I mentioned awhile back that my boyfriend is a filmmaker. In the summer of 2011, we wrote a screenplay called Loves Her Gun and shot it in September. We’re working on the edits now. It’s really weird watching footage of something you created. It’s like giving birth…for hours and hours. It’s both bowel-emptying exciting and downright terrifying.
This film is the second one my boyfriend has directed. His first film is an animated love story that takes place on Mars. The film is called MARS. My boyfriend’s last name is Marslett. Needless to say, the word “Mars” is a common word in our vocabulary. The film stars Mark Duplass (“The League”, Cyrus), Kinky Friedman, James Kochalka and Howe Gelb. MARS just premiered on Netflix Instant last week and it’s been in the top 20 most downloaded films for the past eight days.
It’s interesting making a movie. Well, it’s interesting creating anything. There are always going to be lovers and haters. The reviews on Geoff’s film are mixed. Either people super dig it or super hate on it. Which is to be expected. Indie films are a tough thing for people to digest at times. Especially animated indie films. I asked Geoff not to read the negative reviews for I didn’t want it to take wind out of his sails, but I have read them, and as his girlfriend of course I get very defensive. Most people who hate on the film speak of the amateur ways of it. They say that the animation is cheesy. They figure they could do better. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but shit, I’d wish they’d think about all the blood, sweat and tears indie filmmakers put into their films, how much of their own money too. Geoff created the animation software he used to Rotoscope his film and spent nearly three years barely eating or sleeping to complete it. But of course, it wasn’t just Geoff making the film. He had dozens of talented folks working day and night on the project too.
When I find myself hatin’ on an indie movie, I try to always remember that it’s someone’s baby. Many peoples’ baby. Being an independent filmmaker is no easy task.
-If you have Netflix and are interested in checking out MARS, go here.
-I also got Geoff on Twitter this week. Trying to get him to talk about being an indie filmmaker and film professor on the Interwebz. If you like nerdy cowboys and indie filmmaking, follow him here.
13 Comments
I’ll have to check out the film. Lots of people bitch about film because, really, they’ve got nothing better to do. And, instead of offering an in-depth review of a film, or anything, they fall back to making half-assed remarks as if their opinion matters and because they’ve seen every arthouse film and indie film on the planet before it was “cool” to do so, they obviously know everything.
It’s funny, because the same people who bitch about “cheesy” quality animation are probably the same people who adore and praise poorly made, cult horror and grindhouse films.
Either way, I look forward to watching it. It’s been a while since I’ve seen an animated indie film. Maybe since Waking Life.
Cheers.
thanks for the response, dale! let me know what you think, either way!
The internet in wonderful, but it has opened the doors up for people to be complete dicks and complain about everything in a semi-anonymous way.
People can bash things while hiding behind their computers – it’s very rarely constructive criticism, so it’s useless.
Those haters are probably just jealous that they haven’t done much with their lives.
it’s amazing how easy it is for people to hate online. i guess it shouldn’t surprise me though.
I’ve put it in my queue. 🙂
Awesome! Thank you so much! Geoff says thanks too!
My boyfriend just watched MARS pretty recently & said it was great. When he told me, I thought of you–I remember you talking about your boyfriend’s first film several months ago. Congratulations! It’s in my instant queue as I type!
Wow! Thanks, Laurel! Geoff says thanks too!
I have pictures of Geoff and Kinky from the SXSW Red Carpet.
Neat-o!!!
I worked as a journalist in newspapers for 16 years, so I helped create a product every day that people loved to hate. People actually cheer when my friends are laid off. Anytime you create something, people are going to be critical, and often they are downright nasty. The best you can do is grow a thick skin and let the hate roll off of you.
I’ll check out Mars – always looking for good indie flicks on Netflix. I’ll be nice 😉
That’s terrible that people cheer when your friends are laid off!
Thanks for taking the time to read my post and thanks for checking out Mars! Lemme know what you think!
Hello hipster,
How did Geoff get his movie on Netflix? I have a documentary that I want to get on there by I’m not quite sure of what steps to take.