Roxy Cinemas, Dubai 2019 – Louder
Following a tragic event, self-made millionaire Killian takes a vow of silence which is disrupted by 12-year-old Zoe forcing her way into his silent world while struggling to find her own voice in a world dominated by her mother's fame.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Jacques Brown
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you. I really wanted my first feature film to be emotionally strong and have something special to say. It took me some time to come up with the right story to tell, but have found that in Louder. I feel that we all have this inner voice and especially in today's world it is easy to hide our true feelings and find it difficult to express our emotions, especially love. I wanted to tell a story that focuses on love having a voice and thought that it would be interesting to have a man that is trapped emotionally and have his world come crumbling down because of a tragic event that happens in his life. Then force him to connect with a young girl and her mother while he has taken a vow of silence while trying to escape into his own emotional solitude would be interesting. The contrast between the emotional wounds of an adult and the youthful, innocent energy of this young girl is a beautiful story to tell.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I feel that Louder reflects the various voices of the audience, that they will see a part of themselves in the characters and their lives in the story. They will be able to relate to Louder while being taken on a beautiful journey into the characters' struggles, but also to some of the most beautiful locations in the UAE. Louder also features a cast from 29 different countries which is something unique for a movie and it celebrates cultural diversity and tolerance which I feel is much needed in the world today.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
There's a part of me in every character being the writer and director of the film. Love and having a voice are the two central themes of the movie and I feel that given the lives we lead, we sometimes have to say and express emotionally than the world might allow us to. It's these themes and questions that we explore in the story.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I originally wanted to keep the scale and scope of Louder very small. A handful of actors at a small beachside resort, but it became a very organic production and developed its own personality. As we attached cast and team members, they recommended more people to collaborate with, connected us with sponsors and locations and helped develop Louder into the film it is now. As a writer, director I was happy to embrace this collaborative and creative approach and watch Louder become a beautiful film project. The journey of making this film was always the focus. I wanted it to be something special and magical, and it has become exactly that.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
People have generally been surprised at what we have achieved without any funding and are always asking how we did it. As for the story, people are very drawn to the concept that Love Has a Voice. It's hit a spot in the public and I think it will drive people to want to watch this film. I think they naturally feel connected to the story because of its themes.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I wouldn't say that I am surprised. The passion that has gone into making Louder is bound to have a positive effect and outcome and be an inspiration to other filmmakers.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
To have your film shared with the world is a huge compliment for me as a filmmaker and there is no greater reward than sharing it with an audience and have them enjoy your story.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
The film is premiering on the 28th of April in Dubai and will be available for distribution after that, so we are open to offers from distributors.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like people to feel inspired by what we achieved as a group of filmmakers. To not only enjoy the story but to believe that if they have a dream they can achieve it and also to live their lives to the fullest and make the most of every moment.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How did I get a Baywatch star, a whole Island resort, a Ferrari, Rolls Royce, Mansion, Millionaires Penthouse, all the other locations and an ensemble cast from 29 different countries with no money and a crew of only six people? It's a production debate and benchmark.
Would you like to add anything else?
I would encourage any filmmaker out there to go for it. It's not about winning awards and making millions at the box office. It's about being a filmmaker and telling your stories any way you can, on any platform. If you have a dream, don't let anybody tell you it can't be done.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm developing a slate of feature films of various genres, but the focus is on a romantic comedy called Miss Perfect which will be shot in India with an international cast.
Interview: April 2019
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
Louder
Following a tragic event, self-made millionaire Killian takes a vow of silence which is disrupted by 12-year-old Zoe forcing her way into his silent world while struggling to find her own voice in a world dominated by her mother's fame.
Length: 1:36
Director: Jacques Brown
Producer: Zeina Dahlan & Simran Madaan
Writer: Jacques Brown
About the writer, director and producer:
JACQUES BROWN is a South African born director who shot his first film at 38 years of age having never studied film. Louder is his first feature film after having spent the last 8 years doing commercial work as a producer and director. He has a few short films under his belt as a writer, producer, director that laid the foundation for him to take the leap of faith to make a feature film.
ZEINA DAHLAN is a young film school graduate who took on the gigantic task of producing Louder. She proved to be a natural as she managed the chaos on set and all the logistics of production single-handedly with a calm and focused demeanour. Playing numerous roles on the production from transport management to being AD.
SIMRAN MADAAN has worked as a producer in the industry for years and her experience helped ensure that permits were processed and that production flowed fluidly off the set. Her friendly smile and willingness to do whatever is required to make Louder a success is a huge asset to the team.
Key cast: Casey Shannon (Killian), Kris Fade (Danny), Angelica Bridges (Harmony), Suzie Demetrie-Robertson (Stella), Shantilly Demetri-Robertson (Zoe), Christina Blunsum (Fay), Hanna Liatsko (Katya)
Looking for: distributors, journalists
Facebook: Louder
Twitter: @LouderFilm
Instagram: @louderofficialmovie
Hashtags used: #lovehasavoice
Website: loudermovie.com
Other: IMDb
Made in association with: Icon Art Productions, Disruptive Creative & Production, Feel Productions
Funders: Unfunded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? World Premiere/ Roxy Cinemas/ Dubai - 28th April