Oscar winners Adrien Brody, Kevin Spacey praise young SA director
02/07/2015
Sitting next to the up-and-coming director at the London West Hollywood Hotel last Saturday, the two share laughs and thoughts as if they were old friends, instead of two professionals who spent just two days together in June making a short movie.
Selected as one of three winners of this year's Jameson First Shot film festival, The Mascot is about a man (played by Brody) who loses his long-standing job as a mascot for a basketball team.
Asked how he prepared for the role, Brody says: There are a lot of parallels with the role [of the mascot] and the life of an actor, and the aspect of rejection that exists. So the circumstances and the characters' reactions to those things may be extreme, but within that it illustrates the indifference of life and how harsh it can be, and how we must move on after loss.
Vision to excel
The Mascot, which premiered at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles last Saturday night, contains a stark and simple aesthetic, while it's less than 10-minute plot journeys through raging emotions of passion, loss and anger.
The laid-back yet pensive Brody, who won an Academy award for his role in Roman Polanski's The Pianist, speaks thoughtfully and eloquently about the movie and its 28-year-old maker.
Mark is fantastic Roman is in a league of his own, he says in response to my question about how he felt being directed by an emerging filmmaker such as Middlewick compared with being directed by Polanski and other renowned directors such as Spike Lee.
Mark has the confidence and the vision that's necessary to excel, as well as to make sure that the film's vision is retained. It's wonderful to work with someone who has a wealth of knowledge and experience to impart ... and [who can] elevate you.
But I gravitate towards challenge: if you look at the movies that I've chosen, I've always tried to choose something that's very different; that has a degree of risk, that is unpredictable and that forces me to try something new. And that's the journey and the beauty of being an actor. The beauty of being in any artistic profession is to experiment.
Middlewick's script was selected from 1 700 entries for the Jameson Film Festival, alongside aspiring American filmmaker Travis Calvert's feel-good film The Library Book and the quirky and twisted Boredom, by Canada's Stephan Tempier, which all star Brody as the lead. The three films were made in Los Angeles under the mentorship of Trigger Street Productions.
High-powered team
Taking place for the fourth year now, the festival is presented in collaboration with Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey and Trigger Street Productions, headed by super- producer Dana Brunetti of The Social Network and 50 Shades of Grey fame.
The festival kicked off last Friday with a day of filmmaking, related workshops and panel discussions at Siren Studios in Los Angeles, ahead of the movie premieres, which took place at Paramount and were attended by big name actors such as Lawrence Fishburne.
I just wanted to see Adrien in that [mascot] costume; it's just such a funny idea, says Spacey about the panda suit Brody dons in the film. Speaking to the Mail & Guardian while seated next to Middlewick, Spacey recovers from chuckling, straightens out his grey suit and explains why The Mascot was one of the winners.
There's a number of things we're looking for in terms of our film selection. From the production sense it's can we make this production in two days, does it offer difficulties in terms of location and is it practical and contained? And that was certainly the case with Mark's film.
Next we look at what [projects] offer Adrien three distinct parts in three different kinds of films. And then it's about the filmmaker and the sensibility that they put across: they have to show their previous work, and they have to present themselves.
Middlewick, a graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand, was a nominee for Best Short Film at the South African Film and Television 2015 awards for Security, and the music video he made for local musician Nakhane Tour landed him a Best Object of South Africa award at last year's Design Indaba in Cape Town.
Spacey adds: As a team, including Adrien, we look at where they [the directors] will be in 10 years, so we're looking at someone's potential and not just where they are right now.
Potential for growth
Despite his confidence on and off screen, Middlewick tells me and Spacey of his trepidation at making the film. I was really worried coming in to this that I'd be going to America and I'd be put into a mould of the cookie cutter - but I didn't face that at all, and that was amazing and quite emancipating. Jameson First Shot is very supporting of your view and unique take on something.
www.mg.co.za
Short Films
South Africa
News
LINK: | http://www.filmcontact.com/news/south-africa/short-films/oscar-winners... |
See more stories from filmcontact |
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet Appoints Santiago Solanas as CEO to Lead Next Era of Growth and Innovation
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet and Veritone Reach Agreement to Distribute, Transact and Monetize Media Archives
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
28/04/2024
Mediahaus delivers the first SRT live-streaming sports production over 5G with URSA Broadcast G2
Mediahaus delivers the first SRT live-streaming sports production over 5G with U...
20/04/2024
PBS Kids Adds American Sign Language to Streaming Content
As part of a push to improve the accessibility of its content, PBS Kids has announced that it has integrated American Sign Language (ASL) interpretations into m...
20/04/2024
Survey: Concerns About Deep Fakes Spike As Election Approaches
SAN JOSE, Calif. Online security solution provider McAfee has released new research exploring the impact artificial intelligence (AI) and the rise of deepfakes ...
