Meet Frank Kelly, writer/director/producer of 140, a unique and groundbreaking new film inspired by the cultural phenomenon of Twitter and social media, which is way up my alley!
In the film, 140 filmmakers in 140 locations worldwide at the same time shoot 140 seconds of footage to demonstrate how connection through new technology and social networking are shaping our modern world, using such websites such as Twitter. Made with the work of a range of filmmakers – from students to seasoned industry professionals, bare-bones indie to successful Hollywood directors – the marching orders were to film whatever it is that connected them to their respective homes in 140 seconds of continuous footage. The footage tells their stories, assembled into a feature length montage of poignant visual moments – the exact same moments captured all across our planet.
Q: How did you hear about the Newport Beach Film Festival?
A: I've been aware of Newport Beach Film Festival for several years, I first heard about it in 2006 when I was researching festival for my first short film EMILY’S SONG. It has continually been recommended to me by other filmmakers as a great festival, so I feel privileged and lucky to finally be screening here, at it being the World Premiere of what is in effect my first feature is extra special.
Q: Tell a little about the story of your film and the production of it.
A: 140 is an experimental documentary. I was inspired by Twitter, with it's conciseness and unique way of communicating to a lot of people at once. So I decided to gather 140 people in 140 locations worldwide to shoot 140 seconds of footage simultaneously. The theme was connection, I asked them to film whatever it was that connected them to their home. At 8pm on June 21st 2009 I keyed in "ACTION!!!" on my cell phone, 139 other filmmakers worldwide received that message via twitter and we all started shooting at the same time, it was quite a buzz!
Most of the filmmakers sent their footage back, admittedly not all did and some of the people who signed up seemed to drop off the face of the planet, they didn't send any footage and stopped return my calls and emails, which I suppose is indicative of the internet, not everyone is who they say they are and some people sign up to things without taking it seriously, perhaps not realizing they may be taking a spot from someone who really wanted to be involved, disappointing. But I got well over 100 clips, enough to cut together an 80 minute documentary, so I count the project as a success over all.
The challenge then was to cut that footage. Luckily what I thought might happen did, in that themes began to emerge, family, home, environment, nature, water... so I cut to that. A flow began to emerge and with the songs and music by the likes of Dermot O'Mahony, Eoin McCabe and Johnny Crean, it tied it all together and what you have is a visual montage of thoughtful, poignant and personal moments.
Q: Tell a little about yourself and your story in filmmaking.
A: I've been addicted to films for as long as I can remember. The first film I remember seeing was JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS at age 4, in my Grandmother's house. I recall my mother taking me aside to watch HARVEY at a young age and my Dad letting me stay up late to watch BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID - so I guess I akin film to family, as they've always been link (in fact I met my wife because of a film! My first short, she was the film coordinator at the Heartland Film Festival where EMILY’S SONG won a Crystal Heart Award!)
But it wasn't until I saw BACK TO THE FUTURE for the first time, at age 9, that I thought: "I want to do that!" I watched that movie about 500 times (no joke!) Sometimes 3 times a day! At age 11 I tried to remake it, drafting in the local kids, calling the council to ask if I could suspend a cable from the clock toward - they said no, the film never happened ;^)
I studied Animation Production in College and then went to Australia for a year, while there I wrote a feature screenplay, came home and spoke to a family friend about trying to make it. The script was problematic, not great, but from it I struck up a writing partnership with said friend, Thomas Kennedy and we wrote EMILY’S SONG together – my first short. And I've been making films ever since.
Q: Your take on the performances of the lead actors, (set backs, triumphs, impressions, good surprises, etc.)
A: As an experimental Doc there were no actors. I suppose in terms of set backs, triumphs, impressions, good surprises, there were a lot.
Set backs: it took a long time to get all the clips in. Filmmakers just got distracted on other projects, which is understandable, so I had to chase a lot of the clips down. I set the deadline for clip for August 2009, I eventually got the last one in January of this year. Working with all the different formats was time consuming, having to convert them to files that would work together in FCP. I also had a baby in the middle of it... not that that was a set back, but it delayed things a bit.
Triumphs: I think the whole project was a triumph. It could have fallen flat on it's face. There was every chance I wouldn’t get the filmmakers, every chance they wouldn’t complete the task, every chance the footage would be unusual, boring, flat, uninteresting... but that wasn't the case at all. I was thrilled with the effort people had put in and the quality of the material. And how personal it all was, it's a very personal film.
Impressions: As above, just how personal the clips were. You really get to see it people's lives, intimate moments the these filmmakers have been willing to share with the world for this film.
Good Surprises: Again, the quality of clips. And how enthusiastic people have been about the idea. It's been very encouraging. When working all hours on my own trying to get this done it's been a constant source of energy to see, hear and feel that people are behind the film.
Q: What do you do when not making a smash indie film?
A: When I'm not making films, actually shooting, I'm writing. Everyday. I have several other projects in development, with other filmmakers. A couple of shorts, a feature script and I'm developing a new idea to take 140 to another level. So I’m always busy with film.
Otherwise I spend as much time as I can with my wife and daughter. She came along half way through the making of this film, and honestly I was worried, I thought I would have to hang up my filmmakers hat. But it's totally the opposite, what she has brought is a whole other level of love that I never knew existed, that only other parents will understand - because I had no idea before! She also filled my with new found enthusiasm for life and work, I want to achieve so much more now, as much for her as well as for me.
140 screens at 8 PM on Friday, April 23 at the Edwards Island Theater 6. Buy ticket here:
http://newportbeachfilmfest.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=256746
Read more about the film and Kelly by following the links below:
Watch the tralier here:
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