Oxford Film Festival 2020 – Anniversary
Anniversary is the story of a couple celebrating one year as doting sweethearts. Everything is going swimmingly until Jimmy realizes Ellie believes this milestone leads to the altar - a sacrifice he's not ready to make.
Interview with Director/Producer/Actor James Palmer
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I wanted to combine my love of acting, film, and music. What better way than a musical. I'm not a huge show tunes musical guy, to be honest, but I set out to make a fun little musical that was catchy, relatable, and had a lot of heart.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
This is a musical comedy to let you escape for a few minutes; lighthearted with some tunes that will be stuck in your head and leave you with a good feeling afterwards.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The comments I've gotten the most are how relatable this film is for couples as far as relationships and the moves toward marriage. It's about life and love and how the road may get a little bumpy along the way.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I wrote the music and script in just a few weeks. I started very late as far as the deadline for the initial film festival I wrote it for, so it was pretty rushed. Not much time for evolution lol.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Fortunately, the feedback I've received has been almost all great. Not everyone digs musicals and that's fine. It won the Louisiana Film Prize in 2019. The buzz built quick and was very exciting to see how much everyone was enjoying it.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I am the world's foremost procrastinator, so I'm just happy this film got made lol. What I lack in self-confidence or whatever fear I have of failure or criticism that can hold me back, I am happy to say I have a few people in my life who believe in me and push me to get out of my comfort zone and just do what I know I can. I still fight it, but this time I went for it, and I won big. It's an affirmation for me that I have something to offer that people can appreciate.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I'm just happy to be here. Thank you for having me!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I've only been a part of three or four film festivals so far. Streaming services may be in the future. This actually IS my first rodeo as far as filmmaking. If this project gets out to more people, that would be great!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I just would hope that whoever sees this will have a good time, jam along to the music, and have a good laugh.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How would you feel about getting pressured to get married?
Would you like to add anything else?
This film won the $50,000 grand prize at the 2019 Louisiana Film Prize. I had no money when this was made - none. I wrote this in an old house with no running water and electricity so crappy I had to run extension cords around the house like a switchboard operator. My computer died during writing. My ancient 8-track for recording vocals died during this process. So much went wrong, but we got it done. I'm not rich now, but the prize money changed my life in that I was able to pull myself out of my hole and put myself on a path to a better life and career. If someone like me, battling self-esteem, anxiety, and depression, can turn things around through my art, then so can you. Thanks again for having me.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Another script for this year's film prize may just be in the works, and I am in the process of producing my first musical album.
Interview: May 2020
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, 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
Anniversary
Anniversary is the story of a couple celebrating one year as doting sweethearts. Everything is going swimmingly until Jimmy realizes Ellie believes this milestone leads to the altar - a sacrifice he's not ready to make.
Length: 13:40
Director: James Harlon Palmer
Producer: James Harlon Palmer
Writer: James Harlon Palmer
About the writer, director and producer:
JAMES HARLON PALMER is an actor of film and stage, a singer, songwriter, and composer from Mansfield, LA. As an actor, he has worked with Justin Timberlake, Will Ferrell, David Strathairn and others. As a composer, his music has been featured in four of Louisiana Film Prize’s Top 20 finalists. In 2014, he won the LAFP's first award for best actor in Eric Rippetoe’s Snip. His directorial Debut, Anniversary, won the LAFP's $50,000 Grand Prize in 2019.
Key cast: James Harlon Palmer (Jimmy), Kelly R. Vaden (Ellie)
Facebook: Anniversary Musical
Other: IMDb
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Oxford Film Festival's Virtual film festival, Friday June 26th