20/04/2024
FCC Sets April 25 Vote on Net Neutrality Rules
The Federal Communications Commission has announced the agenda for an Open Meeting on Thursday, April 25, 2024 that will include votes on Net Neutrality Rules a...
20/04/2024
Virtual Reality Becomes the New Production Reality
Virtual reality and its close relatives, such as extended reality, have been completely accepted into the workflow of high-end productions. Stepping into an LED...
20/04/2024
Video Games Round Out the Entertainment Package
Video Games Round Out the Entertainment Package Andy Marken April 19, 2024 0 Comments By this, I take it you think everybody is who they say they are...
20/04/2024
With Bears on the Clock, NBCU Local Chicago Plans Extensive NFL Draft Coverage
With the Bears picking first, NBCUniversal Local's properties in Chicago plan extensive coverage of the NFL draft next week....
20/04/2024
Fox Sports Hires Veteran Ad Sales Executives
Fox Sports said it hired two veteran advertising sales executives, with Jen Durda and Kathy Lydon both named VP....
20/04/2024
Daytime Emmys Announce Some Nominations Early
Daytime fans got a sneak peek at nominations for the 51st annual Daytime Emmys, with the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) announcing the...
20/04/2024
DAZN Weighs in With Content Ahead of Haney-Garcia Fight
DAZN is launching its Run It Up, its first multi-sports original vodcast, or video podcast, and a set of micro-podcasts ahead of the Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia fig...
20/04/2024
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav Got 27% Raise to $49.7 Million in 2023
David Zaslav, CEO of troubled Warner Bros. Discovery, got a 27% increase in total compensation for 2023....
20/04/2024
April 19, 2024
New copper-catalyzed C-H activation strategy from Scripps Research Two-mode reactions inspired by human detox enzymes offer powerful new tools for drug discover...
19/04/2024
Thank You for visiting us at NAB 2024!
Thank You for visiting us at NAB 2024! Thank you for joining us at the ToolsOnAir booth during NAB Show 2024! We were delighted to showcase our latest inno...
19/04/2024
Stress Positions Mines Health Anxieties for Comedy
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 18: (L-R) John Early and Theda Hammel attend the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Stress Positions premiere at Library Center Theatre on ...
19/04/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, the Filmmakers Behind Sugarcane
By Lucy Spicer One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
19/04/2024
Mexico City Watchlist: 7 Documentaries About Working in CDMX
Pictured: Midnight Family By Stephanie Ornelas A great way to get to know a city as culturally unique and rich as Mexico City is to listen to the stories tol...
19/04/2024
SNS Dominates NAB Show 2024 With Triple Win For MOD
St. Louis, MO - April 18, 2024 - Studio Network Solutions (SNS) announced today that MOD won three prestigious industry awards at NAB Show 2024 held this week i...
19/04/2024
How Spotify Approaches Safety With Sarah Hoyle, Global Head of Trust and Safety
Spotify's mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the ...
19/04/2024
Spotify and Taylor Swift Create a One-of-a-Kind Library To Celebrate THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT'
It's a beautiful day to be a Swiftie. Today, Taylor Swift dropped her 11th s...
19/04/2024
L3Harris Announces Quarterly Dividend
MELBOURNE, Fla., April 19, 2024 - The Board of Directors of L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.16 per common share, payab...
19/04/2024
Intel Lays Out 8K Production, AI Tech Plans for Paris Olympics
PARIS Intel has announced that its plans for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 will include using artificial intelligence technology powered by Intel ...
19/04/2024
Tech Advances Boost Adoption of 8K Production
LAS VEGAS Technologists working on all aspects of the 8K media production chain offered an optimistic update at the 2024 NAB Show on the state of 8K in video pr...
19/04/2024
OpenDrives New Software-Defined Platform Atlas Wins 2024 NAB Show Product of the Year Award
OpenDrives New Software-Defined Platform Atlas Wins 2024 NAB Show Product of the...
19/04/2024
Grass Valley Showcases Next-Generation T3 Series 4K/HD Digital Recording and Playback for Venues and Stadiums
Grass Valley Showcases Next-Generation T3 Series 4K/HD Digital Recording and Pla...
19/04/2024
NiTRo's M-CUBE Studio Levels Up Esports Productions with AJA Gear
NiTRo's M-CUBE Studio Levels Up Esports Productions with AJA Gear Brie Clayton April 19, 2024 0 Comments Esports' rapid rise to popularity can...
19/04/2024
Blackmagic Design Announces DaVinci Resolve 19
Blackmagic Design Announces DaVinci Resolve 19 Brie Clayton April 19, 2024 0 Comments Major update adds new DaVinci Neural Engine AI tools, new color ...
