Real to Reel Film Festival - The Life and Death of an Unhappily Married Man
A man disillusioned with his failing marriage and dead end career abruptly decides to visit his past to figure out where it all went wrong.
Interview with Writer/Director Josh Hope
Watch The Life and Death of an Unhappily Married Man on Youtube and Vudu
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I had gone through a couple serious breakups as an adult that obviously had a pretty big impact on my life, and I knew I wanted to try to tell a story that would get inside the mind and thoughts of a guy who was basically going through a quarter life crisis and wondering where it all went wrong in his life. My goal was to use my personal experiences to make something that was hopefully touching and weirdly funny at the same time.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The main thing I have discovered since the film has been playing on the festival circuit for this past year is that a lot of people can relate to a guy who has hit rock bottom. I think it’s just a universal theme of being a human. We’ve all been there one way or another, so it’s nice to have that connection with other people, and to realize that life gets better if you give it another chance.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The story is almost completely autobiographical, so they played a huge part in the film. I think there’s nothing more interested than real life so I tried to incorporate things that actually happened to me along my journey and be as painfully honest as possible.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
I think the script always evolves once you start hiring actors to come in and bring your characters to life. I like working with actors who really dig into the material and make it their own. I really enjoy handing off the original script and seeing how it becomes a different reality on the big screen.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We’ve now played at over 50 festivals in 7 different countries, and so far the film has been received very positively. We’ve won over 20 awards for Best Film, Actor, Director, Editing and Score. I know a dark comedy/drama film like this it’s not exactly everyone’s cup of tea, but for the most part audiences seem to connect with the honesty of it, and enjoy the comedic ride of our main character.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I’m actually quite surprised by the amount of positive feedback. When I first finished the script and decided to try and make the film I didn’t know if anyone would every actually watch it or connect to this guy at all. The film starts off showing the main character at his worst, in the lowest point of his life. I’ve realized that you can tell an anti-hero story if you do the scary part of exposing yourself and all your flaws.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I think all indie films that have a tiny budget like ours are always looking for more exposure wherever we can find it. Any chance we get to play in a new city at a new festival allows us to find an audience that normally wouldn’t ever even hear about the movie.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
At this point in the process we’re simply looking to continue to build on our audience. The film will be released through various VOD (video on demand) sites this fall, so positive word of mouth is a huge part of helping us get the film out there as much as possible.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I first hope that people are entertained by it. If it helps certain audience members to feel less alone seeing someone else who has hit rock bottom…than that’s a nice bonus.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
I purposely wrote it in a way that if 2 people watch the film together…one a pessimist…one an optimist…that they would leave the theater debating how certain things in the film will turn out down the line. I would love it if they are talking about the film hours later over coffee.
Would you like to add anything else?
If anyone wants to learn more about the film they can find us on facebook and twitter, or they can check out our website at www.OliveEntertainment.com for all the latest news.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I have several new projects in the works that I’m excited to get going in the upcoming year.
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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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The Life and Death of an Unhappily Married Man
A man disillusioned with his failing marriage and dead end career abruptly decides to visit his past to figure out where it all went wrong.
Length: 85 minutes
Director: Josh Hope
Producer: Josh Hope, Chris Hong, Mikki Rosenberg & Tommy Beardmore
Writer: Josh Hope
About the writer, director and producer: (25 words each)
Key cast: Tommy Beardmore, Rusty Schwimmer, Robyn Coffin, Sean Patrick Leonard, Kate Froehlich, Kurt Conroyd & D’arcy Fellona.
Funders:
Made in association with:
Release date: 2016
Where can I watch it in the next month? Real to Reel Film Festival