2016 Erie International Film Festival - Manhandlers
When two deadbeat guys bring home a stray “omen child,” a dormant blood-feud with a bitter family rival is reignited. To combat this evil, and also to pay the rent – our heroes open their own muscle-for-hire business called MANHANDLERS.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Adam Pitzler
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
The better question is, why not make a film? I saw an opportunity to work with dozens of talented people, get my original screenplay produced, and take a real stab at what I’ve always loved to do: make people laugh. MANHANDLERS is a comedy like you’ve never seen before. And the laughter and joy that folks have expressed to me regarding the production is all the fuel I need.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I would say to them, “have you ever seen a movie about two amoral guys who start a muscle-for-hire business in order to find their missing son and hedgehog?” If you have, then don’t watch this one. Also, if you hate laughing, don’t watch it.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I mean, who hasn’t been in a situation where their tough-guy-for-hire business has been improperly marketed as a male prostitution service? We’ve all been there.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
How much time do you have to listen to this one? We wrote/filmed/shot this sucker as a mini-series. The original cut was 2:36. After painfully learning there was ZERO market for an Indie mini-series, we set about cutting it down to a feature film. The final cut was 1:21. We eliminated several side characters, side quests, and jokes that didn’t directly fuel the story.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
VERY POSITIVE. We’re a bunch of guys from nowhere with no money and no connections who made an award winning feature film out of enthusiasm and sweat. One agent said, “the good thing about your comedy, is that it is actually funny.” That’s why they make the big bucks, right?
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Yes, actually. Our film was shot with a digital camera, and we used amateur talent exclusively. I assumed that movie-lovers would only care about the story and the emotions elicited. But that’s just not a sweeping truth. Genre fans loved it, but I dealt with my share of snobbery regarding the size of our budget and whatnot. I kept telling them that Ryan Reynolds was on the hook to play the lead role, but he bailed at the last second when he realized I was lying about being Martin Scorsese.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
You never know who might watch it, like it, and want to work together in the future. I am POSITIVE that my style of filmmaking and humor is hard to find. And I truly believe that I have a lot to offer this world as a screenwriter.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I am to the point where I would like to distribute. I think that exposure is key. So if you are a distributor reading this, and your boss keeps waiting for you to find that diamond in the rough… well, STRANGER THINGS is gone. You missed it. But MANHANDLERS could be that cubic zirconia in the rough!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
All I have ever wanted to do is to make people laugh. If you laugh at the jokes, I’m happy. And I am fairly confident that you will.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
“If your roommate turns into a zombie, should you tell the landlord?” We did. She was surprisingly cool with it.
Would you like to add anything else?
MANHANDLERS is a fun, funny, fast-paced adventure like you’ve never seen. You will never know what will happen next. It’s a wild, irreverent ride that hits you from all angles.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I have finished my second screenplay APARTMENT MANAGER. So far it has been requested by APA, UTA, Untitled, Good Fear, Circle of Confusion and more. I hope to sell this project in 2017. If you are looking for a fresh, funny, contained comedy screenplay, then reach out!
Interview: January 2017
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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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MANHANDLERS
When two deadbeat guys bring home a stray “omen child,” a dormant blood-feud with a bitter family rival is reignited. To combat this evil, and also to pay the rent – our heroes open their own muscle-for-hire business called MANHANDLERS.
Length:
1:21
Director:
Adam Pitzler
Producer:
Adam Pitzler
Writer:
Adam Pitzler
About the writer, director and producer:
MANHANDLERS is Adam Pitzler’s feature film debut. It has currently been accepted into 6 film festivals, and has been fortunate enough to win the BEST HORROR/COMEDY AWARD, twice. Adam also had a play produced off-Broadway, and he holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
Key cast:
John “The Hook” Christensen, Austin Burnett, and Mr. Prick (The Hedgehog).
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
I am looking for producers that like comedy, creatives who appreciate hard-working filmmakers, and anyone who has Jason Bateman’s cell phone number – seriously, my next project is perfect for his production company!
Funders:
Self-Financed. Don’t tell my wife.
Made in association with:
Dedicated volunteers, and cheap underage labor forces.
Where will it screen in the next month?
In your living room! Hit me up at www.adampitzler.com