Hippopotamus
A punk girl tries to play a show in public and faces pushback from the police.
Interview with Writer/Director Ari Gold
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I was biking past a parking lot in Venice and saw a makeshift show by a homeless future star named YumiSoCute.com, who was living in her car since she’d come out from New Orleans. I was super inspired by her, and offered to make her a music video.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I hope it brings you energy. Yumi writes: “My aspiration is to wake people up to their power. My music is the anthem, and my existence is the proof that it’s possible to be free. I want to bring punk back to black. Being an alternative woman of color everyone looked at me funny, but respected me because I was true to myself. I want to be that role model, that icon, who creates personal freedom for those who listen, through my music and my energy.”
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Yumi's song is about being true to yourself despite being surrounded by people who aren't true to their word. She and the video express a a joyful fury, that feeling of having nothing to lose, which is universal to many young people, especially artists and those who our society pushes to the edge.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
We ended up with Park Rangers shutting down our no-budget shoot, with flashing lights and handcuffs, so the punk angry energy of the song ended up with just the right foil.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
People seem super energized and inspired by Yumi. A small number of older people were offended or scared or sad, when faced with the fury of the video, but younger people, and older punks, have felt the joy in the fury.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It's always interesting - I made a decision to have a little "not-nice" moment of our heroes stealing a joint from a hippie (played by Greg Cipes) - and that kind of moment is always polarizing. Some understand it as a reaction to the police a few minutes before - action/reaction, without judgement. Some wanted me to make them "nicer."
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
To help Yumi get exposure for her music.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Music journalists.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Waking up the market for a new wave of punk, particularly Black punk.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What is punk?
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm pitching an action-adventure tv series dealing with a joyful reaction to society's collapse - feels like Yumi's energy works with that!
Interview: August 2021
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
Hippopotamus
Length:
3:33
Writer/Director
Ari Gold has won over fifty prizes for his films, including best film at SXSW twice, the Student Oscar, and Best Director at the American Cinematheque / ARPA. His films have screened at Sundance, Karlovy-Vary, Rio, and won prizes on every continent except Antarctica. (He is working on that.) Ari’s most unusual distinctions include a High Times Magazine "Stoner of the Year" award, and a Guinness World Record for commanding the largest air-drum ensemble on earth.
His romantic drama "The Song of Sway Lake" played 52 international film festivals, winning Best Feature at over a dozen of these, and features Rory Culkin, Robert Sheehan (“Umbrella Academy”), and Mary Beth Peil. His air-drum cult comedy "Adventures of Power" ("One of the funniest films in recent years" - NY Magazine), with Jane Lynch, Michael McKean, Nick Kroll, and Adrian Grenier, is currently being re-released, with monthly online "watch parties" with rock stars.
Ari is in post-production on his third feature, "Helicopter,” which expands on his student-Oscar-winning short film about his mother’s death, and features legendary director Alejandro Jodorowsky.
Producer
Michelle Stratton
Key cast:
Yumi So Cute, Novi, Greg Cipes
Looking for:
Journalists
Facebook:
http://facebook.com/arigoldfilms
Instagram:
Hashtags used:
#hypocrites #punkrock #fuckinghypocrites #venicebeach
More info: