Big Apple Film Festival - Rock and a Hard Place
Jack, a guitarist, has three hours to get ready for a big gig, despite a drunken roommate and a very jealous girlfriend.
Interview with Writer/Director Felix Burgan
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Before I started to make films, I was a cellist. Once, I had to get ready for a concert and I knew it was only few hours before the gig. I was very tense because I was playing alone and I didn’t know if I’d be able to make it. With classical music, you can’t improvise; you need to prepare the pieces a lot. Fortunately, everything went well. For this film I imagined if everything went wrong, what could happen? So I started to play around with this idea and found many opportunities to do it. The other thing was during the table read, my friends liked the tone and were laughing a lot during the scene between the two friends Jack and Tony. It kept me confident with the material I had.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It’s a frenetic comedy, so you won’t be bored. People told me every time they can’t keep their eyes off the screen but it’s not just an entertaining film. The relationship between the characters are so deeply rooted in something concrete, that it breathes real life into them and into the story in a very natural manner.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The film speaks to the balance we try to find between our personal life and our professional life: how to love the people we love and how to do what we love. The coming of age relationships theme or how a young artist has to fight for his passion and to make his dream come true is more personal for me.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
In the first draft, I wrote 3 short “dream sequences”. Basically, when the main character Jack is struggling, he loses control and we see into his thoughts. We shot just one of those “dream sequences” because the schedule was too short for the other ones. When we edited the film with my cinematographer, we realized the style of the shot was very poetic and it didn’t fit with the rest of the film. We also took off one of the scenes to keep the pace fast. While editing the film, we realized making a frenetic film was better than follow the shooting script that was slower and more nostalgic, I guess.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The film first screened at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema in Manhattan and at the Cannes International Film Festival this year for private screenings. Most recently, it screened at the Chelsea Film Festival as a New York Premiere and at the Big Apple Film Festival. Audience members at festivals really respond to the film’s specific tone and some of them think what’s happening between some of the characters is dramatic for them even if they laugh about it because the situation is getting crazy. The audience also loves the aesthetic and the production design. Even for a comedy that’s really important to give the story a specific style. Also, people told me the actors are well cast and have an amazing talent. People also enjoy how the story is written because they can’t predict what happens next.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
One person’s feedback surprised me. It was a sound guy that I met at a bar in Los Angeles. He had seen the film through a mutual friend. He told me that he felt the people who made this film knew what real rock and roll is and they had the balls to do a wild story. I think he liked the vibe from the film - maybe - because that touched his own passion and desire but that surprised me because before making this film, I didn’t know that much about the world of rock music.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I wish more people could know about the film, and I’m really excited to connect with film lovers and every talented person out there.
How do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We’re in the process still of festivals submissions. So film festival directors, of course, but also distributors, buyers and journalists and anything to help the film become well known. I’m also looking for a producer for my next project, which is a feature.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Any type of impact or reception is great. The worst thing that could happen is people don’t have any reaction after seeing it, because that means they don’t care. If someone hates the film, at least the film gives them a reaction. Often, original films divide people or create passionate reactions.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
If you had to choose between the love of your life and the opportunity of a lifetime, what would you choose?
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you so much for doing this interview and including my film in your platform. I also want to thank all the people who worked or helped me to make this film. If you want to watch and see more behind the scenes content, interviews or pictures, you can like our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/rockandahardplace/ We’re always posting.
What are the key creative developing or working on now?
My first project is a dark comedy I’m currently writing with an American writer. It’s the same tone that Rock and a Hard Place has. I could say, “when Pulp Fiction meet Drive” with a kind of French touch. The second one is a drama with different stories that will cross each other during the film. It’s more serious and violent like the short films I did before.
Interview: November 2016
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Rock and a Hard Place
Jack, a guitarist, has three hours to get ready for a big gig, despite a drunken roommate and a very jealous girlfriend.
Length: 15 min.
Director: Felix Burgan
Producer: Panita Chanrasmi-Lefebvre, Felix Burgan and Guillaume Marbeck
Writer: Felix Burgan
About the writer, director and producer: Felix Burgan is a French filmmaker based in Los Angeles. He enjoys making any type of movie but mostly thrillers, dark comedies or sci fi genre. He’s working on an animated sci fi series and also developing a feature film.
Key Cast: William Hochman, Michael Levinson, Isabella Conrad, and Rachel Pirard.
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival, journalists):
Distributors, Film festivals and Journalists. Buyers are also welcome.
Funders: Successful crowdfunding campaign and self financed.
Made in association with: Esra New York and Selective
Where can I see it in the next month?
This month, the film will screen at the Big Apple Film Festival in Manhattan on Friday November 4th. For the months after, I don’t know yet. You can also reach out to me directly and I'll be happy to share a private link.