ARTHOUSE FILM NEWS - Cosmic Disco Detective Rene at Facets, Chicago 11/29/23

We had a low key, chill, but illuminating discussion with filmmaker, actor, musician Amir Motlagh on Sunday 5/10/20. Many topics were discussed - including living in the Covid19 era, layers being removed from society, his 20 films, and music work. For all things Amir Motlagh visit his website - https://www.amirmotlagh.com/ . From his website - "Amir Motlagh has written and directed 20 titles (+ -), including the feature films THREE WORLDS, MAN, WHALE & RAINBOW SEASON (also a full length LP). He is the recipient of multiple awards (art is not about competition) and is a cross-media artist who makes music under the moniker, Mirs as singer, songwriter and record producer. He frequently collaborates with other artists. He is the founder of ANIMALS. Partial List of Festival Screenings & Awards include - deadCenter Film Festival, San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, SENE Film, Music & Arts Festival, 24fps International Sho

* A discussion with indie filmmaker Dan Mirvish - about life during Covid-19 days, and the making and distribution of his movies. Dan has directed 18 1/2, Bernard and Huey, Between Us, Omaha (the movie), Open House and other projects - more here - https://www.danmirvish.com/   From his website - "Dan Mirvish is a director, screenwriter, producer and author. He's just finished the award-winning, critically-acclaimed feature Bernard and Huey, scripted by Oscar/Pulitzer-winner Jules Feiffer, and starring Oscar-winner Jim Rash and David Koechner which screened in over 30 film festivals on 5 continents and had a 20-city theatrical release by Freestyle Releasing/Entertainment Studios in the US, and has sold to over 49 countries." Read more here - https://www.danmirvish.com/   And check out Dan's excellent book The Cheerful Subversive's Guide to Independent Filmmaking - https://www.danmirvish.com/Buy-the-Book   For all things Dan Mirvish, visit his website

* Filmmaker Brandon David Wilson interview – On Covid19, Sepulveda movie, the future, growing up in LA On 5/2/20 the guest on Sujewa’s Single Take, No Edits Interview Show! for NYC Fantastic blog was Brandon David Wilson – LA based filmmaker and film teacher. Check out Brandon’s excellent second feature Sepulveda here – https://vimeo.com/280865483 More here - http://nycfantastic.com/brandon-david-wilson-interview/

From the YouTube page - "This month, Ian and Sujewa welcome Liam Billingham of the OEUVRE BUSTERS podcast for a lively and somewhat contentious look at Nuri Bilge Ceylan's ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA. The stark Turkish drama centers on two murder suspects leading a team of investigators to their victim's burial site. A long night of dead ends and rising tensions leads to revelations both ghoulish and deeply personal." Read more here . The discussion:

John Crye - Memento, other films from Newmarket Films, working with Christopher Nolan - NYC FANTASTIC blog interview #2 On YouTube * John Crye - Memento, other films from Newmarket Films, working with Christopher Nolan - NYC FANTASTIC blog interview #2 from Sujewa Ekanayake on Vimeo . * John Crye developed, produced or acquired for distribution films for Newmarket Films and later Wrekin Hill Entertainment. The list of films he worked on include Memento - Christopher Nolan's breakthrough Hollywood film, The Prestige, Downfall, The Passion of the Christ, Velvet Goldmine, The Mexican, American Pie, Donnie Darko, Real Women Have Curves, Whale Rider, Monster. We had a lengthy discussion about John's experience during these Covid-19 days, early days in the arts, getting started at Newmarket Films by making Memento, and many other related subjects. John has a lot of experience with indie film distribution and production - so this is a great episode for filmmakers

NYC Fantastic blog podcast #1 – RACHEL SCIACCA – from MAN movie – interview by Sujewa Ekanayake See the blog post at the new blog NYC Fantastic here - http://nycfantastic.com/rachel-sciacca-from-man-movie/ Brief intro - "In this interview Sciacca talks about studying acting in NYC, moving to LA to pursue acting, 10 lost years, working with Amir Motlagh over 10 years ago, and making MAN movie. The conversation is 1.5 hrs long – and we also discuss life during the Covid-19 crisis and developing and maintaining an art making practice, how that relates to the film industry or “the business.”" Read the rest here - http://nycfantastic.com/rachel-sciacca-from-man-movie/ Here's the interview on YouTube: