LA FOCUS - The Salton Sea
Film Title: “THE SALTON SEA”
Logline: ON THE RUN THROUGH THE DESERT, TWO WOMEN SEARCH FOR REDEMPTION
Length: 86 MINUTES
Director: VEENA SUD
Producer: SHANA FISCHER HUBER& CHAD OSTROM
Writer: VEENA SUD
WRITER/DIRECTOR (VEENA SUD)
Sud is the creator of the U.S. series “The Killing”. The show was nominated for six Emmys in 2011, including outstanding cast and writing. “The Salton Sea” is her first guerrilla feature film.
PRODUCER (SHANA FISCHER HUBER)
Fischer Huber was the Post Producer on the Emmy-nominated TV show “The Killing” (AMC/Neulix), the Sundance Channel's "The Red Road,” and Amazon’s series "Hand of God".
PRODUCER (CHAD OSTROM)
Ostrom cut his teeth in the fashion world creatIng films and commercials for Tom Ford, Vogue, Perry Ellis, GQ, Carolina Herrera, Chanel and long format projects for Nike, Forbes, and the New York Times.
Key cast:
THE DRIVER (JAMIE ANNE ALLMAN)
Allman was a series regular the hit FX series "The Shield,” and AMC/Netflix’s Emmy nominated “The Killing.” She’s been seen in "The Notebook” opposite Ryan Gosling and her other TV work include roles on "Six Feet Under," "Saving Grace," "The Closer," and "Monk," to name a few.
THE HITCHHIKER (DIARRA KILPATRICK)
Kilpatrick’s TV credits include Southland, Private Practice, Mike and Molly, Hart of Dixie, The Game and House. She can be seen most recently in Lila and Eve” (opposite Viola Davis and Jennifer Lopez).
Release date: WORLD PREMIERE, SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL APRIL 2016
Where can I watch it? DANCES WITH FILMS FESTIVAL, TUESDAY, JUNE 7 AT 7:15 PM
CHINESE 6 THEATERS, HOLLYWOOD
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
IN THE WINTER OF 2014 I WAS GRAPPLING WITH THE UNEXPECTED AND TRAGIC DEATHS OF SEVERAL LOVED ONES. I ATTENDED A BUDDHIST WORKSHOP ON DEATH AND DYING TO TRY TO FIND SOME SOLACE. IT WAS HERE THAT I LEARNED ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF THE “BARDO” – A PLACE , BUDDHISTS BELIEVE, WHERE OUR SOULS GO AFTER WE DIE AND BEFORE WE ARE REINCARNATED.
IT IS WHERE WE CONFRONT THE DEMONS FROM OUR LIVES, THE UNRESOLVED THINGS. AND SOMETIMES, IN THE BARDO, WE DON’T EVEN KNOW WE’RE DEAD. I LOVED THAT IDEA AND MADE A FILM THAT PLAYS WITH THESE NOTIONS OF DEATH, REGRET, TRYING TO RIGHT PAST WRONGS AND/OR FLEEING FROM THEM….
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
A FEMALE VERSION OF “MY DINNER WITH ANDRE,” THE CHARACTERS IN THE “THE SALTON SEA” GRAPPLE WITH AND TALK ABOUT THE TOUGH CHOICES AND DARK ROADS WE SOMETIMES FIND OURSELVES ON. A DYSFUNCTIONAL, EDGIER “THELMA AND LOUISE,” THE FILM FEATURES TWO RARE FEMALE CHARACTERS WHO ARE DEEPLY FLAWED, COMPLICATED, “OUTSIDER WOMEN” TRYING TO FIND A PLACE IN THE WORLD FOR THEMSELVES.
THE VERY BEST INDEPENDENT FILM CAN BE WITHOUT FORCED STRUCTURE, WITHOUT FORCED HAPPY ENDINGS, WITHOUT BULLSHIT ABOUT “WOMEN’S SOFTER NATURES”. WE ARE AS FLAWED, IMPERFECT AND NUANCED AS MALE CHARACTERS, BUT SO RARELY DO WE GET TO BE ANTI-HEROES.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I’M DEEPLY INTERESTED IN HOW WE COPE WITH DEATH AND HOW WE PINE – SOMETIMES SECRETLY - FOR ANOTHER CHANCE TO HAVE BEEN A BETTER DAUGHTER, MOTHER, SIBLING, ETC. HOW DO WE LOOK BACK AT THE IMPERFECT, UNKIND PEOPLE WE MAY HAVE BEEN TO THE DEAD AND FIND A WAY FORWARD?
DOES A SUDDEN DEATH CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PROFOUND CHANGE OR DOES IT HOLD US IN LIMBO INDEFINITELY, UNABLE TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS, FOREVER STUCK IN A PLACE SIMILAR TO THE BARDO?
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
THE WHOLE APPROACH TO THE FILM WAS TO MAKE IT “GUERRILLA” STYLE, ALMOST LIKE A 24 HOUR PLAY. THE SCRIPT WAS WRITTEN IN A WEEK AND WAS SHOT OVER 7 DAYS WITH A TINY 15 PERSON CREW. AN HOMAGE TO THE DOGME 95 MOVEMENT AND FOSTERING THE DREAM TO CREATE FILMS WITH AS LITTLE OVERHEAD AND INTERFERENCE AS POSSIBLE.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
AUDIENCE MEMBERS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH A DEATH ARE ESPECIALLY MOVED BY THE FILM. A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THE FILM AND THE GUERRILLA ADVENTURE WE HAD!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
IT’S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE TO PUT SOMETHING OUT IN THE UNIVERSE THAT IS A NON-CONVENTIONAL TYPE OF STORY SO YES, WHEN PEOPLE DON’T RESPOND TO THE NON-LINEAR NATURE OF THE NARRATIVE, IT IS A CHALLENGE.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible onwww.wearemovingstories.com?
I THINK IT’S CRITICAL THAT INDEPENDENT FILMS (THAT ARE ACTUALLY TRULY INDEPENDENT) BE SUPPORTED BY PLACES LIKE WEAREMOVINGSTORIES.COM. WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT AND ATTENTION, THESE TINY FILMS WILL NOT THRIVE.
ESPECIALLY FILMS WITH FEMALE LEADS AND WOMEN BEHIND THE CAMERA IN KEY POSITIONS (PRODUCER, WRITER, DIRECTOR) CLEARLY NEED ATTENTION IN THIS TOWN, AS WE’RE ALL AWARE OF NOW.
ESPECIALLY FILMS THAT DON’T BOX WOMEN INTO WELL TROD CATEGORIES BUT ALLOW OUR CHARACTERS TO BE FLAWED, IMPERFECT, “UGLY”, AND NUANCED LIKE ANY MALE ANTI-HERO.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
MORE JOURNALISTS, SALES AGENTS, BUYERS AND DISTRIBUTORS!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I’D LIKE TO HAVE THE FILM’S MESSAGE – AND SURPRISE ENDING – LAND IN AN EMOTIONALLY CHALLENGING WAY WITH A VERY BROAD AUDIENCE. FOR PEOPLE WHO SEE THE FILM TO BE ENGAGED BY IDEAS OF DEATH, LOSS AND REGRET. FOR THE AUDIENCE TO APPRECIATE THE POETIC NON-LINEAR NARRATIVE THAT DEFINES THE STRUCTURE OF THE FILM.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
A SURPRISE TWIST IS AT THE VERY END OF THE MOVIE…. DID THE AUDIENCE SEE IT COMING? HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL ABOUT THE ENTIRE JOURNEY OF THE FILM?
BEFORE SEEING THE FILM – HAVE YOU EVER FLED FROM THE SCENE OF A CRIME? IF NO ONE WAS LOOKING, WOULD YOU?
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I AM DEVELOPING A NEW TELEVISION SHOW WITH NETFLIX AND WRITING A FEATURE FOR BROAD GREEN PICTURES.
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If you enjoyed reading about 'The Salton Sea' please check out our platform: www.wearemovingstories.com We embrace new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you are a filmmaker - we'd love you to contribute. More info: Carmela (cbaranowska@protonmail.com)