Pan African Film Festival - LAST LIFE
Two reincarnated African American spirits who've been returning as different people since the dawn of slavery, feel they've had enough with modern day America and that this is their 'last life'.
Interview with Writer/Director Michael Phillip Edwards and Producer Tamika Lamison
Watch Last Life here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
LAST LIFE was written just weeks before the 2016 election amidst the heated 'race discussions' going on around the country and the world. Creating something to deal with all the political negativity was definitely a catalyst. But we also wanted to subtly introduce a love story in there; something to remind our world that underneath all the vitriol there's just 'people trying to love one another'. Spiritually, Producer-Tamika and Writer/Director-Michael, have had a running discussion as to who has lived the most lives and who of the two of us is on their last life (who's completed all of their journeys to earth?) Who still has to come back because they haven't done what they're supposed to do? Evolved to where they're supposed to evolve to? LAST LIFE is the creation of two loving characters who've evolved together since slavery times in America and now in TRUMP's time, they're finally realizing it's time to leave.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
We invite audiences to take a complicated journey into love, spirituality and race. Where "GET OUT" operated as a serious race discussion film disguised cleverly as a HORROR MOVIE; "LAST LIFE" operates similarly as an American race discussion film disguised as a fantasy LOVE STORY. Two slaves in love, separated by their white master, travel time knowing each other as different people at different stages of American history, finally facing each other in modern times. We believe audiences will enjoy this unique ride.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
We were quite pleased with a write up we received from Programmers for the Pan African that assessed the themes explored in our film:
"The subject of DIVISION in America is at heart here. Racial division (BLACK and WHITE) and sexual division, as we explore the souls of two African slaves, a man and a woman, who via deliberate plantation separation have traveled life to life, past to present, still suffering the same pain, the same symptoms of anxiety, caused by a focus on power rather than Love."
The points where we explore the racial division hurting our nation will be apparent (universal). The personal surprise will be the delicate exploration of division between man and woman (arguably specifically black men and black women), but the heart of their relationship struggle is universal.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The story of two lovers jumping from life to life has been developing for years. Adapting the script to the present racial tension in the country as well as the locations the director of photography thought would best suit the texture of the script and allowing the actors to weigh in on the politics of what their characters where saying made for constant shifts in the script. Editing is always the final draft. Tamika had the idea for animation in-between certain scenes to show the in-between lifetime world. Music Video animator Sarah Winter came on board and took our script to another level in editing adding a whole other dimension to the original story.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Feedback thus far has been phenomenal. Our very first screening was for JUVEE PRODUCTIONS (Viola Davis' Company). Julius Tennon (CEO of Juvee) was viscerally complimentary afterwards. He called one of our exec. producers at 7am the next morning to continue sharing his complimentary thoughts and asked us to set up a secondary screening for his production partners. We are grateful for the initial validation and support from Juvee Productions. We've held a few private screenings at Panavision Hollywood for select invitees and the response continues to be overwhelming. People have expressed that they were profoundly moved and the film was deeply thought-provoking, relevant and resonant. We also believe we have created something timely: CLARKE PETERS of "3 BILLBOARDS" was a guest. At screenings end he simply and joyfully asked for 'more'.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
When delving into race and gender politics in America there is always so much more to say. And the feedback supports this as the film inspired a lot of deep conversation and the desire for more. We feel the TV series we're developing from the LAST LIFE concept will push the envelope far enough to take care of that feeling. We're proud of the film. We've experienced audiences that have either expressed immense satisfaction for what we've done or an eager hunger for even more of the world we've introduced. There's a lot that goes unsaid in America's brief history. A lot of pain and courage from people who lived and died away from any semblance of celebrity. The story of LAST LIFE, with individual spirits time jumping from life to life throughout American history strikes a powerful chord with our audiences. It's an opportunity to discuss; It's an opportunity to heal; It's an opportunity to tell great stories. TV development and sequel scripts have already been developed.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We want to expand the discussion this film provokes nationwide. You cannot watch this film without having a strong opinion about American History. We'd like that discussion to happen as many times as possible.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
As the film was just completed DEC 7 2017 - WE ARE BRAND NEW! We need ALL OF THE ABOVE. TV Producers/ Showrunners because of the future of the project and the television prospects (being discussed already). Sales Agents/ Buyers/ Distribution to move the film nationally and internationally. FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTATION is our current stride. As we are brand new, getting feedback from across the country is what we are about right now (Seeing what the buying public thinks). So we're looking for as many FILM FESTIVALS that program films such as ours. And then of course JOURNALISTS to both preview and review the film. We're eager to hear what the press has to say about the subjects raised by LAST LIFE.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We'd like this film to spawn progressive discussion about America's RACE ISSUE. We'd like to inspire Americans and world citizens alike to remember underneath it all there's Love. No matter how bad we treat each other, we come from somewhere before we were born and we are going somewhere after we die and hopefully the energy source of all of this is Love.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
"How many lifetimes have you lived? How many in America? How many people have you been? Were you another race or another gender in another life? And if this was your Last Life, how would you like to affect America or the World before you leave?"
