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flanaganfilm · 1 year

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Hey Mike! Can you talk about your experience going from Absentia to Oculus? That process after Absentia went on its festival run to pitching Oculus? Would love to learn about that time in your life & career!

I moved to Los Angeles in 2003, right after I graduated college. I went to Towson University in Maryland, was an EMF major (Electronic Media & Film) and had wanted nothing more than to make movies my whole life. We were a comfortable middle class military family (my dad was in the Coast Guard) and for most of my life, making movies for a living felt like an impossible dream.

When I moved to LA I took whatever work I could find. I shot and edited those local car commercials you see on TV at 2am, I was a logger and an AE for reality TV shows, and I eventually worked my way to editing.

I said I'd give myself 5 years to make it in Hollwood. By the time we shot Absentia, I'd been here for 7 years, and in that time I hadn't gotten any closer to my dream.

I've already written at length about how Absentia came along and what it was like to make that little movie, and I've recently blogged about how the Oculus premiere changed my life and birthed my career, so I won't rehash those - but I don't often talk about what went on in between.

I finished editing Absentia just before my oldest son was born in 2010, and went back to working full-time as a reality TV editor. In fact, in the months leading up to his birth, I was working double-time - I spent my days at a company called Film Garden working on a series for DIY Network, and my nights editing packages at Nash Entertainment for those true crime clip shows. Whatever it took to keep the lights on and provide as much support as I could for my son.

While this was happening, I'd submitted Absentia to a pile of film festivals. We didn't get into any of the majors - Sundance, SXSW, and Toronto all passed on the film. Our world premiere was at the Fargo Film Festival, where Tom Brandau, one of my former professors from Towson - and one of my mentors - was teaching.

(Our original festival poster, WAY better than the weird clip art that would come later)

The movie got into a fair amount of film festivals, and we traveled with it as much as we could. I have fond memories of the Phoenix Film Festival, San Luis Obispo (where I met Greg Kinnear at a party and very awkwardly asked for a picture - you can see how thrilled he is about it) and my personal favorite: the Fantastia Film Festival in Montreal.

(At one of the screenings, I believe the San Luis Obispo Film Festival)

While this was happening, the film was picked up for a tiny VOD and DVD release through Phase 4 Films.

They were a Canadian distribution company whose claim to fame was putting out Kevin Smith's Red State under a very unusual distribution model. They acquired the movie, which led to a company holiday part in Hollywood.

There, I briefly met Kevin Smith for the first time. We've met again since, and I've now had a chance to thank him for the kindness he showed me back then - I was just some starstruck kid at a party, but he was gracious and available and inspiring. I really admire the way Kevin deals with his fans, and I've tried to emulate it over the years.

So that was kind of it for Absentia. We went to a few festivals, went to a few parties, and posed for a few pictures with some people we admired. Phase 4 designed some truly godawful cover art, dropped the movie into video stores, and that was that.

($2.99 is a pretty good deal)

So Absentia had pretty much run its course. It had a passionate following of fans, but between the crappy art design and glut of low budget horror films on the market, its moment had already come and gone. I was back at work, editing a series for DIY Network called Extra Yardage, and yearning for another chance to make a movie.

Absentia might not have broken open the industry doors like I'd wanted it to, but one thing it did yield was a meeting with an entertainment attorney named Joel VanderKloot.

I had been represented a few times over the years by various managers (to be honest, they were actually Jeff Howard's managers, and they took me on because we had a co-written project together.) But those relationships hadn't gone anywhere, I'd never sold a script or booked a job, and when I suggested making Absentia they were not supportive ("You've already tried the indie thing, haven't you?") so by the time Absentia was made, I was completely unrepped.

Joel was a family friend of Jason Poh, who was one of our Absentia Kickstarter backers. He was a guy who'd just found the project online and donated a thousand bucks. He kept up with us, and loved the final movie. He told me he knew an entertainment lawyer and offered to arrange a lunch.

I left my editing job at Film Garden for a long lunch and met Joel in Santa Monica (this was a day-killing drive for me). Joel had seen the movie and really liked it. We had a good lunch, but wasn't immediately sure about taking me on - it's a lot of work to take on a new client, and there wasn't much heat on my movie. But there was something there that he liked, and he called later that day to say he would take me on as a client.

I was elated. I felt like I'd made my movie to the best of my ability, and that it had flashed in the pan and then died... no one had noticed outside of a few festival audiences and critics. But here was someone who worked in the industry and he saw something in the film that he believed in.

