NYC Independent Film Festival - Elsewhere
After bombing their LA debut at the Troubadour, a band battles demons, exes and excesses at an after party in the Hollywood Hills on the eve of their first west coast tour.
Interview with Director/Producer Patrick James Lynch
Watch Elsewhere on iTunes
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Elsewhere started as an off-off Broadway theatre piece in 2013. It was a collection of short scenes, tied together by themes of wonder, regret, and hope. The show's creator Nick Vergara wanted to evolve the story into a film and raised $10,000 to get started. I felt strongly about seeing this come to life, and I knew that with a $10,000 budget it was going to be very difficult, but I stepped forward to take a shot at it.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch Elsewhere because it's a fun, ensemble comedy that explores some of the tensions we face as we process the experiences from our 20s and move into our 30s. It's a film centered around a band and their artist friends, but I think those tensions are faced by most people as they grow up.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Much of Elsewhere is built around wonder, regret and hope. These are characters who've spent 8-10 years grinding away, trying to catch a break. They are wonder struck to imagine potential futures, they regret relationships and moments along the way, and they cling to hope that somehow tomorrow might be better than today. I think many people operate with some amount of stock in each of these three buckets, which is what makes the film relatable.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Before we began adapting the piece for film, Elsewhere comprised of over 50 characters, over 50 scenes, and several short films. The screenwriter Nick Vergara and I then sat down to underscore the primary characters to build around, outline the feature-length arc, begin the process of funneling our best material and ideas into that structure. We also had to make smart choices about available resources considering our limited budget.
For example, the film was originally supposed to take place in New York City, but given the availability of a location, equipment, and some production support in Los Angeles, we reimagine the story for Los Angeles. That may seem like a small change, but given the presence that "New York" has in the greater Elsewhere canon, this was a big shift for us, but a necessary and ultimately extremely beneficial one.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
People connect with the characters and enjoy the ensemble-nature of the film. We've also gotten great feedback about our original soundtrack.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Good question! I'm not sure I have an answer to that one yet! I guess I need more feedback.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
When you make a film for $10,000, you're not gonna have fancy sfx, big name stars, super involved set pieces, or much of what - frankly - sells movies. What Elsewhere is relying on to find its audience is people popping in a pair of headphones, grabbing it off iTunes or Amazon, and giving out story a shot. If they enjoy our world and our story, then hopefully they'll tell a few friends. And if not, that's okay too! Not every film resonates with every person.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Journalists, bloggers, and indie film fantastics are my best friends right now! They are who will help me get the word out about Elsewhere!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I'm looking for this film to introduce a number of exceptionally talented actors and production team members to an indie film audience, and I hope it's something that inspires many young filmmakers. We raised just $10,000, but through creatively attacking our development and pre-production process, we made our film. We didn't wait on a white knight or sit around wishing on more money or a big name or a anything- we just did it (and you can too!)!
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What keeps you motivated to pursue your dreams? Is there a point where you need to reassess your dreams?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Bombardier Blood (feature documentary; 2018; completed) a hemophiliac mountaineer on a historic mission to climb the world's tallest mountains as he fights for his blood brothers and sisters around the globe.
"Stop The Bleeding!" (branded web series; Season 8; completed April 2018) a lovable idiot runs a dysfunctional bleeding disorders nonprofit organization.
Old Sport - a new indie band featuring Elsewhere's Nick Vergara (Henry), Brian Williams, (Julius), and Andrew Gaul (Gail)
Interview: May 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, 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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Elsewhere
After bombing their LA debut at the Troubadour, a band battles demons, exes and excesses at an after party in the Hollywood Hills on the eve of their first west coast tour.
Length: 85 Minutes
Director: Patrick James Lynch
Producer: Rob Bradford, Patrick James Lynch,
Writer: Nick Vergara
About the writer, director and producer: Available on imdb,
Key cast: Nick Vergara, Katy Wright-Mead, Nikki Borges, Patrick James Lynch, Brian Williams, Rob Bradford, Josh Davis, Andrew Gaul, Seth Kirschner, Ryan Gielen, Jessica Lauren Richmond, Amanda Long, Kate McClure
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whereiselesewhere/
Twitter: @pjlynch
Instagram: @whereiselsewhere
Made in association with: Believe Limited and Lose The Ninja
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Visit ElsewhereFilm.com and click "Watch"
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Bombardier Blood (feature documentary; 2018; completed) follows a hemophiliac mountaineer on a historic mission to climb the world's tallest mountains as he fights for his blood brothers and sisters around the globe.