Earlier in the year, the Intel Corporation launched a worldwide scriptwriting competition in conjunction with W Hotels to unearth a new crop of creative talent. As part of the Ultrabook Experience program, the contest invited aspiring filmmakers to conjure up a self contained short-film script with only two criteria: To be set at any one of the 43 worldwide W Hotels and feature the Intel-inspired Ultrabook as a key plot point. After receiving over a thousand entries, a panel of high calibre judges headed by Roman Coppola chose 4 winning scripts to be developed into 10-minute shorts. Together with his production company, The Director’s Bureau, Roman paired the scripts with some of today’s most talented young directors and actors to bring the screenwriters’ vision to life. The resulting four original screenplays were each filmed on location at W Hotels across the globe including Washington D.C., W Doha Hotel & Residences, W Retreat & Spa Maldives, and Mexico City.
After a hectic few months of production, the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square hosted the worldwide Premiere of the winning films and BRWC were lucky enough to get a front row seat (well back row really).
First up was Modern/Love based on the prize winning script by Los Angeles based Amy Jacobowitz. Directed with beauty by Lee Toland Krieger (Celeste & Jesse Forever), Modern/Love is exactly what its title suggests; a simple tale of romance set firmly within today’s modern abundance of portable technology and social networking. Both humorously quirky and exceptionally sweet, it features Robert Schwartzman and Naomi Scott regaling their idea of the perfect first date via an Internet messaging service as they look to meet each other for the first time during their long-distance internet relationship. It’s a gloriously lovely tale, and features all the hallmarks of a traditional American indie flick; a great soundtrack, unlucky in love leads and the ever trusted comedy inner monologue…it is set in Doha though, which obviously isn’t in the American suburbs.
Roman Coppola on why it was chosen: “Loved it’s warmth in dealing with contemporary ideas in regards to relationships and the internet. In contrast to the others, it had a more narrative approach that I thought was very well done.”
Second on the slate, was El Tonto, a short developed from the winning script from Brooklyn’s Ben Saveg. Directed by actress and writer Lake Bell, El Tonto is yet another film out of the drawer of weirdness and stars Kyle Mooney (of collegehumor.com fame) as a lonely American backpacker who strikes up an unlikely friendship with one of Mexico’s much adored mask-wearing luchadores. Evidently inspired by the work of Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite, Lucha Libre), El Tonto is hilarious from the off and easily the funniest of the 4 films on show despite half of it being in Spanish! Mooney is awkward yet accessible in the lead role showing shades of Jon Heder in what is a very funny performance in a very funny and well written short.
Roman Coppola on why it was chosen: “This story had a graphic quality that drew me in. The lack of dialogue gave it that feeling of a silent film driven by more narrative ideas than narrative exposition. It was also on the shorter side, which was a nice attribute, allowing the story to be more visually told.”
Next up, was my personal favourite Eugene, developed from the winning script by England’s own Adam Blampied, and directed by the up and coming Spencer Susser. Similar to the previous film, Eugene is an awkward and lonely American traveller who finds himself with a surprise companion, only rather than a Mexican wrestler, Eugene’s unexpected friend is a genie in the form of an Intel Ultrabook. Also like the films that preceded it, Eugene was charming, funny and wonderfully shot. Michael Govier is great in the lead role as the innocent chap who just wants a companion. The humour comes quite physically, and the narrative takes quite the unexpected turn as the story pans out. Adam has crafted a great little story with this short, and it really is a joy to watch. If you only have time to watch one of the films, definitely watch this one. If you have the time to watch all the films, then watch this one twice. Awesome.
Roman Coppola on why it was chosen: “The Script had a surrealism and intensity that stood out amongst the others. I found it appealing that the story was adventurous and the conclusion can’t be predicted.”
The final film was most certainly the most challenging, and was the only one of the 4 that approached the notion of a short as a piece of abstract artistic expression rather than a simple contained piece of narrative. Written and directed by LA based Kahlil Joseph, The Mirror Between Us is very much a poetic piece and features Nicole Beharie (Shame) and model Dan’ee Doty as friends who embark on a euphoric adventure through the islands of the Maldives. Again, the film looks stunning and relies heavily on minimal dialogue and a collection of dream-like cinematography that is somewhat hypnotic. While I can’t attest to fully understanding the film itself, it was definitely the most artistic of the four, with a very deep narrative that offers more questions than answers and demands full attention. An original soundtrack by Kahlil’s friend, White Lotus, is also a treat.
Roman Coppola on why it was chosen: “I enjoyed the script for its poetic and lyrical qualities. It beautifully integrated the Maldives location and had an abstract and almost musical approach.”
As a nice little Brucey bonus, Roman Coppola himself wrote and directed a fifth short, starring the ever-brilliant Jason Schwartzman. Hilariously ridiculous in its concept, Die Again, Undead One is Roman having fun with the brief while throwing in a few plugs of his latest film for good measure. In order to see this one however, you’ll have to share the Four Stories page (www.youtube.com/fourstories) via Facebook to unlock this superbly humorous take on modern movie making.
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