Joel started looking for managers while I clung to my day job. He passed the movie around and we had a few nibbles, which led to the first manager in my career who wanted to simply represent ME: Nicholas Bogner.

Bogner went about setting general meetings at production companies who specialized in horror films. There weren't a lot of takers, and not everyone was willing to watch an entire feature film in consideration of a general meeting. So it was hit or miss - I was a nobody, after all, and they get these kinds of incoming inquiries all the time.

But there were a few takers. And the very first meeting I had was with Anil Kurian at Intrepid Pictures.

Again, I took an extended lunch from my editing job and drove across town to Intrepid's offices in Santa Monica. I was beyond nervous when I sat in the waiting room. The young man working the front desk signed me in and offered me a water. And then, just before the meeting started, he leaned over and he said "I loved Absentia, by the way."

Anil was a really cool executive and we had a good general meeting. At the end of it, he introduced me to the heads of Intrepid: Marc Evans, and Trevor Macy.

We all ended up in the conference room, where posters for Intrepid's other movies - at that time, The Strangers and The Raven - were hanging. I vividly remember staring at them while I pitched all five of the ideas I had for movies.

One of them was a story about a little boy whose dreams manifested in real life, and another was a take on Stephen King's novel Gerald's Game. But at the time, none of these ideas worked. The meeting was over, and everyone was politely going about their day.

I felt a panic in me. It was my first real meeting, the door had been cracked open just an inch by Absentia, and I was about to walk away with nothing. Would my new manager want to keep me? Would my new lawyer think he was wasting his time?

I stopped in the doorway and turned back. "I've got one other thing," I said. "I made a short years ago about a haunted mirror, and I have a take for a feature."

They kind of laughed at the idea of a haunted mirror. "How do you make that scary?" Trevor asked. I said "Think of it like a portable Overlook Hotel," and the room got a little quieter.

"I'd like to see that short," Trevor said. I agreed to send it immediately.

I ran back to work, stayed a few hours late to make up the time I'd burned on my lunch hour, and went home to find a DVD copy of Oculus: The Man with the Plan.

I'd made that short in 2005. It was 20 mins long, and a lot of fun. Over the years whenever I'd get into meetings (all courtesy of Jeff Howard, who had sold scripts long before we started writing together), people would see it and ask about a feature. Every time, though, the conversation stalled because they wanted the film to be a found footage movie, or they'd balk at the idea of me directing a feature.

I sent the DVD to Intrepid and waited. About a week later, they called and asked me to come back in.

I took another long lunch (this would become quite a habit as the project advanced) and drove back down. We met again in the conference room, but this time the mood was a little different.

Trevor said "We're interested in this. How would you expand it? I know there are cameras in the room with the man and the mirror, which begs the question of found footage..."

My heart sank.

"... but we're thinking that's a mistake. It looks like all the fun is in playing with reality, and you can't do that with found footage. So how would you do it?"

And we were off.

I won't rehash the long journey between this meeting and the Oculus premiere at Toronto (scroll down to find another blog about that), but that was really the moment when things changed.

I drove back to work a little giddy. Intrepid optioned the short film, I called Jeff Howard to see if he'd still want to work on a feature with me, and we were commissioned to write the script.

It was my first Hollywood job. I was paid the bare minimum, but I was also able to join the WGA because of the deal. I still didn't quit my day job (and wouldn't for a long time, not until the movie was really shooting in Alabama the following year) but I was off to the races.

Once the script was done, Oculus would lead to my first agents (at APA, and they treated me very well) and my first "real" movie.

What's particularly neat about this time, looking back, is that I owe it all to Absentia. We'd made this tiny little movie to try to kick open the door of Hollywood and start a career. And despite the enormous pride I had in the finished film, it felt for a long time like it hadn't quite succeeded in that.

But quietly, subtly, the movie did exactly what I hoped it would. The festival screenings built up a small but confident word of mouth. The movie led directly to my attorney Joel (who still represents me to this day), which led directly to my first real representation, which led directly to Intrepid Pictures.

Trevor Macy is now my business partner and has produced every single thing I've ever made since. We run Intrepid Pictures together, and I see that same eagerness in the faces of young filmmakers who find their way to us for general meetings. I try to be as supportive and accessible to them as I possibly can, because I remember very well what it feels like to stand in their shoes.

And Trevor even ended up making those other pitches he'd rejected all those years ago - Before I Wake and Gerald's Game followed soon after Oculus was done.