19/04/2024
Sony Considering Bid to Acquire Paramount
Sony Pictures Entertainment is reportedly in talks with Apollo Global Management to make a bid to acquire Paramount which itself is currently discussing a merge...
19/04/2024
How 1185 Films created the VFX on new horror, All You Need Is Death
Simon Wilkinson, head of VFX at 1185 films, talks about the technology behind the newly-released horror By Matthew Corrigan Published: April 19, 2024 Simo...
19/04/2024
Could Sony be preparing a bid for Channel 5's parent company?
The global electronics company is said to be considering joining forces with investment firm Apollo Management to bid for Paramount Global By Jenny Priestley ...
19/04/2024
EBU report highlights contribution of free-to-air sport broadcasting
The report broke the economic footprint of EBU member sports broadcasting into three main areas By Matthew Corrigan Published: April 19, 2024 The report b...
19/04/2024
CBS Stations Launches CBS News California Investigates' Segments
CBS Stations has launched CBS News California Investigates , with Julie Watts named regional CBS California correspondent. She will uncover and raise awarenes...
19/04/2024
MediaCo Acquires Estrella Media's Spanish-Language Network, Content Assets
MediaCo Holding, which owns radio stations WQHT (Hot 97) and WBLS in New York, said it acquired Estrella Media's Spanish-language video, audio and digital c...
19/04/2024
Season 5 of The Witcher' Will Be Final One
Netflix has ordered season five of fantasy drama The Witcher, which will be the final season. Production has recently begun on season four, and the two remainin...
19/04/2024
DirecTV Stream To Carry Eight More The CW Affiliates
DirecTV Stream said it added eight more The CW affiliates to its lineup on Thursday....
19/04/2024
CBS Orders More Elsbeth'
CBS has renewed Elsbeth for the 2024-2025 season. The drama, with Carrie Preston in the lead role, debuted February 29....
19/04/2024
With Bears on the Clock. NBCU Local Chicago Plans Extensive NFL Draft Coverage
With the Bears picking first, NBCUniversal Local's properties in Chicago plan extensive coverage of the NFL draft next week....
19/04/2024
Comcast Launches NOW
PHILADELPHIA As government subsidies for broadband services come to an end, Comcast has launched NOW, a new product portfolio of lower-cost Internet, mobile and...
19/04/2024
DirecTV Stream Adds CW Affiliates
DirecTV Stream has added more local CW stations for its streaming customers in Boston, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Hartford-New Haven Conn., Phoenix, San ...
19/04/2024
MediaCo Acquires Estrella Media's Content and Digital Operations
NEW YORK & LOS ANGELES MediaCo Holding Inc. has announced that it has acquired all of Estrella Media's network, content, digital, and commercial operations....
19/04/2024
Adobe Launches New Adobe Express Mobile App with Firefly AI
SAN JOSE, Calif. Adobe has announced that the all-new Adobe Express mobile app is available to all users, bringing features powered by Adobe Firefly generative ...
19/04/2024
Netflix Adds 9.3M Subs in Q1
LOS GATOS, Calif. Netflix reported another blockbuster quarter by adding 9.33 million new subscribers in Q1, 2024 as global paid memberships hit 269.6 million, ...
19/04/2024
The Current State of the Industry and the Future Impact of AI
The Current State of the Industry and the Future Impact of AI Hillary Lewis April 18, 2024 0 Comments The Entertainment Industry: How did we get here ...
19/04/2024
After Effects Tutorial Text Blur Reveal
After Effects Tutorial Text Blur Reveal Andy Ford April 18, 2024 0 Comments Here's a way to do a quick blur reveal for your text layer. Start by...
19/04/2024
Hollyland Mars M1 Enhanced Wireless Transmitter / Receiver
Hollyland Mars M1 Enhanced Wireless Transmitter / Receiver Colin Smith April 18, 2024 0 Comments This tutorial shows the new wireless transmitter rece...
19/04/2024
Resolve Fusion: Writing Expressions with Lua
Resolve Fusion: Writing Expressions with Lua Simon Ubsdell April 18, 2024 0 Comments The answer to the very frequently-asked question: what is the pro...
19/04/2024
B+C,' Next TV' Announce Winners of Best of Show Awards at NAB Show
B+C and Next TV have announced the winners of Best of Show Awards for the 2024 NAB Show. The awards were judged by a panel of industry experts at the convention...
19/04/2024
Cate Blanchett Narrates Nature Series on Netflix
Cate Blanchett narrates the Netflix series Our Living World, which premieres April 17. The four-part series looks at the extraordinary creatures around the glob...
19/04/2024
For All Mankind' Spinoff Is in the Works at Apple TV Plus
Apple TV Plus has a spinoff of For All Mankind in the works. It is called Star City and details the cosmonauts, engineers and intelligence officers working behi...