I think that some of the things that were our greatest challenges became our greatest strengths. I knew that the challenge was gonna be to match the scale of the film with a really small team and on an indie budget. In the costume department, it was really beautiful because you’re in the trenches together and you sort of reach out to your community.
Sean Baker has quietly built an impressive resume of truly independent films that speak to the 99% in a way that most modern films don’t. In a spot just released by Neon with quotes from Baker, Willem Dafoe, and Mikey Madison speaks volumes about what makes him unique. A writer, director, editor, and producer who stuck with his passion for film despite all the hurdles that life throws at you when making art with few resources. This has been a career of sheer perseverance.
That’s one of those happy accidents where that squeak comes from that moment on set and there’s a natural progression to how that windshield chill wiper sounded based on the amount of snowfall that was hitting the windshield. So when the windshield was initially dry, it was grating, and then as the snowfall continued, it slowly changed over time until it became basically like a whisper.
I feel like the strip club and the Vegas segments have a different color scheme and are quite different with their purples and the blues as well. I felt like those vibrant hues were nice to showcase the fantasy version of reality, whereas then all the colder stuff is kind of stark real New York.
“I hope that we’re inspiring people. I feel like it’s so needed right now with the state of cinema and all of that, winning Cannes, winning the Palme d’Or, felt like a win for independent cinema. It truly did. I think the fact that we won, the fact that we were able to stand out, just kind of, to me it’s a sign of the times. It’s a sign that indie cinema needs a comeback. This is what people actually want. They want bold, original films, that are risky, that are subversive.”
The Gotham Awards is one of the ceremonies to kick off awards season shows. It’s a bit of a teaser of what’s to come. The nominees are decided by critics, film journalists, and industry professionals. A few of this year’s nominees include Anora, Baby Girl, and Sing Sing. Thankfully, The Gotham Awards honors some fantastic work in horror this year as well, nominating Demi Moore’s transfixing performance in The Substance as well as director Jane Schoenbrun’s imaginative storytelling in I Saw the TV Glow.
The contest is called the Anora x KODAK contest. It will provide ten filmmakers the chance to shoot a short on KODAK Super 8 or 16mm film, in addition to mentorship from the film company. The contest is open to students and long-time pros. Simply pitch “Tell Us Your Love Story,” describing how you’d craft a love story on analog film.
Now this is how to do a teaser trailer right. Tell audiences nothing, let them feel the mood of the film. It’s exactly what the marketing team at Neon does with a new look at Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming horror film, Presence, which is from the point-of-view of a ghost. The movie stars Lucy Liu, Julia Fox, Callina Liang, and Chris Sullivan.
“Who doesn’t love Marc Bolan? Nicolas Cage’s portrayal of an acid-washed out glam-rocker/satanic death disciple is absolutely pulling the visage of Bolan from the 1972 ‘The Slider’ album cover, an image you see plastered on the wall of Longlegs’ red lit lair.”