Would you like to add anything else?
Your questions have been amazing...I think we're good.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Michael Phillip Edwards (Writer/Director): Developing the TV series for LAST LIFE. ( A pilot and 8 episodes written so far).
Tamika Lamison (Producer/Actor): Seeking Financing for 2 project: When Push Comes to Shove (An African-American Homage to Thelma & Louise); Memoirs of A Virgin Whore/The Awakening (An Award Winning Feature Script) and a new project with her non-profit Make A Film Foundation (www.makeafilmfoundation.org)- which grants short film wishes to children who have serious or life-threatening medical conditions by teaming them with noted writers, directors, producers and actors who help them to create short film legacies.
Interview: January 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTIAQ+, scifi, horror, world cinema. 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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LAST LIFE
Two reincarnated African American spirits who've been returning as different people since the dawn of slavery, feel they've had enough with modern day America and that this is their 'last life'.
Length: 80 minutes
Director: Michael Phillip Edwards
Producer: Tamika Lamison
Writer: Michael Phillip Edwards
About the writer, director and producer:
PRODUCER: Tamika Lamison is a Virginia native who graduated from The American University with a BA in Performing Arts while also studying at Howard University. While in LA, Tamika won several Fellowships and Awards in Writing and Directing including the Gordon Parks Independent Film Award for Screenwriting via the Independent Film Project, the ABC/Walt Disney Fellowship in Screenwriting for, “Memoirs of A Virgin Whore,” The Guy Hanks and Marvin Miller (Cosby) Fellowship, the CBS Director’s Initiative and AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women Fellowship in which she wrote, directed and produced the multi-award winning short film, HOPE. She was then hired as both a Camera Operator and Director on one of BET’s first reality TV shows: College Hill. In 2017 she was hired to write 2 episodes of a new UMC show called "Monogamy" and hosted a Travel series for UMC. Tamika recently produced and starred in the feature film “Last Life” which is currently on the film festival circuit.
WRITER DIRECTOR: Jamaican born writer director Michael Phillip Edwards is a BFA graduate of York University in Canada. Known for his award winning New York Off Broadway (Edinburgh Fringe First award) winning ONE MAN theater play turned multiple award winning feature film titled RUNT (Winner Special Jury Prize Pan African Film Festival), Michael has written and directed 7 feature films to date. Edwards specializes in writing and directing feature and documentary feature films as well as some theater all with a focus on raising human consciousness in the community. Edwards resides in Los Angeles California.
Definitely want to add a special word of gratitude to our exec producers and associate producers who made sure we were able to keep our voice independent and strong. LAST LIFE is very much a team effort with folks participating at home here in Los Angeles and from all across the country. Congratulations Team.
Key cast: Tamika Lamison, Kobe Riverditto, Michael Phillip Edwards
Producers- Tamika Lamison. Alexandra Hancock, Michael Phillip Edwards
Associate Producers: Christopher Grossett, Lawrence Reinhardt Meyer, Eli Tabari,Kathy Foley Meyer, Irving Meyer, Ricky Cassetty, Bill Lee Brown, Ronnie Traylor, Jospeh H. Ware, Vickie Crowe, KC Collins, Rick Howland
Co-Producer - Jovan Warren
Executive Producers - Steve Yarn. Karen Braithwaite Yarn, Vanessa Paul, Alex Morris, J. Matthew Stroud,
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Yes. Seeking al of the above. Especially seeking Journalists to write about the film on a national level. film festivals to expose the film and buyers/ distributors/sales agents to move the product worldwide.
Social media handles: www.lastlifethefilm.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LastLifeFeatureFilm/
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
At the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles CA (PAFF.ORG) between Feb 8 and 18th 2018 / After that you can watch in Pittsburgh at the BLACK BOTTOM FILM FEST at the AUGUST WILSON CENTER.