LA Shorts Fest - Animal
A man wakes up trapped in a white room with a machine that gives him everything it thinks he needs to survive, but is that enough?
Interview with Writer/Director Ramez Silyan
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Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
The original idea behind this short was born out of the need to create something as large as possible with as little as possible at my immediate disposal, a fools errand really. At the time, I was interning at a production company and could not stop thinking about helming a production of my own. The principle concept of a man stuck in a room with a machine actually came into my thick skull while working at this company, The Director’s Bureau, my saving grace of internships that re-instilled some sort of faith back into a business that had chewed me up and spat me out countless times over.
The Bureau, as we called it (Roman Coppola’s production house) is chalked full of, not only talented and amazing people, but great vintage quirky contraptions, one being an old vending machine that sat near the front desk. It just sat there in a peculiar state of malfunction, everyone knew it was there, but nobody ever really acknowledged it. It was just a permanent fixture unworthy of further attention. That was until the day I was tasked to figure out how it
worked, to learn its language. The image of its constant blinking red button has been forever seared into my mind, telling me to get off my ass and make something for myself.
I took up the task and did just that. After learning the ways of the machine, I delved into the idea that became Animal. The original idea went from comedy, to black comedy, and finally to straight drama. It’s through these revisions that I discovered what I was really interested in showing people, an existential game of chess between man and machine. I wanted to create a surreal space where man seemingly becomes the less sophisticated caged animal ruled by an emotionless survival driven machine, but through the process the two begin to bleed together. Somewhere in space in time where Bergman's Death and Kubrick's Hal become one.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch this film if you like asking questions. Then watch it again and ask yourself what it means to you.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
As an absurdist film on the human condition, it's universal in the simple fact that we are all animals.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
I spent about a year writing, not writing, and rewriting until I felt I was ready to shoot. What started as a black comedy turned into a sci fi-y drama. From pre to post the script evolved and mostly shortened.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Pretty mixed. I've had them say it was "raw and thought provoking" to "obvious and banal and trite." Can't please them all.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Not really, no. I'm not surprised at all. I can't say that any public feedback has made me take a second look at anything. The film is done and those that opinions mattered to me were shown earlier cuts.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I'd love for as many people as possible to check the film out, whether they love it or hate it is just fine with me.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Anyone that can get more eyeballs on the film, whether it's a festival director that is interested in programming or some sort of distribution.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Like mentioned above, if this film makes you feel something, love or
hate, then I know I've done something right.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Chris Zylka is currently shooting in Montreal for Xavier Dolan's upcoming film, DP Rachael Doughty is working on HBO's Girls in NY, and I'm currently editing my follow up short "Dog Food."
Interview: August 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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ANIMAL
A man wakes up trapped in a white room with a machine that gives him everything it thinks he needs to survive, but is that enough?
Length:
10:20 seconds
Director:
Ramez Silyan
Producer:
Ryan Curtis
Writer:
Ramez Silyan
Ramez Silyan is a first generation Syrian-American born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. He received a bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of California, Berkeley and has since moved back home to pursue his filmmaking career. Little over a year after graduating he has worked on commercial, music video, and feature film sets, directed his own videos, and edited countless projects along the way. Animal is his latest work as a writer and director, and his first to be considered for festival exhibition.
Key cast:
Chris Zylka
Where can I watch it in the next month?
Animal will premiere at LA Shorts Fest on september 6th at 9:55PM at
LA live in downtown Los Angeles.
If you're not local to LA, there will be an online premiere soon thereafter.