Absentia did everything I could have wanted it to do, and much more. I'll always remember that period of time with great affection... but man, it was stressful. The uncertainty of those years still exists in me, I don't think it'll ever leave.

Someone told me, along the way, that there wouldn't be a moment when I realized I "made it." It would happen while I wasn't looking. That ended up being absolutely true.

#absentia #oculus #intrepid pictures #hollywood dreams

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diana--williams · 1 year

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Every Hindi Movie I remember watching

2022 TO 2013

Brahmastra: Part 1 Shiva

Gangubai Kathiavad

Toolsidas Junior

Gehraiyaan

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2

HIT: The first case

Badhaai Do

Major

Darlings

Plan A Plan B

Ek Villain Returns

Shabhash Mithu

Dasvi

Dhrishyam 2

Chandigargh Kare Aashiqui

Hassena Dilruba

Roohi

The White tiger

Saina

Pagglait

Sardar Ka Grandson

Mimi

The Girl on the Train

Tribhanga

Ajeeb Daastaan

Meenakshi Sundareshwar

Tuesdays and Fridays

Madam Chief Mininster

Chhichhore

Malang

Tanhaji

Laxmi

Kalank

Street Dancer 3D

Khaali Peeli

Bulbbul

Love Aaj Kal

Guilty

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl

Thappad

Class of '83

Jawaani Jaaneman

Jai Mummy Di

Yeh Ballet

Serious Men

Maskaa

Panga

Shimla Mirchi

Axone

Sir

Badla

Mardhaani 2

War

Dream Girl

Ek Ladki ko Dekha To Aisa Laga

Lukachupi

Student of the Year 2

Drive

Article 15

Super30

Manikarnika

URI: The Surgical Strike

Panipat

Kabir Singh

Bala

The Zoya Factor

Good Newwz

The Sky is Pink

Mission Mangal

The Tashkent Files

Kalank

Chopsticks

Romeo Akbar Walter

Saand Ki Aankh

Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota

Sultan

Stree

Badhaaii ho

Lust Stories

Aiyaary

Raazi

Andhaadhun

Simbaa

Baaghi 2

Pad Man

Hichki

Sanju

2.0 Robot

Zero

Namaste England

Dil Junglee

Love per Squarefoot

Once Again

Padmaavat

Raabta

Half Girlfriend

Badrinath ki Dulhania

Machine

Ittefaq

Shaadi mein Zaroor Aana

Mom

Qarib qarib singlle

Jab Harry met Sejal

A Gentleman

Ghazi

Guest in London

Rangoon

Toilet: Ek Prem Katha

Secret Superstar

Naam Shabana

Newton

Haseena Parker

Ae Dil hai Mushkil

Dear Zindagi

Fitoor

Sanam Teri Kasam

Airlift

Wazir

Rocky Handsome

A Flying Jatt

Sanam Re

M S Dhoni: The Untold Story

Neerja

Fan

Dangal

Sultan

Saala Khadoos

Baaghi

Kabali

Rustom

Pink

Befikree

Mohenjo Daro

Dishoom

Te3n

Akira

Baar baar Dekho

Azhar

Houseful 3

Force 2

Kapoor and Sons

Udta Punjab

Ghayal Once Again

Mirzya

Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh

Dear Dad

1920: London

Parched

Ek Paheli Leela

Dum Laga Ke Haisha

Hero

Roy

Dilwale

Shaandar

Tamasha

Dhrishyam

Dolly Ki Doli

Katti Batti

Mr. X

Gabbar is Back

Baby

Phantom

Dil Dhadkane Do

Manjhi- The Mountain Man

Alone

Bajirao Mastani

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo

Talvar

Bajrangi Bhaijaan

Welcome 2 Karachi

Brothers

Love Exchange

ABCD 2

Piku

Rahasyaa

Shamitabh

Jazbaa

Nil Battey Sannata

Waiting

Hamari Adhuri Kahani

Singh is Bling

Singham Returns

Heropanti

Kick

Khoobsoorat

Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania

Main Tera Hero

Hasee Toh Phasee

Mardaani

Yaariyaan

Jai Ho

Ek Villain

Gunday

Bang bang

Happy New Year

Finding Fanny

Action Jackson

Mary Kom

Haider

Entertainment

Bewakoofiyan

Total Siyappa

Shaasi ke Side Effects

Purani Jeans

O Teri

Bobby Jasoos

Pizza

Boothnath Returns

Sonali Cable

Ungli

Super Nani

Gang of Ghosts

Holiday: A soldier is never off duty

2 states

Gulaab Gang

Queen

Hawaa Hawai

Vishwaroopam

Zanjeer

Ramaiya Vastavaiya

Madras Cafe

Commando

Akaash Vani

R..Rajkumar

Special 26

Yeh Jawani Hai deewani

ABCD: Any Body Can Dance

Himmatwala

Jolly LLB

Race 2

Raanjhanaa

Krrish 3

Chennai Express

Once Upon a time in Mumbai Dobaraa

Bhaag Milka

Kai Po Che

Bombay Talkies

Dhoom 3

Lootera

Fuckrey

Gori Tere Pyaar Mein

Jayanta Bhai ka Love Story

Gippi

Phata Poster Nikla Hero

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weepli · 2 years

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Chak De and SRK

