[Video Interview] Kim Shaw, David Dastmalchian, and Collin Schiffli (ANIMALS)
[Ruby Hornet will be covering SXSW from March 7th to March 16th. Follow along as we bring you exclusive film reviews, photos, daily features, and interviews with filmmakers, actors, and musicians!]
ANIMALS holds a special place in my heart. The dark drama details the story of a couple, Bobbie (Kim Shaw) and Jude (David Dastmalchian), addled with opiate addiction while living in Jude's car in Chicago. During this year's SXSW, I had the chance to talk to Shaw, Dastmalchian (who also served as the film's writer), and ANIMALS director Collin Schiffli about the film, any semblance to real life events, and how important of a role Chicago played, both as a setting, but also as a narrative piece. ANIMALS won SXSW accolades for Special Jury Recognition for Courage in Storytelling for Dastmalchian's writing, so it's not just my personal bias speaking out about how amazing this film is.
You can watch the video interview below and expect a full review of the film super soon.
[SXSW Interview] Raekwon
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Video by Elijah Alvarado
During SXSW last month, we had the chance to catch up with RH homie Raekwon The Chef. Rae talked to us about his crowdfunding campaign for "The Purple Tape Files" a documentary based on the making of his debut album "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx." This year marks the 20th anniversary of the project that not only solidified Rae as a solo artist but one of the best MC in Hip-Hop. We also talked about the creative process for his new upcoming album Fly International Luxurious Art (F.I.L.A). He discusses collaborations on the project with A$AP Rocky, Rick Ross, and bringing in new producers to the fold. Check out the first part of the interview above and the second part below.
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[SXSW Interview] RKSS (Writers/Directors of Turbo Kid)
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Video by Elijah Alvarado.
If you missed my review of Turbo Kid, I highly recommend reading that soon. It was, hands down, my favorite film out of SXSW 2015, and one I'll have no problem championing and supporting in the upcoming months as it begins to play across the rest of the country. It's been such a long while since a film's hype and buzz was lived up to, making Turbo Kid that much more enjoyable.
During SXSW, we had the chance to sit down with Yoann-Karl Whissell, Anouk Whissell, and Francois Simard, the writers and directors behind Turbo Kid that collectively go by the name RKSS (short for Roadkill Superstar). Watch our video interview where we discuss the influences behind the film, the struggle to make Turbo Kid tonally sound, and more!
[SXSW Red Carpet] Get Hard Premiere
Video by Elijah Alvarado
With a big name comedy like Get Hard set for a wide release in a short couple of weeks (March 27th), it only made sense for Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart to bring the film over to SXSW for its world premiere. The comedy, directed by Etan Cohen, stars Ferrell as a framed accountant sentenced to ten years for fraud. Desperate to "get hard" for maximum security prison, he turns to his car washer (Hart), whom he mistakenly assumes has spent time in jail, to prepare him for jail.
Just before Get Hard premiered, we had the chance to work the film's red carpet and speak to Cohen, Ferrell, and Hart about the SXSW experience and the film itself. Check out our Get Hard SXSW red carpet video interviews below.
[Sundance Video] Sundance Film Festival 2015 Recap
Video shot and edited by J. Frank
With January 2015 well behind us, we can officially say so long to Sundance 2015. As United States' first major film festival of the year, Sundance represented what to expect from some of our favorite festival films this year. Ranging from heart-wrenching dramas, hilarious comedies, and harrowing psychological thrillers, Sundance had it all.
However, it's not all movies, as myself and our camera man J. Frank showed. If you missed our photo recap, we also found some time to explore Park City, UT, as well as attend some special film parties. As if that wasn't enough, we also have our full Sundance video recap detailing everything we had the opportunity to participate in. If a picture is worth a thousand words, this video is worth millions.
With that said, re-visit all of our coverage from Sundance 2015 below the video.
REVIEWS
[Sundance Review] The Summer of Sangaile
[Sundance Review] Z for Zachariah
[Sundance Review] Cronies
[Sundance Review] Stockholm, Pennsylvania
[Sundance Review] Entertainment
[Sundance Review] The Overnight
[Sundance Review] Ten Thousand Saints
[Sundance Review] Mississippi Grind
[Sundance Review] Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
[Sundance Review] The Stanford Prison Experiment
[Sundance Review] People, Places, Things
[Sundance Review] I Am Michael
INTERVIEWS
[Sundance Video Interview] Cast and Director of Cronies
[Sundance Video Interview] Justin Kelly (Director of I Am Michael)
[Sundance Roundtable Interview] Jason Isaacs and Saoirse Ronan (Stockholm, Pennsylvania)
[Sundance Roundtable Interview] Jim Strouse and Jemaine Clement (People, Places, Things)
PHOTOS
[Sundance Photos] Sundance Film Festival 2015
[Sundance Photos] Sundance Film Festival 2015 Red Carpets
[Sundance Interview] Justin Kelly (Director of I Am Michael)
Video shot and edited by J. Frank.
I Am Michael, the upcoming film featuring James Franco as Michael Glatze, a former gay rights and LGBT icon who famously renounced his homosexuality to become a Christian pastor, is set to for its worldwide premiere tonight during this year's Sundance Film Festival. The film, which is based on the New York Times article "My Ex-Gay Best Friend" written by Glatze's former best friend, Benoit Denizet-Lewis in 2011, explores Glatze's relationship with his long-time ex-boyfriend, Bennet (Zachary Quinto), and his religious awakening.
We had the chance to interview the film's director Justin Kelly about the film, working alongside Franco and Quinto, whether Glatze and Denizet-Lewis had any involvement with the film, and more. Be sure to come back later this weekend for our full review of I Am Michael.
[Sundance Interview] Cast and Director of Cronies
Video shot and edited by J. Frank.
When I said really enjoyed Cronies in my review, I meant it. The film embodies the complexities of camaraderie, friendships, and city life in a simple, digestible way that anybody can relate to it. During this year's Sundance Film Festival, J. Frank and I had the wonderful opportunity to talk with Zurich Buckner, George Sample III, Brian Kowalski, and Michael J. Larnell about the film. Cronies is bound to find distribution soon enough, so keep it on your radar over the year and make sure you catch it the first moment you get a chance.
[Video Interview] Ryan Moore (Manny)
[This interview was part of our SXSW 2014 coverage. It is being reposted to coincide with Manny's wide release.]
Manny Pacquiao is one of those sports icons that transcends the sport that he comes from. As a Filipino, he carries The Philippines on his shoulders every time he steps into the ring for a match. For those familiar with Pacquiao, you all know that the country literally shuts down to watch Pacquiao box, from government officials to guerrilla rebels to everyday citizens. To say Pacquiao has become a true Filipino icon is an understatement. Away from the ring, away from Congress, away from the spotlight and the cameras, Manny Pacquiao is still just a man.
In Ryan Moore's documentary, Manny, the goal was not to just highlight Pacquiao's rags to riches story, but to also highlight the man he truly is away from the spectacle of his iconic status. Over the span of three years and more than 1,200 hours of footage, Moore's documentary sheds light on Pacquiao's life in a way that has never been seen or covered before.
In our SXSW interview with Moore, we discuss how he first approached Pacquiao about the documentary, any personal pressure or worries he faced in capturing and sharing Pacquiao's story, and much more. Watch the full video interview below!