Today I talked with Brooks Branch, director of MULTIPLE SARCASMS, a film about a successful architect who decides to become a playwright – to cope with his mid-life crisis, and finds he does some of his best writing on the john. Gabriel is a man who on the surface has it all-successful professional life, a beautiful wife, and a devoted young daughter. But slowly it dawns on him that he is not really happy. So, he decides that he wants to write a play about the sorry state of his life. He quits his job and starts writing. However, the struggle of composing the play becomes a catalyst in his life, pushing away those close to him and testing his resolve to complete the work that will ultimately change his life forever.
The film screens tonight as one of our Spotlights.
Q: How did you hear about the Newport Beach Film Festival?
A: From our PR Gang (MPRM) -- they spoke highly of festival and so we're excited.
Q: Tell a little about the story of your film and the production of it.
A: It's a drama which the tone was inspired by quirky late 70's relationship dramas like An Unmarried Woman, Starting Over and other Hal Ashby and Woody Allen type films. This era of film had characters that seemed very real and relatable, but at the same time were in films that were at times imperfect and funny. In Multiple Sarcasms, the lead character, Gabriel (played by Timothy Hutton) is a man who's path to happiness is not cut and dry. Unlike other films, he does not have a cancer to point at for his unhappiness and so (like those of us in real life) has to work hard to figure out what the problem is in an otherwise seemingly happy life. From the talented crew right through the amazing actors -- everyone was on the same page to try to bring the down-to-earth elements of this story to life.
Q: Tell a little about yourself and your story in filmmaking.
A: I grew up a painter in the incongruous locale of Salt Lake City. Then became a graphic designer and ultimately Creative Director and went into publishing -- then I shifted into entertainment and ran a creative division of Paramount Pictures -- only to then leave and have my own branding company where I have strategically helped heads of most all the studios (as well as other highly visible companies) to produce, launch and leverage their brands and other projects. While I have written many books, and other projects, Multiple Sarcasms is the first feature film that I have directed. Aside from my professional background, I have been seeing films since I was a little kid and so I'm a true lover of film -- which is my main credential in terms of making a film.
Q: Your take on the performances of the lead actors (set backs, triumphs, impressions, good surprises, etc.)
A: I was lucky to work with amazing actors who shared a vision that I helped to set with the script. Once they bought into that, then the rest was just a healthy collaboration. Casting is a long process and boring real life issues enter into it like finances and schedules, but at the core of the process is a chemical chain reaction that you have to both start, and know how to control. Set backs are part of that process and to be expected. And triumphs come in many shapes and require risk, so don't be afraid to try new things or to let the actors. Each actor has a unique set of gifts and also some insecurities... so try to figure out their specific language and then speak it as best you can.
Q: What do you do when not making a smash indie film?
A: Experience life enough to try and create more and more.
Oh, and watch other people's smash films.
MULTIPLE SARCASMS screens at 6 PM on Saturday, April 24 at the Edwards Island Theater 5.
Buy ticket here:
http://newportbeachfilmfest.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=256900
Watch the trailer for WE WERE FEARED here:
