Category Archives: interview

Carmel Mountain, interview, Mosaic, New York, Plano, Q&A, video clip, video interview

THE FLORIDA PROJECT – Q&A with Sean Baker, Mela Murder & Bria Vinaite

Leave a comment
October 11, 2017

Sean Baker’s THE FLORIDA PROJECT, which centers on the gritty outskirts of Orlando, was met with immediate critical acclaim. It is being hailed as “glorious and gorgeous” and “brilliant, buoyant and ultimately heart-wrenching.”

The Angelika New York was proud to host Director Sean Baker for a Q&A, alongside stars Bria Vinaite and Mela Murder. After being cast via an Instagram DM, Vinaite describes how reading the script evoked intense emotions for her.

Baker describes the film’s young star, Brooklynn Prince, as “a genius,” who he’d add to the ranks of actors the likes of Mickey Rooney and the Fanning sisters.

The film was inspired by actual families who are still struggling to make ends meet and lacking permanent housing after the near-decade-gone recession.

Vinaite describes meeting many of these people, who longed for their story to be told accurately. Baker and Murder encourage audience members to help raise awareness for these people, and to do anything possible to help them.

View the full Q&A here:

THE FLORIDA PROJECT is now playing at the Angelika New York and Angelika Mosaic, and opens Friday 10/20 at Angelika Plano and Angelika Carmel Mountain.

Carmel Mountain, interview, Mosaic, New York, Plano, Q&A, Video, video clip, video interview

I DO… UNTIL I DON’T – Q&A with Lake Bell & Mike Birbiglia

Leave a comment
September 6, 2017

I DO… UNTIL I DON’T opened at the Angelika New York on September 1, and its versatile Director, Writer and Star Lake Bell (IN A WOLD) stopped by for a Q&A, and brought along her friend – equally talented filmmaker and comedian Mike Birbiglia (DON’T THINK TWICE).

The two discuss the film’s writing, acting and couples’ chemistry within the film, storm chasing, home births, marriage, character inspiration, and how Bell’s personal life and relationship influenced the direction of the film.

Bell also mentions the scents she carried around with her throughout the filming process, and how she used them to switch between her various roles on set. As her own Director, Bell also chats about how she used a stand-in for herself during the rehearsal process.

Curious? View the full Q&A here:

I DO… UNTIL I DON’T is an ensemble comedy following three couples stuck in the web of a jaded filmmaker looking to prove that marriage should be a seven-year contract with an option to renew.

Now playing at Angelika New York, Angelika Mosaic, Angelika Plano and Angelika Carmel Mountain.

Carmel Mountain, Dallas, interview, Mosaic, New York, Q&A, Video, video clip

Only Living Boy in New York – Q&A with Director Marc Webb

Leave a comment
August 14, 2017

ONLY LIVING BOY IN NEW YORK’s opening weekend was met with a Q&A with Director Marc Webb, in which he discusses the process of discovering the screenplay written by Allen Loeb, and how it stuck with him over several years after reading it for the first time. He also discusses the film’s nods to THE GRADUATE, the film’s music, and the casting.

The 11th Commandment, as Webb calls it, is “Thou shalt make a movie with Jeff Bridges,” and it becomes clear why, as Webb shares the fantastic experience of working with such an iconic actor. Webb also the discusses working with Kate Beckinsale and Pierce Brosnan, and the joyous experience of this 28-day film shoot.

The film truly is a love letter to New York, and as such, Webb discusses the romantic ideas he had of the City prior to living there, and how those are portrayed within the film.

ONLY LIVING BOY IN NEW YORK follows Thomas, a college graduate, adrift in New York City, trying to find his place in the world. Thomas’ world begins to shift when he discovers that his long-married father (Brosnan) is having an affair with a seductive younger woman (Beckinsale). Determined to break up the relationship, Thomas ends up sleeping with his father’s mistress, launching a chain of events that will change everything he thinks he knows about himself and his family.