(A couple of months ago, for the 15th anniversary of Chak De, I wrote this article for a publication. It was commissioned, edited and published, but it was taken down the same day. The editor told me it was “technical glitch” but now, it’s been 2.5 months and the glitch hasn’t been sorted. In the meantime, I’ve heard of other writers’ work being taken down from that site if it spoke about minority oppression.).

When I first watched Chak De! India 15 years ago, one of the things that instinctively bothered me, though I was too young to articulate it then, was that when Kabir Khan and his mother leave their home, amidst the accusation of being a ‘gaddar’, no neighbour or friend is standing up for them. Is there no one in their mohalla who they were friends with, I wondered? Wouldn’t someone miss them? And wouldn’t they silently, if not publicly, ask the others to be more kind?

Fifteen years later, I know the answer. They wouldn’t. We wouldn’t.

As I sit down to write this, the news coming in from everywhere is proof that nothing much has changed in the last 15 years. Things only seem to have become worse. I read on Twitter that the Indian Women’s hockey team has lost the Commonwealth Games Semi-Finals to Australia 3-0 in a penalty shootout. Fifteen years on, Indian women’s hockey is notoriously neglected. Gender discrimination is rampant. And, of course, Muslims are still perceived as enemies of the state.

No one knows this better than Shah Rukh Khan.

Chak De! India was a story of the quintessential underdog triumph. It wasn’t just the triumph of a women’s team over the dismal conditions and mentality of families, media, and fans. It was as much (if not more) the triumph of their Muslim coach in his attempt to prove his patriotism.

Chak De has achieved cult status in the country. There are still memes referencing 70 minutes of crucial and intense time. The title song became a national sports anthem, and the dialogues are a part of everyday life. The brawl scene in Mcdonald's became an example of implicit brand placements, mentioned in B-schools and quizzes. “Ja Dikha de apne launde ko” was a mantra of female solidarity. There’s a lot to celebrate about Chak De and the impact it has had on our pop culture over the decade and a half. A sports film par excellence, it doesn’t lose its thrill even with multiple rewatchings. And, of course, Shah Rukh is gorgeous.

It also marks one of the first times he truly embraced his Muslim identity on screen. (Sure, he played a Muslim in Hey Ram, but that never captured people’s imagination the way Chak De did). In Chak de, the Muslim identity is a crucial part of the plot, and it is emphasized with the references to his name, his betrayal, and his religious/inspirational chants. SRK goes on to play the Muslim protagonist in multiple films after this — My Name is Khan, Dear Zindagi, Raees, and the upcoming Pathan.

In 2017, journalist Rana Ayub said about SRK in an article on NDTV, “In a country where it is rare to find a Muslim or a Christian character as the lead in films, with minorities usually reduced to caricatures and stereotypes, the fact that the biggest star plays a Muslim in three simultaneous films (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Dear Zindagi, Raees) is a strong message to a country, a rebellion that needs to be noticed and lauded.”

This week, we have another movie releasing by two superstars: one a Muslim man, one married to a Muslim man, with children named after rulers who happen to be Muslim- Taimur and Jehangir. Calls to boycott the movie grow louder, the posters and WhatsApp messages about the same more and more disgusting. Aamir Khan has declared that he loves India. Of course, we need to wear our patriotism on our sleeves. Whether it is with a birth certificate or with the shouting of slogans, with the display of the National Flag or standing up in the movie hall when the anthem is played, we are all being asked to prove our patriotism again and again and again. No one more than Muslims in India.

If you are a privileged Muslim actor in India, you can continue making movies worth 100 crores that will face threats of boycott, and maybe your family members will end up in jail for months on flimsy charges. For a regular ordinary Muslim person, you might get lynched if you are suspected of eating a certain kind of meat.

