Big Apple Film Festival - Blood Ties
After witnessing his brother's death at the hands of a notorious gang, a timid accountant enlists the help of a scraggly and worn down vigilante to train him in order to avenge his brother's death. But this vigilante may be way in over his head.
Interview with Director Yonah Nimmer and Brian James
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
From a very young age, Brian and Yonah have always been infatuated with comics and graphic novels. We have lost many hours of sleep binging series anywhere from Smallville to Arrow. Nonetheless, we both quickly became tired of the conventional and predictable storylines in which every protagonist is triumphant by the climax of the film. We don’t understand why there is never a superhero or vigilante that represents the everyday man. One who isn’t a mathematical genius and doesn’t have access to high tech weaponry.
As a result, we decided to take a darker tone for our film, Blood Ties. Our hero, Joe Barrett, is a cynical, depressed, and angry washed up vigilante who has lost everything in life. He as well as this movie, defy the superhero norms by creating a selfish protagonist who doesn’t help anyone unless it involves his quest for vengeance. This unique character doesn’t have any particular skill set except for a highly intensive background in mixed martial arts. Really the purpose of this film is to remind people that superhero and comic book content can be dark, suspenseful, gritty, and real.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It defies all your expectations about the superhero genre. We took the most commercial genre and added a new twist. Initially it feels very much like an ordinary comic book adaptation, but as the storyline unfolds it quickly becomes evident that everything is not what it seems.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Joe Barrett, in a way, is your “average Joe”. We have all felt deep pain at one point in our lives. Everyone has lost something or someone close to him or her. Joe portrays that inner we yearn to let out but all attempt to dismiss.
Riley, on the other hand, seeks vengeance for his brother’s death. He attempts to transform his pain into a productive effort and bring down the DarkLights, an evil underground faction.
Peter, Riley’s brother, is a recovering compulsive gambler who went low enough to steal money from his own family. He figuratively puts on a disguise every morning when all he wants is his brother’s approval.
There is something for everyone in Blood Ties. This short portrays many of the dark and depressing aspects of our world that are rarely depicted in the media.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
Before entering production, Brian underwent dozens of rewrites. Striving for perfection, alterations were even being made as casting was coming to a close. Similarly to Brian, Yonah is an absolute perfectionist. When in the cutting room, he would hyper focus on each scene, over analyzing the tiniest of details. Whether it be rerecording foley of a bartender pouring a drink in the background or shifting a cut one frame, he views no task too small when editing.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
People have loved it. They think it is unbelievable, especially for the extremely limited budget we had. We made this film when we were in school (Brian is a Senior, Yonah just graduated). The audience undergoes many emotions as the film progresses. The combination of laughter, fear, disgust, and awe all jam packed into such a short span of time is such a foreign experience to most viewers. In addition, the audience seems to have been genuinely shocked by the reveal near the end of the film, many even stating that they had the chills as the credits rolled.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The best word to describe the feedback thus far is rewarding. At the end of the day, we couldn't care less about winning The Big Apple Film Festival. It’s way more valuable knowing that an audience not only relates to the characters we created, but also dives into the film, for a moment forgetting about their own problems. It is an honor to be part of the festival; winning would just be the cherry on top.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
At this point in time, we are merely looking for more exposure. Not only do we want this unique story to entertain and inspire the everyday hero inside of all of us, but we also want to get our names out there. We hope to inspire all film students around the world proving you can make a quality product for basically no money. Know your resources, know your actors, prepare every shot, and you can get an mind boggling product.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Brian is currently adapting this short film into a television series. The story has evolved; it is obviously different now, but it doesn’t lose the entertaining and thrilling elements that made the short so successful. It only enhances them.
Less than a year left at Syracuse’s prestigious S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Brian is approaching graduation. He is seeking an agent that can assist in setting up meetings with financiers, networks, and production companies. All in all, he is writing out a more fleshed out version of the Blood Ties tale and making it more accessible to a wider audience.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We would like people to begin creating content against the grain. People need to remember that the entertainment industry is not only a business, but also an art. While commercialism is always going to be the major concern for all studios and networks, it should not be the only priority.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Yonah:
I am pursing a career in Los Angeles as both a commercial and television editor. Employed at both All3Media and Rock Paper Scissors, I am currently able to enhance my skills in premiere and avid simultaneously.
Brian:
I am a Senior with graduation around the corner. I have just completed a horror feature that I am looking to produce and make with my cousin, Johnny Yuran. My end goal is to be screenwriter, primarily in horror. My idols are Stephen King, Vincent Price, James Wan, and John Carpenter.
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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Blood Ties
After witnessing his brother's death at the hands of a notorious gang, a timid accountant enlists the help of a scraggly and worn down vigilante to train him in order to avenge his brother's death. But this vigilante may be way in over his head.
Length: 15:45
Director: Yonah Nimmer and Brian James
Producer: Madison Jones, Suzanne de Passe, Howard Yuran, Joel & Sheila
Propos
Writer: Brian James
Key cast: Philip Orazio, Evan Henderson, Mark McClain Wilson, and Jon Conlon
Looking for: Financiers to help develop this story into a television series.
Where can I see it in the next month: http://www.ynimmer.com/#/shortfilms/