Smurfs versus Conan

I love documentaries. Now, this wasn’t always the case. In fact, for the majority of my life I thought that documentaries were 30 minute, terribly acted, and horribly boring movies my social studies teacher would leave for the substitute. This left me wondering 1. What did substitute teachers do before there was a tv in every classroom and 2. Why was best documentary even a category at the Oscars? For years I lived with these questions and sadly misinformed belief that documentaries were just not for me. However, this all changed a few years ago when I started helping out at a film festival.

I was perhaps the least likely person to volunteer for such an activity – I have no training in film and to this day don’t understand the movie Pi (though I think I got Inception… I think). No, the reason I signed on was because of a boy. While that relationship did not work out, I was left with one great gift from our time together, documentaries. Helping screen festival submissions I was amazed at the quality of work, the fascinating stories, and the craftsmanship that went into a great doc. This opened a whole new world for me, and I loved it.

Browsing through the offerings at my local theater, I find myself wishing that documentaries got more credit. Sure, a few sneak through and get nationwide screenings (of course, only if Morgan Freeman is the narrator, I would listen to that man read the phone book) but generally we’re left with Smurfs 2 (even smurfier?). So, while I love NPH, I’m happy to stick with the streaming options on Netflix and selection at the library. Check out The Queen of Versailles, Beauty is Embarrassing or Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop and tell me documentaries shouldn’t get more respect. And of course, join me and the great folks at Landlocked in August for some fantastic selections.

-KJ

Missed the panel discussion at the premiere of The Ioway Parts 2&3?

Never fear, the bootleg is here!

In it, hear about the making of the film, efforts to preserve the Ioway language, an historic map and more.

Keywords Exclusive: Interview with Kelly Rundle of 4th Wall Films

Last night was the World Premier of parts 2@3 of Kelly and Tammy Rundle’s The Ioway.

I sat down with Kelly for a quick interview with Kelly where we talked about finding ideas, telling stories and how to find funding.

Check it out!

LLFF Speaks with Filmmaker John Putch

A couple of years back, Landlocked had the privilege of screening Route 30, a film by John Putch.  It was true to the comedy genre and it was sincerely hilarious … a huge crowd pleaser!  So when the opportunity arose to put the sequel, Route 30 Too on the Landlocked 2012 film slate, you can bet we snatched it up without thinking twice.

If you are not familiar with John Putch, a simple Google search will give you a long list of successful acting and directing credits. Putch is the son of actress Jean Stapleton and late Producer/Director William H. Putch.  His professional career actually starting at the wee age of five in his father’s summer theater in Pennsylvania.

This weekend, we have the honor of having John and three of his cast members join us for the festival as the professionals on the Independent Film Panel.  This will be a great opportunity to learn about making an independent, micro-budget film outside the realms of Hollywood from the filmmakers themselves. Bring your questions and your sense of humor!

Luckily, I was able to snag John for a quick moment in the middle of his insane Route 30 Too promotional calendar to answer a few of our filmmaker questions.  Here is what John had to say:

LL: How old were you when you realized you wanted to be a filmmaker? Describe your moment.

JP: I was 12. My father put a Minolta 660xl super-8 sound camera in my hand and a box of 50′ cartridges.

LL: What is currently your favorite movie of all time? Why?

JP: I don’t have one. But I do think the movies of the 70′s where the best ever made.

LL: How did you decide on the title for your film?

JP: The Route 30 trilogy is named after the highway that ran through my home town in Pennsylvania.

LL: If you were to “label” your genre of film, what would that be? And what draws and/or inspires you to make this type of film?

JP: Comedy. Nothing better. I think film makers take themselves too seriously some time. I find a comedy is more fun to work on and actually improves my mental health.

LL:  If you could work with anyone in “Hollywood”, who would it be? and why?

JP: I don’t like anyone in Hollywood. I’d prefer to work outside of that system with talented people elsewhere.

Route 30, Too! – Trailer from ROUTE 30 TRILOGY on Vimeo.

Thank you JOHN!!!