In the final scenes of Chak De! India, the team overcomes all kinds of external and internal challenges to defeat the favourites, Australia, and win the tournament. Yet, it is not just the journey of the women who have faced gender stereotypes, family pressure, anger issues, and race and language discrimination. It is as much a journey of their Muslim coach, who will finally make it back ‘home’ where he was labeled a traitor and forced to leave. It is a grim picture that Chak De presents. That nothing will ever be enough to get the kind of acceptance and belonging all citizens of this country should feel. Maybe if you do something as grand as winning a world cup, you might be spared for a few days.

Maybe.

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gracemarieart · 9 months

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Barbies home of existential dread

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hercorrupterofwords · 1 year

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thanks @furog for tagging me<33

nickname: ae

sign: aries

height: have no clue ?? about 1,68 m.?

last thing i googled: goodreads

amount of sleep: 7 hrs

dream job: teaching

movie/book that summarises you: orlando by v. woolf

favourite songs: rn love in the time of socialism by yellow house and resistere by lrdl

favourite instrument: idk

aesthetic: I think something like chaotic academia

favourite author: I am an insufferable Camus lover

random fun fact: I thought at a very young age that the poster of the Monna Lisa in my grandma's bedroom was the actual real painting.

I tag @morbertthemindless and @girlariosto (and whoever wants to do it)

#tag game

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drunkcherrypie · 1 year

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Daddy of the Internet

❤️❤️❤️

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cinemapremi · 5 months

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Sara Ali Khan Steals the Show at IFFI 2023: Unveiling the Motion Poster of "Ae Watan Mere Watan"

Bollywood's young sensation, Sara Ali Khan, took center stage at the commencement of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2023 in Goa. The opening ceremony witnessed the presence of several Bollywood celebrities, including the talented actress. Sara graced the event to promote her upcoming film, "Ae Watan Mere Watan."

Fashion Talks: Sara's Unique Style

Frequent Fashion Icon: Sara Ali Khan is no stranger to being in the limelight for her fashion choices. From Glamour to Experimentation: While she is often seen in glamorous avatars in her films, Sara is ready to experiment with her look in the upcoming movie "Ae Watan Mere Watan."

Film Update and Motion Poster Release

Shooting Completion Announcement: Sara recently shared the exciting news that the shooting for "Ae Watan Mere Watan" is now complete. The Big Reveal at IFFI 2023: In the midst of IFFI 2023, the actress unveiled the motion poster of the film. The event saw the presence of the film's producer, Karan Johar, on stage, and Sara shared behind-the-scenes glimpses on her Instagram story.

Capturing Attention: Sara's Distinct Look

Talk of the Town: Since the announcement of "Ae Watan Mere Watan," discussions around Sara Ali Khan's look have been trending. Motion Poster Impact: The motion poster of the film showcases Sara in a unique avatar, sporting a white khadi saree with a bindi, capturing everyone's attention. https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cz3lfRvIp1T/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Quotable Caption and Film Details

Empowering Caption: Alongside the motion poster release, Sara wrote, "'Aazad Aawaazain, Kaid Nahi Hoti'... releasing the motion poster of a film very close to my heart. A story of courage that I feel needs to be told, and I am honored to be a part of it." Film Release Details: "Ae Watan Mere Watan" is produced under the banner of Dharma Productions, with Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta at the helm. The film, directed by Kannan Iyer, is a thrilling drama inspired by true events. Sara Ali Khan plays the role of a freedom fighter in this OTT release on Amazon Prime Video.

Sara Ali Khan's presence at IFFI 2023, coupled with the release of the captivating motion poster for "Ae Watan Mere Watan," has heightened anticipation for the film. With its unique storyline and Sara's unconventional look, this Dharma Productions venture promises an engaging cinematic experience. When is the release date for "Ae Watan Mere Watan" on Amazon Prime Video? The release date is yet to be announced. Who directed "Ae Watan Mere Watan"? The film is directed by Kannan Iyer. What character does Sara Ali Khan portray in the movie? Sara plays the role of a freedom fighter. Who are the producers of the film? Dharma Productions, led by Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta. What inspired the storyline of "Ae Watan Mere Watan"? The film draws inspiration from true events, with the narrative crafted by Darab Farooqui and Kannan Iyer. Also checkout: Read the full article

#bollywood #hindi #newmovies #news #saraalikhan

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