Austin Film Festival 2019 – The Method of Places
A girl uses a mind palace to keep the memories of her father, but discovers the method has its limits.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Aman Johnson
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I think ultimately I wanted to share something personal, something genuine and honest. I see a lot of films that are sort of super flashy and clever, but I wanted to make a film that really explored the human condition, specifically loss. I lost my father a few years ago and what I have noticed is that my memories of him have already begun to fade. So I wanted to explore the unique loss of losing the memories of someone you love. I think it is a kind of loss that is not talked about much and yet I think everyone experiences it at some point in their life.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You know, we were blessed by amazing performances by the whole cast and I think the film ended up being a beautiful and moving piece that really allowed those performances to be the focal point. Also, in the sense of the story, I think we did a good job of not making you wait too long to get into the action. I hate being bored watching a film, so I really wanted the film to plunge the audience into the story as quickly as possible.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Well, it's definitely a personal theme for me. My son was born a few months after my father passed away, so I found there was this clear shift from me being the son in a son/father and then being the father in a father/son. The lack of overlap has led to this strange experience of me creating these amazingly vivid memories with my son while at the same time watching the memories of my father fade. And what I have taken from this experience is that this strange duality of happiness and sadness that I'm experiencing might not be as unique as I think. In fact, as I get older, I'm starting to think that it is probably a more accurate portrait of what the totality of life is really like.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script went through numerous versions before becoming what it is. A story about losing memories can go in all kinds of different directions. I know this because it did! One of the most significant issues I found in the earlier versions of the script was that the plot was getting in the way of the story. So I worked really hard on finding ways to simplify the plot and allow the story to be the focal point. The mind palace and we navigate through it allows us to jump from one powerful moment to the next without wasting a lot of time in between with unnecessary plot development.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
You know, we started getting our first feedback during the production. So many crew members teared up during filming, thinking about lost loved ones or about their own children. After its first screenings at the Austin Film Festival, we received wonderful feedback from so many audience members who said they either teared up or fought back tears. It has been a real joy to listen to how the story has impacted people in that way.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Honestly, the feedback HAS surprised me. I am amazed by how many people have experienced the same feelings of regret or guilt about losing the memories of those they love.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Ultimately, we want as many people to watch our film as possible. It's still going through the festival circuit, so it is not yet available online; however, we encourage people to follow us on Facebook and Instagram so we can keep everyone informed on where you can see the film next. Also as filmmakers, we want to continue to tell stories and we know that the best way to do that is to find ways to connect with our audience and to bring them along for the ride. The more the merrier!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We are always looking for producers, distributors, etc. to connect with. Whether for this film or for future projects, we want to build relationships with passionate creatives who want to tell great stories.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Why are memories so important and what does it mean to lose them?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am currently writing a feature film called The Orchard which is a supernatural-adjacent horror film.
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
The Method of Places
A girl uses a mind palace to keep the memories of her father, but discovers the method has its limits.
Length: 12:08
Director: Aman Johnson
Producer: Lee Rothenflue
Writer: Aman Johnson
About the writer, director and producer:
AMAN JOHNSON is a writer/director living in Austin, Texas. Aman started his own video production company, Johnson Media Co., in 2013 and has since written and directed two short films and his work has won numerous awards including Best Drama, Most Original Story, and Best Horror/Thriller.
LEE ROTHENFLUE has over 19 years experience producing many different types of film and video projects, including feature films, documentaries and commercials. He has worked with clients like Charles Schwab, Google, Red Bull, Seton Hospital, the Tiger Woods Foundation and PetSmart, among others.
Key cast: Presley Fuentes, David Lee Hess, Elizabeth Tabish
Looking for: journalists, film festival directors, distributors
Facebook: The Method of Places
Twitter: @MethodPlace
Instagram: @themethodofplaces
Hashtags used: #themethodofplaces
Website: www.themethodofplaces.com
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? It recently had its world premiere at the Austin Film Festival and is currently awaiting acceptance in other festivals.