And thank you for joining us this weekend!

Make sure you all join us for the screening of Route 30, Too on Saturday, October 27 at the Englert at 7pm. The cost is just $7 or you can use your all access film pass for only $30.

See you there!

Quick thoughts from a newbie

Every year we hear from new people wanting to get involved with Landlocked. It’s great to see their reactions to independent films. This year we have some commentary from newbie Avinash Yadav on a couple of 2012′s films.

HEATHENS & THIEVES
During the time of the gold rush, several parties arrive at a desolate Northern California horse ranch in search of rumored loot. The drama that ensues leaves the audience on edge. Is there any loot to be had? Who will get their hands on it? The fact that the ranch is occupied by a young Chinese family adds to the tension during this period of anti-Chinese sentiment. An emerging rift between the Chinese husband and wife further complicates matters as loyalties begin to shift. Who will get the upper hand? It’s worth watching this enjoyable feature film to find out.

PARTY CRASHERS
This documentary tells about the rise of the Tea Party movement in American politics. Whether you’re sympathetic with the movement or not, it is sure to enlighten. I certainly learned something about the movement, even though I thought I had understood it. Definitely worth watching.

LLFF Speaks to Filmmaker David Story

Into Thick Air is a short “mockumentary” about Midwest mountaineering. And it is hilarious! (all 18 minutes of it) What makes this film so funny is the fact that these 30-something buddies document their actual weekend trek to the seven summits of the Great Plains.  And the serious nature of the “hollywood” narrator takes the hysterical factor up another notch on the already comedic ladder. There is no doubt in my mind that this film is sure to be coveted by all Midwesterner’s and land-lovers nationwide. And might I just add, I will be looking forward to what David and his friends come up with next! I recently had the pleasure of sharing our interview questions with filmmaker David Story, and here is what he had to say: LL: How old were you when you realized you wanted to be a filmmaker? Describe your moment. DS: I was 14 when I realized I wanted to be a filmmaker.  In a happy confluence of events, I had an English teacher who enjoyed using movies to back up the written word, and that same school year, my father started selling Super 8 cameras to stores.   I was able to get a free camera from my dad, and made a short film in lieu of a book report, and it was so much fun, I felt like I had gotten away with murder. LL: What is currently your favorite movie of all time?  Why? DS:Chinatown.   Every part of it comes together perfectly.  The actors, production design, direction, and music are superb.  The script is one of the best ever written. LL: How did you decide on the title for your film? DS: My movie is a light-hearted documentary about climbing the peaks of the Midwest/Great Plains States.   Other mountaineers go into thin air, but in the low elevations and occasionally humid places we were going, it felt appropriate to call the film “Into Thick Air.” LL: If you were to “label” your genre of film, what would that be? And what draws and/or inspires you to make this type of film? DS: I’d call it a road movie/adventure film/mockumentary/documentary.  It’s not a strict mockumentary, in that all the events really happened, but around those true events are some intentionally comic moments.   I’m drawn to this type of movie because I like films that are funny but not contrived. LL: If you could work with anyone in “Hollywood”, who would it be?  and why? DS: I’m a huge fan of the Coen Brothers, I think their movies are both wildly funny and mesmerizingly intense.   I hate it when good filmmakers seem like they’re just rehashing past work.   No one could accuse “The Big Lebowski” and “No Country for Old Men” of being overly similar, and I guess that’s one reason I’d love to work with the Coen Brothers and see how they make their films. Thank you, David! Into Thick Air will be the first film to screen in the Comedy Shorts segment on Friday, October 25th at 5pm at the Englert Theatre. The cost is only $5 to see all six films, or pick up a $30 all access Film Pass for the weekend here. Click on the poster to watch a glimpse …

LLFF Speaks With Filmmakers John Pata and Adam Bartlett

Adam Bartlett (left) & John Pata (right)

How do you feel about Zombie movies?

Walking Dead is a major television hit in it’s third season, every costume for Halloween is Zombie-fied, even high schools and colleges are holding Zombie Proms.  Zombie is where it’s at.

