Amir Motlagh

With the DVD launch in progress, WHALE screens at the Independent minded film festival screening series, Indies for Indies. Indies for Indies is curated by Lucas McNelly, talking the freshest films from the Independent film circuit and screening them at the Hollywood Theater in Dormont Pennsylvania.

This is the perfect type of supplemental screening opportunity to further support my newer ideas towards releasing WHALE and possibly other projects. As I focus more towards the DVD and digital distribution options, screenings further support my main objectives. I am not relying on the festival first, then see what happens method. Those were my ideas previously, but as I spent more time finishing the project then I ever expected, I felt no need to further delay the existence of the film. Its here, if you want it, you can buy it. But, you can also see it screened if you are in the right place, at the right time. I’m hand choosing where this film goes, no blind festival submissions. Why lose money? Why not make money? The economic and industrial world we live in is a bit different, so why really on the same old approaches? Is it because it worked for so and so in the past? Well, fuck that, every case is different, time has passed, so I’m opening up to new possibilities, and so far, so good.

Also, another reason Indies for Indies is a fascinating case study, is that the festival proposes to give back some of the box office to the filmmaker. Now, isn’t that a novel idea, one in which should have been implemented 10 years earlier. I applaud these types of positive approaches to the stagnate film festival infrastructure. Whether they work or not isn’t the final question, but whether people have the initiative to try to do something different, something vital to resurrect a dying form which is losing younger audiences daily. Indy film will start to be vital again when filmmakers stop thinking they are Quentin Fucking Tarantino or Kevin Smith, and make work which truly speaks to their generations now. That’s what was going on with Tarantino and Smith in the nineties. There was personalty, a fuck you attitude, a vision. Look at how loyal audience fan base were. Think about how Harmony Korine spoke to millions of young adults his age. People gave a shit then, they really did. And most importantly, it was the youth who admired the auteur. Nowadays, we lost them to Avatar and the newest Vince Vaughn comedy (not making a judgment on the quality(in fact i really was quite taken by Avatar), but on the fact that values have changed). Indie film nor the arthouse is hip anymore culturally, lets face the fact. But that doesn’t mean that it cannot be again. Lars Van Trier proves the case, with personality, insight, radicalism, and again, a fuck you attitude. Hate the guy, or love him, you cannot deny the magnetism he draws on the form. He makes you go see the work. Of course, I’m talking about the little guys right now, who, if you support them, can grow into the next generation of filmmakers who speak directly to you, the audience. A stale, dying infrastructure will only drown the voices without peoples support.

So, get to work, and support films which speak to you. Support them the same way you support bands that you love. Go buy their shit, ask your local “arthouse” theaters to bring you new shit, make your own screening series of indie films at your local bar, or your own house. Indie film nights, coming straight to the couch. Buy some obscure DVD from someone you heard about, then invite a bunch of people for drinks and enjoy the night. Stop being a critic, a cynic, a negative asshole. Be good, be kind, be helpful. And last but not least, go see WHALE, or buy the damn DVD!

Whale screens:

Saturday, March 6th @ 4:30pm
Monday, March 8th @ 7pm
Tuesday, March 9th @ 9:30pm

For additional info please visit Indies for Indies and try the facebook fan page at Indies for Indies on Facebook

I know you didn’t forget the Feb 14th DVD launch of WHALE? Valentines day couldn’t get more DIY, romantic, and confused all at the same time.

In the spirit of doing all the shit that your suppose to do, we created a WHALE facebook fan page. Come check out all the birds, offers, coupon codes, free stuff, etc.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/whale/192023629978

Feb 14th. 2010 is the day that WHALE becomes available on DVD (pre-order available now). I said I was going to do it, and I’m sticking with my word. There are a few real world screenings lined up in various cities, but I don’t have the exact dates yet (although I should announce that shortly). DVD comes first, then real world screenings. Doing shit in reverse this time.

I think in this day and age, a product release has to be instantaneous or people will lose interest. When I first started the project, I always thought that it would be the type of film that people would watch on dvd, or on there ipod, or phone or as a download. Its a small, intimate project, and as equally appealing as theatrical screenings are, so is the thought of someone watching a movie on something like a tablet, or netbook. This is where we are at with our media, and since music easily transitioned into the MP3 age, film and its makers have to think the same way.

