is negotiating camera, grip and electric depart- Its a move true to form for
Scenarios USA began making the pitfalls of everyday teen life ments. I was excited to see how the director with a penchant
shorts in 1999, the first having when shes broadsided by an much things have changed. MM for outlandish behaviorhe
been written by a group of four unexpected recurrence of leu- publicly feuded with his lead
teenagers from Washington kemia in her elder sister, Layla Visit scenariosusa.org for more actress from Blue is the Warmest
Heights, New York, who were (Ajna Jai). information. Color during the 2013 awards

16 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 Call for
CALLBOARD

Seeking: Fresh,
thought provoking
and edgy
independent films
Submission ines:
Submisstsion Deadlst 13th
izes July 31 & Augu
* Cash Pr ions
Excurs
* Island ma
Drive in Cine
*

6 EVOLUTION!
TH

season, calling La Seydoux LA SEYDOUX, ABDELLATIF KECHICHE

an arrogant, spoiled child AND ADLE EXARCHOPOULOS AT CANNES
after she criticized the films FILM FESTIVAL 2013, WHERE ALL THREE OF

17
THEM WERE AWARDED THE PALME DOR
hyper-realistic sex scenes. Oil

.10 0 4 . 11. 2 0
FESTIVAL 26
paintings seen throughout Blue
back to the Academy for a
al.com
evolutionfilmfestiv
is the Warmest Color, created by
dollar before selling it on the
Seydouxs art student character,
open market. The Academy
Emma, will also be auctioned, ution!
issued a permanent injunction Join the Evol
along with other memorabilia
against the grandson of
from Kechiches body of work.
producer Michael Todd in 1989
(No word on whether Seydouxs after he attempted to sell his
signature denim jacket from
Blue will go under gavel.)
grandfathers Best Picture Oscar One of the best film events in the country!
Evolution Mallorca IFF2017_MediaINC_print.indd 1
for Around the World in 80 Tim Rhys, Managing Editor, MovieMaker Magazine 6/30/17 8:30 PM
Kechiche, surprisingly, is Days. More recently, the heirs
not the first to try selling off a of silent star Mary Pickford
major European film award in were similarly enjoined after
2017. Nazif Mujic, a Bosnian- attempting to sell an honorary
Roma actor who won the Silver Oscar that Pickford received in
Bear for Best Actor at the 2013 1975. Several rescue-and-returns
Berlin Film Festival, announced of pre-1950 Oscars have also
in January that he was selling occurred, e.g. Steven Spielberg
his trophy out of desperation, buying Bette Daviss 1938 Best
to feed his family. Despite Actress Oscar for Jezebel for
winning the award for playing high six figures.
himself in Danis Tanovis In what may be a case of
drama An Episode in the Life art imitating life, Mektoub is
of an Iron Picker (the film also described on IMDb as a drama
took home the Berlinales Jury about a screenwriter whose
Grand Prix), Mujic was unable debut film has its financing
to forge an acting career and imperiled when the scribes
had resorted to gathering friendship with his producer
scrap metal for a living. A local unravels. Based on a novel by
bar owner took possession Franois Bgaudeau, the film
of the award for 4,000 euros, went into production last fall
COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK

reportedly planning to offer it in Ste, France and is set to

to a museum. feature several fresh faces in
Although not unheard French cinema. Mektoub had
of, the sale of an Academy been earmarked by awards
Award is a rare event due to watchers earlier in the year for MARCH 13 - 18 2018
a strict rule adopted in 1951
that obliges post-1950 Oscar
a possible return-to-Cannes-
berth, but Kechiche is nothing
slofilmfest.org
Now Accepting Entries for SLO Film Fest 2018
winners to offer their trophy if not unpredictable. MM

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 MMMagazine Ad-1 2017.indd 1 6/5/17 1 2:07

7 PM
 E
D
O A
WHATS IN B F
YOUR KIT C
Environmental
destruction is the mother K
of invention in this kit
designed for underwater G
cinematography J
BY JEFF ORLOWSKI AND
ANDREW ACKERMAN
H
M I
O W D O YO U
L
show irrefutable
proof that the
N
worlds coral reefs
are rapidly dying due to climate
change? Director Jeff Orlowskis C. RED MINI-MAG 512GB G. RED CABLES
feature Chasing Coral follows This was the largest memory Bring extra! We almost had one
an impassioned team of for the RED camera at the time of these cables break. On our
activists who create a special of the purchase and we needed more remote and distant shoots
underwater time-lapse camera every gigabyte. We typically we had to be obsessive about
to document the bleaching of went on hour-long dives when spare gear because often we were
coral around the planet. (See shooting, but every once in a away from easy Amazon delivery,
picture.) As for the other gear while we would push two or living on boats and islands with
needed to capture the films three hours underwater at a no Wi-Fi or cell service. JEFF ORLOWSKI (L) AND ZACK RAGO,
gorgeousand devastating time, and the extra memory was WHO SPEARHEADED THE INVENTION OF
visuals, Orlowski and his key in those situations. H. RED 5 LCD TOUCHSCREEN THE UNDERWATER TIME-LAPSE CAMERA
USED TO DOCUMENT CORAL REEFS
cinematographer Andrew A seven-inch wouldnt have fit
Ackerman show it all off here. D. NAUTICAM ZOOM into the underwater housing.

A. NAUTICAM NA-DCES AND FOCUS LENS GEARS M. VACUUM SEAL PUMP

These gears get attached to their I. KELDAN 8X This seals the underwater hous-
UNDERWATER HOUSING corresponding lenses to allow COMPACT LED VIDEO DIVE LIGHT ing. It is the stress ball of the
This beast kept our RED cam- the camera operator to manually It is shocking how much light underwater world: Putting a
era safe and sound underwa- zoom and focus underwater. and color is lost at depth. These RED underwater can induce
ter. It has a vacuum seal and
are some of the most powerful anxiety, so this little pump (and
corresponding alarm light that E. CANON EF lights on the market. that green light on the back of
will go off if the vacuum seal is
breached. Nauticams customer 16-35MM F/2.8L USM LENS the housing) make you feel a
service is second to none. They
J. HEX WRENCH SET whole lot better.
This was a great wider zoom
have shipped parts all over the
world for us.
lens for underwater. We typi- All underwater equipment
film and scubarequires hex
N. TUSA DIVE WATCH
cally shot with two cameras Its easy to forget about the div-
underwaterone with this lens, wrenches. ing aspects of shooting under-
B. RED EPIC DRAGON and another with the 24-70mm. water, i.e. air consumption and
One of the goals for the film was K. LEATHERMAN BIT KIT depth. Having a computer on
to make underwater footage feel
immersive and cinematic. With
F. CANON EF This is a life-saver, considering your wrist instead of your waist
all the different screws we used
RED, we could shoot stunning 24-70MM F/2.8 L USM LENS to get our rig underwater.
makes a big difference in how
often you monitor your status.
slow-motion 6K footage under- Besides being a versatile topside
COURTESY OF NETFLIX

lens, this has extra depth of

water. The ability to shoot RAW
was also important for color cor- field thats invaluable underwa-
L. ZEN 230MM O. ASSORTED
rectioncolor correcting under- ter. Most underwater footage NAUTICAM N120 SUPERDOME NAUTICAM ARMS AND CLAMPS
water footage is notoriously is either extreme-wide fisheye We prefer glass domes over These let you mount the lights
difficult because light progres- footage, or extreme macro; we acrylic because of their image at different lengths and arrange-
sively loses color underwater. wanted more of a depth of field. quality and longevity. ments on the housing.

18 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 R WHATS IN YOUR KIT?

Q
S
T
U

UNDERWATER camera angle every day, lining

up the sides of the shot.

TIMELAPSE RIG S. AQUA LUNG 5MM

NE OF THE ECHOZIP ERGO BOOTS
big visual devices Good wetsuit boots! Often we
in Chasing Coral would be shooting in very small
is underwater time-lapses. To spaces. Fins make it easier to
shoot these, we ended up manu- swim, yes, but also easier to
ally shooting time-lapses over kick coral and disturb sand.
a long period of time using the I often ditched the fins and
RED. Between our two teams, walked around on the bottom of
we ended up having more than the sea floor. It makes you feel
a hundred different sites. Every like you are on the moon.
day, for months, we would get
to a site, align our camera to T. INNOVATIVE SCUBA
match the frame from the first
day, shoot for three minutes, and
CONCEPTS ALUMINUM
then move all the gear to the UNDERWATER LASER POINTER
next site. Andrew Ackerman As with the reference photos,
this laser pointer helped line up
P. MANFROTTO 055 TRIPOD LEGS our shots exactly. We attached
When shooting time-lapse it to the RED housing or the tri-
video, stability is paramount. pod legs, pointing at three dif-
We found this tripod to be a ferent axes and lining it up with
good mix of lightness, durability different features at each site.
and compactness. This is not an
underwater tripod, but did very U. DIVE WEIGHTS
well in that role. The key was to Even though the Nauticam
wash it thoroughly after every RED housing weighs around 60
single use: Metal and salt do pounds above water, underwa-
not play well together. ter it is almost neutrally buoy-
ant. We brought tons of extra
Q. RITCHIE W-50 WETNOTES weight to make it as heavy as the eleventh annual
This waterproof notebook possible while shooting manual
allowed us to communicate,
and also take notes of the differ-
ent time-lapse sites.
time-lapses. There was almost
always a current and often a
surge, which made holding
LONE STAR FILM FESTIVAL
@sundance square | fort worth, texas
housing perfectly still on a tri-
november 8 - 12, 2017
R. REFERENCE PHOTOS pod very difficult. MM
We carried these laminated
photos of each site with us. A Chasing Coral opens in theaters, CALL FOR ENTRIES IS OPEN NOW!
huge challenge was being able and is available for streaming, submit your work at lonestarfilmfestival.com
to replicate the exact same July 14, 2017, courtesy of Netflix.

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 19
WORLD CINEMA

THE TOURING The dramatic pulsations in the opening shots

of Shirley Abraham and Amit Madheshiyas
elegiac documentary The Cinema Travellers
FILM TRAVELS IN
CANISTERS IN JUTE
BAGS ATOP RAMSHACKLE
finishing college in
Delhi. In 2006, sin-
gle-screen theaters in
TALKIES OF INDIA dont prepare us for the films emotional heft.
It explores the displacement of a longstand-
TRUCKS FROM ONE
TRAVELING CINEMA
VILLAGE TO THE OTHER
Delhi were shutting
down. Our friends
Mobile theaters used to roam across ing yet little-known film exhibition practice: were lamenting
the rural touring talkies of India. The hey- the loss of these institutions, these picture
India, screening movies to even the houses of nostalgia, and the cultures that
day from the 1960s to the 1980s saw hun-
most rural of communities. Now they dreds of these itinerant screens, erected in grew around them. People were concerned
are becoming extinct, as documentary tents and transported in trucks, bringing about how they would now access movies. So
The Cinema Travellers depicts all manner of film to the masses: social dra- we wanted to see if there was any reflection
mas, comedies, adult films, dubbed Tamil of this moment in the villages.
and Hollywood flicks, and regional films that Armed with this curiosity, the two had their
B Y R I T E S H M E H TA
never made it to metro areas. first encounter of Maharashtras traveling
Today, estimates vary, but perhaps a dozen cinemas and their showmen entrepreneurs.
or fewer remain in western Maharashtra. Abraham recalls: We ran into this village,
This version of the collective theatrical expe- and there were about 10 tents in the same
E D M U D - B A K E D roads.
rience is on its way out. But is hope for these space. Inside, it was like going back in time.
Air redolent with saffron.
makeshift theaters effervescent sociality People were sitting by the beam of a projec-
Loudspeakers propped precip-
their bringing together of a nations fourth- tor. They were drinking in this magic. We just
itously. Two boys by a microphone call out
COURTESY OF AMIT MADHESHIYA

tier audienceforever obliterated? stood there in disbelief, in a state of rapture.

to the folks of Ond village in Maharashtra,
Western India: There is a picture playing The proprietors have provincialized this Huddled inside a tent, a slide deck of stills,
in the big tent at the fairground, brought to experience of the movies for more than seven of faces. A 20-something woman, hands cov-
you by the uncle who travels with Akshay decades, taking it to people who live far from ering her mouth. A turbaned patriarch. The
Touring Talkies. Do darshan (visitation) of standing theaters, says Abraham. They are man with the monkey act has snuck inside
your deity at our annual carnival. Come [now] part of the mythology of cinema. too; the simian is equally absorbed. Movie
one, come all, to the resplendent, dying, Thats particularly true if youre an urban magic doesnt get more palpable, moving.
decades-old traveling cinema. dweller, as she and Madheshiya were after The projectionist, who until a few minutes

20 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 MANY OF INDIAS RURAL POPULACE up a sizable part of the audi-
DEPEND UPON TRAVELING CINEMAS FOR ences). First, Mohammed of
A COMMUNAL THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE
Sumedh Touring Talkies. You see
the wheels of his mind hatching
prior was rushing through the
plans to pay for unexpected day-
carnival to deliver the canisters
to-day expenses. Mohammed is
and soothe waiting customers,
not above occasionally resort-
now watches his audience in
ing to showing titillating fea-
mirrored captivation. As for the
tures to drum up extra cash. The
famous actress doing the num-
Beautiful Maid will save me, he
ber on screen, did she ever imag-
determines one evening, a gam-
ine such reverence, so far away?
Madheshiya and Abraham excit- bler about to roll the die.
edly investigated further in Next is Bapu of Akshay
Mumbai. Traveling cinemas, Touring Talkies, for whom, says
they found, were a tiny part of Abraham, running the cinema
the national box officewith was almost a moral duty. It was
tickets costing as little as an about his legacy as a showman.
American dime, or at most half a Bapu stoically senses the gradual
dollar, around 2010. A high turn- thinning of crowds, even though
out is a few hundred patrons the village children he dotes
per screening (though a thou- upon keep coming back.
sand is not unheard of). With This year was the breaking
eight screenings per day, daily of a dream, he says, as he gives
revenues max out at US$100 in and sells his ramshackle
or $200. (Expenses by contrast truck. He tells the buyer, It
have increased radically over the could be scrap for you. For me,
decade, especially the cost of die- its my life. A veteran showman
sel to run generators.) shorn, Bapu distills dignity.
Years later, when new technol- And then there is Prakash. A
ogy had begun to dismantle this philosophical projector repair-
exhibition form, the directors man whose name means light,
knew they had a film: about labor he operates from a tiny shop
and enterprise within a practice youd miss among a thou-
that had for a while felt timeless, sand similar holes-in-the-wall
right before it was ravaged by the in small-town Maharashtra.
advent of cable, DVD parlors and Prakash has spent 45 years fixing
digital projection. projectors of all kinds, from the
Over the years, the duo formed U.S., France, Sweden and Italy.
relationships with three individ- There used to be no space to
uals from this world. Two were walk [in my shop], he says rue-
showmen entrepreneurs, one a fully. Now defunct projectors
repairman; two were Hindu, one accumulate layers of dust, and
Muslim; all were family men in a there are thousands of rupees
business notable for its absence in unpaid bills. Inventor of an
of women (though women make impressive oil bath projector

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 21
 Pierce Law Group. . . who the
independents have depended on since 1996.
Production Counsel, Film Finance,
Private Placement Offerings &
Intellectual Property Matters.
Contact: David Albert Pierce, Esq.
(310) 274-9191
PIERCE LAW GROUP, LLP
9100 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 225, East Tower
Beverly Hills, California 90212
www.piercelawgroupllp.com
(888) 875-0756
 WORLD CINEMA
KEEPING ON TRUCKIN: ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING
TRAVELING CINEMAS IN INDIA

that he avers would be a panacea if ever a

corporation were to buy it, Prakash sits out-
side his shop, his immense knowledge fading
into the dusk. One day will come, he says,
when everything will be buried, submerged,
like the ancient civilizations of Harappa and
Mohenjo Daro.
A tender barrage of equipment: pulleys,
spools, burning arc lamps, photo diodes.
Reels in jute bags. Nimble hands snap film
onto nuts and bolts. Auspices in place, pic-
ture rolls. The audience cheers: headstrong
customers who commute in the morning and
return home by early evening. The feature
that unfolds is mythological, a story of the
tied to rituals performed throughout the year. invention has had no buyers. Instead he has
gods brought to the village. Tonights a lot-
Entertainment is a part of [religion]. brought his flair to farming, designing a com-
tery, motherfuckers, exclaims Mohammed.
Madheshiya adds, We were looking at puterized plough that mechanizes seeding.
Travellers is remarkable for its breathtak-
audiences in a very divine form. It was akin Hes a hero for Abraham and Madheshiya,
ing depiction of machines, equipment and
to looking at them in a temple. who is proud that their film eschews overt
assiduous assembly and dismantling work.
The films third act shows the three char- romanticization: Prakash was not nostalgic.
Madheshiya says hed like the doc to be a
homage to the real impresarios and the acters responding differently to advances in What reason then did we have to be?
labor of cinematic exhibition. He thinks of digital projection. While both Mohammed Abraham says The Cinema Travellers
the traveling projectors as timestamps of the and Bapu part ways with their trucks full leaves viewers with hope. Theres a lot we
way human civilization is evolving. of analog equipmentthe discarding of lament that might just be about transition.
Its easy to view the film as an ode to cin- which constitutes the docs most heartbreak- Movies are shedding their skin, and maybe
ematic materialism, a quality, Abraham says, ing momentsMohammed is thrilled by so are these cinemas. We mourn the death of
that solidified in the edit room. The inter- the sharpness of the digital projector: Im cinema very often. Maybe the traveling cin-
action between men and machines was so as happy as a man on his wedding day. The emas will continue to live in another form, to
human. The machines were almost living erotica he plays is all the more vivid for an reach their audiences in different ways.
things. They would rust and bleed. You had all-male audience for whom the nether plea-
to pull, push, shove. Theres a sense of reli- sures of the internet are not yet routinized. Tickets are flying off. One final beckoning.
COURTESY OF AMIT MADHESHIYA

gious devotion to the machines, because from His projectionist can take a nap now, since One final turn of a canister, snap of a reel,
them came livelihoods. digital play requires few adjustments. turn of the pulley. Inside the diaphanous tent,
In fact, that religiosity is what differenti- Bapu, on the other hand, has trouble the final dance of the flickering projector light.
ates Indias traveling cinemas from perhaps grasping the software. He has to cancel a Then the pilgrimage of stills. Mesmerizing
their closest counterpart, the fairgrounds of show. The children will be upset, he wor- slides of children agape. Indian Neverland.
pre-war Europe and America. Indias cine- ries. His last analog picture show unfurls. That family at the front, where they can see
mas, Abraham explains, exist in village fairs, But its Prakash that has moved on the better; one girl with a single tear on her left
integrated into the peoples religious lives, farthest. He has accepted that his prized cheek. Bapu watches it travel. MM

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 23
INDIE LAW

HOLDING such a policy. Any film made by a student over the course of his or
her education and made with university resources will be wholly
owned by the school. For USC students, this not only means loss of
resources, facilities, credit and
shared revenue.
So this is all completely

ONTO YOUR ownership, it also means the university can use the work for any
reason it sees fit, such as marketing the university, holding for-
profit exhibitions of student work and even selling copies of stu-
legal. But that doesnt mean
you cant be vigilant about it. If
youre about to enroll in a uni-

HOMEWORK dent films. In exchange for those rights, the university provides
students with errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, use of the
schools SAG connections to hire actors, and revenue sharing if a
versity, you may want to check
out its student IP policy. Many
are posted online. Lets say you
Does your school own your film becomes profitable. come across a policy you find
student film? Across the spectrum (and country) from USC is New York particularly onerous. There are
University. All intellectual property is retained by NYU students, as is some steps you can take to mit-
BY GREGORY R. KANAAN, ESQ. any income made from distribution of their work. In exchange, stu- igate it, if youre so inclined.
dents grant NYU the right to use their work to publicize the school.
1. Talk to a lawyer first.
The type of policy a school promulgates depends on a variety of
A policy that may seem
factorsthings like political will, any state or local laws addressing
H E N I WA S in burdensome at first may not be
the issue, and the potential monetary value of the work. When you
film school many as bad as you think, so consult
think about all the famous people whove come out of USC George
years ago, a rumor someone who knows what to
Lucas, Ron Howard, Robert Zemeckis and Judd Apatow, to name just
developed that the school look for.
a fewyou can see how the schools current policy formed. Owning
owned the films we made there,
the academic work of a now-famous alum is just good business. 2. Negotiate. Ask the
stripping us of our hard-earned
So how are policies like this legal? Well, for starters, there are administration if theyll work
intellectual property. The stu-
no major laws, federal or otherwise, prohibiting such a thing. In with you over ownership of
dents got angry, and some of
fact, some school districts have tried using the work for hire doc- your films. While these policies
them marched to the deans
trine (with little success, I might add) to pass laws allowing schools are often set in stone, you never
office to announce they would
the absolute right to take ownership of and manage student work. know what youll get by asking.
not let their work be co-opted.
Second, theres been so little litigation on this topic that court opin-
The dean informed them that 3. Vote with your dollars. If
ions are few and far between, making it hard to know where com-
the rumor was false. The only you have the option, enroll in a
mon law stands. Lastly, its just the nature of contract law. And make
right claimed by the school was school that matches your value
no mistake, when you enroll in an institute of higher education, you
the right to use student work system.
are engaging in a contractual relationship with the school. The agree-
to promote the school in online
ment you sign covers a host of regular issues, from student behavior 4. Last but not least, have
or print media. It could not, in
to academic matters. But they also extend to arcane ones like student some perspective. Your
other words, sell student work
IP. With few exceptions (for example, contracts promoting criminal student films, good as they
for profit, modify it without stu-
or sexual behavior), most subject matters are within legal bounds for may be, will likely have little
dent consent, or influence its
contract, and that includes student copyrights. monetary value to anyone
creation in any way. Needless to
Contracts that overwhelmingly favor one side are unenforceable, (including the school) except
say, we were all relieved.
which is why USCs copyright policy doesnt merely strip student own- you after your education ends.
The truth is, though, the law
ership away, it also conveys substantial benefits. Its why NYU gives up When you graduate, take your
allows schools to assert owner-
ownership for the right to use student work to promote itself. All con- education and apply it to new
ship over student work, even
tracts are about giving up some rights in exchange for others. You see work thats bigger, better and
if some schools choose not
this kind of thing especially at research universities, where patents for hopefullymore profitable.
to. For example, University of
biotech and medical innovations are increasingly lucrative. The uni- The school wont be able to
Southern California has just
versity will take part or full ownership over the patent in exchange for touch it then. MM ILLUSTRATION BY PATRICK MAXWELL

24 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 LIGHTS. CAMERA.
EDUCATION.
FILM AND VIDEO PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM AT
PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Learn more online at www.piedmontcc.edu/film or give us a call (336) 694-5707

INDIE MEMPHIS
film festival 2017
MovieMakers 2017 50 Film
Festivals Worth the Entry Fee

SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN

Learn more at IndieMemphis.com

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 25
 30

HOW THEY DID IT 32 29

D

34 -41 D
D
33

RUNNING AND
D

D 31
D
D

D
28 23

GUNNING 101
D
D
D
26 25 D
D
24

27 D 22
D
D

Capturing Bushwicks long-take, D

21

nocturnal shoot-out scene, set in the 20 19

middle of crowded Brooklyn, was not D D

for the faint of heart D

F 18

Humvee with turret 17

B Y C A R Y M U R N I O N A N D J O N AT H A N M I L O T T D 15
16
Barrier
D 14
D
D
Playground equipment
E FILMED BUSHWICK D
D

an action thriller set in the Lucy D

Belinda
eponymous Brooklyn neighbor- D 11 D
D 13
Rebel
hood amid a just-breaking American civil D Dead Rebel
D 12

warin a series of seamless long takes, with Coalition Soldier D

D Dead Coalition Soldier

around 10 traditional cuts and 45 invisible USA Soldier
cuts. The entire production was 15 days, on a J.P.
Shield D
65-person crew. We had a week and a half of Tree
5 6 7 8 9 10 D

rehearsals, where we worked out the chore- 3 4

D
ography of the camera and the actors.
We dedicated two nights to filming the D

movies climactic final action sequence. We

wanted to continue in the style of the long D

2
D

take to show our actress, Brittany Snow, 1

attempting to cross a battle zone. This ne- D D
cessitated a lot of planning, overcoming Garbage
Truck
multiple last-minute changes and praying
that exploding real mortars in the middle
of the freezing night in Queens wouldnt get background. It turned out that the city was didnt have a ton of extras or CGI military
us killed. starting construction on the stadium the day vehiclesor time.
our production began. A week before shoot-
LOSING A STADIUM, GAINING ing, along with all the other prep, we had to SHOT-LISTING THE FINAL ACTION SEQUENCE
AN OBSTACLE COURSE find a new location and rewrite the sequence. Planning started with the writing, which we
We wrote the story for this movie with pre- Kara found a park and playground, Grover then simplified into a shot list.
cise locations in mind and hoped to keep it Cleveland Playground, close to our original
as authentic as possible by shooting entirely setting, but it became a completely different 1. A crowd swarms the Southern coalition;
in Bushwick, Brooklyn. It was critical to scenario. Even though this wasnt what we some coalition members retreat in the op-
match the locations as closely as possible to had planned for, it gave the sequence a lot posite direction.
the script. more natural obstacles and visual density. In- 2. Lucy and her cousin, Belinda (Angelic
The premise is simple: Lucy (Snow) exits stead of Lucy running across an open football Zambrana), run with the crowd.
the subway in Bushwick during a sudden field with a handful of constructed barriers,
military invasion by Southern secessionists; she now had to navigate fences, playground 3. A rebel makes it to the coalition barrier
she must cross a few blocks to get home to equipment, trees and a bathroom house, in but gets shot.
her grandmother. The exact blocks were addition to enemy soldiers, Humvees and 4. Lucy shoots but misses a coalition soldier.
mapped out in our initial treatment. We explosives. In the end, the change in location
knew exactly where Lucy needed to go. made it a better scene. 5. The coalition soldier grabs her
Miraculously, our amazing location depart- Our director of photography, Lyle Vin- at the barrier.
ment, including Kara Janeczko and Brad cent, suggested we shoot this new location
6. They wrestle.
Reichel, was able to negotiate access to at night. That decision made the scene many
almost every school, apartment and deli that times more dynamic, since we could now 7. Lucy shoots the soldier in the head.
we requestedexcept for one place. utilize constantly moving spotlights, smoke
8. A rebel helps Lucy up.
We originally set the final sequence in a machines, smoke bombs and fire, which
scenic football stadium that overlooked the all helped us surpass the limitations of our 9. Lucy sees Belinda hiding up
river, with the New York City skyline in the small budget. At around $5 million, we ahead in a playground.

26 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 HOW THEY DID IT

THIS PARK AND PLAYGROUND IN QUEENS BECAME AN 20. A man falls next to themhes 31. Lucy turns to see Belinda. JPs legs are
UNEXPECTEDLY FRUITFUL LOCATION FOR BUSHWICK S screaming. He runs back to the entrance. blown off. Hes dead.
CLIMACTIC SHOOT-OUT
21. Belinda: What are we going to do? 32. Lucy runs to Belinda, picks up a shield.
10. The rebel who helped Lucy is shot.
22. Both run to a set of stairs. 33. Lucy shields Belinda.
11. Lucy runs to Belinda, who is hiding and
23. They see the barrier and soldiers 34. Lucy uses Belindas handgun to shoot.
scared.
shooting.
35. Lucys calf is shot.
12. Lucy grabs grenades off a dead soldier.
24. Lucy pulls grenade pins and counts.
36. Lucy loses control of the gun.
13. Lucy says they have to get to the
25. Both get inside a house; its filled with
helicopterpointing at how close they are. 37. Lucy covers up behind her shield.
hiding rebels.
COURTESY OF RLJ ENTERTAINMENT

14. Both run under the playground. 38. Lucy sees Father John (Bill
26. A rebel with a U.S. flag breaks for it but
Blechingberg) and three men.
15. They see locals kicking soldiers asses. gets shot or blown up.
39. Lucy gets shot through the shield
16. Belinda picks up a gun and shoots. 27. JP (Jeremie Harris) appears in the house.
view port.
17. Both run to the next tree. 28. They run with him, Lucy in the lead.
40. Father John picks up Belinda
18. They pull a fallen rebel for cover. 29. Lucy gets behind a bench. A blast. out of view.
19. Both run to the next treea teen boy with 30. Lucy sees U.S. soldiers waving her to 41. Crane up from Lucy to the city
back to tree is dead, staring at them. come to safety. under attack.

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 27
 CATCH THE $3 BILLION WAVE
of new films and projects at Hollywoods only film market

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November 1-8, 2017 | Santa Monica

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 HOW THEY DID IT

We made a map based on everything had to be resolved

this shot list. Then we walked around the main action. Brittany
through the location with key and Angelic had to run, duck,
crew, including our assistant jump and cry without the benefit
director, Urs Hirschbiegel. Urs is of an edit or close-up. Besides
a miracle man. He drew his own Urs, we relied on our camera
maps of each scene, then imple- operator, Frank Larson, who
mented everything: making sure jumped over fences, ran through
practical effects were timed, and extras and raced after Brittany
figuring out how to make 100 and Angelic, all the while hold-
extras look like 1,000 Bushwick ing a set-up with a MVI rig.
locals overrunning 300 soldiers. Once the extras, practical ef-
A hundred extras sounds like a fects, stunts and camera aligned,
lot, butespecially when theyre wed roll. Real mortars were
all runningthey thin out timed to explode along with
quickly. We divided them into 80 some gun-muzzle flashes. At this
locals and 20 soldiers. point, it was a matter of fine-
We also had about five stunt tuning the performances. The
players. Brittany did most of first run-throughs were scary to
her characters action work, but watch, but the second attempt
at a few places we strategically usually began to resemble our
swapped in a stunt actress to
achieve a more brutal fall. Any
intentions. It took five or six
attempts before we believed we
OCTOBER 18TH - 28TH, 2017
extra who was going to fall or
get shot needed to be a stunt
could pull it off. MM
twincitiesfilmfest.org
person. We realized quickly that Bushwick opens in theaters
we needed to add invisible cuts August 25, 2017, courtesy of RLJ
to reset the extras, or wed be Entertainment. MovieMaker_TCFF_Vertical_V2.indd 1 6/7/2017 10:45:06 PM
filming an empty battlefield. We
staged each shot based on how
we could achieve an invisible
cut. One of our favorite cuts
starts on one side of a tree, TECH BOX
where its raining, and ends on
the other side, where its dry. CAMERA: Arri Alexa Mini
on MVI M15 rig

PRACTICING UNTIL PERFECT LENSES: True Lens

Service rehoused Cooke
For most of the long shots in Speed Panchros
the movie, we were able to cre-
ate previz video references. We LIGHTING: Minimal
lighting instruments
walked through the scenes with used other than Outsight
Creamsource Mini LED
stand-ins and our cinematogra- for explosions and muzzle
pher. This was our storyboard- flashes, two 4K HMIs for
two interior locations,
ing. We made sure we were two Xenon Super Trouper
avoiding boomeranging the spotlights and two
sodium vapor portable
camera to follow dialogue, pre- construction light towers
venting the camera from locking for the final battle.

off, and finding the cut points. REFERENCES: Winter on

Due to the location change, Fire, the documentary
about the Ukraine
we were not able to film a previz revolution in 2013 and
to the same extent as for the rest 2014, was a macabre
insight into how civil
of the movie. This scene also unrest can very easily
spiral out of control. It
relied on elements we couldnt also became one of our
duplicate before production, so key visual references
for what a modern-day
we built in rehearsal time on the protest looks like when
day of the shoot. locals take up arms
against the military.
Wed walk the actors and the
key crew through the scene, then

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 29
FLASH FORWARD

THE HITMAKERS
Meet the rising duo responsible for your next summer jam:
Patti Cake$s Danielle Macdonald and Geremy Jasper
BY CARLOS AGUILAR

HE SPITS OUT testament to that self-discovery

rhymes with sav- is the 2010 video for the pop
age ease, and anthem Dog Days are Over
faces her New Jersey com- by Florence and the Machine,
bat zone armed only with her which Jasper co-directed with
enlarged aspirations. his wife, Georgie Greville. The
But before newcomer now-emblematic video became
Danielle Macdonald delivered a sensation.
those verses as undiscovered I didnt go to film school,
rapper Patricia Dombrowski and I didnt shoot shorts.
(a.k.a. Killa P) in the Sundance Directing music videos was my
crowdpleaser Patti Cake$, they way of figuring out what my
had been gestating in the mind style was, Jasper says. Im not
of a young man. interested in some of the more
I was Patti, says Jersey-born formal rules and restrictions. I
Geremy Jasper. My mom found like to combine a lot of differ-
this bag of all of my diaries, ent styles. Cake$s endearing heroine. from and what inspired it. It was
journals and notebooks from Before videos or films, I was Macdonalds credits at the time a whole new world for me.
when I was 23 and living in the a collage artist. I would do these included bit parts in TV shows, The actress let the strong-
basement. It was crazy to read elaborate collages for my old such as Glee and 2 Broke Girls, willed character, as written on
some entries. It was so much record covers. Thats why I love and an important role in Amy the page, inform her rendition.
like what Patti is going through hip-hop so much: sampling and Bergs Every Secret Thing. She Patti definitely inspired me.
in the filmthat desire, feeling taking little bits from all over was cast during the Directing When I was reading the script, I
overwhelmed, just wanting to the place and combining them Lab test shoot. In the end, was like, This girl is going after
make stuff, just wanting to find into something fresh. Jasper says, he was unable to what she wants. I love that she
someone to make stuff with. Ultimately, his sights set imagine the movie without her. has the balls to just go for it, and
Jasper makes his feature on making a movie, Jasper Working with Danielle, I shes not letting anyone stop her.
directorial debut with this hilari- was forced to find some com- realized that I could do so much That fervent tenacity, in spite
ous portrait of an artist brav- promise between that non- more than I ever imagined. She of a setting that wasnt exactly
ing ongoing discouragement conformist streak and the just brought emotional depth conducive for pursuing showbiz
because of her appearance, hum- more traditional procedures and humor. She could be vul- dreams, mirrored Macdonalds
ble upbringing and unexpected of narrative. Enter the 2014 nerable, sexy and strong. own experience. The actresses
creative outlet of rap. Though Sundance Directing Lab. The pronounced musical ele- route to the entertainment
hes also acted (in the 2008 short Guided by advisors (includ- ment that the Patti role entailed industry was just as trying. I
Glory at Sea, directed by Benh ing Quentin Tarantino), Jasper was a little outside the comfort grew up in a beach town about
Zeitlin), music came before cin- was able to incorporate struc- zone of the 25-year-old Aussie an hour outside of Sydney, and I
ema for him. Ive been making ture and depth into Pattis musi- revelation. wanted to be an actor, she says.
music in the recording studio cally defined universe. Before I was always in the back Macdonalds not a conventional
since I was 16, he says. But I the labs, the film almost felt of the choir, because Im not a beauty, and she had to make
COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX

reached a point when I wasnt like a lot of music videos put singer at all. But rapping was a decision not to let that set
as interested in talking about together. Going through the different. It was less scary than her back. Im different in this
myself in music anymore. I got labs, I shed that skin, and it singing for me, because I was industry. People told me, You
interested in how to tell a story really became this young wom- more worried about the flow shouldnt do it, but I wanted to
through song, lyrics, melodies, ans story. The lab really revolu- than notes, says Macdonald. make that happen.
subtext and all those things. tionized what this film was. Mastering the fast-paced delivery She said goodbye to her home-
Music videos, an art form The opportunity also con- took some dedication. I did so land and moved to L.A. I had to
with its own set of parameters, nected him with the actress that much research and figured out figure it out, halfway around the
enticed him. The most vibrant would eventually embody Patti the history of it, where it came world without anyone I knew.

30 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 KINDRED SPIRITS:
DANIELLE MACDONALD
AND GEREMY JASPER
SAW PATTI CAKE$ TAKE
SUNDANCE AND CANNES
BY STORM THIS YEAR

32nd ANNUAL

Nov 3 - 19, 2017

Call For Film Entries!

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANDREW BOYLE/COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX

SASSY LADY: MACDONALD BRINGS religions, races and body types,

EFFERVESCENCE AND ATTITUDE and everyone deserves to be Entry Deadline August 1
TO HER BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE represented on film, she says.
IN PATTI CAKE$
I hope people realize that dif- [email protected] H www.FLIFF.com
Im not the ideal woman in film, ferent is OK. Different peo-
and that was a challenge. ple want to be seen. Society is
Post-Sundance, the actress becoming more trusting. Were
has been cast opposite Jennifer getting somewhere.
Aniston in Dumplin, directed by In January, Fox Searchlight
Anne Fletcher. Shes optimistic picked up Patti Cake$ for a cool
that the response to Patti Cake$ $9.5 milliona price tag that
and the emergence of direc- says we should all be prepared
tors like Jasper will change the to go along with her. MM
a vacation from ordinary film...
opportunities afforded to her.
The industry has come a Patti Cake$ opens in theaters
long way. There are now more August 18, 2017, courtesy of Fox
SAVOR CINEMA
FORT LAUDERDALE / 503 SE 6 ST
Th e O ffi c i a l Th eatre of th e Fo r t La ud erd a le I n te rn at i o n a l F i l m Fest i va l

people from all walks of life, Searchlight.

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 31
THE INNOVATORS

THE 10 MOST No matter what youre searching for

data security options, cloud servers, virtual
reality rigs or dronesyoull find it in Vegas.
with straps crossing the users chest like a life
jacket. The adjustable torso sits higher on the
waist and can be mounted with all Easyrig

INDIE-FRIENDLY Go ahead, dream on about owning that top-

of-the-line 3D VR camera rigbut today
youre an independent filmmaker, youve got
support arms. It comes in both small and
standard sizes, and retails for around $1,877.

PRODUCTS a script in hand, and youre ready to shoot.

These 10 products might become your new
best friends.
BLACKMAGIC DAVINCI RESOLVE 14
We realize theres a whole generation of mov-

FROM NAB 2017

iemakers that are working off Macs or custom
PCs theyve built, says Jason Druss, a product
ROTOLIGHT AEOS LED specialist at Blackmagic Design. Were happy
The integrated aluminum handle on this to announce that with DaVinci Resolve 14, we
Beyond the bells and whistles, bi-color LED, which comes in at just under have up to 10 times faster performance across
this new equipment will $1,000, allows moviemakers to position the board through the whole software10
really deliver when it counts the light in ways not previously possible. times faster performance with HD, 4K and
The aluminum ball head supports the full beyond. The latest release from Blackmagic
BY JOHN BUCHER AND JEREMY CASPER weight of the light and provides a complete Design represents arguably the biggest game-
360-degree rotation and 200-degrees of tilt changer they have ever unveiled. Resolve 14
when mounted to a light stand. Weighing provides an overhaul of the beloved editing
in at just over three pounds and at only one and color correction software, complete with
H E N YO U E N V I S I O N
centimeter in thickness, the AEOS can run multi-user collaboration tools for editing,
typical National Association
for three hours on a single 95W battery, and color grading and audio mixing from multi-
of Broadcasters (NAB) Show
has a tunable color temperature range of ple systems. Retailing at $299, its a product
attendees, you might picture television
3,150-6,300K. Providing 5,750 lux at three that moviemakers should take a serious look
broadcasters, camera operators, lighting
feet, its a versatile tool suitable for a wide at. There are few systems this powerful, with
technicians, software engineers and other
variety of scenes and environments, and this many options, at this price.
equipment nerds. Those gadget-loving
wont take up much room in your gear bag.
technicians do make up a large portion of
NABs yearly attendeesbut the tech set BROKEN ANCHOR
isnt the only group that descends upon EASYRIG CINEMA FLEX VEST ZERO FOLLOW FOCUS RING
Las Vegas every spring to gobble up the Because men have, for far too long, made up
Finding a workflow between your lenses
latest from the worlds leading film and an overwhelming percentage of cinematogra-
and the rest of your gear can be challeng-
video manufacturers. Exhibitor booths and phers, women in the field have had to adapt
ing, especially if, like many indie creators,
product showcases are teeming with indie to equipment designed for the male body.
you rely on converting your photo lenses
moviemakers determined to add to their Until now, that is. Easyrig has introduced
into geared lenses with follow focus units.
storytelling toolboxes. its first vest specifically designed for female
Even amid the latest advances in tech- DPs. The system is reinforced to distribute PACKING A PUNCH: THE DJI
nology, a good camera, some lights, an the weight of the rig over a female frame, RONIN 2 THREE- AXIS STABILIZER IN ACTION
audio recorder and a portable editing sys-
tem are still the center of the low-budget
moviemaking universe. Exhibitors at NAB
2017 offered a slate of new products to beef
up that core production package and boost
cinematic street cred at the same time.
Despite the fact that camera leader RED
was a no-show this year, NAB royalty like
Blackmagic, Adobe, Sony, Panasonic and
Canon, along with more than 1,700 other
exhibitors, ensured that attendees were
treated to a good show.
A word to the wise: To avoid technol-
ogy overload, a trip to NAB requires a bit
of forethought and planning. Figure out
your overarching objectives for the week
and stick to them. It helps to do a little pre-
COURTESY OF DJI

NAB researchdecide what you want to see

beforehand, come up with a game plan, and
then tailor an NAB experience that suits
your professional and artistic needs.

32 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 THE INNOVATORS

tricky, especially for sequences that involve

water. Sennheiser has introduced a solu-
tion for such occasions. The waterproof
MKE 2 elements microphone, which goes
for $199.95, attaches right to the side of the
GoPro HERO4 Black or Silver and allows
high-quality audio to be recorded in any
environment the camera is capable of enter-
ing. The mic can also be useful in icy and
windy conditions, or even if the elements
arent a threat at all.

SMALLHD FOCUS 5-INCH FIELD MONITOR

A quality field monitor is massively useful
SEINNHEISERS
on set, though price has made many models
MKE 2 ELEMENTS
MIC ON A GOPRO out of reach for lower-budget productions.
(And bright exterior locations often
leave lesser monitors useless.) SmallHDs
FOCUS 5-inch field monitorat $499was
designed for bright outdoor location use
with an 800-nit display (two to three times
ZERO ($299) is the first universal, seam- many indie moviemakers can consider for
brighter that your typical cameras LCD
less and toolless follow focus gear. It installs the first time. One of the other significant
screen). Powered by Sony L-Series batteries,
in nearly an instant and has a large gear- upgrades to the Ronin includes a new dual
which many moviemakers already own for
ing ratio for increased focus throw. Fitting battery system that allows you to hot-swap
other gear, the monitor is also compatible
any lens diameter from 60-92mm, ZERO batteries on the fly. There is also a dedicated
with most cameras. The unit includes a
uses a scissor-action and tensioning sys- OLED display that will make tuning and
number of professional shot assist tools,
tem to offer a fast and versatile alterna- other settings easier to adjust.
including a waveform monitor, false color
tive to other spoke systems. The founder of
and focus assist. It can be loaded with 3D
Broken Anchor Design, Josh Turner, says WRAPAL lookup tables for field previewing.
Filmmakers benefit from having one piece
Wrapal is a site that connects moviemakers
of gear that will always work with any lens
to production-friendly properties.
in their kit, while leveraging the cost savings
Showcasing more than 1,600 locations in the INSTA360 PRO VR CAMERA
of using still glass without compromising
Los Angeles and New York metro areas, the The Insta360 Pro caught the attention of
their workflow and time on set.
company hopes to expand its vast portfolio VR-makers this spring with the ability to
of commercial, industrial and residential create 360 3D imaging and stitch in real
ZEISS CP.3 LENSES properties to other cities in the near future. time at up to 4K. The camera can also
When the Zeiss CP.2s were released, they Wrapals pre-vetted selection saves time and capture stills at 8K with real-time stitching
quickly became one of the most versatile and money by taking a lot of the guesswork out and live streams using H.265 compression
powerful lens sets that a moviemaker could of the scouting process. which, Insta360 claims, reduces bandwidth
employ. The CP.3s are set to stage a sequel Lets face it, finding locations is a pain, needs by 60 percent. The ability to capture
TOP: COURTESY OF SENNHEISER; BOTTOM: COURTESY OF INSTA360

to their predecessors popularity. With color says Brian L. Tan, Wrapal co-founder. slo-mo at 100fps in high-speed shooting
matching and the ability to cover full frame Were trying to help make peo- mode is another great feature in this
across the 15-135mm range, few scenarios ples films possible. Like Airbnb, $3,499 unit.
and environments would fall outside these deposits and insurance The virtual reality indus-
lenses capacities. Their consistent T-stops protect both sides and try needs steady content
(T2.9 for 15-21mm, T2.1 for 25-135mm) sim- paying for a location is from a strong base of cre-
plify lighting and exposure compensations. as simple as entering ators to keep growing, but
Also, because lens settings are digitally cap- a credit card. before now, high-perform-
tured on every frame, you wont need to ing cameras have been
manually record them on setan invaluable SENNHEISER overly complicated or
time-saver when working with a small crew. cost-prohibitive, says Max
MKE 2 ELEMENTS Richter, global marketing
DJI RONIN 2 THREE-AXIS STABILIZER MICROPHONE lead of China-based Insta360.
With the Insta360 Pro, were
Redesigned with a carbon fiber ring, GoPro filmmaking is at an all-
giving filmmakers the all-in-one
the payload for this updated gimbal has time high. However, capturing
tool theyve been asking for. MM
increased to 30 pounds at speeds as high as quality audio when using the
75 miles per hour, making it an option that action-friendly cameras can be THE INSTA360 PRO IN SILVER

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 33
MAKING A
Consider the fact that each youll do one meeting on
of those 455 shows has multiple those things. Yes, they ask for
episodes. That means theres a your input, but many of those

LIVING
lot of work out there for direc- things are already set. The
tors willing to trade dreams of showrunner, producers and
the silver-screen auteurship for department headsthe folks

BY MIXING
an audience hungry to devour who work on every episode
content on their TVs, laptops have an overall vision. Its not
and cellphones. really up to me to question
that vision.

MEDIA
HERR DIRECTOR On the other hand, William
NO MORE Rabkin, a veteran TV writer
There is a trade-off, of course. (The Glades, Monk, Psych)
Going from film to televi- and showrunner (Diagnosis
Youre a feature director, but you want to break into television. sion directing means a demo- Murder, Martial Law), has
A group of crossover creators explain how to make the leap tion in authority. You are no a slightly different take on
longer the head honcho, the it. A good showrunner, he
BY J E F F M E Y E R S
top banana, the final word on, believes, will always listen to
well anything. the director. They are artists
MAGI NE reach anywhere from 400,000
Television is a writer-driven in their own right. Why not
A WOR LD to 10 million viewers, he says.
medium, not a director-driven take advantage of all the talent
where you You can focus on directing.
medium like feature films, says youre paying for?
earn a steady, With theater attendance
Steven Adelson, a television Nevertheless, Adelson,
livable pay- for independent film on the
director (12 Monkeys, Scorpion, Rabkin and Davis all empha-
check doing what you love decline, and Hollywood stu-
The Blacklist, Riverdale) and size that episodic television
directingand little else. That dios decreasing the number
executive producer on sea- is a machine that has to keep
picture, sadly, doesnt exactly of releases in favor of bigger
son two of Freeform original rolling, and that TV directors
fit indie feature filmmaking. blockbuster spectacles, career
series Beyond. Its not about are vitalbut specificcogs.
From writing the script for opportunities for feature direc-
my feature The Trouble with tors are getting scarcer. At shooting your movie. Its about
shooting the shows movie, so FINDING YOUR
the Truth to getting the movie the same time, though, we are
that showrunner and execu- BEARINGS IN TV LAND
out on DVD and VOD, it was a living in what some call the
tive producers can tell the story TV is a pressure cooker.
five or six-year process, says age of Peak Televisionan
they need to tell. You have seven days of prep,
Jim Hemphill. And the only age that has seen a dramatic
Youre not making as and usually eight to 10 days
part I truly enjoyed was the two spike in scripted content, espe-
many decisions as you do in production, says Adelson.
weeks I spent on set working cially with streaming services
Which means that a direc-
with the actors and DP, and the like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon in features, agrees Tamra
tor needs to be like clay, able
month or two after that in the getting into the game. FX Davis. Davis directed features
to mold to whats happening. I
editing room. Everything else Research reported that 455 such as Guncrazy and Billy
try to bring my own flavor, but
was sheer drudgery. scripted original programs Madison, then transitioned to
I dont go into a show thats all
The indie writer-director appeared on American televi- television, directing on shows
handheld and say, Im doing
(and MovieMaker contribu- sion in 2016. That number was like Santa Clarita Diet, Crazy
everything on the dolly.
tor) found an alternative, how- up by nearly three dozen since Ex-Girlfriend, Greys Anatomy
Davis concurs: Youre
ever: If you direct something 2015, and 137 percent over the and others. Wardrobe, art
not going to shoot an epi-
for television, youre going to last decade. direction, castingmaybe
sode of Greys Anatomy that
looks totally different than
every other episode of Greys
Anatomy. You have to blend
your style seamlessly into
their format. Still, I think pro-
ducers want directors to invig-
orate things, to look at the
show from a new angle.
PHOTOGRAPH BY NIKHIL PANIZ

The speed, she says, is excit-

ing. Theres way less time sit-
ting in the chair, waiting for

Steven Adelson and

cinematographer Tom Camarda
on the set of an episode
of The Player entitled The
Norseman, directed by Adelson

34 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 2017 July Ad - CP3.pdf 1 6/15/2017 4:51:00 PM

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 TOP: NBC sitcom Great News, time, they will help you. I was
which premieres September 28, good with the camera, but I
2017, took on moviemaker would say loyalty was what
Enid Zentelis as a shadow
ultimately provided me my
director. BOTTOM: Zentelis
(center) on the set of her indie opportunity to direct.
feature Bottled Up, a nominee In his role as an executive
for the Nora Ephron Prize at the producer on Beyond, these
Tribeca Film Festival 2013 days Adelson looks for direc-
tors with solid track records.
service providers based on If theyve done only one epi-
recommendations. The film sode on shows that had some
and TV industry is no differ- longevity, why werent they
ent. And because the finan- invited back? I check with
cial stakes are high, producers showrunners and hiring direc-
and showrunners are cautious tors. I look at their material
about who they hand the reins and see if theyve done stuff in
of a production over to. the genre that Im working in
That said, the path to build- for example, our show has a lot
ing a career is wide open. of visual effects and action.
Davis first TV job was direct- Show reels arent particularly
ing an episode of Cracking persuasive to Adelson because
Up, an ill-fated series created they make it hard for him to
by Mike White in 2004. As a gauge a directors full abili-
feature director himself, Mike ties. He prefers to see full epi-
specifically wanted feature sodes, or even a short film. Its
directors on his show, she all about how you get into and
remembers. That was at Fox, out of a scene. Transitions are
and my next job was at Fox. the bread and butter. Anyone
Often your last job gives you can just shoot a wide master
references for your next. Its a and then follow with coverage.
small world in television. In the end, though, its not
For Adelson, however, direct- like you can force yourself into
ing TV meant moving away being hired. You have to have
from a well-established career good representation that can
as a camera operator on major put you in front of the people
motion pictures like Batman in the position to hire you.

PHOTOGRAPH BY COLLEEN HAYES / COURTESY OF NBC; PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIKA LATTA

Begins and shows like Stargate
and Nikita. I had worked SHADOW PEOPLE
for Danny Cannon and Gary For those who dont have an
Fleder as an operator on some inside track, the transition from
the camera and the crew to The director has got to get of their shows, he says. Over independent film to televi-
move to the next set-up. This the show done on time and on the course of 200 episodes, he sion can be a bit of a mystery.
is great for comedy, because budget. I once hired a well- let them know he wanted to For Hemphill and moviemaker
its hard to shoot something respected director who turned direct. They recognized that I Enid Zentelis, a crucial break
funny and then wait 45 min- out to be incapable of making understood story and charac- came from shadowing success-
utes and still make it funny. a single decision on set. If one ter, and I had their backs pro- ful television directors on set.
She credits her experience on of our guest stars, who had a tecting the material with the How? Hemphill suggests
Guncrazy, an indie she shot in second career as a director, camera. Finally being OK with that you take note of whos
23 days, as instrumental to her hadnt stepped in, wed still be losing me as their operator, directing the shows you really
success in television. When shooting that episode. they gave me the opportunity like and reach out to them.
your day is, like, nine pages, to direct on their shows. They might not all respond,
five different scenes with six GETTING THE REC Continue to work with peo- but some do, he says. Overall,
different actors, experience as Lets state the obvious now: ple you respect and enjoy in Ive found TV directors to be
an indie filmmaker helps you Hollywood is a town built on whatever capacity you can, kind and supportive.
figure out how to make that relationships. Which doesnt Adelson advises, but make Best-case scenario: A well-
schedule work. mean the system is rigged sure they know what your connected director likes your
For Rabkin, the directors after all, we patronize busi- objective is. If they think that film and offers to make calls
first role on set is managerial. nesses and contract with youve proven yourself over on your behalf. Thats what

36 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
happened to Hemphill, and it MAKE SURE YOURE Youre the Worst, starting in a

NEVER FAR FROM THE

allowed him to shadow tele- couple weeks. You have to play
vision director Rob Greenlea, the long game.

THOUGHTS OF PEOPLE
who worked on Stitchers on Zentelis warns moviemak-
the Freeform network. Along ers that they should expect
with a front-row view of pro- things to move slowly, over the
duction, Greenlea provided
guidance on how Hemphill
WHO MIGHT HIRE YOU course of many meetings (a.k.a
generals), especially when it
could angle for a jobfor
example, referring to himself
MOST OF THE TIME WHEN comes to the networks. Its a
personality test. Can you work
as the shadowing director
(noun), as opposed to shadow- A FIRST-TIMER GETS in a collaborative way? Can
you deal with a hundred cast
ing the director (verb).
It cements you in the minds HIRED, ITS A FLUKE. members, and a huge crew,
and talk to the executives at
of the cast and crew as a direc- the end of the day?
torwho will, theoretically, If you check all those boxes,
come back to helm an epi- though, you can look forward
sode in the near future. Make to a stabler future than ever
sure youre never far from the showrunner Tracey Wigfields Davis warns about the perils feature films have afforded.
thoughts of people who might (30 Rock, The Mindy Project) of that situation. Every show And thats what makes the
hire you, because most of the blessing, she spent two weeks is its own dysfunctional fam- siren song of television so
time when a first-timer gets on set, looking over the shoul- ily, she says. So know your alluring. Directing TV is more
hired in episodic, its a fluke der of an in-demand director. place. Just do your job. Dont about career goals than the
another director drops out, for Nisha knew I could direct, get involved in the drama, or quest for famepracticing
example, and youre called in so I was right by her side, cause any drama. These peo- your craft as a respected pro-
at the last minute. says Zenelis. We would talk ple have to work together for fessional rather than achieving
Zentelis, who directed the lenses, blocking, what different another three months. artistic glory as an auteur.
2013 Tribeca feature Bottled actors neededit was a con- Zentelis, on the other hand, Its full-time work to break
Up, took a somewhat differ- stant dialogue about craft. found the family dynamic on into a field this competitive,
ent path to the same des- From a practical standpoint, Great News a relief after the Zentelis says, but Im heart-
tination. After showing an Zentelis had to wrap her head more isolating aspects of fea- ened. Theres an awful lot of
episodic pilot, Au Pair, she won around the production reali- tures. There dont tend to be great work out there, and [stu-
a paid fellowship with NBC ties of episodic television. The these crazy egos, she says. dios] want new directors.
Universal. Network programs director shifts with every epi- That tone comes from the top As a married mom with two
like these bring new blood into sode. And everyone has a dif- down. Great News had a con- kids, I am happy doing three
the systemand try to correct ferent style, she says. She fident, magnanimous show- episodes a year, says Davis.
Hollywoods historical sys- noticed that this necessitated runner in Tracey Wigfield, You can actually have TV jobs
temic exclusion of women and flexibility from cast and key and the directors and cast she and still have a life. With her
minority directors. Still, theyre crew, like assistant directors. hired reflected that. 10 episodes in 2017, shes mak-
looking for serious profession- This is a sentiment echoed ing more than a comfortable
als with a track record. by Davis. TV actors work for A SUSTAINING PASSION living, though there are times
You have to have a career in 12 weeks. Sometimes their Davis is always looking one when youre like, Who knows
features or commercials before reaction is, Whos this new step ahead to book myself how next year will be?
youre accepted, Zentelis person coming in and telling into the next job, she says, Theres a saying, Hemphill
explains. Theyre looking for me what to do? But once peo- by having great relationships says. Analog dollars have
people who know the craft, but ple start to trust you, its excit- and pulling the rabbit out of become digital pennies.
havent had a shot yet. And ing to see a relationship grow. my hat. She wanted to work Streaming services are great
even then, nothing is guar- on the series Youre the Worst, for consumers, and great in
anteed. The showrunner and ALL IN THE FAMILY for example, in part because it that they provide filmmak-
executive producers on a given If theres one motif repeated shoots in L.A., where her fam- ers with the opportunity to
show have to agree to accept by everyone, its that televi- ily is based. Seeing that that reach millions of viewers. But
you as a shadow. sion cultivates a family atmo- shows producer and DP were theyve also devalued con-
Zentelis knew TV director spherethe same group of also working on Still the King tent to the point that its much
Nisha Ganatra (Transparent) people working together for an in Nashville, she managed to more difficult to make a liv-
from film school, and extended time. This can mean get herself hired on that show ing as an indie filmmaker. The
approached her about shad- that incoming directors, tran- so she could prove her worthi- appeal of directing episodic
owing on NBC sitcom Great sient as they are, can feel like ness. It took a year, but Im TV is that you can actually
News. With creator and guests in someone elses house. now doing three episodes of make a living doing it. MM

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 37
THE IRRESISTIBLE
LURE OF THE HEIST
From the Oceans Trilogy to this years
Baby Driver, why do moviemakers
keep returning to the heist? A look
at the enduring appeal of this classic
cinema genre
BY DARYL LEE

O O K I N G F O R A summer
getaway? You may have to
steal it.
A few high-profile heists promise plea-
sures this year. Steven Soderbergh, an old
pro at the genre, returns to feature direct-
ing with the NASCAR-driven, self-described
hillbilly heist Logan Lucky, while Edgar
Wrights kinetic Baby Driver delighted
audiences with its musical stylings. The
Safdie brothers Good Time sets the action
in New York City. And Zach Braff s social- CHANNING A lot of crime WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE ENDURING
security-sucks-so-lets-hit-a-bank Going in TATUM, RILEY movies that I really QUALITIES OF THE HEIST?
Style (a remake of the 1979 hit) grossed $81 KEOUGH AND ADAM like have a strong The genre reaches back at least to Edwin S.
DRIVER LEAD LOGAN
million worldwide this spring. LUCKY , STEVEN crime doesnt pay-type Porters Western The Great Train Robbery
More iterations are on the way. Women SODERBERGHS moral kicker at the (1903) and Depression-era gentleman thief or
will break into the traditionally virile world LATEST RENDITION end. Baby Driver starts gangster films like Raoul Walshs High Sierra
in Oceans Eight early next year (starring OF THE HEIST GENRE with a dream of being (1941). But it found its purpose in a nebulae
Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, a getaway driver and of black-and-white thrillers (and a couple of

PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL TACKET / COURTESY OF FINGERPRINT RELEASING AND BLEECKER STREET

Sandra Bullock, Rihanna and more), and the nightmare of being a criminal starts comedies) that made up a constellation of
also in British auteur Steve McQueens to creep in, Wright said. The three-part B-lot noir brilliance in the 1940s.
upcoming Widows, led by Viola Davis. structure of his movie was also indebted It was born a transnational genre.
Meanwhile, Robert Redford brings back to some of its predecessors: the idea that Borrowing the spectacular modernist
some of the swagger of The Sting and there were revolving cast members in montages and double-cross narratives
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in each gang. I could have three heists, and of the German and Jewish moviemaker
David Lowerys upcoming The Old Man each had a different combination of crews. Robert Siodmak (Criss Cross, The Killers),
and the Gun, based on real-life heist genius With each, the stakes got higher and the and coming of age in the social justice and
Forrest Tucker. decisions got tougher. working class sympathies of John Huston
Wright himself programmed a screening (The Asphalt Jungle), the heist folded a noir
series called Edgar Wright Presents Heist THE POINT IS: THE HEIST MOVIE HAS BEEN tradition with German expressionist and
Society at Brooklyns BAMcinmatek this ONE OF THE DREAM FACTORYS STAPLES French poetic realist pedigrees into smart
summer (June 27 to July 23), and penned FOR A LONG TIME. BUT WHY? Hollywood concoctions. It crossed the
program blurbs for each title. His line-up Across its history the heist has been as Atlantic for capers in the U.K., as Charles
ranges from black-and-white classics like hit-and-miss at the box office as some of Crichtons The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) and
Alexander Mackendricks The Ladykillers its characters have at robbing banks. But The Ladykillers translated noir into Ealing
(1955) and Joseph H. Lewis Gun Crazy for the last 20 years, its had a pretty good Studios comedic intelligence. The same year
(1950) to modern takes like Wes Andersons screen run. When it does hit its mark, it war veteran Sam Fuller was shooting House
Bottle Rocket (1996) and Sebastian mixes the diversions of a gritty gangster or of Bamboo in Japan (1955), the heist was
Schippers one-take-wonder Victoria (2015). war flick, a tense spy thriller, a con-man or ensconced on the Continent by Jean-Pierre
Some of themThe Driver (the ultimate buddy movieeven a puttin-on-the-show Melvilles magnificent Bob le Flambeur
car chase movie), Reservoir Dogs (a musical. (Now, if only it could deftly steal (1956) and the blacklisted American Jules
postmodern take on the heist film) and a little eros from the romance genre; no Dassins brilliant, brutal Rififi (1955)the
Heat (riveting, existential crime opera) offense to the masculine world of Michael latter soon parodied in Italy by Maro
were direct influences on Baby Driver, he Manns taut procedurals, yet the job is often Monicellis Bid Deal on Madonna Street
told MovieMaker. about a girl but not for the girl.) (1958). These only hint at the rapid

38 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 Man (Spike Lee, 2006). In one sense, heists
are utopian, constructing a marginalized
micro-society of misfits. (Where else could
THE HEIST IS AN ACTORS the Malloy brothers from Provo, Utah find

PARADISE. CRIME SELLS, a home but in Oceans team?) They unfold

where risk-to-profit ratios are extreme
SO ITS A STUDIOS DREAM. racetracks and casinosor utility-to-
investment is outlandishjewelry stores and
AND ITS A DIRECTORS art collections. They provide clever parables
for criticizing the vicissitudes of capitalism
SECRET WEAPON. writ large, the world of global finance that
touches rural Texas as well as China.

Crime sells, to be sure, but why else
The heist accrues value in times of
economic and social instability. Its about the
money, only its never about money. It values
would so many directors try their hand at the tenuous bonds that tie individuals and
it? Joel and Ethan Coen, Albert and Allen small groups together when they are under
Hughes, Stanley Kubrick, Spike Lee, Barry social and economic duress, appealing to a
Levinson, David Mamet, Frank Oz and Guy sharpened sense of social inequities between
Ritchie all have wanted a piece of the pie. If the haves and have-nots. It reimagines that
its comfortable in the realm of thrillers, it complex of values that underwrite society
shifts easily between the comical and tragic, love, friendship, honor, loyalty and diversity
between rural bank jobs (last years Hell or against pure economic greed. So, in addition
High Water) and sleek Wall Street fine art to its other pleasures, one of the genres
forgeries (The Thomas Crown Affair), even enduring appeals lies in wish-fulfillment: It
urban documentary (2008s Man on Wire). offers social and economic alternatives to the
status quo.MM
individuation of this screen lure during the IN EVERY CASE, ITS A CONFIDENCE GAME, HEIST HEIST BABY: EDGAR WRIGHTS BABY DRIVER
first years of post-war globalizationand SOCIAL COMMENTARY MASQUERADING AS TAKES CLASSIC HEIST INGREDIENTSCAR CHASES,
the heists social purpose as a vehicle to DIVERTING ENTERTAINMENT. A LARGE ENSEMBLEAND COMBINES THEM WITH
Heist movies are about a lot of things: ELEMENTS OF THE MUSICAL
think about the winners and losers in a new
world system of capital flows, changing process, plans and precisionparticularly
values and disrupted societies. those best laid plans that never fail to go
The heist is nimble. Its basic elements awry. Theyre about the coup itself, pulling
COURTESY OF TRISTAR PICTURES, INC.

provide flexible story lines and complex off the perfect caper, and the stark beauty of
AND MRC II DISTRIBUTION COMPANY

human networks. Its an actors paradise, a failure (to wit: Stanley Kubricks The Killing).
play within the play, roles wrapped within Theyre about the balletic teamwork of the
roles in con games and double crosses, crew that faces tremendous obstacles but also
often in ensemble casts. Crime sells, so internal strains from race, class and political
its a studios dream. And its a directors difference. Look no further than the race and
secret weapon, a vehicle for expressing civil rights tensions raised in Odds Against
dissatisfaction with studios that constrain Tomorrow (Robert Wise, 1959), The Split
artistic prowess, allegorized through genius (Gordon Flemyng, 1968), Dead Presidents
criminals who fool the system. (Albert and Allen Hughes, 1995) or Inside

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M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 39
THE CONVICTION OF A
MISGUIDED VISIONARY
Prison is an unlikely launching pad for a film career. Yet these three
inmates are looking to moviemaking as their salvation.by m a x we i n s t e i n

HERES A LOT of tough revolving door of sorts that, for better or (L-R) Actor Nilla Da Huzpla, co-producer
talk about braving the art worse, ushers in new faces, stories and con- and co-writer Antonio Servidio, actor DJ Paul
of rap group Three 6 Mafia and co-producer
life, and with good reason. cepts to the film and television industry. Daniel Hubbard on the set of Tunnel Vision
Being exploited in entry-level posi- In 2008, the HBO documentary An Omar
tions, juggling the oddest of jobs, Broadway Film marked its co-director and and nonfiction when it cast actual prison-
sleeping on couchesall par for the subject Omar Broadways shift from incar- ers to perform its tale of romance, and shot
course for many aspiring movie- cerated gang-banger to moviemaker, as he on location at the Najayo Prison in the
makers. For most, such toil is usu- smuggled a camera into a state prison to Dominican Republic. The film saw its way
ally limited in duration. Imagine capture its security guards everyday physi- to a premiere in competition at the 2017
another scenario, though, where navigating cal abuse and excessive force. An Omar Sundance Film Festival. Yet the world of
the uncertain road of the art life includes Broadway Film premiered at the 2008 incarceration intersects with the world of
shouldering the stigma of a criminal record. Tribeca Film Festival while Broadway was moviemaking in ways that go beyond mere
Jamal Horsfordan inmate at New serving out a 10-year sentence for carjack- compelling subject matter. A number of
Yorks Sing Sing Correctional Facility cur- ing, and while his efforts shedded much- prison inmates around the country harbor
rently serving the final months of a 19-year needed light on his prisons culture of cor- dreams of big-screen storytelling as ambi-
sentencing for gun trafficking and drugs ruption, his life ended in tragedy when, tious as any of their free countrymens.
doesnt have to imagine. I dont have a in June 2017, he shot himself as police at- In a brief, sobering moment dur-
track record in the film business. I expect tempted to arrest him for the murder of his ing his heady 2013 counterfeit spend-
to face quite a few obstacles as an ex-con- nephew in Essex Country, New Jersey. ing spree, Spencer Penney saw an issue of
COURTESY OF TUNNEL VISION MOVIE

vict filmmaker, the longtime MovieMaker In 2016, miniseries like HBOs The Night MovieMaker at a newsstand in North Park,
reader wrote us in a letter. Hes not naive, he Of and documentaries like Ava DuVernays San Diego. The sight reminded him of per-
says, about the advantages a person in the Netflix-backed 13th further probed the sonal ambitions that he was at risk of letting
streets can get with one phone call or email inadequacies of Americas criminal jus- die foreverdreams that had developed at
to production companies, agents, film fes- tice system and critiqued the savagery of the ripe age of 14, when he shot his first ama-
tivals or the Directors Guild of America its for-profit prison-industrial complex. teur short on Hi-8 video, but that had since
from whom he claims he has requested a list Dominican writer-director Jos Mara become eclipsed by a life of crime.
of their members three times, to no avail. Cabrals latest film, Woodpeckers, blurred On that day, I purchased the magazine
Americas prison system persists as a the boundaries between dramatization with real moneyand went home to read

40 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 it cover to cover, he recalls. Admittedly, Another stark camera image is that of awareness of how Servidios ex-attorney, as
my routine of printing and passing fake 1990s hip-hop promoter turned real es- the petition puts it, ran a fraudulent scheme
bills resumed the next daybut I started tate mogul Antonio Servidio and rapper/ on him and set him up on a complicated
occasionally purchasing items that would record producer Gerald G-Eazy Gillum, money structuring case.
help me in moviemaking. standing side-by-side in orange jumpsuits Not long before the photo was taken,
The purchase of one such item, a $29,500 from behind bars at Federal Correctional Servidio had never heard of G-Eazy. My
RED camera, was going to be Penneys Institution, Florence, a medium-security assistant [Daniel Hubbard] suggested
cash-out event. His plan: Print enough prison in Colorado. It was featured at the top him for the part, he recalls. When they
bills to buy the RED, quit counterfeiting, of a Change.org petition entitled Overturn met, he realized G-Eazy was a perfect fit.
and pivot to making a movie full-time. He Verdict For Innocent Man Antonio Salvatore We were both from the Bay Area. He has
followed his self-imposed rules (no gas Servidio, and posted to a website for a short a real cool swagger. He didnt have any
stations, liquor stores or hotel rooms paid film called Tunnel Vision with a message acting experience, but that didnt matter
with counterfeit cash), printing between to anyone reading: WRITE THE REAL to me. That Gillum appeared at ease
the hours of 2 and 5 a.m. until hed produced JOHNNY RUSSO IN PRISON. talking business scored points with the
almost $28,000. Then he was caught and Gillum, 28, a white Ukrainian rapper who ambivalent-toward-Hollywood Servidio.
sentenced to an eight-year prison term for made his bones in the East Bay Area hip-hop We were close to locking in [Adrian
multiple counts of grand theft by fraud. scene of the late aughts, had been tapped to Grenier], but the deal came with G-Eazy
His victims had contacted the Secret play Russo, the fictionalized version of the faster. It was about whoever said yes first.
Service and identified him, with the help of 43-year-old Servidio, in Tunnel Vision. The On the day of his sentencing in February
surveillance footage, in a line-up. film would be based on actual reports from 2016, Servidio had been given about five
the FBI, ATF, DEA and The Department of months before going to Florence in early
(Left) Picture locked: Antonio Servidio Justice on Servidios criminal case. The two June, and if I didnt get the film done be-
and Gerald G-Eazy Gillum featured on the
Change.org petition for Servidios release men stood in solidarity in the photo to plug fore I got to prison, he explains, it wasnt
from prison. (Right) Actor Robert Miano the film that Servidio hoped would both gonna get done. Throughout this race to
with Servidio on the set of Tunnel Vision make his name and save him: by raising the finish line, he had only the coaching of
COURTESY OF TUNNEL VISION MOVIE

The 7th Annual

Montclair Film Festival
will open for submissions
on August 25th, 2017
MontclairFilm
Visit: montclairfilm.org

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 41
Tunnel Vision director Sarah B. Downey, in a letter he sent us from East Mesa
a moviemaker he met through a mutual Correctional Facility in San Diego, dont
friend in L.A. while struggling to write the achieve those kinds of results by accident.
script, to turn to. She told me, I cant tell Reformed criminals have a skill set
you how to make a movie. You have to jump naturally transferable to moviemaking,
in with both feet. Youre gonna make mis- Penney writes. Criminals are misguided
takes, but youre gonna learn from them. visionaries. Before a crook commits a heist,
Servidio claims to have owned 20 he has a vision for how the robbery will go
different businessesamong them major down, and he gives it his all to make his
real estate developments in Mexico and vision occur exactly as planned. Before a
various detail shops. He also claims con artist tricks someone, he has a fanta-
that producing a movie has been more sy world he must convince them of and he
challenging than running them all. There uses everything in his power to make this
are so many different roles you have to play, imaginary world a reality then gives the
especially when youre an independent performance of a lifetime to create a scene.
guy, he says. Im in charge of marketing, Servidio also has the integrity of his rep-
Im in charge of securing talent, co-writing utation to defend. Unlike Penney, he main-
the screenplay [with Downey], coming tains that hes innocent of the crime for
up with the money, being involved with which hes currently serving his sentence,
editing, I picked out the music I didnt go though hes forthcoming about his past Aspiring moviemaker Spencer Penney, 36,
to film school. I didnt have anyone to show in gun trafficking that preceded his hip- was caught counterfeiting money in 2013
me how we were gonna start this thing and hop promoting career, and his run-ins with and sentenced to eight years in prison
where we were gonna finish. the feds. He even used that experience, he
On a phone call to the MovieMaker says, to coach G-Eazy on how to forget cross paths with, with the intention of cast-
office from Florence in June, Servidio joked that the cameras are there for scenes in ing them in future projects as themselves.
about his filmmaking ignorance. Why do Tunnel Vision. Their filmmaking successes and short-
we need 12 lighting guys? Why cant I hold And yet, neither man sees the term that comings, both Penney and Servidio
the light? he asked Downey one day on Penney uses to self-identifyimprisoned agree, live and die by sheer persistence
set, desperate to cut costs. Trust me, she moviemakeras one to shy away from. of will. Servidio swears by the Napoleon
replied. We need them. By the time he Conventional wisdom might have it that the Hill books Think and Grow Rich and
was behind bars doing PR for his short, he company of criminals is anathema to an up- Outwitting the Devil, works that stand
no longer had to take her word for it. wardly mobile professional life. But in a way, in stark contrast to his pre-incarceration
When a freshly convicted felon man- both Servidio and Penney have found it to Vegas lifestyle, which he describes as:
ages to produce his first film and premiere be the networking opportunity of a lifetime. nights out til 5 or 6 a.m., loud music and
at a festival, all while facing a daily count- Its amazing how much talent is behind the smell of weed. Hills self-help mani-
down to his incarceration, its tempting to the walls in prison, says Servidio. In his festos, Servidio says, boil down to never
chalk it up as an amusing anomaly. But in- facility, he was introduced by a mutual ac- give up, basically. Learn from your mis-
dependents like Servidio, Penney suggests quaintance to a rapper-turned-urban fic- takes. If Id just sat here and quit, then I
tion writer going by the name of Silk G. wouldve never had a movie.
Over a two-hour conversation, Servidio saw For Penney, the refusal to resign himself to
a potential partner in Silk G. The next logi- some doomed derelicts fate is a survivalist
cal step, he says, was for the two jailbirds choice between emotionally dying or choos-
of a feather to flock to Florences Sunday ing to keep hope alive, he says. Regularly I
I CONSIDER MY screenwriting classes, where theyve since
continued to hone their creative chemistry.
get struck with the inspiration of some wild,
never-before-done act of criminality, but
MOVIEMAKING Sometimes Silk and I just take notes,
says Servidio. Youve got musical talent
now, instead of conspiring with other guys
in here on how to commit that crime, I have
AMBITIONS TO in heresome guys whove never even decided it is better to adapt the idea into a
played a guitar [before] are now writing movie. Writing ideas down, Penney says,
BE MY PATHWAY songs and doing full-blown concerts. serves a dual purpose. First, its pure gold in
He rattles off a list of people hes encoun- my library of subject matter, and second, its
TO BECOMING tered whose stories he imagines telling: a therapeutic. I consider my moviemaking am-
real estate mogul with a $180 million Ponzi bitions to be my pathway to becoming a pro-
A PRODUCTIVE
COURTESY OF SPENCER PENNEY

scheme; a kid who was involved in the on- ductive member of society again.
line illegal drug black market known as the Looking toward the future, for Penney, is a
MEMBER OF Silk Road. Silk and I might work on anoth- way of revisiting and revising an unfinished
er script that incorporates some of that. past. For motivation, he clings to the mem-
SOCIETY AGAIN. Penney, too, is drawing from his surround- ory of his last production: a four and a half-
ings. In the time Ive been locked up, I have minute stop-motion animation music video
only met one other moviemaker, but I have that took him over seven months to produce,
been collecting contact info from men I about a dinosaurs visit to the Dino Dentist.

42 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 Making it, he says, required me to turn the
front room of my one-bedroom apartment
into a miniature robot city set. To say the
least, I alienated many friends. He took part
in Playwrights Project: Out of the Yard,
a workshop for inmates to write plays that
were later performed by professional actors
who visited East Mesa. His was about two
competing street cart food vendors, with a
political message about immigration.
Penney will be released from East Mesa
July 22, 2017. Servidio will be released from
Florence September 7, 2017, and will do six
months of house arrest before finally tasting
total freedom. Horsford will be released from
Sing Sing in 2018.
Penney is prepared to finish college, and
to not break the law anymore. Committing
to those two things will take me farther than
I ever could have made it counterfeiting. He
ON THE INSIDE Director Ric Roman Waugh (center)
harnessed dozens of real-life convicts as
What is it like to shoot a film inside a prison? extras in his prison drama Shot Caller
vows that after he publishes Bad Economy, Ric Roman Waugh found out while making
the autobiographical novel hes been writing his feature Shot Caller
in prison, the entertainment world will know to carry out orders without question, even using
To get a real-world grasp of prison and the
his name. Horsford plans on signing to gangs that run them, I went undercover as lethal force. Its the price of membership.
the independent film company G7 Films, a volunteer parole agent in California. What DP Dana Gonzales and I love shooting in real
and will apply to attend Manhattans started out as a simple research assignment locations. Theres a credibility we cant achieve
Digital Film Academy. On the West Coast, became a two-year odyssey. elsewhere. Dana is a master of using practical
Servidios supporters have a Welcome No one knew I was a filmmaker. They saw lighting as key lights, and we shot 360 degrees
me as a rookie cop, so nothing was censored. most of the time.
Home party planned with colleagues,
I learned that though the guards control the You have to schedule your day different-
friends and family in his hometown of ly when shooting in real prisons, even vacant
doors, the gangs run the prisons and the
Napa Valley. On the heels of his award- ones. Cast and crew had to walk a quarter mile
streets as well, directly from prison. The only
winning festival showings, he has secured set we had to build was the security housing through hallways to get to the empty prison we
representation from UTA, and is in talks to unit. The rest were all real. used for Chino. In active prisons, you also have
produce a screenplay he co-wrote with Silk Our research included spending time to account for time for the security process.
for a new feature, Out On Bail. with former prison gangsters and shot call- Nearly every background actor was a former
Servidio, Penney, Horsford and more ers, the kingpins of the power structure in- convict or gang member.I loved filming with
them.In the riot scene, there were more than
COURTESY OF SABAN FILMS

like them will head back onto the streets side and outside the prison system. The men
gave us full accounts of prison and gang 200 guys involved, and we had zero incidents. It
as graduates of their facilities rigorous, was great to see former rivals make combat as
politics, and I learned the emotional con-
albeit informal, training grounds. All three real as possible, then smile and help each other
text and behavioral mores of this fraterni-
men have begun to see themselves as ty. Gangs, divided mostly along racial lines, up after we yelled cut. Ric Roman Waugh
moviemakers. A room full of Oscar-winning lure in newbies with the promise of protec- Shot Caller opens on DirecTV July 20, and in
screenwriters would be hard-pressed to find tion. But this security comes with a price: theaters August 18, 2017, courtesy of Saban
a better story arc. MM Newcomers are then instructed by the gang Films and Lionsgate.

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 43
MM Full size ad.indd 7 7/5/17 7:58 PM
 B Y G R E G H A M I LTO N A N D K E L LY L E O W
I L LU ST R AT I O N S B Y S O N I A L A ZO

E I T H R I C H A R D S said it best: If programmer, publicist, producer. Their anecdote-

you gotta think about being cool, you filled nominations helped us piece the following
aint cool. togetherand every year, the list acts as a reflection
The 25 rare birds on our 2017 Coolest of what each panel truly values in an experience.
Film Festivals in the World list come 2017s trends? One: Venues really matter, be they
in all shapes and sizes, but one thing open-air piazzas or some of Americas most iconic
holds true about them alla certain picture palaces. And two: A little celebrity never
something that makes attendees not hurts, with famous festival board members like
want to walk away. Be it perfect programming or Ben Stiller, Alec Baldwin and John Waters giving
insane all-night ragers, these fests distill everything some of these events their stamps of approval.
thats fun about making and watching movies, So where do your priorities lie? Would you rather
bottle up that funk, and slow-pour it into a flaming be dancing with a Serbian princess after taking
celluloid shot glass for your pleasure. in a Tarkovsky retrospective, screaming out film
As in previous years, we got a little help from karaoke with a hundred of your new closest friends,
our friends in assembling this tasting menueight or skinny-dipping in a freezing lake after 24 solid
friends, to be exact, whose roles in the industry hours of avant-garde cinema?
run the gamut: writer-director, podcast host, Dont worry, its OK to pick all of the above.

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 45
 THE
international cinema... all drawing
upon the windy citys cultural riches.
Eastern Oregon Film Festival l La
Grande, OR l Oct. 19-21, 2017 l

FESTIVALS
BAMcinemaFest l New York City,
eofilmfest.com
Celebrating its eighth year in the
bosom of Eastern Oregons Blue
Mountains, EOFF seems, on the surface,
about as far away from cool as you
NY l June 2018 l bam.org/bamcinemafest
can getbut maybe thats the secret.
Killer programming. Curation at its finest.
With a 13,000-odd population, the tiny
A New York premiere at a historical venue.
city of La Grande has quietly fostered
What more could you ask for? says a
a hand-crafted festival that delivers a
panelist, who concludes: Every day of
wide-open sensibility without much
this festival is choice. That venue is the
hubbub. From the cozy confines of the
150-plus-year-old Brooklyn Academy
Granada 3 Theatre to the down-home
of Music (BAM), which also hosts the
events that highlight the festivals slen-
Migrating Forms showcase weve featured
der selection, there is a healthy dose of
previously on this list. Beyond the circuit
hospitality and who-knows-what-might-
hits fresh off Park City and Austin, this year
happen intimacy.
BAMcinemaFests ninthhosted the world
premiere of Jim McKays En el Sptimo Fantastic Fest l Austin, TX l Sept. 21-28,
Da, and the North American premiere of 2017 l fantasticfest.com
James N. Kienitz Wilkins Common Carrier It feels unfair to have two Austin-based
two films, like many others in the slim line- organizations on here twice, notes a
up, by Brooklyn-based creators. You know panelist (see SXSW, below), but if you
what they say: Watch local. are a diehard fan of genre, very few pro-
grams are as good as Fantastic Fest. Its
Cartagena Film Festival l Cartagena,
always weird in the best possible way.
Colombia l March 2018 l ficcifestival.com
Fantastic Fest is a film nerds dream
FICCI (thats Festival Internacional de Cine
gone sideways. When you arent taking
de Cartagena de Indias) is a hub for Ibero-
in the best in genre movies, there are
American film, offering a work-in-progress
more crazy events than you can shake a
lab, producers forum and salon under its
stick at. Putt-Putt golf party? Check. Star
Puerto FICCI banner. At 57, this is the old-
Wars drinking competition? Check. A
est film festival in Latin America, but also
pre-screening meal serving up the un-
one of the liveliest. Its annual Cine en
likely delicacy of Nutria (i.e. giant swamp
los Barrios program brings films to non-
rat)? Sure. Whatever floats your boat.
traditional settingshospitals, churches,
jailsall across Bolvar. In the beautiful Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
hills of Cartagenas Old City, seeing films l Durham, NC l April 5-8, 2018 l

and mixing with fellow cinephiles is a true fullframefest.org

pleasure, says a panelist. Cartegena is With almost 20 years of documentary
an antidote for the winter blues. The white films in its rear-view mirror, Full Frame
sand beaches are the perfect break from continues to set the standard for nonfic-
the darkness of the theaters. tion festival coolness. This is one of the
best places to watch documentaries,
Chicago International Film Festival
says a panelist. Fantastic programming,
l Chicago, IL l Oct. 12-26, 2017
Southern hospitality and a commit-
l chicagofilmfestival.com
ment to education help set this doc oa-
I had one of the best weekends of my life
sis apart from the rest. It doesnt hurt to
at Chicago International Film Festival a
be a qualifier for the PGA and Academy
couple years ago, says a panelist. There
Awards either. If you cant make
is something reinvigorating and pure
Sundance, this is the easiest way to see
about a regional film festival, which can
some of the top films of the year. See a
help reinstall your passion for cinema.
film, get some food, and go across the
Like many great festivals, however, CIFF
hall to watch another film.
is part of a larger complex of program-
ming that is much more than just one Hamptons International Film
weekend: Other events put on by parent Festival l The Hamptons, NY l Oct. 5-9,
organization Cinema/Chicago center on 2017 l hamptonsfilmfest.org
youth filmmakers, television, education, Programmed by wunderkind David

46 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 Nugent (as a panelist describes him), HIFF is
known as an awards predictor, and no won-
der: Eight of the past nine eventual Best
Picture winners have graced its screens. Yet
atmosphere at the festival is far from stuffy.
Its fun conversation series Winick Talks at
Rowdy Hall serves up coffee, breakfast and
intimate chatting, and youll likely run into
board co-chair Alec Baldwin at some of the
parties over Columbus weekend.
I Mille Occhi l Trieste, Italy l Sept. 12-21,
2017 l imilleocchi.com
This festival in Trieste is so off the grid,
says one panelist, I practically felt I had to
PHOTOGRAPH BY ANTTI YRJNEN (MIDNIGHT SUN FILM FESTIVAL)

enter with a secret handshake. But once

there, it is a very warm and eccentrici.e.
very Italianfestival where the curator intros
are sometimes longer than the films. At I
Sittin on the
Mille Occhiwhich translates to the thou- dock of the lake:
sand eyes, a reference to a 1960 Fritz Lang Midnight Sun Film
filmcinema nerds watch intellectually pro- Festival goers soak
in some of that
vocative programming that draws from all neverending light
decades to explore socio-political themes. at the festivals
beat of its own drum, says a panelist. Seeing that this years event June 2017 edition
The 17-year-old fest bears a mission to ig-
featured a beatboxing battle, parties in a ramshackle apartment/club,
nite cinephilia in younger generationsso
and DJ sets in the catacomb beneath a high school, we tend to agree.
its entirely freeand hosts a wonderful ar-
As for the movies, IndieLisboa plays a very hand-picked selection
ray of guests from past and present eras.
popular with the citys young crowds, and a retrospective tribute to
IndieLisboa l Lisbon, Portugal l May a number of Indie Heroes. It also has an extensive series of kid-ori-
2018 l indielisboa.com ented screenings and events called IndieJnior, as well as a gonzo
Lisbons indie film festival marches to the film section of sorts, evocatively called Mouth of Madness.

2017 PAN EL OF COOL

JANICZA BRAVO MICHELLE JEREMY JUSTIN CHON has GREG HAMILTON ADAM KERSH is VIOLET LUCCA JEFF ORLOWSKI
is the writer- CAREY is the CHILNICK is an worked as an actor is MovieMakers the co-founder of is the digital is an Emmy-
director of Lemon artistic director Emmy-nominated for more than 15 West Coast Editor- the PR and digital producer of winning filmmaker
(opening August of Melbourne writer and years. As a writer- at-Large, a film marketing firm Film Comment and founder of
25, 2017, courtesy International Film producer. He director, his first curator and board Brigade, where magazine and Exposure Labs. His
of Magnolia Festival in Australia. is co-founder, feature film, Man member at the he heads up the host of The Film latest documentary,
Pictures), the She is also a partner and COO at Up, was distributed Hollywood Theatre publicity division. Comment Podcast. Chasing Coral,
short Gregory programmer for Morgan Spurlocks by Lakeshore in Portland, OR. He has executed She regularly continues the
Go Boom, and the long-running production Entertainment. His He recently served marketing and contributes writing momentum
episodes of FXs Melbourne company, Warrior latest project, Gook, as programming publicity strategies to Sight & Sound, of his previous
Atlanta, HBOs Cinmathque, Poets. His most opens in select director for the for hundreds of The Village Voice environmental doc
Divorce and and serves as film recent credits theaters on August Julien Dubuque films, series and and Brooklyn Chasing Ice (2012).
Netflixs Love. festivals editor at include the 18, 2017, courtesy International cilents, including Magazine. In 2016, Orlowski
She was raised the online film documentaries of Samuel Goldwyn Film Festival. He Sean Bakers Her short film, was named
on an army base journal Senses of The Pistol Shrimps, Films. is the director of Tangerine, the Victorias Secret, the inaugural
in Panama City Cinema. Vlogumentary, the upcoming Duplass brothers screened at AFI Fest Sundance
and currently lives Rats and The Eagle documentary short Togetherness, in 2007. Discovery Impact
in L.A. Huntress. Thou Shall Not Andrew Haighs Fellow for
Tailgate. Weekend and environmental
others. filmmaking.

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 47
International Short Film Festival and Cottonwood. The coolest venue of holds 8,000. Its breathtaking: the best of
Oberhausen l Oberhausen, Germany l all, though, has to be the Wicked Wild Italian and German Switzerland, nestled
May 3-8, 2018 l kurzfilmtage.de West Cinema Traina four-hour train ride between the Swiss Alps and the pictur-
Once again, age proves cooler than through canyons, complete with screen- esque Lago Maggiore.
youth. Sixty-four-year-old Oberhausen ings and musical performances on board.
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film
is one of the oldest festivals in the world, Throw in a local wine competition (the
Festival l Los Angeles and Orange County,
but with only a small number of screens, Verde Valley is Arizonas answer to Napa),
CA l April 2018 l festival.vconline.org
you can attend most screenings and and youll make films as an excuse to at-
Attend LAAPFF and take a tour of some
events, and always run into friends. Our tend the extracurriculars.
of SoCals most interesting screening ven-
experts love the interesting panels and
Kstendorf International Film and ues, from Hollywoods beloved Egyptian
guests and themes like social media
Music Festival l Drvengrad, Theatre to the spanking new CGV Buena
before the internet at this shorts show-
Serbia l January 2018 l Park, the funky Downtown Independent
case, which has played films by the likes
kustendorf-filmandmusicfestival.org and a slew of traditional and converted
of Michel Gondry, Ousmane Sembne
Situated high in the mountains outside spaces around L.A.s Little Tokyo. LAAPFF
and Roman Polanski. While youre in town,
of Belgrade, at a resort that once served programs diverse, unique Asian films that
check out the Gasometer Oberhausena
as a film set, is one of the coolest festi- one might not be able to catch at other
gas container converted to an arts exhibi-
vals youve never heard of. At Kstendorf, festivals, says a panelist, whos attended
tion space.
time stops. You are absorbed with watch- the festival for 16 years. The 2017 edition
Jeonju International Film Festival l Jeonju, ing incredible films, partying relentless- played 184 films in a total of 33 different
South Korea l April 2018 l eng.jiff.or.kr ly, and listening to film masters tell their languages. Also served up: interactive me-
Unforgettable, raves a panelist about this stories, says our panelist. Serbian auteur dia, a reflection on the L.A. riots, and the
ambitious 18-year-old affair. A four-hour and two-time Palme dOr-winner Emir annual Conference for Creative Content.
taxi ride from Seoul, detouring through a Kusturica presides over the party, drawing

Maryland Film Festival l Baltimore,

in cinema luminaries like Alfonso Cuarn MD l May 2018 l mdfilmfest.com
nocturnal countryside intermittently dot- and Andrei Konchalovsky for retrospec- The personal touch is strong with this
ted with glowing red crossesSouth Korea tives and open panel discussions. With a one. Maryland Film Festival celebrates the
is one of the most Christian countries in the focus on awarding new international tal- tastes of its community with special pro-
worldis only the tip of the iceberg in terms ent, the fest is the perfect venue for next- gramming: board member John Waters
of the delightful curiosities to be found at gen student filmmakers. presents a film of his choice each year, as
this little South Korean festival, much less does the fests annual guest host (who has
Locarno Festival l Locarno, Switzerland l
known than its bigger Busan brother. The ranged from Henry Rollins to activist DeRay
Aug. 2-12, 2017 l pardolive.ch
program is always interesting, a mix of Mckesson). The festival has just moved
If you define cool as forward-think-
Asian indies, Korean premieres, experimen- back into the renovated Stavros Niarchos
ing, innovative and thought-provoking,
tal films and rarities from all over the world. Foundation Parkway complex, home to the
Locarno should sit atop of your must-at-
1915 Parkway Theatrean appropriate set-
Jerome Indie Film & Music Festival tend list. A panelist explains: Offering up
ting for [one of] the most important festi-
l Jerome, AZ l Sept. 8-10, 2017 the finest of whats far too often reduced
vals in the U.S. for American indie filmmak-
l jeromefilmfestival.com to slow or hybrid cinema, Locarno is at
ers, one thats helped launch the careers
The youngest festival on our list, JIF&MF the cutting edge of contemporary film.
of Stephen Cone, Josephine Decker and
perhaps hasnt ironed out all its kinks yet, The retrospectives and ambitious new
Anna Biller, notes a panelist.
but it has lined up the ingredients for a films (in the Concorso Internazionale and
unique experience. Based in Jerome, a Signs of Life sections) that appear here of- Miami Film Festival l Miami, FL l March
ghost town and artist colony looming ten travel worldwide afterwardand de- 9-18, 2018 l miamifilmfestival.com
over a historic copper mine, the festi- servedly so. Festival-goers enjoy outdoor Floridas made a strong showing in recent
val also holds events in nearby Clarkdale screenings in the Piazza Grande, which editions of this list. This year, MFF is repping

48 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 LEFT: DJ Michelle
Leshem spins
at Miami Film
Festivals The
Standard Affair
party in 2017.
RIGHT: Mountainous
moviemakers eat, Nantucket Film Festival l Nantucket, MA l
the Sunshine State. Like South by Southwest l Austin, TX l March
drink and make
merry at Telluridethe city it takes place in, June 20-25, 2018 l 9-18, 2018 l sxsw.com
Mountainfilm 2017 MFF brings the best of nantucketfilmfestival.org It may be the 200,000-pound King Kong of
the United States and Nantucket, as one panelist points out, is Austinwith corporate swag, long lines and
Latin America together. The parties, food one of the few fests to put an emphasis copious studio influencebut Texas festi-
and atmosphere are unparalleled, says a on screenwriters. Indeed, theres a glitzy val kingpin still continues to impress. My
panelist, who adds that the experience of awards ceremony for screenwriting honor- favorite thing about this fest is the audienc-
seeing a film at the Olympia Theatera si- ees, hosted by board member Ben Stiller. es. The way that they are engaged is unlike
lent-era movie palace thats truly grandwill Other fun programs include a Late Night anywhere else, says a panelist. Another
make you feel sad to stream for years to Letters event (i.e. live readings of letters to puts it this way: While the interactive por-
come. Watch out, though, theres a small and from famous people) and an All-Star tions have begun to overtake the film por-
caveat: Your ability to take full advantage of Comedy Roundtable. Plus, Nantucket in the tions, there are few experiences better on
the festival depends on the traffic. summersandy dunes, delicious food, no the circuit than seeing your films name on
stoplights. Do you really need convincing? the marquee of the Paramount Theatre.
Midnight Sun Film Festival l
Sodankyl, Finland l June 13-17, New Orleans Film Festival l New Telluride Mountainfilm Festival l Telluride,
2018 l msfilmfestival.fi Orleans, LA l Oct. 11-19, CO l May 25-28, 2018 l mountainfilm.org
Time becomes immaterial just above the 2017 l neworleansfilmfestival.org Some festivals preach to their respective
Arctic Circle, where during the first weeks of choirs, but others, such as Mountainfilm,
You might think that NOFF would get lost
June the sun never sets. Accordingly, films integrate a fine mix of doc cinema that
in the noisy Big Easy. Not so, says one of
screen round the clock at this surreal festi- engages the whole viewer spectrum.
our panelists. The festival is in the mid-
val. You might stumble into a 4 a.m. screen- This is a one-of-a-kind film festival for
dle of everything; its very much folded
ing in the circus-like Big Tent main venue, adventure lovers, opined one of our
in [to the city]. Hog out on food and film
or attend a concert of scores by Bernard panelists. Its also a magical destination,
and music all within a few blocks. That
Herrmann and Ennio Morricone in the town with beautiful mountain scenery
energy bubbles up with fantastic nightly
church. This cinephiles dream, a panelist surrounding the town on all sides. The
parties, celebrity visitations and very little
says, runs not just on solar power but also festival has been championing films that
pretense. Theres nothing like riding a
lots and lots of boozethough in the un- address environmental issues since 1979,
streetcar to see your film, and their after-
likely event you grow tired of drinking or and counts author Cheryl Strayed as a
parties set the bar for U.S. film festivals,
(L-R) COURTESY OF MIAMI FILM FESTIVAL; PHOTOGRAPH BY KEITH HILL

watching films, you can enjoy an authentic regular speaker, along with a monumental
sauna, then hop into one of many lakes. says another panelist. lineup of filmmakers and advocates.
Montclair Film Festival l Montclair, Sheffield Doc/Fest l Sheffield, United Vienna International Film Festival l Vienna,
NJ l April 27 - May 6, 2018 l Kingdom l June 7-12, 2018 l Austria l Oct. 19 Nov. 2, 2017 l viennale.at
montclairfilm.org sheffdocfest.com The Viennale is the perfect size, with mov-
Stephen Colbert can be found at this Beyond the films, masterclasses and panels ies playing at single-screen cinemas with
festival often, observes a panelist, which youd expect from a nonfiction festival of its distinct personality. Yet the fests biggest
is awesome! The resident talk host held caliber, Doc/Fest has rolled out innovative strength might be the rich programming.
conversations with guests John Turturro features like the Doc/Playera digital library, It appears to have a portal into the taste-
and Bill Nye at MFF this yearand we available to all pass holders, of doc titles in centre of my cerebral cortex, says our pan-
suspect he enjoyed this editions panel search of distribution. Theres also Alternate elist, who loved an edition with spotlights
discussion on fake news, too. Other Realities, an augmented and virtual reality on Will Ferrell, Jerry Lewis, Louis Feuillade
board members include J.J. Abrams, program comprising a summit, exhibition, and Jacques Rivette. Last year, notables
Laura Linney, Patrick Wilson and more, arcade and market (this in addition to oth- such as Kenneth Lonergan, Abel Ferrara,
but MFF maintains a small-town coziness. er events like the well-known MeetMarket). John Carpenter and Patti Smith had work
The venues are very intimate, says a Need a break? The bar stays open forever, featured. Seeing a Patti Smith concert in
panelist, who loved the BowTie Cinemas says a panelist. Sheffield has offered some Viennas historic center, in autumn, might
Clairidge Cinema. of the best festival nights I cant remember. be the coolest thing youll ever do. MM

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 49
The
H E R E S A N O D D, Cerveza, Cervantes: Steve Coogan and
Rob Brydon pose as Don Quixote and
enjoyable predictability Sancho Panza respectively for a
to The Trip to Spain, publicity photoshoot in The Trip to Spain

Trip to
the third of Michael
Winterbottoms Trip As anyone familiar with the movies
moviesthe first two knows, they dont always use their own
of which began as six- voices. The British comedians engage in

Spain
part television series on the BBC, while a persistent, friendly-ish competition as
this one aired on Sky Atlantic. Steve impressionists, giving dueling versions
Coogan and Rob Brydon, playing what of such figures as Michael Caine (of
the director calls comic mutations course), Mick Jagger and David Bowie.
of themselves, take a road trip (At what is perhaps the new films meta
together under the pretense of writing apotheosis, Brydon imitates Jagger imi-
about their experience for some tating Brydon imitating Michael Caine
Michael Winterbottom, Steve Coogan publication. They visit historic sites, in the earlier movies.)
and Rob Brydon dive back into dine in spectacular restaurants large As with The Trip (2010) and The Trip
sarcasm, sightseeing and scallops in and small, andthe series raison to Italy (2014), with the exception of one
COURTESY OF IFC FILMS.

part three of the worlds unlikeliest detretalk. Talk, talk, talk. About or two fantasy sequences, the whole
buddy movie franchise their lives and careers, about show movie feels captured on the fly. Theres
by jo s h r a l s k e business and women and literature, an ease, a lightness to the presenta-
from Don Quixote to George Orwell tion, but the melancholy that pervades
to Laurie Lees As I Walked Out One The Trip to Spain makes it clear that the
Midsummer Morning. series true subject matter is aging and

50 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 death. As Brydon muses to story having someone talk characters, it seems nicer to the pairs bickering in the
Coogan in The Trip to Italy, directly to camera, says put them in the real world, newest movie centers on
Dont you think everythings Winterbottom. His inventive rather than have a con- Coogans newfound success
melancholic once you get to 2006 film, entitled A Cock trolled set. Theres a mish- as a screenwriter. He was
a certain age? and Bull Story, came about mash between elements nominated for two Oscars
Winterbottom and in part because he couldnt youre controllingwheth- in 2013 for Philomena, which
Coogans six-film collabo- think of anything else but to er its dialogue in the script he co-wrote with Jeff Pope
ration began with Coogan work with Coogan again. or actors actingand ele- and produced, and much
starring as real-life TV pre- Some bad weather on ments youre not controlling, of the comedy stems from
senter and record label own- that set led to the discovery like the world around them. Coogans characters per-
er Tony Wilson in 24 Hour of the comic chemistry be- Its almost like, if youre in ception that hes not be-
Party People (2002). The tween Coogan and his co- an entirely fictional world, its ing taken as seriously as he
film was a breakthrough for star Brydon. Coogan: We too controlled, and you lose should be. We try to take
Winterbottom, but especial- were rained out one day and what actually makes people into account whats really
ly for Coogan, who, while fa- sitting in the make-up trail- behave the way they do. You happening with their lives,
mous in the U.K. for playing er. Michael said, Hey, lets can understand more if you says Winterbottom. Steves
dimwitted talk show host shoot something. You guys put them into the world. At Oscar nominations are im-
Alan Partridge, was rela- talk to each other. the same time, in a tradition- portant to him. Its the
tively unknown stateside. The two bickered about al documentary, you dont same rivalry and sniping as
His fourth-wall-breaking, their relative stations in get that sort of intimacy. before, but its a slightly dif-
outsized performance was show business hierarchy, While Coogan and ferent character moment.
revelatory. and it was clear they were Brydon had worked togeth- I feel compelled to ask
Winterbottom asked onto something, Coogan er before, they didnt know if Coogan was worried
Coogan if he wanted the says. Afterwards, he said, each other well when they that people would mistake
role before the script had Why dont we do a series of filmed the first Trip. Theyre
even been written, seeing movies where you just talk better friends now. A lot of continued on page 84
parallels between Wilson to each other?
and Coogan. In addi- It wasnt easy con-
tion to being Manchester- vincing the actors, who
bred Catholic schoolboys, thought it was too bare,
the director says, They but Winterbottom per-
had this thing about them sisted. Michael runs with
where people were quite ideas even before theyre
happy to slag them off. fully formed. Theres an old
Winterbottom remem- adage in show business:
bers that New Order bass- Ready. Fire. Aim. Thats very
ist Peter Hook described the much Michaels approach to
performance as the biggest filmmaking. Its like, Lets go,
cunt in Manchester being and well figure it out.
played by the second big- While Winterbottom has
gest cunt in Manchester. flirted with both straight
Steve, at that time, was documentary and tradi-
quite cocky, Winterbottom tional drama in films rang-
observes. ing from In This World (2002)
In person, Winterbottoms to A Mighty Heart (2007)
demeanor gives insight into and The Emperors New
how he works. He seems Clothes (2015), his comfort
barely able to sit still, and zone is somewhere between
talks at a breakneck pace. the two formats. I sup-
On the phone, Coogan is pose I like to shoot simply,
smoothly charming, the he says. Even though its a
type of interviewee who fictional film with fictional
sounds engaged even when
answering questions he
(TOP) Brydon and Coogan
must have answered dozens
COURTESY OF IFC FILMS.

are the bickering, food-loving

of times before. English comedy duo at the
Later, the two did an center of the Trip series
adaptation of Laurence (BOTTOM) Brydon and
Coogans personas in the series
Sternes 18th-century comic are pretty similar to them,
novel Tristram Shandy, a though obviously exaggerated,
role model of how to tell a says Winterbottom

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 51
 We took our ideas and scaled them in
proportion to the budget. Somebody once
asked us a long time ago, What would
you do if you had more money to make a
movie? This was about Daddy Longlegs,
and there was a scene in that where we had
a paper tornado. And I said we would just
make a bigger paper tornado.
Another thing: Pace has become very
important to us. Pace became a character in
With a successful Cannes premiere and Robert Pattinson for a Good Time. Weve realized that being aware
of peoples attention spans, not wasting
leading man in Good Time, the Safdie brothers have officially made it peoples time, is important. Theres no room
by kyle turner for self-indulgence. Were really proud that
Good Time is 100 minutes. We tried to get
N T H E BAC K of the heroin addicts. Their fixation on characters below it, but 100 minutes was the minimum
door to the office of at the margins of society continues with amount.
Elara Pictures, the Good Time, where Pattinsons Constantine MM: Whats your editing process like
production compa- Connie Nikas sinks himself in a heist now, compared to earlier in your career?
ny created and run while his neurologically disabled brother, BS: On Heaven Knows What, [frequent
by fraternal film- Nick (played by Ben), is caught and thrown collaborator] Ronald Bronstein and I edited
making team Ben in jail. Connie has nothing else on his mind together, and he and Josh wrote it together.
and Josh Safdie, is but to get his brother out. Here we just worked to each others
a one-sheet for their Pattinson devotes himself to the role to strengths. Well break up a film; it feels like
new film Good Time, with the degree that Good Time becomes one of youre on a basketball court: Who will you
Robert Pattinson sporting a half-assed dye his most unsettling and accomplished per- pick for this? Then you come together at
job and perched precariously on the lips of formances, walking the fine line between the end and work on the whole structure.
a larger-than-life bottle of Sprite. brotherly protection and self-interest. We We took a break after the shooting of the
The typography looks reminiscent of watch as he manipulates a slew of individu- filma location fell throughand we edit-
old VHS tapesblock letters with lines and als, including his on-again, off-again girl- ed the film and then came up with a differ-
slices through themmany of which line friend (Jennifer Jason Leigh). The film pre- ent ending. We had to figure out a different
the wall-sized library of films. Ben mentions miered to raves in competition at this years way because of where the movie was taking
Martin Scorsese and Abel Ferrara being in- Cannes Film Festival. Currently the Safdies us. Normally, when you have a genre movie,
fluences on Good Time, but suggests are working on their dream feature, entitled the genre or the narrative takes precedent
that the films the pair has ingested over Uncut Gems, backed by Scorsese himself. over character. Here we were trying to make
the years have merely become a part of the character as important as the plot, so we
their cinematic vocabulary, no more. Kyle Turner, MovieMaker Magazine
wrote something where the character and
Were not trying to be nostalgic. This (MM): How have you developed your
the narrative were so intertwined that, logi-
film is very much of the present. But its like sense of style and your process over
cally, you couldnt do certain things. Its a
when you learn a new word: It just becomes the course of five films?
film where the character is constantly think-
a part of how you express yourself. Ben Safdie (BS): Back when we made
ing about his brother, and the moment he
Their disinclination to be cinephilic Daddy Longlegs, the idea of world creation
stops, the film doesnt work. We were work-
directors in the vein of Quentin Tarantino was very interesting to us. After that, we
ing within a certain genre of thrillers and
or Todd Haynes (only excepted with a nod were trying to make Uncut Gems, though in
bank robberies, but we were still trying to
to Bressons A Man Escaped in their 2009 the process we would always hit some sort of
stay true to the characters emotions, which
first feature, Daddy Longlegs, and a scene roadblockand we werent just going to sit
guide the film and push it forward. The emo-
in Good Time that recalls Taxi Driver) has still, so we would make other movies. With
tional state is also the driving state of the
lent their films a singular atmosphere. The Lenny Cooke we learned the importance
narrative, and those two things becoming in-
grainy aesthetic of Daddy Longlegs had an of certain narrative information. We were
separable is what makes it really special.
improvised quality that felt like a slyly cruel making a documentary but with narrative
joke; their 2013 documentary Lenny Cooke filmmaking styles and editing. But there MM: Youve mostly worked with
took an intriguingly elliptical approach; were certain things that people needed to nonprofessional actors in the past.
and the tale ofper the title of the memoirs know. Like, you cant have ellipses all the Did you approach working with Robert
the film is based onmad love in New time. That was important. Heaven Knows Pattinson any differently?
York City in Heaven Knows What was one What was a fiction film based on reality. BS: We like to think of them as first-time
of the most haunting film experiences of We took what we learned with Lenny Cooke actorsas in, this is the first time theyve
the last decade. and applied it to fiction film, and again, the been given the opportunity to actas
The Queens-raised, Boston-educated narrative and editing and storytelling were opposed to nonprofessional actors. But we
sons of Syrian immigrants gained notoriety heightened. Going into Good Time, we had approach each person like an individual.
with that last film, released in 2015, about the freedom of it being fictional again, but Theres a certain directing style that you
the tempestuous love affair between two we had the knowledge to work with that. use with a first-time actor because you

52 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 this was a guy who could
really need to go out and show who the person is. There are certain Their brand is crisis:
hypothetically get whatever Josh and Ben Safdie (L-R)
people that just get it right away. Rob was so game to go the whole
he wants because he can on the set of Good Time
distance. He really wanted to dive deep. He gave us a lot of time
physically take it.
before production started to develop the character. Josh had Rob
write me an email, as Connie, from jail to Nick. So I responded in MM: How were the therapy
kind as Nick. We had this month-long back and forth of letters, scenes that bookend the
developing a history between us, and Josh and Ronnie would take film developed?
those and add them into the writing. And when Rob and I were JS: The brother has this impor-
acting together, we would have that to pull from. tant role in the emotional tra-
Josh Safdie (JS): I wrote a biography for Rob, so he would know jectory of Connie. So when we
where Connie stood. We were thinking, if this person hasnt lived structured the movie, the Nick
this experience, how can we get them there? And Rob was really character ended up becoming TECH BOX
able to go the extra mile. an emotional arc in the film. Its
SHOOTING DAYS: 37
very vertical filmmaking, where
MM: Was your taking on the role of Nick always in the cards?
everything is integrated. CAMERA: Arricam LT
BS: It was our ace in the deck! Back in 2010, Ronnie and I were
BS: Nick is a grounding (2-perf)
developing a character for a film he was going to make, which never
point for Connie and for the LENSES: Zeiss Super
ended up getting made. It was a similar character: developmentally
audience. After we came back Speeds, Canon K35 25-
disabled. As Good Time was being written, we thought maybe it fit to 120mm T2.8 Macro Zoom
from our break and regrouped,
have this character as Connies brother. Once that was the case, we
the ending became clearer: It FILM STOCK AND
asked professional actors to rehearsein order to play this character, PROCESSING: Kodak
needed to be about Nick. VISION3 500T, 250D 35mm
you really had to think like him, be that person. Otherwise it would film
be fake. We did consider people with developmental disabilities. But MM: How do Connie and
the truth is, we were on a very tight schedule. There was someone we Nick fit into the narrative LIGHTING: Arri SkyPanels,
Rosco LitePads, Home
almost cast, but it just didnt feel right, because in order to get them to of the American Dream? Depot flood lights, neon,
do certain things, we wouldve had to trick them. JS: We researched prison cul- florescent
COURTESY OF A24

ture a lot, reading books like COLOR GRADING:

MM: It would feel a little exploitative?
The Executioners Song or Autodesk Lustre at
BS: Exactly. And that was the last thing we wanted to do. I got Technicolor
In the Belly of the Beast, and
bigger for the movie, and when I saw a screen-test, I saw that
continued on page 84

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 53
 Of Bad
Apes
and
C TO R S T E V E Z A H N known for his roles in That Thing You
Do, Riding in Cars With Boys, and Dallas Buyers Clubonce
stumbled onto an online post about his role in War for the
Planet of the Apes that read, I cant believe Steve Zahn is

Twisted
going to be the voice of Bad Ape.
I thought, The voice? My God! he says. The role was a lot of work. It
was five months of pain. Performance capture? I had no clue what that
meant. When I arrived and started training, I realized how physical it was.

Revenge
What you bring to the performance is really whats seen in the final
product, he continues. They can make you look like an ape, but they cant
make you move like an ape, or give you a character. Those traits, those are
things that actors come up with. When I went into it, I didnt know that
would be the case. I thought there would be technical things that would
inhibit me. But there wasnt anything, other than a small camera mounted
Underneath all the fur on a helmet 12 inches in front of my nose to record every second of my face.
and performance-capture That was the only thing I had to get used to. Other than that, we were
trimmings of Matt Reeves apeswe just happened to be wearing grey jumpsuits, backpacks and
War for the Planet of the Apes helmets with dots all over us.
is an old-fashioned blockbuster The performance, Zahn says, felt very much like the experimental theater
epica truly endangered species he did in his youth at the American Repertory Theater at Harvard. When
we were quadruped, we used arm extenders so that we had the ability
BY TED ELRICK to run. In post, our arms were elongated. When you see us running across
the prison yard, we were running across the prison yard. When you see us
mounted on a horse or in three feet of snow, thats what we did. And yet

54 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 really got me in our talks (CLOCKWISE) Karin Konoval
was how emotional he was. as Maurice (right) rides
He read a scene for me, the horseback in full performance-
capture attire, surrounded by
one where Caesar and Bad cast and crew
Ape are talking about their
Production designer James
the acting is simple, truthful, Serkis) leaves his simian children, and he read it over Chinlund created sets to work
pure. I was really blown survivors and sets forth to Skype and I immediately with Wetas visual effects team
away by it. I knew it was extract vengeance on the started crying. I thought, War for the Planet of the Apes
going to be special. Colonel. Caesars dark quest Oh, my God, you have to be is the fifth feature directed by
War for the Planet forces both ape and man to Bad Ape. Matt Reeves (second from left)
of the Apes is the third grapple with their own ideas Many of the cast and
installment in the reboot of morality in an epic final crew involved in the making
of the 1960s-70s classic confrontation. of War for the Planet of the
sci-fi franchise. It takes Zahn plays Bad Ape, one Apes liken the film to an old own species? That was the
place a few years after of a band of tagalongs that Western la Sergio Leone, intentionto suddenly have
the second, Dawn of the accompanies Caesar on his though Zahnwith that the tables turned, to make
Planet of the Apes (2014), mission. The actor sees his theater backgroundis you question what you had
and a decade after the character as a mischievous quick to point to the raw been feeling previously. The
first, Rise of the Planet of kid who cant sit still in emotion of King Lear. whole thing is a revenge
the Apes (2011). This film kindergartenhe picked up You are going on this movie where you dont
PHOTOGRAPH BY DOANE GREGORY

opens with, as the title English from his zookeeper journey with Caesar, Reeves want him to take revenge
suggests, interspecies war: owners, who constantly says. He wants revenge because, again, that is what
The human military, led by reprimanded him, hence the against the Colonel, whom Caesar is all about. He has
Woody Harrelsons Colonel, name. Hes the films comic he perceives as an absolute to be released from wanting
is bent on eradicating the relief, but also a tragic figure. monster. But then you his revenge.
intelligent ape population. He was heartbreaking, start to understand the Reeves believes its
After suffering horrible Matt Reeves says. I knew Colonels behavior and you crucial for those mixed
losses at human hands, who Steve was as an actor; begin to question: What emotions to bring depth to
ape leader Caesar (Andy hes really funny. But what would you do to save your the characters and story,

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 55
 Monkey business: Steve Zahn as Bad Ape,
a zoo escapee who joins Caesar in his fight
against humankind

whether it be in an extreme close-up, or Elephant Man, or Ray Bolger, Bert together with live action, because you
in large, action-filled vistas. The effect Lahr and Jack Haley (the Scarecrow, had a motion picture camera with its
is reminiscent of the classic sequence Cowardly Lion and Tin Man) in The own set of lights and cinematography,
in Shane when Ryker, the cattle baron Wizard of Oz. Theyre performers and a motion capturemocap
terrorizing the townspeople, confronts benefiting from the Darwinian evolution camera, with its own set of lights. The
the protagonist and explains his of film make-up. two couldnt interfere with each other,
motivations. You understand the Everybody says Andy Serkis is says Letteri. It was a problem figuring
cattleman, but his actions are wrong. an excellent performance-capture out how to integrate the two. But we
And as in Shane, there are no simple artist, Reeves says. But that finally cracked it on Rise of the Planet
characters or easy answers here. means absolutely nothing. Andy is of the Apes, and we didnt have to ask
This isnt the first Apes movie for an incredible actor. The performance Andy to do his performance twice. He
Reeves: While Rise was directed by capture records his performance. could be in the moment with James
Rupert Wyatt, Reeves was tapped to When he plays Gollum [in The Lord Franco and the other actors. Its one
helm the second movie, Dawn. Before, of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit], of the first times in a hundred years
the New York-born moviemaker had King Kong or Caesar, its his talent, his where a new department in film, a
made his name with the 2008 disaster essence, that comes through. Hes able performance-capture department,
thriller Cloverfield and the crackerjack to play a 40-foot-tall ape, a five-foot- became part of the stage.
low-budget vampire film Let Me In tall chimpand Gollum! From there, due to story demands,
(2010). (Next up, he joins the DC Moviemakers didnt always have Weta continued to push its tech
Extended Universe by directing The this philosophy of merging the forward, shooting exteriors in the
Batman, set for a 2019 release.) intangible with the technical. When forest and rain for Dawn, and in
This movie is heavy duty, man, we worked with Andy on The Lord of the grand, snowy locations Reeves
Zahn continues. There arent five the Rings, performance capture was chose for War. The production shot in
seconds that go by without real an afterthought, says Joe Letteri, a Canada, including Vancouver and the
tension. You have two species moving senior visual effects supervisor at Weta Kananaskis mountain range in Alberta;
in completely opposite directions, one Digital, the Peter Jackson-co-owned as many as eight large-format Arri
getting smarter and stronger, the other FX studio behind the Apes movies. Alexa 65 cameras were used during
seeing everything being chipped away. He was just there to provide a voice. the shoot.
To get back to the central Then we realized he was an actor and This is all pretty delicate
misconception, thoughthat the could interact with other actors. So technology, Letteri says. It has to
films incredible performance-capture we had to go back, have him watch be accurate to get what you need
technology means the actors are his performance and recreate it on a from the performance. To get it to
merely doing voiceworkperhaps separate stage. work reliably in harsh conditions
its better to consider them actors Back thenthe early aughtsthe with lighting and shooting set-ups
in a different form of make-up: like whole endeavor was markedly different. and not slow down production is a
Eric Stoltz in Mask, John Hurt in The You couldnt shoot motion capture challenge. For the actors, director and

56 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 ITS PURE movies, we are still finding ways to
make fur more realistic.
PERFORMANCE In Dawn, when I said we were going
to be shooting in a rainforest and the
FROM ANDY characters were going to be fishing,
Weta said, Well, if they step into the

SERKIS AND water, they cant get out, Reeves recalls.

We can have them partially in the

WOODY
water, but we dont yet know how to do
the wet fur coming out of the water. I

HARRELSON. IT
said, What about the opening shot? Its
raining and I want beads of water on the
fur. They said, Well, that might be ready
COULD HAVE when were at the end of the whole
process. We showed at Comic-Con and
BEEN A STAGE we didnt have any drops yet. Finally, on
the last week, just when I began to think

PLAY. I wasnt going to get the shot I wanted,

it came in. There were little drops of
water on the fur and I was blown away.
War features a scene where Caesar
falls into water. He pops out, grabs
DP Michael Seresin, you want it to be faces that we see on the human faces? onto a stone. There isnt anything
invisible, natural. When theyre working We put a lot of attention into making real, Reeves marvels. The pipeline
with Andy, theyre making their movie. them look as alive, expressive and for everything has increased to such a
The fact that were going to make realistic as possible. degree that the fur, the detail on the
him look like Caesar later on isnt For editor William Hoy, who also cut skin, the moisture, all of those things
something they should worry about Dawn of the Planet of the Apes as well are perfect.
while theyre shooting. In fact, actors as 300, Watchmen and Sucker Punch, Many of the sets in War were either
are very good at this because it relies to work on a film where so much of the filled in or completely built virtually
on imagination. budget went to visual effects, yet the (in order to have actors interacting
Letteri notes that facial animation emphasis was placed on performance, on the correct angle). This work was
for the apes was one of the biggest was extremely satisfying. overseen by production designer James
hurdles for Weta. After all, the endlessly I think what Matt did very well is Chinlund, who worked closely with the
expressive human face is arguably the make the film look like it was just shot, parallel Weta design unit to create from
foundational element of all cinema, yet nothing else he says. The angles the practical references. For instance,
in the Apes movies, Weta often removes match, like we actually had these the apes hidden fortress is a mix of
it from the equation. cameras on the physical sets, though a practical and virtual sets.
Its all about preserving the subtlety lot of the backgrounds were virtual. An The part of the catacombs where
of the actors playing those characters, example: If you were to see what I put the soldiers are walking up with their
agrees Dan Lemmon, another Weta together when Caesar finally meets laser scopes was practical, Reeves
visual effects supervisor, making the Colonel, in the final CG-realized says. We built Caesars bedroom, with
sure our digital characters perform version of that scene, youd see that the fireplace and waterfall. The part we
and emote in a way that can really almost everything is unmanipulated. didnt build was the giant entryway and
connect with the audience, so that Its pure performance from Andy the council room where they all meet
they can carry the story when there and Woody. It could have been a when Caesars son returns.
are no human actors to be seen. The stage play. For other sequences, Hoy When all thats said and done,
actors dont look like chimpanzees. explains, his team was able to take an though, Reeves doesnt want to get
The facial anatomy, the shape of actors head from one performance, too far away from his films underlying
COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX

their mouths, jaws and noses, is quite turn it slightly and put it on another strength: performance. As Steve said
different. The mouth in particular body for, perhaps, a wide or over-the- to me, you have to always be on and
the muzzle extends quite a bit further. shoulder shot. in the moment [doing performance
Certain facial expressions become a Besides facial features, another thing capture]. And I think that for everybody,
real challenge because if you match Weta loses sleep over? Fur. From the it shows. MM
the actor too closely, the apes can start Wargs [giant wolves] in The Lord of the
to look humanish and that becomes Rings: The Two Towers, Lemmon says, War for the Planet of the Apes opens in
unsettling. So how do you create the right up through King Kong, The Jungle theaters July 14, 2017, courtesy of 20th
same emotional affect on the ape Book and all three Planet of the Apes Century Fox.

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 57
 The Glass Castle,
Destin Daniel

SPINNING
Crettons
follow-up to
Short Term 12,
revolves around

GLASS
a family life equal
parts romantic
and unbearable
BY STEPHEN SAITO

58 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 O R T H E STA RT neled Walls wicked sense of humor and
of production on savvy, borne out of the devastating events
The Glass Castle, that shaped her: from being severely
Destin Daniel scalded at the age of three while cooking
Cretton wanted to hot dogs for herself, to helping her father
scale a mountain. hustle unsuspecting marks at the local
One could pool hall as a teen. The writer-director
argue the writer- was overwhelmed by the sheer number of
director had already remarkable tales in Walls page-turner
done the equivalent in simply shocking stories that propelled it onto
wrangling Jeannette Walls The New York Times bestseller list for 261
memoir, a feverish recounting of weeks, and proved difficult to condense.
her turbulent childhood, into script form. Cretton quickly brought on a co-writer
But for the first few days of filming, he in Andrew Lanham, whom he had be-
insisted on taking his cast and crew up to friended when they were both awarded
Welch, West Virginia. There, the young prestigious Academy Nicholl Fellowships
Walls, growing up in poverty with her sis- in screenwriting in 2010. The two honed
ters Maureen and Lori, brother Brian and down the story of the film to center on
their free-spirited mother Rose Mary, had Jeannettes complex relationship with her
only her father Rexs promise of a king- dad, a hopeless schemer and dreamer who
dom on a hill to get her through the night. was as reckless in tending to the emo-
The bulk of shooting took place in tions of his children as he was drinking
Montreal to replicate both the rural and gambling at poker tables. After two
trappings that Jeannette had grown up deeply personal films in Short Term 12
with and the urban environs she would and his 2012 debut, I Am Not a Hipster,
ultimately escape to. Still, Cretton knew Cretton also found a way into Walls mem-
that to get the most out of his collabora- oir through his own upbringing in Haiku,
tors, seeing what Rex saw in the heart of a remote community in Maui where his
coal country (even when others couldnt) family of six lived in a two-bedroom shack,
would instill the passion that accompa- hanging up buckets from the ceiling to
nied every word of Walls book. It would catch water before it seeped into the house
remind his cast and crew that no matter during a storm, and entertaining them-
how dark the story that they were bring- selves by tearing up the wooden floors on
ing to the screen was at times, there was roller skates.
tremendous beauty in it. So much of it resonated with my own
Its one of the most extraordinary, life and my own relationships with my
beautiful places Ive seen, says Cretton of family that it terrified me, says Cretton,
Welch. Its a tiny town thats right in the but it also felt like something I at least
middle of these lush mountains. We had a had to try and tackle. There was a lot of
great time shooting there. really complicated love in my family.
It was hardly downhill from there, but Everyone adored each other, but we were
Crettons ability to see the light just over very imperfect, and a lot of our relation-
the horizon, both as a filmmaker and in ships were that mixture of volatility and
everyday life, is surely why he was ap- love seen throughout The Glass Castle.
proached by producer Gil Netter (Life As it would turn out, Cretton wasnt
of Pi) to adapt The Glass Castle for the alone. Although Jennifer Lawrence had
screen. He had just come off depicting been initially attached to the project
(L-R) Sadie Sink, Charlie Shotwell, his rewarding, yet often thankless, work to play Jeannette, his Short Term 12
Woody Harrelson, Ella Anderson,
Naomi Watts and Eden Grace Redfield as as a counselor to at-risk youth in the 2013 star Larson quickly stepped in when
the Walls family in The Glass Castle drama Short Term 12, which helped estab- Lawrence got busy elsewhere. Larson
lished its star Brie Larson as a force to be not only brought the cachet of her 2016
reckoned with. In the adaptation, Cretton Best Actress Oscar win for Room, she
was faced with the intimidating task of also encouraged Cretton to cast Woody
capturing Walls wry recollections of com- Harrelson to play her father, as he had
ing of age with parents who preached self- before in the 2011 film Rampart. (The two
sufficiency while leaving their children to actors are such close friends that they
cope with constantly fluctuating fortunes were vacationing together in Hawaii when
as they lived off the grid. Cretton chan- the prospect of The Glass Castle came up.

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 59
 (TOP TO BOTTOM) Brie Larson with
Max Greenfield, who plays Walls fianc
David, the only fictitious character in The
Glass Castle adaptation
He could go from being completely normal
to Rex as soon as Destin said action, says
actress Ella Anderson of Woody Harrelson,
here on set with Cretton

Says Cretton, Brie honestly looks at him

as a father figure and there is naturally
that father-daughter bond and friendship,
so the chemistry was something that we
really didnt need to work on at all. There
is so much of him thats this mixture of
charm and extremism.)
Cretton also found an ideal Rose Mary
in Naomi Watts. When he sent the actress
voice recordings of the painter from the
1990s, she sent him some recordings back
that were actually in her own voicebut
he couldnt tell. That kind of freaked me
out, he says. I didnt realize how much
she had jumped into that role.
With Lionsgate backing the filma
big step up from his $500,000 previous
featureCretton could actually afford
the movie stars, and to shoot in anamor-
phic to capture Rexs big imagination,
so intoxicating to the Walls clan. Yet the
writer-director wanted to keep things
simple for a film where, like Short Term
12, so much of the power would come
from its performances. He made it a
priority to reunite much of the behind-
the-scenes crew that made that previous
film so special, including cinematog-
Hamilton. One particular exercise devised
rapher Brett Pawlak, composer Joel P.
by Cretton involved Larson, Harrelson,
West and costume designers Joy Cretton
(his sister) and Mirren Gordon-Crozier, BRIE LOOKS AT Watts and Ella Anderson, who plays the
10-year-old Jeannette, going out to dinner
among others. He also fought to struc-
ture the 40-day shoot in a way that would [HARRELSON] with the requirement that they spend an
hour of it in character.
chronologically follow Jeannette: from
a 5-year-old who adores her father to a AS A FATHER Woody [as Rex] told us all when we sat
down to dinner that he had just won big at
more skeptical 10-year-old in Welch, and
eventually to a young woman who flees FIGURETHERE the casino and we could order anything we
for New York to become a gossip colum- wanted, says Anderson. I got this weird
nist. This schedule would allow for the IS SO MUCH mushroom dish and Woody ate it, because
three Jeannettes to create a consistency he was Rex at the time.
by being able to see what their younger OF HIM THATS Once the cast forged that intimacy,
selves had done. Cretton and Pawlak set about getting out
Cretton engaged the cast in a number THIS MIXTURE of the way. Although the film boasts a few
of bonding activities in the weeks before logistically ornate single takeswhich rep-
and during shooting. There were retreats OF CHARM AND licate the exhilaration and fear that Rexs
mercurial behavior could inspirePawlak
for the kids to see Cirque du Soleil.
Watts even organized a weekly picnic on EXTREMISM. had learned from Short Term 12 that to
Sundays, during which the cast would convey the actors raw emotions, he should
serenade each other with songs from light through windows, keeping the equip-

60 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 Larson as Jeannette Walls,
whose 2005 memoir
The Glass Castle was a New York
Times bestseller for 261 weeks

ture made it quite challenging

to edit, but piecing things
together with Moonlight co-
editor Nat Sanders, with whom
hed worked on Short Term 12,
it gradually came together.
After finishing the cut,
Cretton found himself
sweating it out when he
invited Walls and her husband
to an early screening. Walls
had been nothing but
ment on any given set or loca- any project is to melt into the little more unexpected for the
encouraging throughout the
tion to a minimum, and taking scene. filmmaker.
production, even visiting the
the opportunity to shoot any- Adds Max Greenfield, who Whats funny is, Brie was
Welch house set in Montreal
where in the room. appears in the film as adult actually losing her voice that
to boost the crews spirits,
For that film, the camera Jeannettes fianc David: Its day, says Cretton, and we
but Cretton still had his
was on Bretts shoulder most really nice as an actor when knew that she had to have a
concerns, well aware of the
of the time you could feel all you have to worry about is moment where she comes out
responsibility of bringing the
a human behind the camera acting. really strong [to cheer David
story of someone elses family
reacting to whats happening Which isnt to say on], so we shot everything up
to the screen.
in front of the camera, says Greenfield could rest easy. until that moment with her
It was scary as shit. It
Cretton. Accordingly, Pawlak The New Girl TV star found just not saying anything, and
was so uncomfortable for
and Cretton visited locations himself in the same situation then [her yelling] was the first
me, Cretton recalls of the
and took pictures to create as his character, a Manhattan- thing we let her voice release
emotional screening. I was
a photographic storyboard based financial analyst who on. It just came out huge. It
sitting three rows behind
before filming started, to try tries desperately to ingratiate rocked all of us. We see the
[Jeannette] in this big empty
to limit the amount of techni- himself with the close-knit Rex in her just come out.
theater and the first moment
cal conversations on set. This Walls, when he arrived on Says Greenfield, I really
when anybody could laugh,
film, though, had about half set for the last three weeks of had to chill out and remem-
she laughed louder than most
of the handheld camerawork shooting. Although Greenfield ber that we were acting in a
people would ever laugh.
of Short Term 12: We ex- insists the cast and crew movie, and I shouldnt be so
From that point on, she was
plored a lot more locked-off couldnt be more welcoming, excited about arm wrestling
just the most expressive
compositions in this movie he admits it was daunting with Woody Harrelson. About
movie watcher I had ever
and really brought the camera to join the film after they Larson, he notes: Playing
seen. And it just became
to life in handheld when we had already settled into a the lead is not an easy thing;
really fun to watch her laugh
needed to. groovea tension he used it requires a stillness and the
and cry and shout. Im excited
PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAKE GILES NETTER / COURTESY OF LIONSGATE

I really try not to overpow- to his advantage for one of ability to let the audience feel
for other people to see the
er the set with lights and gear, the films most memorable the story through your eyes
movie, but that was the thing
[and to] keep it as invisible scenes. That moment is a There were genuine times
I was worried about, and Im
[as possible], so Destin can raucous arm-wrestling match where Id be in the middle of a
so happy that I was able to
really focus on performance, between David and Rex just scene with her and think, Shit,
participate in telling this
says Pawlak, who shot the after they first meet, with the shes fucking good.
story and giving her that gift.
film primarily on two Alexa entire Walls family cheering Cretton had his hands full
It may have taken more
XTs. (He also had an Alexa on the actionexcept for during the production and
years and far more people
Mini that he would use as a Jeannette, whose loyalties after. With the involvement
than even Rex Walls couldve
backpack cam, with receiv- are torn between the past she of young actors, he was of-
imagined, but at long last,
ers and transmitters tucked comes from and the self-made ten confronted with shorter
The Glass Castle had been
inside, to shoot run-and-gun success shes become in New shooting days, though he says
realized. MM
style.) Even though the big- York. Its an example of the working with kids reminded
ger budget meant fun toys unexpected mix of humor and me every day that what we
like Technocranes and rear- emotional heft that Cretton were doing was supposed to The Glass Castle opens in the-
screen projection and things infuses the film with, though be fun. He also admits the aters August 11, 2017, courtesy
like that, Pawlaks goal on this particular moment was a films elliptical flashback struc- of Lionsgate.

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 61
 H E R E S A N I N T E R E S T I N G thing about this the spot and not compromise
business, says Taylor Sheridan. It tells you what what I wanted visually. I didnt
youre supposed to be doing. A lot of times you know Id learned that until I
dont want toor canthear what its telling you. got onto Wind River and had
But its telling you. to make a film in 30 days in
After 20 years in the trenches as a journeyman the snow, feeling also like I
actor on everything from Walker, Texas Ranger, had no money. Because, basi-
Star Trek: Enterprise, and NYPD Blue to Veronica cally, we didnt.
Mars and Sons of Anarchy, Sheridan had come A Texas native, Sheridan
to see that his muse was leading him across the moved west when he came of
production floor, to the other side of the camera. age with dreams of becoming
I learned what I waswhy I was only so successful as an actor: an actor. His 20s were, by
Acting wasnt really my gift, he says. I was pretty good. But I his own admission, a bit of
wasnt Tom Hardy or Christian Bale. If I had been Tom Hardy, a wash. Lost and rudderless,
someone wouldve figured that out over the course of 15 or 20 years, he eventually met someone
because that doesnt go unnoticed. I realized that the reason Id had who wanted to help set him
any success as an actor was because I had understood what the straightand took him to a
writer was trying to say. I understood stories. Native American sweat lodge
That hard-won awareness, and the burgeoning body of work it ceremony. The only white
fostered, has positioned Sheridan as one of the most exciting and guy there, he was a fish out
passionate new voices in American cinema. And what a voice. of water. The experience left

THE LAWS OF NATURE,

THE STUDY OF VIOLENCE
TAYLOR SHERIDAN takes JEREMY RENNER and ELIZABETH OLSEN
to the lonely edges of the American heartland in his modern western Wind River
BY PHILLIP WILLIAMS + PHOTOGRAPHS BY SANDRO BAEBLER

The pen behind the critically acclaimed features Sicario (2015) and a mark: I found it to be a
Hell or High Water (2016), Sheridan now completes a trilogy of the very cleansing, simple way of
American heartland with Wind River, a commanding directorial prayer that somehow made
effort, for which he took home the Un Certain Regard Best Director sense to me. Finding refuge
prize at Cannes in May. Wind River pairs Jeremy Renner and in the Native American
Elizabeth Olsen as a game warden and FBI agent, respectively, community led to lasting
investigating a murder on the titular Wind River Indian Reservation bonds of kinship and affinity,
in Wyoming, where they find a society haunted by demons of drug and the revelation that every
addiction and destitution. stereotype you learn in school
When your previous two scripts were directed by the likes of is a lie.
Denis Villeneuve (Sicario) and David Mackenzie (Hell or High I saw racism [against
Water), its a somewhat surprising decision to step into the direc- Native Americans] in a way I
tors chair yourself, but that was always Sheridans intention with had never really experienced,
this installment of his trilogy. Thats why I got into this: to control Sheridan recalls. Its so
the vision. The most control you can have is to direct as well as ignored, because its so
write. Wind River isnt technically his directorial debut, though remote. For a period, he was
he considers it to be, for all intents and purposeshes credited almost completely homeless,
as director on 2011 horror film Vile, but says he stepped into that bouncing around from Indian
as a favor for an acting student. They had no money and no time. camp to Indian camp. One of
At one point we couldnt pay for a dolly, so we got a bunch of PVC the promises I made to myself,
pipe and plywood and built a dolly. I learned how to improvise on he says, was that if I ever got a

62 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
PHOTO CREDIT

Taylor Sheridan,
photographed
June 2017 in Los
Angeles, California

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 63
 Jeremy Renner
broke out in 2002
feature Dahmer,
and was Academy
Award-nominated
for performances
in The Hurt Locker
and The Town

chance to tell these stories and break these a fear, he says. My child was very young
stereotypes, I was going to do it. when I wrote all of these films. Fear of
Sicario, Hell or High Water and Wind failing as a father was very present in my
River are all set in areasArizona and Texas mind. I had quit acting to start writing and I PLAYED [MY
for the first film, Texas for the second I hadnt sold any scripts; I wrote all three
where assimilation and settlement are on spec. Sheridan sees all three films CHARACTER]
relatively recent, going back no more than as stories of failed fathers in one way or
130 or so years. How are the consequences another. Themes of abandonment and loss LIKE A BARREL
of that still affecting the population? echo throughout, and in Wind River, they
Sheridan asks. How much have we evolved are brought into sharp relief by the films OF WATER WITH
inciting incidentwhat Sheridan describes
and how much havent we? We are such
a young country; New York is almost a as one of the most brutal and immediate A SLOW LEAK
European city at this point, whereas the
West still has elements that have changed
crises in need of being discussed and
resolved: rape and murder on reservations. WHAT A PIECE OF
very little.
The stark ironies of life in many parts
A teenage girl, Natalie Hanson (Kelsey
Asbille), is found dead in the snowy STEEL WOULD
of the West make for powerful contrasts.
The Wind River reservation, which is in
wilderness, after having run for miles to
escape an unknown attacker. LOOK LIKE WHEN
one of the poorest counties in the country,
sits less than one hundred miles from one
Renner and Olsen (who have appeared
together in Marvels Avengers movies, YOU BENT IT
of the richest: the seat of Jackson Hole.
That, coupled with Sheridans own personal
which are a far cry from Wind River)
were engaged to lead us into the films
AGAINST A PIECE
narrative, created a provocative alchemy of
themes and preoccupations.
unfamiliar topography and hold its
emotional center. Olsens city-bred FBI
OF GRANITE.
A film is going to be loosely agent, Jane Banner, is, to some extent, the
biographical, with characters processing eyes of the audience, coming into the world
something youve loosely experienced, or of the reservation for the first time. Renner,

64 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
on the other hand, plays Cory Lambert, wall. So in the movie the blocking comes actresses who over-rely on their beauty. I
an interloper with a foot in both the white from instinct. think making certain decisions now will
mans world and the reservation; he doesnt The actress enjoyed playing her no- impact things later, in terms how directors
feel a part of either. Olsen taps Renners nonsense, unglamorous character. Ive may perceive me.
stoic, damaged hunter to help her find the been very conscious to not play the girl Despite the training, both actors found
killer, under the advice of the local sheriff in the bikini running on the beach. I think that some degree of distance and un-
(Graham Greene). Lambert takes Jane Im an attractive person, but I decided that knowing was useful. A balance had to be
across the river Styx, and stays on as her I wasnt going to have a career based on struck. In Utah, where the film was shot,
guide, guarding her flank as they develop a what type I might fit. I want to be working Olsen says, everything you absorb after
prickly rapport. for a long time, and it really weighs on life on the res starts to inform how you
For Renner, himself a father, the themes
of Wind River struck a personal note
too. Id just had my baby, he says of
reading the script, in which Lambert has a
complicated relationship with his ex and
young son. I was very connected to the
relationships between the characters. There
is a lot of me, personally, in this character.
At times it was a struggle to hold back
what I would instinctively want to express.
Taylor and I had discussions about how
much to show or not, whether to release
something emotionally.
The scripts brutal landscape gave
Renner a living reality to engage and
resist in his performance. I played it
like a barrel of water with a slow leak.
Taylor said he wanted to see what a piece
of steel would look like when you bent
it against a piece of granite. I saw the
character as very steely, very tough, but I
learned very quickly I could notas hard
as I triedwithhold a lot of the feelings
that came up.
For Olsen, the challenge was in many
ways more physical. Several months
in advance of the shoot were spent
trainingMuay Thai, self-defenseto
inhabit her highly skilled FBI agent
character, who is more than a little
reminiscent of Emily Blunts Kate
Macer character in Sicario. I did a lot of
physical preparation for this movie, more
so than for most roles, she says. I didnt
want to distract people by not looking
like I could hold a gun. I wanted them to
focus on the story.
Olsen started doing gun training
about three months before the shoot,
firing off 1,000 rounds a day at a range
in L.A.; working with a Green Beret. We
had an entire outdoor range so I could Besides Wind
shoot everything we were filming in a real River, Elizabeth
Olsen stars in
position. I was able to shoot supine or while Matt Spicers indie
walking. My Muay Thai guy had also been feature Ingrid Goes
a Los Angeles law enforcement officer West, also opening
for 10 years. He taught me how to clear a this August
house, how to sight people from behind a

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 65
walk, how you talk, how you approach
the role. For his part, Renner spent time
with the two tribes on the Wind River
reservation, but I didnt want to get too
much information. My character is the
only white man allowed on the reservation
because he married into it. For me, it was
more about the individuals in the story,
rather than the general condition of Native
Americans as a whole.
Working with Sheridan required some
trust, which both stars gave up. I knew
in the first five minutes of talking to him
that I had to do it, says Renner. Sheridans
relative inexperience didnt bother him. I
thought, This guy is intelligent; he knows

PHOTOGRAPH BY FRED HAYES / COURTESY OF THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY

the movie he wants to make. Writers can
be very sensitive about their words, but he
would never tell me no. He would say, You
can always try it your way, as long as you let
me try my way, too.
The two-time Oscar nominee compares Olsen concurs with her co-stars (Clockwise) Gil Birmingham plays
Wind River to his arguably most famous assessment of Sheridan. The Marcy Martin Hanson, the distraught father of
performance in Kathryn Bigelows The Martha May Marlene and Godzilla the murdered Natalie Hanson; Renner
Hurt Locker (2008). This movie is like makes a convincing game warden in Wind
actress liked the directors style of River; Jane (Olsen), a stranger to Wind
that one, in that it took a lot of growth to communication: My preferred way River Indian Reservation, is shown around
own it. On Hurt Locker, I only saw Kathryn of working is where someone can be by the local sheriff (Graham Greene)
Bigelow at the end of the day. I never brutally honest. It takes two people to
knew where the camera was or how they be willing to do that. Knowing that no
were picking up all the details. I had to one is getting offended because were
let it go. He learned, from that all committed to communicating directly:
experience, how to express feeling by I like that. Some people feel the need
doing very, very little. The camera picks to dance around giving you a note. But
up a lot. If I say less, or nothing at all, this makes me feel like someone has
more can be expressed. my back.

66 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 KNOWING
Its fascinating, talking to Sheridan,
how the actor has remade himself
THAT NO ONE This is an essential question, for this
movie and many others: how to show
so convincingly as a writer-director.
Despite all the challenges inherent in the
IS GETTING violenceand couple violence with
justicewithout celebrating it. Setting
production processand Wind River had OFFENDED these stories out on the fringes of so-called
more than its fair shareSheridan was civilization, and all that entailed, was a
in his element. I was given advice by a BECAUSE factor. The farther you get from concrete,
very respected DP, who said, You want the less the rule of law applies, he muses.
to try and shoot a beautiful movie: Dont. WERE ALL And the more the law of nature applies.
Dont be artistic. You wont ever get the Wind River gives us a window into several
coverage. Shoot the master, the two-shot, COMMITTED TO manifestations of violence, including the
the close-ups. But its a visual art. Its a unhinged rawness of a masculine herd
painting with pictures. So I couldnt do COMMUNICATING mentality. When the film depicts the crime
that. I just refused to. in progressa vicious fight and subsequent
Working with DP Ben Richardson DIRECTLY: I LIKE assaultits difficult to watch. Many people
(Beasts of the Southern Wild), Sheridan who have seen the film talked about how
tried to honor convention with creativity. THAT. graphic it was, but when you think about it,
We were always trying to figure out things I only show the characters faces, Sheridan
like, What is an interesting way to do this points out. The imagination of the audience
in three set-ups, since we cant do six? We is stronger that any picture.
lived a lot in cross coverage. I just took a Hopefully this filmand Sicario and
camera and angled it either way and shot at At a point late in the film, the audience Hell or High Water as wellare protests
the same time and racked focus. Thats it: sees the victims room, which Sheridan against violence. When a bullet is fired,
one set up with two cameras. They shot on and Spisak designed to tell her heretofore there are consequences. In Hell or High
the Alexa XT with these 40-year-old Zeiss untold story. That design is a form of Water, Alberto [Gil Birmingham, who also
lenses from 1971 that were fraying and narrative. I told Neil, Sheridan recounts, appears in Wind River] doesnt get to have
imperfect and had a little yellow to them, I just want you to vomit color into this final words with Jeff Bridges Marcus, and
which actually was great. room: every shade of red, pink, yellow and Bridges doesnt get to apologize for being
Wanting the film, with its cruelly desolate magenta. His intention was to take us past a racist to his only friend. Albertos death
mountain vistas, to have a lot of scope, our memories of the crime scene, and give leaves behind a family living on a cops
wider lenses were used throughout: 50mm, the films victim a voice. pension. And what happened to those lives?
30mm, 20mm or 15mm. And we divided the Like his previous screenplays, Wind I dont think I could make a film that
frame into thirds, Sheridan says. I didnt River is a story inextricably tied to the glorified violence. I can make a film that
want to center-frame the actor and make the murky gray zone that violence occupies studies it, and explores it, but I dont really
actor feel like the most dominant thing in in our collective imagination. How do we have any interest in making a film that
the frame. I always had my actors in a third deal with violence in our societies, and glorifies it. MM
so two-thirds of the frame is landscape, what is its proper role in cinema?
Sheridan used any leverage at his disposal Its something Sheridans obviously Wind River opens in theaters August 4,
to get quality collaborators. I gave up my thought a lot about. Im a different 2017, courtesy of The Weinstein Company.
housing and everything I could give up in director than Denis and David. We look
order to get the deals closed. My production at life through slightly different lenses,
designer [Neil Spisak], my editor [Gary he says, noting that it isnt fair for him
Roach] and my DP all took 60-percent pay to comment on their approacheswhich
cuts to do this film. netted those films three and four Oscar
With that team in place, the ambitious nominations, respectively. Number one TECH BOX
director searched for maximum visual for Wind River: I wanted the violence to
power and affect. Im a big believer in look real. I wanted the gunfights to look CAMERA: Arri Alexa XT
and Alexa Mini
really building a color palette that matches like real gun fights.
where we are emotionally, he says. That His team watched extensive video of LENSES: Zeiss Standard
meant earth tones: the same color as the shootings, learning that when you shoot Speeds, Angnieux Optimo
15-40mm and 45-120mm
landscape. When we did use color, it shows someone with a pistol, they dont fall
hope, and life, and fragility, and vulnerability. backwards five feet. Some people get shot FORMAT: ARRIRAW 2.8K, 2.39:1
And I wanted any shade of red to represent 10 or 15 times and still run away. Everyone LIGHTING: LiteGear LEDs and
an act of violencesomeone who suffered reacts differently, based on where they are Arri SkyPanels and HMIs,
assorted smaller fixtures
violence directly or indirectly. hit, their adrenaline levels and other things.
Wind River is, on one level, a simple I wanted the fight to be dirty, and sloppy, COLOR GRADING: Mitch Paulson
at EFilm on Autodesk Lustre
crime story, about the rape and murder of and cruel. And I wanted there to be no
Natalie Hanson and the hunt for her killer. justice in it, until there is.

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 67
 THE BEST
FILM SCHOOLS
IN THE U.S.
AND CANADA
Here are 40 Worth the Admission Fee:
the film programs that will shape
you into the next moviemaking all-star
by c a r lo s ag u i l a r
i l lu s t r at i o n s by j o s e p h i n e k y h n

68 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 ERHAPS U.S. WEST student to the professional. LMU has strong
YO U R E Outstanding Directing Training: ties to industry heavyweights such as 20th
S O M EO N E AFI Conservatory Century Fox, Disney, Nickelodeon, Sony,
who dreams A two-year MFA program in any of AFIs DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures.Each
of a career in six disciplines inducts you into an exclu- year the Los Angeles school places 200
moviemaking, sive group of creators: 140 fellows in total of their best students at internships with
and has come per year, to be exact. The competitive and these companies. To ensure that these
to the realization hands-on directing program focuses on nar- opportunities are as personalized as possible,
that the discipline, rative, visual language and performance. The students have access to career development
experimentation and personal school is at the forefront of inclusion (47 per- staff, who counsel them on their transition
relationships that flourish in an cent of the current cohort are female), and is into the moviemaking workforce.
academic setting are exactly grooming a diverse new wave of moviemak-
Outstanding Editing Training:
what you need to thrive in your field. ers. Revolutionary directing alumni include
National University
Perhaps youve decided to put your energy Wonder Womans Patty Jenkins, Terrence
Because its MFA programs, including the
and resources where those dreams are and Malick, Andrea Arnold and Darren Aronofsky.
popular Digital Cinema Production, are
go to film school. This is very likely to be AFI is the least expensive graduate opportu-
offered in a hybrid online/on-site format,
one of the biggest decisions in your life, but nity for an institution of such reputationno
National University is viable option for stu-
youve made it. other school has accumulated more Academy
dents whose studies coincide with other
Congratulations. But where, exactly, do Award nominations and wins.
commitments. (Alumni often cite this flex-
you turn now?
Accomplished Faculty: California ibility as a crucial drawthough the pro-
The household-name programs can
College of the Arts gram also includes an intensive one-month
seem like a recipe for insta-respectand
When a two-time Oscar-winner is the residency in Los Angeles.) While the Digital
hey, theyre famous for a reason. But take
film programs co-chair, its safe to assume Cinema curriculum touches on all aspects of
an analogy from the world of film festivals:
standards are high. At this San Francisco- production, it features five separate courses
You dont have to premiere at Cannes to
and Oakland-based school, documentarian on editing and sound design. Though he had
have the experience thats best for you.
Rob Epstein, who received his statuettes managed to accumulate the knowledge nec-
Lets underscore that for you part again.
for The Times of Harvey Milk and Common essary for a career editing television, one
Be clear and honest about your personal
Threads: Stories from the Quilt, spearheads student says, enrolling in NU was crucial to
objectives (whats your dream role on a
a team of educators that range from bringing my career to the next level.
production? What types of projects do you
accomplished independent director Chris
want to work on?), and match them with Outstanding Theory and Criticism
Mason Johnson (Test) to expert sound
the most compatible institutionwhether Training: Portland State University
mixer Dan Olmsted and Emmy-winning
its the one with the great internship Forget about basic film historythe in-
Guggenheim Fellow Jack Walsh.
program, or the one with the fanciest depth courses at PSU are sure to
equipment youd never get to touch inspire academic curiosity. Suzanne
otherwise, or the one thats 15 minutes Gray, marketing and communica-
from your house (or online). tions manager at the school, calls
Out of the hundreds of bachelors and the strong curriculum and faculty
masters degree programs in the United in the criticism arena a major
States and Canada, weve chosen 40 that attraction. A sample of course
we believe represent the best of what options: Forbidden Love in
higher education has to offer the film Israeli Film, Transnational
world, organized by region. We chose a Stardom, Danish Films
quality of each school to spotlight, too, from Dreyer to Dogme and
because even the most well-rounded Disney: Gender, Race,
program has its particular strengths. and Empire. Theres a
Some of these schools are fixtures on any class on the theory and
academic best-of list, while others may practice of the remake,
be unexpectedly pleasant discoveries; another on music vid-
some are brash new upstarts and some eos, one on mocku-
have been quietly churning out successful Outstanding mentaries and the
graduates for decades. Animation Training: list goes on.
Either waybecause of that decision California Institute
you madesomeday soon you might be of the Arts
listed on a famous alumni page.
Top-Notch Equipment and Facilities:
Chapman University
Outstanding
Accelerated Industry Access: Screenwriting
Loyola Marymount University Training: University
The application of classroom theory in a of California, Los
real-world environment is what elevates the Angeles

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 69
 first week, Drexel University takes hands- have worked on The Simpsons, to cite one
ASK THE ALUM on training to new dimensions. With only 16 example. Alumni Daniel Sousa and Dan
Rachel Morrison, pupils per production class, aspiring creators Golden received a 2014 Oscar nomination
cinematographer of are guaranteed one-on-one time with faculty for Best Animated Short for Feral. Campus
Black Panther (AFI such as independent director Alison Bagnall facilities include animation stand studios
Conservatory, MFA in (Buffalo 66). Students love our new Micro- and stop-motion animation studios.
Cinematography)
budget Filmmaking course, adds Film &
what should students Accomplished Faculty: School of Visual Arts
Video Program Director Tom Quinn, which
consider when choosing a school?
examines features made for under $50,000 U.S. SOUTHWEST
Look at alumni to make sure the program
is a good fit. Whats the outreach like after and requires them to make a short without Outstanding Theory and Criticism
school? Will the school help you to secure Drexel equipment. Drexel also has a study Training: Brigham Young University
work, or at least an internship, once you abroad program in Havana, where under- Famous for its international focus, many
graduate? If youre crippled by student loan grads make a documentary short over win- of BYUs student body are fluent in a sec-
debt, it becomes much harder to make art
when you graduate. ter break. ond language. That worldview extends to
its approach to film theory. The schools
Outstanding Screenwriting Training:
BA in Media Arts Studies provides
Emerson College
courses such as History of Animation,
Outstanding Cinematography Training: Apart from being the only school in the
History of Documentary and Nonfiction
University of Colorado, Boulder country to offer a BFA in Comedic Arts,
Film, Childrens Media andin keep-
Founded by iconoclastic independent mov- Emerson stands out for its intensive two-
ing with the schools Mormon affiliation
iemaker Stan Brakhage, the CU-Boulder year Writing for Film and Television MFA,
Transcendence: Religion and Film. BYUs
film department is the place to experiment taking place between the Boston and L.A.
long-running International Cinema screen-
with the medium. The school offers courses campuses. Participants experience a six-
ing series plays more than 80 films each year,
emphasizing the technical and aesthetic day on-campus residency with workshops
highlighting language diversity, aesthetic
aspects of both digital and analog cinematog- tackling diverse subjects: shorts, epi-
specificity and human interconnection.
raphy, making sure students cut their teeth on sodic TV, narrative features, and break-
8mm, Bolex, 16mm RX and (later) Blackmagic ing into the business. Special topics include Outstanding Editing Training:
Pocket Cinema cameras. Complementing Comedy Writing for Television and Writing Oklahoma City University
these are classes dedicated to lighting and an the Adaptation. Each semester we fea-
Accelerated Industry Access: Santa Fe
immersive camera workshop. Students can ture a marquee-name film or television
University of Art and Design
also work as a projectionist at the schools writersuch as Jill Soloway, the Spring
very own art-house theater, home to its 2017 Semel Chair in Screenwritingwho Outstanding Screenwriting Training:
International Film Series, established in 1941. spends two days conducting workshops and University of Texas, Austin
masterclasses, says Director ofGraduate Honing writing skills without incurring
Outstanding Producing Training:
Admission Leanda Ferland. immense debt is one of the promises of UTs
University of Southern California
screenwriting MFA. Dont be fooled by its
Outstanding Cinematography Training:
relatively low tuition, though. This is an
U.S. NORTHEAST New York University
exceptionally selective graduate program:
Accelerated Industry Access:
Outstanding Animation Training: Only seven people are admitted each year.
Boston University
Rhode Island School of Design Honing their narrative artistry through
Bicoastal presence and a student-
RISD fosters personal vision, extensive spec and original pilot writing,
run content distribution network
individual expression and the participants dive into the intricate processes
(BUTV10) and production company
extension of the animation medium of characterization and story development.
(Hothouse Productions) position BU
itself, says professor Amy Kravitz. Part of the curriculum provides access to a
as a pipeline for accomplished tal-
The Animation Track at RISD working TV writers room. By the end of the
ent. Hollywood internship oppor-
is a comprehensive entryway program, each student leaves with finished
tunities are available for both
into the many techniques in the work that can serve as a calling card. Texan
undergrad and grad students
field, which have landed grads heavyweights such as Richard Linklater and
through the schools Wilshire
positions at studios such as indie Robert Rodriguez have been known to look
campus, under the guidance of
leader Laika. Many RISD alums to UT for interns.
industry mentors. BUs connec-
tions abroad allow for programs in
London and Sydney, too. Recent alumni suc-
cesses include Joshua Weinstein, director of ASK THE ALUM
Sundance 2017 film Menashe, and creator of Deb Shoval, writer-director of AWOL (Columbia University, MFA in Film)
the YouTube series Nerdwriter, Evan Puschak. what did you like most about your program? Columbia is known as the
storytelling school. Storytelling is the most important part of filmmaking to me,
Outstanding Producing Training:
so it was the only school I wanted to attend. I loved what I learned from Andy
Columbia University Bienen about sequencing and mirroring and three-act structure; from Ramin
Bahrani about working with locations, on no budget; from Susan Korda about
Outstanding Directing Training: the possibilities in the editing room; from Eric Mendelssohn about shot selection. There are some
Drexel University unbelievable professors at Columbia whose art in this lifetime involves developing artists.
Putting cameras into students hands in their

70 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
U.S. MIDWEST Outstanding Theory and
Outstanding Producing Training: Criticism Training: School of
Columbia College Chicago the Art Institute Chicago
Few programs prepare grads to bring proj-
ects to fruition like Columbia College
U.S. SOUTHEAST
Chicagos Creative Producing MFA.
Outstanding Animation Training: BEYOND
Aspiring producers undergo a curriculum
Florida State University THE
that trains them in financing, mastering
DEGREE
legal procedures and hiring talent. During Outstanding Editing Training: Calling all
the first year, a cinema boot camp Louisiana State University independent learners:
lays an intellectual and practical There are so many avenues
Outstanding Directing for learning outside of college
foundation, and exposes pro-
Training: Ringling College by kelly leow
ducing students to directing
of Art and Design professional guild programs:
ones to foster interdisciplin-
The film program at Ringling Hollywoods guilds and unions
ary collaboration. In the sec-
is turning 10 this year, and offer educational events, most of
ond part of the program, students which are open to non-members.
in that short period the Sarasota
are tasked with developing a slate of long- The Writers Guild Foundation puts
school has become known for its
form projects. on frequent panel discussion events in L.A.,
industry-driven teaching style. Its Studio while the Producers Guild of America conducts
Top-Notch Equipment and Facilities: Lab brings accomplished directors and an annual eight-week Power of Diversity
DePaul University actorsincluding Kevin Smith (who Master Workshop for producers with projects
to hothouse. Of particular note is the American
DePaul formed an alliance with returned this summer to shoot anthology
Society of Cinematographers five-day Master
Cinespace Chicago Film Studios in 2013, project Killroy Was Here with the school), Class, held a few times a year in Hollywood. At
acquiring 20,000 square feet of space, Werner Herzog and Spike Leeto $2,999, its for serious takers, but the chance to
including a 10,000-square-foot sound- classrooms for sessions that often result study under some of the societys most admired
stage and support facilities, says Elly in jobs on professional productions. For members might be worth it to aspiring DPs.
Kafritsas-Wessels of the schools College example, Ringling undergrads had crew film centers: Investigate what your local film
of Computing and Digital Media. This positions on Tim Suttons Dark Night, and center has to offer. L.A.s Echo Park Film Center,
for example, runs classes with an emphasis on
past year, due to the tremendous growth a web series created by Justin Long and
youth filmmaking and social justice through
of the cinema program, the school his brother Christian. cinema. Portland, Oregons Northwest Film
expanded its footprint at Cinespace to Forum has very comprehensive programs, too.
Top-Notch Equipment and Facilities:
over 32,000 square feet, adding two addi- Meanwhile, Brooklyns Mono No Aware provides
Savannah College of Art and Design a funky array of film-related craft workshops.
tional stages, two editing studios, an
Georgias ascent as a production epicenter During these short (one-to-four days) classes,
advanced camera checkout facility, class- up to 10 participants learn Super-8, 16mm or
is reflected in the quality of its higher
rooms and offices. The space has one of 35mm basics; DIY film processing with coffee
education, and there is no better example
the largest green screens in the Midwest, and beer; direct animation you name it.
than SCAD. The university owns and
and host a number of technical work- community colleges: Many community
operates the Savannah Film Studios, a
shops with AbelCine. Wowza. colleges rival four-year universitiesat lower
facility available for commercial and rates. North Carolinas Piedmont Community
Accomplished Faculty: independent productions that want to College has a two-year Film & Video Production
Northwestern University take advantage of not only the states tax Technology program that offers Associate
credits, but the schools three state-of-the- of Applied Science degrees, certificates and
diplomas (requirements range from 70 semester
art sound stages, post-production suites,
hours to 15); courses cover production and post
ASK THE ALUM screening room, recording studio and basics, from sound to art direction. On the West
Patrick Hughes, lighting grids. Not enough? The schools Coast, Colorado Film School (a branch of the
director of The Atlanta campus is home to SCAD Digital Community College of Aurora) offers 48-credit
Hitmans Bodyguard Media Center, a production and post certificate programs and 75-credit transferable
(Victorian College of AAS degrees. CFS has majors in screenwriting,
hub. SCAD also places a unique focus on cinematography, post-production, acting,
the Arts, BFA in Film
and Television) virtual reality in its curriculum, providing directing and producing. Most classes are capped
students access to the latest VR tools. at 16 students. Colorado residents pay around
what should aspiring moviemakers $4,500 a year (non-residents, $15,000).
consider when picking a school? Accomplished Faculty:
Film theory is incredibly important, but film diploma programs: Many appreciate the
University of Central Florida focus of a diploma-centric institution. Toronto
I value schools that teach the practical
skills of filmmaking. I think every director Film School offers 18-month diplomas in Film
Accelerated Industry Access: University
needs to have a producers hat: the Production, Writing for Film and TV, and Acting
of North Carolina School of the Arts for Film, TV and the Theatre; those programs
ability to understand whats involved
in a production, and how to manage Directing majors in their final year cost around $30,000. On the other hand,
budgets and expectations. Most of at UNCSA take a Transition to the Vancouver Film School, with eight campuses
all [at school], I learned about the Profession class that prepares them for around the world, specializes in one-year
importance of managing time. (Another programs in Film Production, Acting for Film +
life after college as they search for jobs in Television, Makeup Design for Film + Television
thing: Dont make a short film on a
credit card with 29.5-percent interest the real world. Seniors screen their works and a range of animation and FX options.
rate. Dont ever do that.) for industry professionals and accom-
plished alumni in L.A. (That alumni

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 71
roster includes Danny McBride, Jeff Outstanding Animation Training:
Nichols, Chad Hartigan and Craig Concordia University (Quebec)
Zobel.) A bonus: UNCSA is an official
Concordia boasts close ties with
partner of the Sundance Institute.
the National Film Board of Canada,
Alumni pop up every year at the film
whose professors often teach at
festival, while school staff participate
the school. Its well-regarded Film
in panels.
Animation BFA introduces students
Outstanding Cinematography to classical, puppet, experimental, 3D
Training: VCUarts Cinema and stop-motion animation, as well as
Images are paramount at Virginia storyboarding and musical composi-
Commonwealth University, one tion. Facilities include a digital anima-
HAVE CAMERA, WILL STUDY
of the only schools in the world tion lab, animation stands, a puppet Three tips for venturing beyond the U.S.
where undergrads shoot projects studio and 2D hand-drawn studio. and Canada for film school
on 35mm film. Tuition covers all Expect student expenses to be around by ko ricker
shooting expenses, so that students CA$1,000 (US$750) in the first year, research global moviemaking hubs. As a prospective
can concentrate on their craft. and $500 in subsequent years. film student you may be loath to apply outside of L.A.
Visual storytelling is at the heart and New York, let alone North America, but dont be
Outstanding Editing Training: dismissive of international options. Why not study in the
of every course, and the list of
Queens University (Ontario) U.K., for instance? Competitive tax incentives, careful
equipment on hand (including three investment in creative talent, and a reputation for high-
Arri cameras and two AJA Cion 4K Top-Notch Equipment and Facilities: quality productions have made the U.K. a favorable
cameras) would make a professional Red Deer College (Alberta) destination for such major franchises as Star Wars, among
cinematographer swoon. others. Check and see if the school has an established
Outstanding Producing Training: internship program, or if classes are taught by working
Simon Fraser University filmmakers. The University of York in England ensures
CANADA that film students dont miss the opportunity to take
(British Columbia)
Outstanding Cinematography advantage of potential industry connects by offering
Training: Capilano University Outstanding Directing Training: masterclasses taught by professionals like Oscar-winning
producer Serena Armitage and Eugnie von Tunzelmann
(British Columbia) University of British Columbia
of Interstellar VFX fame. Additionally, York offers
While their cinematography (British Columbia) assistance in arranging internships and work placements.
certificate program is on The prominence of the York program means companies
Outstanding Theory
hiatus for the year, Capilano are increasingly inclined to favor our students, says Ed
and Criticism Training: Braman, head of film and television at the university.
excels in the subject as
University of Toronto
one of the only schools evaluate tuition costs and scholarship
(Ontario) opportunities. Studying abroad can actually help
in Canada where
you avoid burning an irreparable hole in your pocket, as
undergrads have Outstanding counterintuitive as that may seem. Some reputable film
access to RED and Arri Screenwriting programs in the U.S. cost as much as $50,000 a year.
cameras. Their Motion Training: York Schools in Europe, on the other hand, can cost significantly
Picture Arts diploma and University (Ontario) less than their American counterparts. Film programs for
international students at the University of York range from
BA tackles practice before theory Yorks Screenwriting BFA accepts 10
about 15-20,000 (US$19-25,000) per year, for example.
in the first two years, while juniors students a year, while the MFA takes Meanwhile, foreign students at the Film and TV School of
and seniors concentrate on their in just two max. While Yorks Future the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU) who
preferred craft. Theres a heavy Cinema Lab specializes in writing choose to take all their classes in Czech arent required
focus of working on film sets, content designed for new screens and to pay tuition at all. Yep, that includes production fees.
For those who feel up to learning Czech, studying at one
set management and etiquette, technologies, Feature Screenwriting, of the oldest film schools in the world could be the right
says Murray Stiller, director of Writing for Television and Story move. Many American students have taken the plunge,
Capilanos Bosa Centre for Film and Editing are still the core skills taught says a FAMU spokesperson.
Animation. Students shoot major by Yorks seasoned faculty. An annual tap into the schools support system for
team projects in the spring and festival titled Intercut showcases live international students. We think the process of
smaller projects and assignments performances of student screenplay finding yourself is most important, says Marcin Malatyski,
throughout the year. excerpts. MM deputy director and head of international relations of
the Polish National Film, Television and Theatre School in
Lodz. Were guiding students to go beyond their personal
borders and limitations.
Most schools provide international students with
ASK THE ALUM
special orientations and advising as components of their
Kyle Mooney, writer and star of Brigsby Bear (University of academic support systems, for those who are anxious
Southern California, BA in Cinematic Arts, Critical Studies) about feeling untethered in an unfamiliar land. York, for
example, connects prospective international students with
what advice do you wish someone had given you when
experienced students from the same country so they can
you were a film student? Dont skip the screenings in the
learn about the process from someone whos been through
lecture hall just because the movies are on DVD, and try not to
it all already. Cultural difference can make moving abroad
fall asleep. One day youre gonna regret not seeing all of those
daunting, but remember: Theres no better way to gain
movies on the big screen, and youre just gonna have to rewatch Rules of the Game
exposure to new lenses through which to view film. MM
again in 10 years because you were snoozing the whole time.

72 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 #NEXTFEST
SUNDANCE.ORG/NEXTFEST

MM Full size ad.indd 7 7/5/17 7:55 PM

FESTIVAL BEAT

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

Stars aligned at Cannes 70th anniversary edition, May 17-28, 2017
P H O T O G R A P H S B Y FA B R I C E D A L LA N E S E

T WA S A typically eventful (after Yuliya Solntseva for The Story

time in the South of France of the Flaming Years in 1961) with
this yearstarting with a The Beguiled.
kerfuffle about Netflix that led to the Our festival photographer Fabrice
amendment of festival rules, which DallAnese spent some time on the red
will bar the entry of films distributed carpet, which seeslets face itas
by that streaming service at future much action as the screens do. His
editions. Awards made headlines, intimate portraits include master of
too, with an unusual tie for best ceremonies Monica Bellucci, David
screenplay (sharing the honor were Lynch (who screened episodes from
Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthymis Twin Peaks: The Return as part of
Filippou for The Killing of a Sacred Cannes special 70th anniversary
Deer, and Lynne Ramsay for You Were program), and Werner Herzog, perched
Never Really Here), and Sofia Coppola atop those famously blue Riviera
becoming just the second female Best waters. Say au revoir to La Croisette
Director winner in all seven decades for another year. K . L .

WERNER HERZOG,
WINNER OF THE
CARROSSE DOR

74 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 FESTIVAL BEAT

(CLOCKWISE) ISABELLE HUPPERT, STAR OF HAPPY END (DIR: MICHAEL HANEKE)

AND CLAIRES CAMERA (DIR: HONG SANG-SOO); EVA LONGORIA, GUEST AT
CANNES 70TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT; STACY MARTIN, STAR OF REDOUBTABLE
(DIR: MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS); CLINT EASTWOOD, DIRECTOR OF CANNES CLASSICS
SELECTION UNFORGIVEN

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017
FESTIVAL BEAT

(CLOCKWISE) IMOGEN POOTS, STAR OF MOBILE HOMES (DIR: VLADIMIR DE FONTENAY);

DAVID LYNCH, DIRECTOR OF TWIN PEAKS: THE RETURN ; MONICA BELLUCCI, CANNES 2017
MASTER OF CEREMONIES; ANDIE MACDOWELL, CANNES LORAL AMBASSADOR

76 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 FESTIVAL BEAT

SAN LUIS OBISPO

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Its quaint at first glance, but SLO has a lot going on

ONG AFTER THE King Vidor Award for Excel-

boysenberry aromas of lence in Filmmaking.
a San Luis Obispo-made Brolins short directorial
Zinfandel were washed from debut, X, was featured at
my palate, the local flavor of the SLOIFF in 2008, and that same
sleepy Californian Central Coast year he joined the festivals
towns 23rd international film advisory board, on which he
festival persisted in my sense continues to serve as a member.
memory. As with its distinctive He comes as a local. He
wine, SLOIFFs careful cultiva- doesnt come as a movie star,
tion of its supporting indepen- Eidson told SLO newspaper
dent arts community has made The Tribune shortly after
the event better as its aged. announcing him as recipient of
The numbers dont lie: the honor in January.
From 2016 to 2017, attendance SLOIFFs programming
grew 18 percent from 9,750 played up the cultural staples
people to 11,500; total ticket that have shaped the countys
sales rose 38 percent; festival identity as well, as its cen-
pass sales shot up by 42 percent terpiece film, the equestrian
and revenue from entry fees documentary Down the Fence,
leapt by 80 percent. had its world premiere before a
So, whats turning folks out? capacity crowd at the 850-seat
That SLO itself is almost eerily Art Deco Fremont Theatre. Di-
devoid of litter, seemingly un- rector MJ Isaksons film, which
touched by time, is telling about took home the Audience Award
the pride the area fosters, and for Best Documentary Feature
the fact that 70 percent of the on closing night, stirred the
festivals attendees in 2017 hail hearts of cowboy-hat-donning
from San Luis Obispo County crowds whose reverence for
speaks volumes about the horse training has deep roots
regional resources that Festival that can be traced back to the
Director Wendy Eidson and her early California missions.
team have come to rely upon Despite the inherent risk of
to keep things flowing and being limited by its townie fever
growing. A sense of the home- as much as it is strengthened by
grown pervaded every corner it, both the reach of the festivals
of SLOIFF, from its spotlight internationality and its diversity
on works by myriad municipal of voices have expanded consid-
moviemakers in its Central erably, as well. Films on human
Coast Filmmaker Showcase, rights crises in Bosnia and
to the hands-on involvement Ukraine (My Mothers Wound about the town upon arrival KING VIDOR AWARD RECIPIENT JOSH
of director/cinematographer/ and Breaking Point: The War was that things were almost too BROLIN CHATS WITH BEN MANKIEWICZ
AT SLOIFF 2017
PHOTOGRAPH BY MOLLY KIELY

Creston resident Todd Fisher for Democracy inUkraine) and quiet. Yet, L.A.-bound on clos-
(brother of the late Carrie) in a Spanish short comedy about ing night, I left convinced that
multiple events, to its honoring family and mortality (The this hushed, indie-friendly spot
of neighborhood-to-Hollywood Whole World), among others, not only had a lot to offer, but a
heroes like Josh Brolin, a self- took home prizes in their respec- lot to say.
described ranch kid raised in tive competition categories.
SLO Countys town of Temple- As one of the minority fest- M A X W E I N S T E I N,
ton who received this years goers not from SLO, my feeling M M A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 77
FESTIVAL BEAT

MAMMOTH
LAKES FILM
FESTIVAL
An oasis of intimacy in the
vast mountain night

DIEHARD SKI
racer, Dave McCoy
built the first of
his portable rope tows
on 11,053-foot Mammoth
Mountain 80 years agofor
his own pleasure, at first,
then he realized he might
make a business of it. With
the permission of the U.S.
Forest Service and generous
assistance from friends, he
opened a ski lodge in the when he accepted the prize too, accompanied by the films FILMMAKERS AND STAFF OF
early 50s, and Californias from Festival Director Shira charming subject, Daniel MAMMOTH LAKES FILM FESTIVAL 2017
AT THE CLOSING NIGHT PARTY
most beloved ski destination Dubrovner and actor Vincent Houck. Docs aside, my favorite
was born. Spano, star of Sayles 1983 film screening event was again the
Many had thought it Baby Its You. After all, few Shorts Encore block on Sunday
impossible, McCoy recalled know better than Sayles, and morning, stringing together
in a 1985 Sports Illustrated partner-producer Maggie Renzi, the work of any (inevitably
profile: It was too stormbound, about scaling the peaks of self- hungover) filmmakers who
had too much snow, was too driven indie moviemaking. havent left town yet.
wet and was way too high. MLFFs 2017 line-up, With 74 films in total,
Nevertheless, Mammoth overseen by Director of and a record 90-odd attending
Mountain Ski Area remains Programming Paul Sbrizzi, filmmakers taking advantage
(as does McCoy, who turns was stronger than ever. As a of the festivals compensated
102 in August). feature documentary juror this lodging and travel, MLFF iPhone flashlight beam until
I go to Mammoth for a year (my second) I was treated has mastered the operations we heard, all of a sudden,
very different reason than to an outstanding selection possible at its scale, so I find human voices and water softly
the million-plus annual of titles: Mike Days stunning myself selfishly wishing that splashing. We stepped into the
ski visitorsi.e. to attend The Islands and the Whales, it can remain at its current steaming pool gingerly, wading
the Mammoth Lakes Film about the increasingly toxic size, though it willand through a crowd of submerged
Festivalso I hadnt known relationship between denizens deserves togrow. Its intimacy silhouettesfacial features a
any of the above while in town of the far-flung Faroe Islands means theres no attendee dark blur, unidentifiable except
over Memorial Day weekend. and the whales they eat; Theo you cant befriend if you want for their voices. Someone
But reading that history now Anthonys provocative Rat to, while its backdrop makes suggested leaning back in the
clarifies for me the kind of Film, a rumination on both any inkling of boredom or water, face up to the sky, and
buoyant self-assurance of the rodents and socioeconomic claustrophobia impossible. we looked up at the staggering
PHOTOGRAPH BY JOSEPH MARRONE

town and its festival, three disadvantage in Baltimore; Speaking of which: In starscape: shooting stars,
years old and climbing to Skye Borgmans world- what is surely as iconic of constellations, the Milky
new heights every year, and premiering Forever B, which a festival ritual as trudging Way. No disrespect to MLFFs
underscores the significance of tells a tale of child abduction through snow is in Park City, programming, but that was the
the Sierra Spirit Award given and sexual abuse that sets my we ventured out again this most beautiful thing I saw all
annually to an independent teeth on edge to think about year to the nearby hot springs, weekend.
moviemaker of note. This years even now. Stefan Avalos but this time at night. Plunged
recipient, indie hero John Slamdance favorite Strad into pitch-blackness off the K E L LY L E O W,
Sayles, said as much himself Style was a winner at MLFF highway, we trekked out via MM DEPUTY EDITOR

78 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 THIN LINE FEST
A festival where run, dont walk takes on a literal dimension

HEN I LEARNED to the airport after my Newport

my documentary What Q&A ended. Youre crazy, my
Happened in Vegas, man, Stanton said.Maybe so.
about police corruption Maybe I wouldnt make it, but I
in Las Vegas, had gotten wanted to try. I had a very good
accepted to the Newport Beach vibe about Stanton and Thin
Film Festival, I was happy Line, so I wanted to be there.
for about 14 seconds. Because I literally did sprint out of the
I realized I had a problem: My theater and through the airport.
movie had also been accepted I boarded the plane to Dallas, SNWBLL THE
YETI, FROM
to Thin Line Fest and was sweating profusely. When I got THE BAND PPL
scheduled to screen at two film to Dallas, I was picked up from MVR, MAKES AN
festivals on the same day: April the airport by a friendly Thin APPEARANCE AT
22. Was it possible to be in Line Fest shuttle driver and we THIN LINE FEST
2017
Newport Beach, California and made the 35 minute drive to
Denton, Texas on the same day Denton. The truck pulled up
to attend both screenings? to the theater at 11:07 p.m., so hotel. After eating one of the big- sure they were happy and having
Maybe. My Newport screening I only missed the first seven gest burgers Ive ever seen at a good timeit clearly mattered
ended at 4:15 p.m. and my minutes of the film! LSA Burger Co., we went to an a great deal to him, and to Thin
screening at Thin Line started at After a very energetic Q&A awesome Raelyn Nelson (Willie Line founder Joshua Butler.
11 p.m. Fortunately, the theater session with an enthusiastic Nelsons granddaughter) con- Great festival! Great
in Newport Beach where my audience, I headed back to Thin cert, then Stanton and Jonathan hospitality! Glad I made the
movie screened was only six Line headquarters and had a showed me around Denton. I crazy decision to try and be at
minutes away from Orange couple of beers with Stanton and even had time to check out the two different film festivals in
Countys John Wayne Airport projectionist Jonathan Gartman. main festival photography gal- two different towns on the same
and there was a flight to Dallas We hit it off and talked well into lery. I really enjoyed this awe- dayand glad it worked out!
that left at 5:40 pm on April 22. the night about our favorite some little college town. Every
I told Thin Line Fest Director films. I called it a night around time Stanton came across a Thin RA M S E Y D E N I S O N
Stanton Brasher of my plan to 4 a.m. and headed back to my Line filmmaker that night, he Ramsey Denison is the director
sprint out of the theater and go very nice (and complimentary) checked in with them to make of What Happened in Vegas.

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FOR

of Blahbatuh at their Palace.
We discussed the significance
of historical traditions while

ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND CULTURE transitioning into modernity

as it related to themselves,
Moviemakers get the royal treatment at this award ceremony in Bali their family and their
people. I will remember the
understanding we shared
ISHMAKERS IS and Culture (IFFEHC) 2017, a all over the world, chose to concerning Balinese life and
A documentary about member of the Film Festivals attend a festival in this island culture, within and beyond the
the Tulip Winery, Alliance (FFA). paradise. What we did not palace walls.
established in an adult special FFA is a submission anticipate was the special This interactionwas further
needs residential community platform known for its money- cultural welcome that we enhanced when the Crown
in the Village of Hope, Israel. back guarantee policy for film would also be receiving. Prince and Princess, alongside
Producing a film that celebrates submissions not accepted Film Festivals Alliance FFA Founder and Director
life without regard for physical by its member festivals. The workstogether with the Damien Dematra, presented
or mental limitations was organization held the awards Royal Palaces of Bali each award during the
PHOTOGRAPH BY ED STEELE

an especially meaningful ceremony for IFFEHC on the in order to provide the ceremony that evening. I felt
experience for my production island of Bali in Indonesia, visiting filmmakers with an that I was being acknowledged
team and me. So we were which was selected by appreciation for the history by new friends. The significant
honored that WishMakers TripAdvisor as the number-one and culture of the island. media coverage of the awards
was chosen as the Best Film by world destination for 2017. It During my visit, I had the ceremony added to the
the International Film Festival should come as no surprise privilege of engaging with the accolades for us winners, too,
for Environment, Health, that my colleagues and I, from Crown Prince and Princess and verified the high standards

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 79
FESTIVAL BEAT

of selection that are maintained a unique festival experience.

CHERYL HALPERN (CENTER) IS PRESENTED by FFA and its member partners. For those who have the honor
BEST FILM AT THE INTERNATIONAL FILM (The selected films will be of being selected (check out the
FESTIVAL FOR ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND
CULTURE IN BALI, INDONESIA screened for two months in Bali list of participating festivals at
and Jakarta.) filmfestivalsalliance.org), know
Beyond the actual ceremony, that you will be introduced
FFA provided an unparalleled to so much more than youd
degree of courtesy and expectFFA also presented
attentiveness toward all of us me with an appreciation for
attending filmmakers. The an island and its people. It was
comprehensive agenda included an unforgettable experience.
a master class and screenings, as I look forward to a repeat
well as a variety of touring and performance!
dining opportunities. For those
who so desired there was even the CHERYL HALPERN
option to dress in native Balinese Cheryl Halpern is the
attire for the awards ceremony. producer and director of
Film Festivals Alliance is WishMakers.

ROSWELL (considering the event occurred

90 miles away). You hear oral

FILM
testimonies, musing that
perhaps there was something
more than just a weather

FESTIVAL balloon coming to earth.

People come from all over
to make the pilgrimage to this
Come out to this fledgling idea of Roswell. Sure, outside of
New Mexico festival, and the UFO-themed museums and
youll want to believe shops, Roswell is pure small-
town Southwestern Americana.
But the romance of going there,

COURTESY OF FILM FESTIVAL ALLIANCE (IFFEHC); COURTESY OF ROSWELL FILM FESTIVAL

H A D A Roswell, BYRON YEES
New Mexico local for UFOs, the film festival or FEATURE THE
otherwisethats the key. ALIENS SCREENS
relate this story to AT ROSWELL FILM
me: He was on vacation near I met Buffalo, NY-based
FESTIVAL 2017
Transylvania when a Romanian singer Christina Custode, who
found out he was from Roswell came all the way to perform
in Roswell because, well, its Sands National Monument and won Best Short Film; on the
and asked him, Have you ever
Roswell. (The Roswell Film stopped off in Alamogordo and music side, L.A.-based band The
seen an alien? The guy paused
Festival, founded in 2016, added Ruidosoall great locations. Sound of Ghosts won Best Live
for a moment and asked the
a music division this year.) I saw With a producers hat on, you Performance, while Custode
Romanian, Have you ever seen
a vampire? many great musicians who, like can see why New Mexico is such received the Best Singer-
Roswell is an international us filmmakers, were looking for an attractive locale. Songwriter prize. Most fantastic
brand name. It fires up the an audience. I met two young If you get accepted into of all: My feature The Aliens was
imagination of anyone familiar filmmakers from Boston, Nick Roswell Film Festival its honored with the Best Actor in
with the infamous 1947 Sabia and Nick Valaskatgis, who worth your while to attend. a Feature Film Rossy Awarda
incident, one that spawned a brought their outstanding short Organizers Donovan and beautiful piece of sculpture art
hundred conspiracy theories Uncanny Harbor to Roswell Karen Fulkerson are extremely that landed on me.
and an industry in its own because, well, its Roswell. supportive, and have created
right. Roswell itself is a sleepy My journey to Roswell was a great environment for
little town in the windy, dusty in part to take a look at filming creativity to thrive. Among the BYRON YEE
plains of southeastern New in New Mexico for future roster of film winners, Keishi Byron Yees directorial debut
Mexico. The town is quirky, projects. I visited with Jon Suenagas Inherit the Stars feature is The Aliens. He was
especially the Roswell UFO Foley, the deputy film liaison took home Best Feature Film, also executive producer of 2011
Museum, a huge attraction in Las Cruces, toured White and Bradford Hills Mirrored Sundance breakout Bellflower.

80 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 FESTIVAL BEAT

OMAHA FILM FESTIVAL

13 reasons why this Midwest
festival is never middle of the pack
S A V E T E RA N of one sweep around the festival circuit,
Ive been to some wonderful festivals and a few that were
no fun.
Let me draw an analogy: I frequently work in the developing
world, and have a rating system for bathroomsstarting with
one (hole in the ground) and building up to a 13 (Heathrow Airport
restrooms with the rotating plastic wrap). Each additional amenity
(walls, a toilet, a seat, a door, a lock on the door, a light, a sink,
soap, no flies, paper products, a trashcan, a flush, a mirror) adds
to the number.
The list of things that good film festivals do right is just as
concrete. Omaha Film Festivalwhich I attended this spring with
co-producer/DP Rob Lyall, with our feature documentary about the

EXT: HIGHER GROUND.

opioid crisis, Written Offgets my highest rating. Heres why:
Projection and sound at festivals can be a regular torture, but at
Omaha it is simply perfect. The staff check everything and films
play on big, beautiful screens.
They program a high caliber of films. It quickly became obvious sffo.film
that it was an honor to be included.
Good films mean good filmmakers, which makes being there in
person so worth it.
They are inspiring a new generation of filmmakers with the OFF
Academy: workshops and screenings for area high-school kids.
The panels at the fest are cross-pollinated by world-class
professionals brought in for the Academy, so everyone wins. PRODUCTION SERVICES
The famous Midwestern hospitality is real. We were made to
feel welcome by everyone, from the festival organizers to the MovieMaker was instrumental in my
countless enthusiastic volunteers. saving more than $30K in hard costs on my film.
They have the coolest swagT-shirts, sweatshirts, buttons, tote Id highly recommend this program.
bagsand a rad logo. Gayle Ferraro, producer
Its well organized. The staff pays forensic attention to giving out (To Catch a Dollar; Ganges: River to Heaven)
and collecting audience award ballots, they communicate the
details of every event and party, they help people get rides, they Not only has MovieMaker Magazine been giving
pay for filmmakers hotel stays. They just have the details down. you the knowledge to help you make your movies for
more than 20 years, weve been quietly helping producers
They care about getting people in to see your film. OFF even get their movies made, as well. Now let us help you.
delayed ours a few minutes to allow for another films long Q&A
to wrap up. Were looking for producers in active development
If you so desire, you can have a beer and White Castle or preproduction who meet select criteria and want to
double their budget without raising additional cash.
hamburgers while you watch films. If you qualify, you may be able to stretch your budget
They work all year long to promote film and filmmaking in further than you ever thought it could go.
Omaha.
They print custom tickets for each film, with its own art.
Honestly, thats my single favorite thing. Its such a metaphor for
OFFthoughtful and awesome.
SOMETIMES
The bathrooms are pretty nice, too. YOUR VISION NEEDS
A LITTLE BOOST.
M O L LY H E R M A N N
CONTACT MM PUBLISHER TIM RHYS
Molly Hermann is a producer, director and writer of film and TV,
FOR MORE INFORMATION.
and co-founder of the Washington, D.C.-based boutique production
company The Biscuit Factory.

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 81
FESTIVAL BEAT
LA FEMME INTERNATIONAL
OXFORD FILM FILM FESTIVAL
An oral history of a by woman, for everyone festival, going
FESTIVAL strong in its 13th year
This Mississippi gem H E I D E A F O R La
instantly wins over all Femme International
newcomers Film Festival, for
women directors, writers and
producers, came to me in 2004
ITH MY DEBUT VICTORIA NEGRI WITH HER HOKA as I sat with some other women
feature, Gold Star, STATUETTE IN OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI filmmakers in Park City, Utah.
accepted to the Oxford That year, Sundance had very
Film Festival, my experience few films directed by women;
began before my plane wheels situated out back. I was lucky I thought that was insane. I
even touched the ground. enough to do an extensive sound said, We have to do something.
Ive spent very little time and projection test before my Lets support our own. I started
in the South, yet the clich screeninga luxury at festivals. jotting down names for a festival
of regional friendliness and I had in-depth conversations on a napkin. Whos in? But
hospitality seemed especially with new fans of my film, who none of the other women rallied
true at Oxford. The festival both applauded craftwork around, so I thought, I have to
organizers and attendees like editing and writing, and make this happen.
ACTRESS GINA TORRES RECEIVES
genuinely wanted to discover opened up about their personal At that time, no one in Los THE VISIONARY AWARD AT THE 2016

COURTESY OF VICTORIA NEGRI (OXFORD FILM FESTIVAL); PHOTOGRAPH BY LORI RAIN (LA FEMME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL)
new films and voices. Executive connections to my own very Angeles believed that women EDITION OF LA FEMME FILM FESTIVAL
Director Melanie Addington personal film (about a young could direct anything other than
and her team communicated woman becoming primary a romantic comedy. (Thats still offer them a VIP pass to attend
early and often, even going caregiver to her ailing father). the case, really.) Sponsors were the festival, so they can learn
so far as to start a private They told me about their own few and far betweenWomen why they didnt get in.
Facebook group to connect with experiences of caring for parents in entertainment media? Who We have our opening night
their filmmakers. with Alzheimers, and losing cares? was the overwhelming gala and closing night award
One of my soon-to-be-friends ones parents at a young age. response from studios. That first show, and late-night mixers at
from the festival astutely com- I never expect awards at year, 2005, I also heard, This is bars throughout L.A. At mixers,
mented about the awkwardness festivals. I attend to show a lesbian festival, right? I said, filmmakers often meet distribu-
of networking at film festivals: my film, network, grow my Nowere just women putting tion or funding sources. In 2005,
When you first arrive, youre audience and have a bit of fun, on content created by women. for example, sisters Emily and
unsure who to talk to and, by so winning the Lisa Blount The first year, we had Lupe Elizabeth Dell had a proof-of-
the time you leave, you wish Memorial Award for Acting for Ontiveros as MC, and honored concept short called B-Girl.
you could have that first night my performance in Gold Star Penelope Spheeris, Jacqueline They met an investor at the
back so you could hang out came as a complete surprise. Bisset and other directors. We festival, submitted the feature
with your new friends more. This meant an encore screening showed 25 films in two days, in 2010, won an award, and now
Networking can be overwhelm- and more promotion for projected on 35mm. Now weve I see it on cable all the time.
ing, but everyone at Oxford screening number two. got approximately 110 films in More recent successes include
made the usual anxieties Landing back in New York, two theatersthe Regal Cinemas the features The Scarapist
quickly vanish. A much-buzzed- after the adrenaline wore off, I at L.A. Liveover four days. We and The Morning After, which
about White House party was started brainstorming ways to have six seminars this year, put both signed deals in 2016 after
like a frat party for film nerds in get myself back to Oxford next on by the likes of SAG-AFTRA, screening in 2015 at the festival.
a huge Southern mansion. The year, to celebrate and support Columbia College Hollywood We constantly have women
party had good food and end- film with old friends and a good and the WGA. In addition to our tell us, I didnt realize how
less bourbon, complete with a glass of bourbon. And maybe screenplay competition, our TV great your festival was until I
fortune-teller in the basement Ill even get to check out that pilot competition, launched last finished the festival circuit. Im
(whom I never got to visit, due fortune-teller next time. year, is exploding. coming back!
to an extremely long line). As a nonprofit, our mission
And oh, right, the screenings! VICTORIA NEGRI is education. We send out an L E S L I E L A PA G E , A S T O L D
The main theater at Oxford, the Victoria Negri is a Brooklyn- email to selected films that T O K E L LY L E O W
Malco Oxford Commons, served based filmmaker and actor details, step by step, how to Leslie LaPage is the founder of
as a de facto base camp, with on the circuit with her award- market at the festival. And even LA Femme International Film
a VIP food/drink tent hangout winning debut film Gold Star. if a filmmaker doesnt get in, we Festival. MM

82 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 CALLS FOR ENTRIES AND MARKETPLACE

Rooted in the heart of the American categories: Narrative, Documentary,

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Film Festivals Alliance (FFA) is an The 2018 Newport Beach Film Festival The 15th annual Oxford Film Festival
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The Film Reporter selected it Most submissions. Committed to providing 2017 for the February 7-11, 2018 festival.
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M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 83
continued from page 51 continued from page 51
him for the vain, self-obsessed Steve
Coogan he so often portrays. No, not
really, he replies. When you do come- THERES AN
dy, you have to look like a fool to make
people laugh. People want people to like OLD ADAGE IN
them. When you divest yourself of that, it
liberates you. One of my favorite movies SHOW BUSINESS:
is Alfie with Michael Caine. I use it often
as a touchstone, because [the viewer] READY. FIRE.
thinks, I dont like this person, but even-
tually you find some compassion for him, AIM. THATS
and thats really rich.
The Trip to Spain started with a six-
MICHAELS Good Time is the latest in a long line of
auteur collaborations for Robert Pattinson,
page outline written by Winterbottom.
Youd think that editing the copious
APPROACH TO including Werner Herzog, David Cronenberg,
James Gray and Harmony Korine
amount of improvised footage would be
the most challenging aspect of the films,
FILMMAKING. Norman Mailers writing on such; watch-
ing documentaries. You start to understand
but Winterbottom said that location a parallel of prison culture and larger so-
scouting was particularly arduous: We cial culture. America lives under this prison
drove through a lot of different routes. ethos, not just the penal system, but also the
The process of finding the restaurants isolation. We work across from this build-
was hard. He had a specific endpoint Oh, OK. Sometimes theyd tell me after ing and I dont see that big of a difference
in mind: Andalusia. We wanted to get wed shot the scene. It feels very alive. between the day room in a jail and the liv-
down to the south and deal with Islam The series is famous for its food porn ing room there. So when we began imagin-
and the way the Moors controlled Spain. this time, from restaurants like Txoko in ing Connie as this ex-con, part of the thing
The setting allowed them to make Getaria, the Michelin-starred Etxebarri that was injected into him was this concept
trenchant allusions to Lee, Orwell and near Bilbao and Parador de Almagro of being truly free. And I think the American
Cervantes, which fit in nicely with the in La Mancha. We like the restau- Dream is this concept of freedom, being free
Coogan characters haughty literary as- rant being open, with real people, says from the constraints of the world that youre
pirations. Fans impressed with the ac- Winterbottom. Its funny how things put into. A lot of the time that comes with
tors erudition may be giving them like background noise change how you money. For Connie, money is a gateway to a
a bit too much credit, however. Per behave. Whereas in a completely dead world of freedom where he owns a piece of
Winterbottom, All that stuff is in the space, where everyones just miming ex- land and lives in a cabin with his brother. In
original outline. Steve and Rob dont tras, everything gets a bit flatter. We try reality it would probably be a nightmare, be-
do massive amounts of research them- to be as small as possible. With meals, cause his brother needs care. The American
selves. I have to make them look better we have two cameras, sometimes three. Dream in this film is so unattainable. Its no
informed than they really are. This one, we shot on mainly Arri Alexa longer the sincere thing it once was.
A rough sketch in place, the shoot Minis. Before, we used Arri Alexas.
commences. With Winterbottom, you MM: Youve made three love stories
Winterbottom wanted to juxtapose
never have to hit a mark, says Coogan, now in different forms.
intimate conversations and the vast
or find a light. He doesnt allow make- JS: Someone else once mentioned that to
landscape of the Spanish coast. We had
up or wardrobe on set. Theres no safe us, and asked us what other kinds of love
a drone for the driving stuff, to get out
place to stand. He lets you, more or less, we could look into. Paternal love, obses-
and wide. Spain is this big, empty coun-
do what you like. I feel very secure doing sive love, romantic love, now fraternal love.
try. Youve got the two of them arguing
things that are riskier, because hes a ge- I dont really understand what else there is
about things, and worrying about their
nius, and I love the way he works. It feels to marvel at. There are people who marvel
careers, and then you cut back to the
at hate; that is a very easy thing to do. Hate
like Im hanging out with a friend, and scale of the dinosaur [sculpture outside
comes from the mind, and love comes from
the camera happens to be rolling. the Jurassic Museum of Asturias], or
the body and the heart and the soul. I be-
This is not to every actors taste. You the empty landscape.
lieve that film is the nexus of the two, of the
need to be very comfortable with chaos. Those moments heighten the melan-
mind and the heart. As a filmmaker, when
Whenever guest actors appear, I have to choly, says Winterbottom. Theres an
you can tap into something like love, its un-
reassure them and say, Dont try to fig- energy and life at lunch. Then you see
wieldy; its so much a spiritual thing. Love
ure out whats going on. Just go with it, Steve by himself. No matter how ambi-
is not something you can put into words. I
and itll make sense in the end. If youre tious and bold and adventurous, when
think we will always be interested in love. I
COURTESY OF A24

used to working in a more structured, you end up back in your bedroom by

dont want to marvel at hate. MM
disciplined, orthodox way, then you will yourself, it is a little bit sad. MM
be thrown by it. Sometimes I wouldnt
Good Time opens in theaters August 11,
even know where the camera was. Hed The Trip to Spain opens in theaters
2017, courtesy of A24.
go, Its over there. Theres another there. August 11, 2017, courtesy of IFC Films.

84 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 ON LOCATION

GETTING LUCKY IN NEVADA

With a newly restored tax incentive and plenty SLEEPLESS , DIRECTED BY
of untouched locations, theres more to BARAN BO ODAR AND STARRING
JAMIE FOXX AS A CORRUPT COP,
moviemaking in Nevada than casinos and capers WAS SHOT IN LAS VEGAS (AS
WELL AS ATLANTA)
BY KO RICKER THE EXTREMES OF NEVADAS
LANDSCAPE MAKE FOR SOME
POWERFUL MOVIE VISUALS

H O W B I Z . S H E NA N I G A N S . S I Z Z L E . Sin City
has long played home to high-octane cinematic produc-
tions. More often than not, the blinding neon lights of
the strip provide the perfect backdrop for slick crime,
heightened antics and colossal destruction, la Oceans Eleven, The
Hangover or this winters Jamie Foxx-starrer Sleepless.
True to its reputation, Vegas continues to attract some of the big-
gest names in Hollywood. Two years ago, the entire strip was shut
down for a chase scene involving 200 cars, including an armored
SWAT van, in last years Jason Bourne. No small feat for the Nevada
Film Office to coordinate, it required a slew of private and public or-
ganizations to cooperate at both the city and county levels.
You probably dont have the $120 million budget of a Bourne film, of
course, so you may wonder: What does Nevada have to offer produc-
tions more indie in scope? Robert Putka, whose feature debut, Mad,
premiered at Slamdance in 2016, set his sights on the suburbs of Las
Vegas for his second feature, shooting there this summer. Its a talky
dramedy about a couple having difficulty reconnecting after years
away from each other, says Putka. Like many others, he was charmed
by Vegas evocative cultural significance. The city symbolically mir-
rors the relationship between the main characters in the film, he
LAS VEGAS IS thinks. (Just bring sunscreen.)
Filming in Las Vegas is not
says. Las Vegas is a pulsing, passionate oasis of a city in the middle
of an arid, unforgiving landscape. I saw a potent, if cynical, metaphor
A PULSING, without its unique challenges.
Preiss mentions that due to the
for what love, and the memory of love, can evolve into. PASSIONATE OASIS popularity of the strip as a lo-
TOP: COURTESY OF OPEN ROAD FILMS; BOTTOM: COURTESY OF THE NEVADA FILM OFFICE

Putkas film, currently titled We Used To Know Each Other, has a cation, businesses can afford to
microbudget under $100,000. The writer-director chose Vegas pre- OF A CITY IN THE be very picky about which titles
cisely because costs would be low. They make it incredibly easy to they work with. Some brands
make a movie of any budget there, he says. MIDDLE OF AN may not see a fit with the con-
Eric Preiss, director of the Nevada Film Office, would agree. He tent, or feel that the business
emphasizes that the states film-ready environment makes the pro- ARID, UNFORGIVING interruption would be offset by
cess smooth. Permits are free in most areas and dont exceed $45 in
others, including the famous Las Vegas Boulevard, says Preiss, and
LANDSCAPE A the exposure, he explains.
Even so, moviemakers like
adds that proximity makes travel cost-effective for L.A. operations.
For indie productions topping $500,000, Nevadas tax incentives
POTENT, IF CYNICAL, Putka seem committed to
Nevada. Its hard not to be
restored this spring by state officials after a three-year absence METAPHOR. romantic when talking about
arent too shabby, either, and become even more competitive when the quiet, contemplative side of
you take into account certain extras. The tax credit begins at 15 per-
cent, with additional bonuses of five percent for hiring local crew and
five percent for filming in rural areas for a potential 25 percent total

make for the perfect Western,
Vegas, a side that people dont
realize exists, he says. Not only
will I make another film there,
credit, says Preiss. The transferable nature of the credit makes re- but grassy valleys and the crys- I was so taken with its energy
demption very simple and cost-effective for productions looking to tal-blue Lake Tahoe provide op- and natural beauty that Ive
maximize its value. To qualify, at least 60 percent of the budget must tions for less obvious settings. since thought about moving
be incurred in Nevada (unless all post-production takes place outside Nevada has it all, says Preiss. there and making it my own
the state, in which case post expenditures can be dropped from that The 46,000-acre Valley of Fire indie film playground. Its a
60 percent). The state has a $10 million annual film budget. State Park, 58 miles north of the secret Id rather keep.
Dont forget, too, that theres more to Nevada than its gleaming strip, could even double for a Sorry, Bobbylooks like the
cultural capital. Ghost towns and sprawling desert landscape would moonscape in a sci-fi film, he secrets out. MM

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 85
PRODUCTION JOURNAL

ON PRESS, AND
PRESSING ON
In between promoting his Sundance
hit A Ghost Story and cutting his next,
David Lowery takes stock of life as an
indie auteur
B Y D AV I D L O W E R Y

1. Im a big fan of routines. I dont like

sticking to them, or setting my clock
by them, but I like having them, losing
them and then finding them once again.
In 2011 I made a short illustrated film
about how I spent my days (which
contains the first appearance of my
sheet-ghost friend, eventually a part
of A Ghost Story), and last fall I found,
with no shortage of satisfaction, my
DAVID LOWERY SHOT A GHOST STORY OVER 19 DAYS
day-to-day existence falling back into Western continents. This is the part of
IN DALLAS, IMMEDIATELY AFTER WRAPPING HIS 2016
those old patterns. Theres great comfort filmmaking you dont think about when DISNEY FILM, PETES DRAGON
in familiarity for me. I like revisiting, youre making your movie, that you
returning, resting easy on the same- dont realize youre embarking upon
What were some of your influences?
old-same-olds, sinking into nostalgia. until youre in the middle of it, and
What do you hope audiences take
A daily routine allows that nostalgia to which you look back on fondly once the
away from the film?
accumulate like mold in the nooks and film has receded and no one wants to
What are you making next?
crannies of every 24-hour period. talk about it anymore. The questions,
These are all fine questions. There will
2. Letting go of nostalgia is a large part answers, faces, voices, cameras,
be others mixed amongst them, a few
of what A Ghost Story is about. Its microphones, tape recorders and hotel
curveballs here and there, some deeper
also something Ive had to get used to rooms all blur together and fade, and
digging and critical points of discussion
because making movies is a lifestyle what youre left with are snippets of
and pleasant surprises and occasional
(not just a craft, not only a career, but cities, strolls across cold cobblestones,
stumpers, but the consistency of these
a way of living) that is anti-routine. detours down winding alleys in towns
core queries is hard to ignore: As you
Or rather, that regularly upends one and burgs you never knew and still
answer them you wonder if youre
routine in favor of another. The process dont, foreign currency jingling in your
putting too much of the same thing out
of making a film is surprisingly rote, pocket. At some point on each stop you
into the world, and yet you want to be
but its always occurring at a different find yourself standing in the same place
truthful and earnest in your responses.
place, at a different time. You walk at the front of the same theater, in front
You want to preserve a sense of mystery
past the same fleet of trucks (or vans, of what seems to be the same audience,
PHOTOGRAPH BY BRET CURRY / COURTESY OF A24

but you dont want to be vague or,

or one van, or just a few cars) you all waiting to hear what you have to
worse, dismissive. You figure out ways
walked past last year, but now youre say after having just spent 90 minutes
to make each answer unique, to make
on another continent. The Fisher dolly hearing everything you thought you had
each interview feel like a conversation,
your camera is mounted on is the same to say. All of this leaves you worn out
but there are certain phrases that just
model you used six months ago, but and talked out but never not grateful.
work. They become your bedrock on
now youre pushing it yourself. 4. Here are the questions you can count
these long days, and slip out almost
3. I write this from an aisle seat on while doing press:
unconsciously after a while.
somewhere above Seattle, en route back Where did the idea come from?
to Texas. This time last week I was in What was it like working with 5. I saw The Lost City of Z on the weekend
London; in another weeks time Ill be so-and-so? while shooting my most recent film,
packing for New York and Los Angeles. Why was this story important to The Old Man and The Gun. When
A month from now Ill be getting ready you? Im not working on a film, I generally
to head home from a zig-zag tour of the Tell me about that scene. watch a movie a day. When that

86 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 PRODUCTION JOURNAL

the site frequently enough that if I type the

letter t into my browser it will automatically
pop up. Muscle memory, I tell myself. Except
then I take the next step and enter my own
name into the Twitter search bar. I stalk myself.
8. Now Ive landed back in Dallas. I got home from
the airport, changed my clothes and went for
a run. Next to movies, this is the one thing I
maintain some consistency with. When Im not
shooting, I try to run almost every day. While
in production, it dwindles to the weekends,
and sometimes not even then. This, like going
a week without seeing a film on the big screen,
is a sadness. I read about Steven Soderbergh
spending no more than six to eight hours on
set and having time for leisure activity in the
evening (after editing the days work, no less!)
and I think: This guys got it figured out.
9. Im supposed to be editing that new film now
but Ive abdicated the cutting room for press
duties. It was perfect timing. I watched the first
assembly last Tuesday and had just enough time
to decide the film was a disaster before grabbing
my suitcase and heading to the airport. Now
Im not thinking about it (although of course
its all Im thinking about) and not dealing with
it (this much, at least, is true) and putting off
the process of making it better until Im done
talking about A Ghost Story. And in this context,
there is a certain safety in the knowledge
that Ill be talking about it for the rest of the
summer. At some point Im sure Ill even talk
about how that first cut also felt like a disaster
and I very nearly buried it in my backyard.
10. Sometimes I freak out and feel overexposed and
just want to shut up for a while. I want to let the
movie speak for itself. Even that sometimes feels
like too much. But then I meet someone whos
just seen it and is excited about it and wants to
understand it, and their excitement is vicarious
and to them I feel like Im opening up about it
for the first time. Then maybe they ask me what
Im working on next and my exclamation points
number dwindles while Im in production, I start to turn into ellipses. It is very hard to think about
A GHOST STORY
REUNITES LOWERY WITH
get anxious. When Im not making a film I get anxious nexts at this point in the process. I can imagine
ACTORS ROONEY MARA too. I enjoy watching movies more than I enjoy myself writing, because Im doing that, and I
AND CASEY AFFLECK, WHO making them, but if I dont make them I feel like Im can envision myself on some distant and future
PHOTOGRAPH BY ANDREW DROZ PALERMO

PREVIOUSLY STARRED not keeping up with the conversation. No one is asking set. But all the necessary, physical, pragmatic
IN THE DIRECTORS 2013 for my participation and my arguments may not hold steps between those two points feel not just
FILM AINT THEM BODIES
SAINTS. THE FILM WAS muster, but interject I must. impossibly far away, but impossible. The idea
SHOT ON A 1:33:1 RATIO 6. As of this writing Ive seen 102 movies so far this year. of getting in a van and scouting locations or
7. Its been a year since I quit Twitter. June 18, I think. casting or walking the racks with my costume
That was my last post. I didnt want to delete my designer is downright overwhelming. So I say
account (nostalgia!) but I also didnt want to access I dont know what Im doing next. For the first
it again, so I changed my log-in setting to a random time in a long time, that is the honest truth. MM
series of numbers that I would never in a million years
remember or be able to reverse-engineer, and that was A Ghost Story opened in theaters July 7, 2017,
that. Except that it wasnt. I still find myself visiting courtesy of A24.

M O V I E M A K E R . C O M SUMMER 2017 87
THINGS IVE LEARNED
AS A MOVIEMAKER

THERES NO 3. Always know why you are

taking a job. That way you cant
let yourself down.

NEED FOR 4. Work with people who

actually have vision. Youd be

PERFECTION, surprised how many directors

dont realize they are steering

ONLY TRUTH the ship.

5. No matter how educated,
And 24 other rules for talented, rich or cool you think
you are, how you treat people
surviving Hollywood with ultimately tells all. Integrity is
your sanity intact everything.
6. Only talk about the work
BY TONI COLLETTE
and rehearse up to a point. If
you flog the horse, there will
be nothing real left to give on
H E E V E RY- the day.
WO M A N FAC E D
7. Ask for another take if you
with the extraor-
know you have further to go
dinarythats Toni Collette in a
or feel you can do better. You
nutshell. From a geologist beset
cannot get the moment back.
with unexpected passion in the
This is it.
Australian outback in Japanese
Story, to a single mom trying to 8. If its not on the page it wont
understand her gifted child in be on the screen. Ive only had
The Sixth Sense, to a Kansas City this disproved once.
housewife with alternate per-
9. Welcome the accidental
sonalities in The United States of
moments. There is no need for
Tara, the Oscar-nominated ac-
perfection, just truth.
tress has a knack for grasping 16. Do whatever you have to 22. Be prepared to connect
the real and relatable in any sit- 10. Once a scene is done, let it do to get to the right emotional with your colleagues quickly
uation. Her latest film, among a go. Otherwise, it will do your place before a take. And and deeply, and then move on.
slew of 2017 projects: Fun Mom head in. Accept that it was just protect that space without This world is very transient. It
Dinner, the Sundance-premier- one moment in time. being an arsehole. Who cares doesnt suit everyone.
ing comedy (by fellow Aussie if its embarrassing? Whats
11. Once on set, everything 23. Be polite when shooing
Alethea Jones) which sees Col- more embarrassing is a bad
distracts you: the camera in away smokers.
lette as a wisecracking suburban performance.
your face, the actor opposite
mother reluctantly roped into a 24. Every minute counts. Thats
you not reading the lines like 17. Know your crew. Theyre the
night of bad-parent hijinks. Be- why call times are so strangely
your brother did at home, ones who catch you when youre
low, she shares her grounded militant. 5:42 a.m.?! Tick tock.
someone breathing. The micro free falling.
wisdomincluding some tips for Dont be late.
becomes macro. If youre
actors on managing bodily func- 18. If you dont understand
underprepared youre wasting 25. Lastly, be open to a life of
tions. K.L. something, ask.
everyones time. adventure. None of us know
19. Allow yourself to be what the future holds, and
1. Listen to your gut. There 12. All manner of crazy
vulnerable. In fact, just allow. working in film is a heightened
PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRISTIAN HGSTEDT

are lots of other opinions, but conversations and behavior

metaphor for that. You never
thats all they areopinions. occurs during night shoots. 20. The way you look doesnt
know where youll be, what
Have enough courage to back Learn to observe rather than matter. Pretty, skinny, cool
story youll help tell or whom
yourself up. contribute. Youll have fewer these things dont mean shit. Its
youll work with. It teaches you
regrets in the morning. the internal world people will
2. Only work on films you to go with the flow. Have fun
relate to.
believe in. Yes, acting is a job 13. Drink more water than with it! MM
and one must pay the bills. But wine. 21. Speaking of internal worlds,
its a job where you use your try to shit before they call Fun Mom Dinner opens in
14. Be brave and generous.
body, mind and soul. Dont action in the morning. Youll be theaters August 4, 2017, courtesy
exhaust these parts of yourself. 15. Remain present and open. much more comfortable! of Momentum Pictures.

88 SUMMER 2017M O V I E M A K E R . C O M
 47 %
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