Check out the full Q&A here:

ONLY LIVING BOY IN NEW YORK is now playing at Angelika NYC, Angelika Dallas and Angelika Mosaic, and opens Friday 8/18 at Angelika Carmel Mountain.

Carmel Mountain, Dallas, interview, Plano, Q&A, Trailers, Video, video interview

A Ghost Story – Interview With Director David Lowery

Leave a comment
August 2, 2017

If there is one film that has everyone talking this year, A GHOST STORY is it. If you’re a cinephile, then you have most definitely heard about the already infamous “pie scene”. We had the pleasure of interviewing director David Lowery (PETE’S DRAGON) at our Dallas location to discuss his latest work of meditative art.

David, who is based in Dallas, shares how he relied heavily on the city’s film industry and landscape to shoot the film. Lowery also revealed the ease in which he cast his friends Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara for the lead roles (Affleck, without question, agreed via text).  Both actors starred as a couple in a previous film directed by Lowery (AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS) and so it was that existing chemistry he chose to draw upon for A GHOST STORY.

cm

The director also gives some insight and describes why his decision to keep long scenes in the film was essential in order to put an emphasis on the passage of time, a prominent theme throughout,  as well as “teaching the audience how to watch the film”.

Watch the full interview here:

A GHOST STORY is now playing at Angelika Dallas, Angelika Plano and Angelika Carmel Mountain.

Watch the trailer below!

Acclaimed Director David Lowery returns with a singular exploration of legacy and loss in this Sundance Film Festival Official Selection that Indiewire calls “brilliant and profound.” Recently deceased, a white-sheeted ghost (Academy Award-winner Casey Affleck) returns to his home to console his bereft wife (Academy Award-nominee Rooney Mara), only to find that in his spectral state he has become unstuck in time, forced to watch passively as the life he knew and the woman he loves slowly slip away. Increasingly unmoored, the ghost embarks on a cosmic journey through memory and history, confronting life’s ineffable questions and the enormity of existence. An unforgettable meditation on love and grief, A GHOST STORY emerges ecstatic and surreal—a wholly-unique experience that lingers long after the credits roll.

!cinemas, Carmel Mountain, interview, Mosaic, New York, Plano, Q&A, Video, video clip, video interview

Q&A with MENASHE Director Joshua Weinstein

Leave a comment
July 31, 2017

Joshua Z. Weinstein’s MENASHE, largely based on the life of its Hasidic star Menashe Lustig, is the story of a kind grocery store clerk, Menashe, who is trying to maintain custody of his son Rieven after his wife passes away. Shot in secret entirely within the Hasidic community in Borough Park, Brooklyn, the film ultimately sheds new light on this notoriously private community, and is a life-affirming look at the universal bonds between father and son.

The Angelika New York opened this film on July 28th, and was pleased to have Director Joshua Weinstein in attendance on opening day for a Q&A.

Weinstein discusses the Hasidic community, the film’s conception, the casting of Menashe and the actor who played his son, the use of the Yiddish language in the film, obstacles they encountered throughout the filming process, film festivals, and the importance of authenticity.

View the full Q&A here:

Check out additional clips on our YouTube channel here.

MENASHE is now playing at Angelika New York, opens August 11 at Angelika Mosaic, and August 18 at Angelika Plano and Angelika Carmel Mountain.

Carmel Mountain, interview, Mosaic, New York, Plano, Q&A, Video, video clip, video interview

THE BEGUILED – Q&A with Director/Writer Sofia Coppola

Leave a comment
June 27, 2017

The Angelika New York was honored to have acclaimed Academy Award winning director/writer of THE BEGUILED, Sofia Coppola, in attendance for a Q&A on the film’s opening night.

Met with resounding critical acclaim and a Best Director win at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, THE BEGUILED is a film Indiewire describes as being “told with surgical precision and savage grace.”

Sofia chats about the casting process, working with the film’s incredible actors (Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning), the film’s poignant moments, sound and visual intricacies, the writing process and more.

