DTLA Film Festival 2019 – Spinning Dry
A film that takes place over one wild day and night of crisscrossing events. Described as if 'Neil Simon had written Leaving Las Vegas, the film centers on two offbeat characters, Samantha 'Sam' Martin, a Beverly Hills mother, five times divorced alien abductee and her gardener's son, Samuel 'Norm' Normandie, as they spend an evening of drinks and confessions.
Interview with Director James Avallone
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
As a former Marine from 1996 - 2002, I was looking for a story that portrays my own struggles in Los Angeles trying to scrape by and the darkness that lies within my own drinking habits. By mashing a vulnerable veteran suffering from PTSD with a well-to-do Hollywood Hills divorcee that has become a recluse in her own PTSD I was able to show both their struggles of isolation and depression. Though I didn't want a constant downer hovering over the film, it was important for both characters to have an inkling way to express joy and cover up their cynical attitudes, even though together all their lies will pour out. They both discover within and about each other that deep-down their not too different, and in return inspire one another to have a more positive outlook on their life, and rethink their alcoholism.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
This film you will shortly find has it's own flow and groove. The two characters tossed into this whirlwind night with our hilarious ensemble cast including John Savage, Chris Mulkey, and Jesse Garcia are pulled in so many different directions I think we can all relate to with our own lives -And if you happen to need a home with other alien abductees that have experienced what those "sneaky little fuckers" do, this will definitely be your inflight movie.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I think we all have our own addictions and we use these addictions to mask our individual pains, as well as to cope with them. In Spinning Dry, we use alcohol as their mechanism but addiction may be anything. When dealing with depression or PTSD and feeling trapped by minuscule (and grand) events that trigger these fight or flight symptoms that are physically uncontrollable by you and your will, it's easy to get lost when you can't even trust yourself. Here, through the approach of aliens actually wanting to take Samantha (Elana Krausz) away, we learn you don't have to go and you can find love for yourself again through others. Though it's not as simple as that, our characters decide to face it instead of masking it by booze any longer.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Wow, this script never stopped evolving from day one. Mostly when we started production we were aiming for more of a Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Edward Albee) with this belief and disbelief in aliens between our two main leads Norm and Samantha. In post-production, with co-director/writer Elana Krausz the movie took on more of the aliens being more real and involved in the film's fabric, intervening and observing them the whole time. Originally, you might have left arguing if aliens were actually real or not, but in this developed film, they both definitely believe in extraterrestrials by the end.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We just started entering into film festivals around the world, knowing we truly wanted to premiere here in Los Angeles first. So when we were accepted into the Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival 2019, we were super excited and have now begun the implement our next moves we want to make. To great honor and appreciation, DTLAFF presented Spinning Dry with the Best Sci-Fi Film Award and in general, the audience seemed to have fun watching this super indie picture. Who knows maybe it gains a cult kind of love for it and encourages people to heal and find connections.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I think all filmmakers dread the initial reaction of their film. With all the little things I might see flawed in it, pass right over an engaged audience and vice versa. The initial reaction was beyond pleased, so yeah, I was truly surprised it went over so well and grateful. Let's hope it continues to receive that kind of positive feedback, for sure... yeah most cool!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
First off, big thanks for having us visible on your website. We love cool communities like We Are Moving Stories that support local and new artists. Any platform as cool as this is a blessing to be a part of. I hope to reach out to anybody that deals with PTSD, or addictions, has an outcast intellect, and alien abductees that aren't reassured in there belief all the same. I would love their feedback and a chance to grow as a filmmaker getting to know some of their stories as well.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
What would help us the most at this point would be film festival Directors that cater to a unique film like Spinning Dry, obviously it's has a huge plotline driven by alcoholism, combined with this endearing sci-fi theme dealing with UFO's, but it's also a one night one locations story that concentrates mostly on the characters and their developments. This film is still definitely a strong character piece like movie's Barfly or Mysterious Skin.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I only hope it has a positive impact on its audience. Mostly I aim to let people know they are not alone in their struggles and fight and illnesses and so on. We all are so imperfect, but that shouldn't drive us away, always look for that human connection that works for you. And try your hardest not to fall off the deep end before you find that home you've been searching for, even if you didn't know there is a safe place out there for you, there is. You'll find it.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Is believing in aliens all that crazy?
Would you like to add anything else?
In the film, Norm (James Duval), is asked if he believes in god? And his answer just pulls at my heartstrings every time I see the scene. I think it has to do with my own lack of faith, but for some reason, I still wish there was a divine design to it all cause some people can look so lost without some sort of reassurance. That breaks my heart sometimes and I feel that in this film.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Something that is near and dear to me that I would love to get out there is this project called Lost Property's Office. I have been writing an Outer Limits style series with a few different writers, but mostly the co-writer and co-star of Spinning Dry James Duval. We are in need of a showrunner that appreciates that kind of dramatic story tossed with a science fiction twist. We don't want our episodes to be constraint by a page count, we feel our individual episodes would best be told in the amount of time they need to be told in, be it 15 minutes or an hour, we just want the best for each script. We strive to study the characters with their surroundings, just as intensely as Twilight Zone did, but have that Hollywood story that comes full circle for the character's journey. We have about 17 episodes written and are waiting for the right team of filmmakers to join the project to make it happen.
Interview: November 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
Spinning Dry
A film that takes place over one wild day and night of crisscrossing events. Described as if 'Neil Simon had written Leaving Las Vegas, the film centers on two offbeat characters, Samantha 'Sam' Martin, a Beverly Hills mother, five times divorced alien abductee and her gardener's son, Samuel 'Norm' Normandie, as they spend an evening of drinks and confessions.
Length: 1:22
Director: James Avallone and Co-Director: by Elana Krausz
Producer: Beau J. Genot, Maureen Motley, James Duval
Writer: James Avallone, James Duval, Elana Krausz
About the writer, director and producer:
JAMES AVALLONE served seven years in the United States Marine Corp, attaining the rank of sergeant. Following his service, he graduated from the Los Angeles Film School and was the Director of Photography on the indie gem Mad Cowgirl (2006). He has worked on over a dozen films as director, producer, D.P. or writer. He directed the feature film Playback (starring James Duval and Tiffany Bowyer). He is currently writing his next feature while directing and editing films in Los Angeles and New York.
Although having done much theatrical work mostly in New York at the beginning of her career, notably working with Lee Strasberg for three years, ELANA KRAUSZ has primarily pursued her passion for independent films such as Black Coat’s Daughter, About Cherry, Shotgun Wedding, amongst many other festival favorites. She has also written and directed a couple of award-winning, independent feature films, At Risk and Stripped Down.
Key cast: James Duval, Elana Krausz, Jesse Garcia, Sophia Dimassis Krausz, Lindsey Trachtenberg, Chris Mulkey, John Savage
Looking for: distributors
Facebook: Spinning Dry
Hashtags used: #spinningdrymovie
Website: spinningdryfilm.com
Other: IMDb
Made in association with: Spin Dry Productions
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? DTLA Film Festival