LOS ANGELES | LA Film Festival Director Jennifer Cochis has a simple dictum when looking for programming for the annual film gala: It’s all about quality stories.
“Shining a spotlight on compelling storytelling, irrespective of platform … is a priority,” Ms. Cochis told The Washington Times. “Connecting creators to audiences is the aim, and when interesting work is being done outside of film, we will continue to find a way to play it.”
In addition to a focus on the next generation of media delivery, the LA Film Fest — which, since 2001, has been run by by Film Independent, the organization behind the annual Film Independent Spirit Awards — showcases nearly 200 features, shorts and episodic works representing 32 countries.
Writer/director Ric Roman Waugh was at LAFF for the premiere of his latest film, “Shot Caller,” a tense prison drama, which stars “Game of Thrones” regular Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Omari Hardwick (Starz’s “Power”) and Jon Bernthal (Netflix’s “The Punisher”).
“I think in the film business, we must embrace change and understand the positives that come out of it,” Mr. Waugh told The Times of the shifting nature of the entertainment business, adding he wishes to explore “every avenue” of that brave new world.
“What’s happening, especially in television, is that some of the most provocative stories are being told on cable and [broadcast] networks,” he said. “It’s become a place where it’s not just eye candy in television, or just for the franchises.”
Mr. Waugh is in talks to have his movie transformed into a television series even before “Shot Caller” opens wide in August.
Participating in indie films has also proved to be an attraction for actors involved in episodic television. Mr. Coster-Waldau of “Game of Thrones,” who spent a brisk 26 days on the set of “Shot Caller,” said that such a quick schedule doesn’t allow for the lengthy character development that he has been able to enjoy in his portrayal of Jaime Lannister on the HBO fantasy series.
“What’s fun about doing a long television series is that you have more time. You have time to really develop a world,” he said.
However, a one-off film, he said, also has its advantages.
“With movies, I like that you can sit down and tell one story in one go,” Mr. Coster-Waldau said. “You don’t have to spend weeks on getting it. It’s intense in a different way.”
“Saturday Night Live” comedian Kyle Mooney was at the gala screening for Sony Pictures Classics’ “Brigsby Bear,” which he co-wrote and stars in. In the very quirky film, Mr. Mooney plays James, who was kidnapped from a hospital as a baby and knows nothing of the world except Brigsby Bear, a children’s show character fabricated by his kidnapper parents. One day James is rescued and brought into the real world, where he soon learns that Brigsby is not a real children’s show.
Confused, James sets out to make a Brigsby Bear movie to show the world what he has learned.
“With an independent film, it felt like there is no pressure to conform to anything,” Mr. Mooney said of the unusual project. “This is such an opportunity to make great choices and take weird chances.”
The film also stars Mark Hamill, Greg Kinnear, Matt Walsh and Claire Danes. Andy Samberg (Fox’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) co-stars and is a producer on the film, which opens nationwide next month.
“We have a very disorienting open to the movie, and are trying to keep a lot of stuff under wraps with the marketing,” Mr. Mooney said of the secretive nature of “Brigsby Bear.” “I don’t think we would necessarily be allowed to do that with a bigger studio.
“I love [studio] movies too, but it feels like [with an indie], our vision was unfettered. This is exactly the film we wanted to make.”
“Modern Family” star Sofia Vergara, was at the festival for the premiere of her new romantic comedy, “The Female Brain.” The star of the ABC show said that while she loves making episodic television — “we already have a routine and we know our characters so well” — making a film allowed her to explore new characters and scenarios as an actress.
“Being in a movie is new — new things, new characters,” Mis Vergara said.
LAFF often highlights first-time filmmakers, and this year, one of the District’s own found herself in the spotlight: “The Female Brain” is directed by comedian Whitney Cummings, who also co-stars in the film.
“Whitney was very easy on the set as a director,” Miss Vergara said of Miss Cummings, who grew up in Georgetown. “I didn’t have scenes with her acting, so it was all her directing me.
“It’s always fun to have a woman on set,” Miss Vergara added.
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