UPDATE: The short: Market Hours was selected as the winner and has been offered a first look deal with The Weinstein Company. Congrats Jon!
Watch Market Hours here: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=389344611213341
Watch Operation Barn Owl here: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=389317024549433
Tell us which one is your favorite!
Previously reported:
We screened two short films that were produced in partnership with Lexus and The Weinstein Company for the second annual “Life is Amazing” Lexus Short Films series. Part of being selected for this honor, the up and coming filmmakers were mentored during the process by directors Phillip Noyce (“The Giver”), Simon Curtis (“David Copperfield”), Justin Chadwick (“Tulip Fever”), and Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day”), actress Katie Holmes and Harvey Weinstein, who also executive produced the films with Bob Weinstein and Lance Still, Joey Horvitz and Marc Longberg.
This program is focused on capturing the theme “life is amazing” in the storytelling… something that we believe both films did well as you will see in our review below.
First up, we spoke with Jon Goldman, the writer / director for “Market Hours”
TIP: Click PLAY to watch the 30 second preview then read our interview below…
Question: Are you a people watcher?
Jon Goldman told us… “(laughter) You bet.”
… Tell us what your inspiration was for Market Hours?
Jon Goldman told us… “People are interesting to watch, especially at the Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles (which has been a downtown Los Angeles landmark since 1917 bringing together the cuisines and cultures of LA).
Jon visited the Grand Central Market when he first moved to LA and then again earlier this year when it was going through a major change of vendors who are trying to cater to a different crowd.
He told us he was excited that he was able to capture the feeling of the old and the new with the location as the film unfolds telling the story about the people at the market and their stories. His story evolves around a main character who needs to be more “present” in what’s happening rather than wishing for something that has not been explored.
Question: Was having music play throughout the length of your film planned?
Jon Goldman told us… “I’m glad you pointed that out, it was a big part of the film… and tone of the film. In my other films, I was leary of it… I wanted to paint this film in it…”
Goldman does just that with broad strokes filled with colorful notes. He worked with Darren Johnson who helped create a jazz feel with a bluesy, romantic connection to the audience for his main character Randall, the security guard who is in love with a vendor who doesn’t know his name (or so he thinks) allowing Goldman to shape the character of Randall even deeper for this short film.
There is also a transition to more of an operatic piece created by Christopher Kim who helped make music a rich part of the experience not only for Goldman but for the audience.
Question: What were some of your challenges making this film?
Jon Goldman told us… “I like to write stories that are contained to a location, so with limited budgets, you are not spending time traveling to other locations. This location was a large location with sub-locations so there was a lot of moving around. We had a three-night schedule and it was an aggressive shoot at night… get to work at 6 PM and work until 8 AM, so we had to get it done creatively, not just ‘done.’
The speed with which we had to get it done was intense.”
Question: What’s your advice for other up and coming filmmakers?
Jon Goldman told us… “Get a great cinematographer. I used Jimmy Whitaker, he’s amazing. It’s important to find a strong cinematographer especially as I am more of a writer and am developing my visual sensibilities… If you are starting out and want to tell stories, find people who’s style you like and get them.”
Question: What other projects are you working on?
Jon Goldman told us… “I have been developing a lot of long form stuff including a feature about a dysfunction family dramedy, a pilot for a show and trying to get traction in TV and Film…”
You’ve got to be prepared because after you pitch your project, you might hear “What else do you have…”
Watch this Featurette about the making of both of these two films and continue on to our interview with Satsuki Okawa, director, Operation Barn Owl
Next, we spoke with Satsuki Okawa, the co-writer / director for “Operation Barn Owl”
TIP: Click PLAY to watch the brief preview then read our interview below…
Question: How did you help develop this script to make it your own story to tell?
Satsuki Okawa told us… “The story was already there, we kept the concept and I had to make it my own.”
One of the concerns that Satsuki had was telling a believable story about why a woman would want to help the man she had deep feelings for put together an elaborate party so he could get engaged to another woman, her friend.
Always a bridesmaid never a bride…
Question: Which do you prefer doing, writing or directing?
Satsuki Okawa told us… “I think directing, but I like writing, but I like doing the prep work and post production. When you direct, you are so involved in the project from start to finish you control the vision to the end. With so many people working for me on this project, I felt like I was in Fantasyland.”
Question: What were your challenges in making this film?
Satsuki Okawa told us… “My biggest challenge was how to make the story interesting and get the audience to “feel” for my characters. I asked myself why did this woman put herself into this situation, even though she doesn’t want to be there and doesn’t want to do it.”
Satsuki solved this by taking time to integrate emotion into the character, so the audience can feel what she is feeling… and we felt it!
Question: What projects are you working on now?
Satsuki Okawa told us… “I am working on a feature film and hopefully I can shoot it next year.”
We hope you’ll watch these two short films (under 15 minutes each) when they release on October 27th online at the Lexus Short Films website.
We want to hear what you think about these two new filmmakers, share with us on Twitter and Facebook at:
About Lexus
Since its debut in 1989, Lexus has earned a worldwide reputation for high-quality products and exemplary customer service. Lexus is the hybrid leader among luxury brands, offering hybrids that provide the best in innovative technology and premier luxury. The evolution of Lexus is reflected in the progressive designs of its new vehicles. The signature spindle grille, dynamic light treatments and sculptured lines create a distinctive look of luxury for Lexus.
About The Weinstein Company
The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE. Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes. During Harvey and Bob’s tenure at Miramax and The Weinstein Company, they have received 348 Oscar nominations and won 82 Academy Awards.
Images of the NYC premiere provided by Lexus and The Weinstein Company