People have continually asked for a DVD of WHALE, and if I hold out any longer, I would be doing a disservice to myself and to the fans interested.

So, the DVD along with a digital downloadable version will be available on e-commerce sites like Amazon, Filmbaby, etc, and I will also be offering the DVD through this website and over at the WHALE website.

Along with that, several brick and mortar stores have signed on to carry the DVD. I’ll make a list of those as well.

In the meantime, you can pre-order the DVD here as of now:
http://whalethefilm.squarespace.com/store/

Or just buy clicking this buy now button:

As I am getting ready to officially release WHALE very soon (announcement coming), I would like to steer your direction into some other equally fantastic news. My musical side project is now on the best two things on the internet, Pandora and last.fm.

So, please go and make your Shanks and the Dreamers station on Pandora.

And if your more into lastfm or need double fix, we can be found at last.fm

This is the last ‘Shanks and the Dreamers” track we will be releasing for quite some time. The track is also featured in the WHALE soundtrack, but this is the official remix. You can stream and/or download for a limited time.

Time blinks, petit bourgeois by Shanks and the Dreamers

To Download Immediately, go here:

Time blinks, petit bourgeois

Wanted to thank Celestial Ceiling for providing a much needed sample.

Will be getting interviewed on KUCI 88.9 on Sunday the 13th, at 11am talking about my upcoming feature film WHALE. The show is called Inside the Mind.

If you can’t listen to the terrestrial broadcast, they also stream live on the internet here.

The film is officially finished. I have written a little response over at the WHALE site, blog, http://www.whalethefilm.com stating the reasons for the delay.

Of course, as in all things in life, a bit of sidetracking becomes a necessity of survival. The final version of the film has only been seen by a tiny fraction of society, and as i outline my plans, it will remain a bit undercover. Whether the film gets any sort of public screening is not at all my concern nor my wallets, and I mean this in a very sincere, non egotistical and realistic way. Sometimes we get to a point where the idea of a curator becomes anathema to the soul, know what I mean?

No, ah fuck it, well, what I mean to say is that I want to make the film available to people who want to see the film, with or without any sort of middle man, and in a very timely and efficient manner. Life is too short to wait, or hold out, or vice versa. This project is very personal and took about four years to conceive, and because of that, another year of speculation is too long and the theoretical net gains might not be enough, nor can it ever be enough.

So, in a bit of time (short), the film will become available through DVD, VOD and digital downloads. An unofficial DVD might be available now if you contact the right person (amotlagh@gmail.com), emphasis on might, or right?

As for festivals, well we shall see. I might send this out, or I might not. I’m sure some think that this is the only path for a small lil ol Indie as I once did, but I don’t really anymore. It is certainly a viable path, but not the only one, and nobody should feel trapped by ambiguities toward audience building. The road these days is not paved, and neither is the mapping of the routes, no matter who tells you or wants to sell you a solution. The field is fucking wide open. Localizing your goals might be the future as the market becomes more and more niche.

This is my rebellion of sorts, an idealistic belief that rather content works for people or it doesn’t, and if it does, similar types will seek it out. If it doesn’t, maybe later it will, but you still have to make it available if you believe in the nature of the work you do. And if these be the truths, then let nature take its course (cue the Beatles).

Hears hoping to word of mouth, longer shelf life’s, and utopian naivete. But, do you remember a time when things were only available if somebody other then the creator said so? Yeah, that was so a few years ago.

So, keep on believing in the things you pursue.

Best,
AM/FM

PLAIN US gets its television debut on Movieola-The Short Film Network today

Sept 10th - 10:01 pm EST
Sept 10th - 1:01 am EST
Sept 11th - 4:01 am EST

For more info, go here: Movieola

WHALE is almost in its final incarnation. It will be done soon enough. I predict a final picture lock edit sometime in mid Sept.

I have some new link of interviews, etc soon.

Best,
AM

Shanks and the Dreamers
Track - Hush
Album - my darling dia

Directed by Amir Motlagh

Featuring:
Stephanie Lambert

Special Thanks:
Michael Flowers