LET’S MAKE IT A BLOCKBUSTER NIGHT, 80min., USA
Directed by Amir Shah
An Italian-American foreign language instructor and aspiring actress auditions for a role in a German lollipop commercial. An Iranian actress auditions for the same role. Little do both actresses know, that this German TV production company and the lollipop commercial casting , is not really what it seems .
Get to know the filmmaker:
1. What motivated you to make this film?
This film started from the idea of shooting in Italian beer commercial for the Super Bowl during Covid. The idea is that came to me to shoot the beer advertisement turned into a narrative construct as I looked at the first 30 minutes of the film on my Final Cut Pro. I didn’t realized this is not a beer advertisement. This is an experimental cinematic masterpiece.
2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
In Florida I was shooting for a few weeks and then I stopped production because of Covid moved to New York to join the screen actors guild resumed production in NYC , so this film is over five years in the making.
3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Theatrical nihilism
4. What was the greatest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
The first 35 minutes of the film completely blew me away and then the next 10 to 20 minutes after the 35 minute footage was a complete catastrophe so I had to finish the film using aggressive, editing techniques and aggressive gorilla style filming techniques in New York City with barely any budget .
5. There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development. Pre-Production. Production. Post-Production. Distribution. .
I absolutely love post-production because I edit all of my work, and whatever is done in reproduction is transformed into a different dimension in post-production.
What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process?
Post – production.
6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
When i saw David Lynch’s blue velvet at the age of 22.
7. What film have you seen the most times in your life?
Lost highway from David lynch , I saw it 7 times without skipping a day within a week.
8. In a perfect world: Who would you like to work with/collaborate with on a film?
Definitely M . Night shyamalan
9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experience been working on the festival platform site?
It’s been absolutely outstanding.
10. What is your favorite meal?
Khoresh budenjoon which is a dish from Iran
11. What is next for you? A new film?
I want to sell theatrical rights to ” let’s make it a blockbuster night” to a Studio so that it gets theatrical Distribution and I’m able to raise enough money so that I’m able to launch my production company Persian Empire Films and continue my original film franchise Are you Amir shah ? Episodes 1-4. The next sequel is called ” Hi , I’m saeed , I’m looking for Amir shah : pt 5