But even my 16 year old son (HUGE Walking Dead fan & everything zombie & shared the privilege of pre-screening this excellent film with me), said this was more than a zombie film.

And he said that two days AFTER he saw the movie.

I think when something sticks with you for days afterward, that’s a good film.

Especially if you are 16.

I recently had the privilege of interviewing Dead Weight filmmakers John & Adam, and here is what they had to say:

LL: How old were you when you realized you wanted to be a filmmaker? Describe your moment.

Adam Bartlett: It was never really a dream or deep seeded desire I had. I never realized it was a goal until it was happening, really. John and I simply started writing the story, and didn’t expect that it would become a film, but hoped. I have, however, been interested in storytelling since I was 17 or 18. That’s when I realized I loved the written word, and it’s when I discovered the power of good literature.

John Pata: It’s a two-fold answer for me. I saw Jaws when I was around seven or eight years old, and absolutely loved it. My parents told me about all the problems the crew had with the Bruce (the shark) and how they had to change the way the made the film to troubleshoot the issues they were having. It’s safe to say that was the first time I truly realized there was a behind-the-scenes aspect of filmmaking, and I was super intrigued.

A couple years later the TV show, Movie Magic, came on air and instantly became one of my favorite shows. Movie Magic focused on special effects and creating the impossible of filmmaking, and from that day on I was all about what takes place behind the camera rather than in front of it.

LL: What is currently your favorite movie of all time?  Why?

AB: It always bounces between The Thing and Se7en, depending on the mood I’m in at the time. The Thing is the perfect story of isolation and paranoia. Amazing atmosphere, performances, and special effects. Se7en, to me, is the most beautifully miserable story I’ve ever experienced. It invokes more emotion and anxiety within me than any other film ever has.

JP: I saw The Evil Dead when I was ten years old and it blew my mind. At that point, I grew up on horror, but it was more of the mainstream type horror. When I popped in The Evil Dead, I must have been expecting the same and it was anything but. This was the first time I witnessed true independent filmmaking, getting a small cast and crew to spend weeks in the woods and create something not for fame or money, but for passion and the urge to create something different. Those 85 minutes threw me into a world I never knew existed, and it was so bloody and relentless… I loved it. To this day, no film has impacted me like The Evil Dead, and I never expect another one will.

LL: How did you decide on the title for your film? 

AB: It just sort of came along, popped into my head. I mentioned it to John, he liked it, and there was never another word on the subject. We knew people would think of “zombies” or infected creatures when they heard the title, but we’ve always wanted it to reference the emotional burdens that many of the characters carry throughout the story. We hoped people would catch different meanings from the title as they view the film.

LL: If you were to “label” your genre of film, what would that be? And what draws and/or inspires you to make this type of film?

JP: Dead Weight is definitely a hodgepodge of genres. It’s part dark drama, part psychological horror, and even part romantic comedy. We wrap it all up by saying that Dead Weight is survival horror mixed with a post-apocalyptic love story. I’m pretty sure video stores have a section for that, right?

AB: It began as a horror story, through and through. As writing progressed the story organically transformed into something else very different. We ended up writing much more dialogue than we had originally imagined, and ended up with much more emotional weight in the story. So I guess it’s really more about suspense, thriller, drama in the end, with heavy horror undertones. And overtones I suppose, at times. But it’s not about the gore, it’s not about the shock, it’s about the people and they things they do, the choices they make. John and I both feel like it treads in a strange grey area where horror, drama, and suspense all meet.

LL: If you could work with anyone in “Hollywood”, who would it be?  and why?

JP: Kurt Russell, because he’s Kurt Russell.

AB: Kurt Russell. He is Kurt Russell. Do I need another reason?

Thank you, John & Adam!  

It’s been a pleasure getting know you and your film a wee bit better.

Don’t miss the screening of Dead Weight on Saturday, October 26th at The Bijou on the U of I Campus at 8pm.  Tickets are only $7 or you can buy an all access Film Pass for only $30 here.