Amir Motlagh

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Our Iran by Shanks and the Dreamers

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

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.

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

Directed by Amir Motlagh

Featuring:
Stephanie Lambert

Special Thanks:
Michael Flowers

Playing a live set at the Avalon Bar tomorrow night.  

So I’m adding a new feature on this site called, “The Photo Journal“.  I understand that its hella clever in the Bay Area sense, but i’ll be updating whenever i get a chance, and when in fact at least a week or several have past.

The page is located on the sidebar (pages section).  So after this first preview, i’ll only link to it from this point on.  Maybe not.

So, without further verboseness, this is the first edition, November 2008.

Shanks and the Dreamers live at Evocal  11-04-08

On stage with Dubfire_Nocturnal 2008

Before playing, 11.04.08

In the “small” Studio_ I keep my mutherfukin sunglasses on in doors..

We play a show tonight. If you are in the OC, and happen to stumble on this, come on out.  Should be a really fun night, as we celebrate the victory of the system.

In the daytime, i function as a motion picture writer/director, but at night, as some may not be aware, i am one half of the band Shanks and the Dreamers.

I started that musical project about two years ago, and the first musical release was an all instrumental album called, “A Day Late: Instrumentals for Illegal Aliens“.    During the next year, what started with more esoteric intentions, and guest musicians, turned into a band.  In fact, not really a band, but a production duo that included myself, and a banker named Art Toussi.

For the last year, I set up a new studio called “Polariod Palace Homes 2″ and we started the endeavor of recording a new album, with the intention of moving far away from strictly instrumental music and into more of a populace vein, by way of, an album with vocals.  As a result, and one year later, “My Darling Dia” is born.

Both Art and I have a mix and range of influences from the obscure to the mainstream, expanding all genres of music.  Thats how i grew up, and i feel more and more kids these days are doing the same. So, in essence, why hide what you really want to do?  Sometimes i have to ask myself that.

Here is the official blurb….

“My Darling Dia, the first full-length release from Shanks and the Dreamers takes the band to all new musical territories and away from their instrumental past. The two piece production duo consisting of filmmaker Amir Motlagh, and Art Toussi continue the path of sonic evolution mixing a broad palette of sounds including everything from post punk, shoegaze, electro and hip-hop, with a seamless integration of attack that has all to due with their diverse backgrounds and relentless creative instincts. My Darling Dia is simply, electro, sonic, bionic music for the social classes.”

Anyways, the album is available to purchase now as a CD, or in MP3 form.  Many more stores and Itunes to follow shortly.

Pick up a copy, shit, pick up a few.  

My Darling Dia

The new Shanks and the Dreamers album, My Darling Dia comes out in Sept. Here is a couple images from the album art.

Also, we finally uploaded two new songs from the album, Hush and 777 on our myspace page so go and listen in. Yes, and even add us if your on that myspace thing too…