Watch the full Q&A here:

The film unfolds at a Virginia girls’ school during the Civil War, where the young women have been sheltered from the outside world. When a wounded Union soldier is discovered and taken in, the house is taken over with sexual tension, rivalries and an dark, unexpected turn of events.

THE BEGUILED is now playing at the Angelika New York, and opens Friday (6.30) at Angelika Carmel Mountain, Angelika Mosaic and Angelika Plano.

If you’re in NYC, you can also catch a glimpse of two of the film’s gorgeous costumes, worn by Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst, in the cafe at Angelika New York!

beguiled-costumes

Carmel Mountain, interview, New York, Plano, Q&A, Video

THE HERO – Q&A with Brett Haley & Sam Elliott

Leave a comment
June 19, 2017

Brett Haley’s moving new feature THE HERO debuted this month at the Angelika New York, with opening weekend Q&As from Haley and the film’s leading man Sam Elliott.

After its premiere at the Sundance and South By Southwest Film Festivals, THE HERO was met with resounding critical acclaim, and Rolling Stone raved, “Sam Elliott is perfect. The moment we begin referring to him as a canon-worthy dramatic actor has officially arrived.”

Check out the full Q&A here:

THE HERO is currently playing at Angelika New York,  Angelika Plano, and Angelika Carmel Mountain.

awards season, Carmel Mountain, Dallas, interview, Mosaic, New York, Plano, Pop-Up at Union Market, video interview, Village East Cinema

A Cafe Conversation with Sonia Braga of AQUARIUS

Leave a comment
October 14, 2016

In a recent visit to the Angelika Film Center, Sonia Braga sat down with us to discuss her latest work in Kleber Mendonça Fihlo’s film AQUARIUS . Although her performance in AQUARIUS has critics predicting an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, Braga reveals that she was never formally trained as an actress, but rather draws from real life experiences to bring her characters to life.

In AQUARIUS, Braga plays the very relatable character Clara, a widower who has vowed not to leave her quickly gentrifying home in Recife, Brazil, until her death. In this interview Braga shares what it was like to work with Brazilian director Kleber and calls him a “master” of detail in regards to the film’s storytelling and discusses the significance of many symbolic, inanimate characters in the film.  Braga believes that in today’s climate, AQUARIUS is a “universal story” that acts as a voice for people to fight for their rights as citizens and urges audiences to get their “hearts out” and connect with the film’s message.

AQUARIUS is now playing at:
Angelika NYC
Angelika Carmel
Angelika Plano
Angelika Dallas
Angelika Mosaic
Angelika Pop-Up

awards season, Dallas, interview

THEEB – Interview w/ Director Naji Abu Nowar

Leave a comment
February 22, 2016

The directorial debut film from Naji Abu Nowar, THEEB is one of the five films nominated for the 2016 Academy Awards Best Foreign Lanuage Film. Gadi Elkon of seligfilmnews.com spoke with Naji about the film, his connetion to the Bedouin community, the beauty of Jordan and much more.

 

Seligfilmnews.com: The film has garnered awards for Direction, Cinematography, and the screenplay writing.  Can you tell us about building such a talented team around your debut feature and how each member of the team is getting wonderful recognition for y’all’s incredible work on the film?  In particular working with your Co-Writer – Bassel Ghandour, DP – Wolfgang Thaler & editor Rupert Lloyd.  I also was blown away by the subtle yet moving score by Jerry Lane!

Naji Abu Nowar:  Filmmaking is a collaborative art. Despite the usual focus on the Director or Actor/Star to market the film, the process is very much a team sport. Like any successful team you need a breadth and depth to your squad. You need star established players like the amazing Wolfgang Thaler and you need young rookies with something to prove like the incredible Jerry Lane. They all contribute their own unique talents to this seemingly magical process. I take casting every member of the crew as seriously as I take casting the actors. To my mind that is a key factor in making a successful film. The creative process of working with such talented people is the main reason why I love making films, rather than just being a film fan. Click through to read the full interview.

 

THEEB is now playing at the Angelika Dallas.