Santa Fe Film Festival - Attempt To Rise
On the eve of the sale of his childhood home, Nick Bryan is alone and still grieving the loss of his brother. His silence is interrupted when a free-spirited stranger arrives and provides him an opportunity to find peace within his pain. Sometimes it's those who don't know us at all who see us most clearly.
Interview with Director John D. Hay Jr
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
The reason I directed this film is because of the script. The film spoke to something I have always wanted to capture in a film, and that is atmosphere. The themes of fleeting moments, and loss are the central focus, but really it was this atmosphere that interested me. I wanted to create a small world with these two characters, somewhere that exists, but in almost a heightened emotional location. This film has been a very collaborative experience from the start and was originally inspired by an Emily Dickinson poem (from which the title is derived).
We previously collaborated on a web series (Work in Progress) that I wrote and we'd all been hopeful that another project would come along to bring us together again. We've discovered there is great power in creating work and in creating opportunities for artists to lend their talents, expertise and knowledge. Additionally, the opportunity to shoot in the Catskill Mountain region brought an extra dimension to the project -- our small crew lived in the house where we shot for the six days of production surrounded by the beauty of nature, all the while delving into a very tragic circumstance playing out in the characters' lives.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film? How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
As a team, we are very proud of the results of our work. Creating this film was very much a labor of love for everyone involved and I truly believe that this film has the ability to evoke an emotion in the audience.. While the film addresses tragedy, there are also elements of hope and healing that we want to share with those that view the film. We hope you'll watch for these overarching themes and for the carefully-crafted cinematography, the heartfelt and honest performances and the love that went into all the elements of production. Through a few viewings we have seen people cry and be very moved. I think there is something meditative about the characters’ communication. Those who have felt loss or heartbreak are especially interested in this film as it shows how someone builds up a wall to protect themselves from feeling it again.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
One of the things we were interested in when making this film is the study of time and its relation to loss. The film examines grief, death and what happens after the loss of a loved one. There are essentially three different modes when thinking about loss: the present (the moment you are in), the past (the loss or happy moments before the loss), and the future (how you will move forward or what you will do next). In the film we have two different characters who occupy different “time” in the way they act. One operates purely in the present, while the other holds on tightly to the past.
With the arrival of Anna, the film allows both characters a moment in time to breathe, to connect and to heal. It is a fleeting moment, but one that is meant to give both characters time to take each other in and listen. I think the universal theme here, or at least what is to be learned from the film, is the idea that through relationships (not only romantic) we can find a way to move toward the future. I believe that when dealing with loss the past can become a burden, the present is dulled and gray, and the future isn’t even in the equation. Relationships, however fleeting they may be, can help to bring thinking about the future into the equation again.
What type of feedback have you received so far? Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The script was brought to me by the very talented Lee Kaplan (writer, producer, and main actor of Attempt to Rise). We had worked on a project of mine previously and the relationship had remained strong. The original script was beautiful and I was on-board immediately. I mentioned earlier this atmosphere I was interested in; this script had it. We moved forward and shot it over a week in the Catskills of New York. The atmosphere was ever present even in the shooting. When we took the film back down to Brooklyn and began to cut it, things began to change. I cut the first draft and then we truly went to work. The film evolved over at least 13 drafts. I use the word draft here, because it was not simply versions being cut down, but whole scenes being lifted, altered, and relocated. We were trying to find the film’s heart. What was originally on paper, and what we ended up with, is very different. The film moved from about 40 minutes to the 19 it is now. The key to telling any story is to tell it the best way possible, while keeping the heart of the piece in tact.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback thus far has been overwhelmingly positive and we have enjoyed every festival where we had the chance to have Q&As so we could hear some of the unique perspectives on the film. In addition to screening in six festivals thus far, we were awarded "Best Film Premiere" at the Hudson Valley International Film Festival.
During two of our Q&A sessions, audience members have floated some interesting and (in some cases) surprising theories about the nature of the characters' relationship and what brings Anna to the house. While we may not agree with these theories, we have to remind ourselves that we are privy to everything that developed behind the scenes and we certainly have our own ideas about the dynamic between the characters. I truly love moments like that in the Q&A, when you are forced to look at your film from a different angle.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We are certainly seeking to expose more people to the film and create an awareness about our team and how we operate. We want to keep telling stories. That is why I began filmmaking, to tell stories as often as possible. The best thing that could come from this is more and more feedback and to open up a conversation with people about the work, so my viewpoint can continue to be challenged and we can grow as artists and filmmakers.
[😎] I believe film festival directors would truly be the best way forward for us. We want to extend the run of the film and reach a broad audience, and the festival circuit is our theatrical run.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Honestly, when you set out to make a short film, it is this beautiful passion project that you pour your heart and soul into. If a viewer walks away with a deeper appreciation of the value of being present with a close friend or a stranger, we will have succeeded.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Can a quick, fleeting relationship influence a life in the same way as a long, extended one?
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
The journey of Attempt to Rise continues to be rewarding, as it has been from the moment we began work on it. We have grown as people, as artists and as friends. It continues to be a source of pride and accomplishment that we want to continue sharing with audiences.
Lee Kaplan - In addition to ongoing marketing efforts with Attempt to Rise, Lee is at-work on two projects -- one is a full-length play and the other is his solo theatre show, Bully.
John Hay – I am currently working on 2 different scripts and am in talks to begin a documentary.
Interview: January 2017
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Attempt to Rise
On the eve of the sale of his childhood home, Nick Bryan is alone and still grieving the loss of his brother. His silence is interrupted when a free-spirited stranger arrives and provides him an opportunity to find peace within his pain. Sometimes it's those who don't know us at all who see us most clearly.
Length: 20 minutes
Director: John D. Hay Jr
Producer: Lee J. Kaplan
Writer: Lee J. Kaplan
About the writer, director and producer:
Writer / Producer: A recent graduate of the William Esper Conservatory, Lee is thrilled to work with this team on Attempt to Rise. Lee also performs his solo theatre show, Bully, in schools and theatres around the country. www.leejkaplan.com
Director: I am a writer/director out of Brooklyn, NY. I am actively looking for stories to tell and scripts to direct.
Director of Photography: Patrick Phillips is getting ready to shoot a documentary in Alaska; Jamie Dunn (Actress): Has two indie features in post production and is about to start work on another short.
Key cast: Lee J. Kaplan (Nick), Jamie Dunn (Anna)
Looking for: Journalists & Film Festival directors