I have a crazy short film for you to watch today called Content: lo-fi people It takes you on an unexpected and crazy journey.
The film started out as a documentary about a beloved cult film, then turned into a YouTube video, until it turned into a dystopian sci-fi adventure, then into a body horror film, before finally ending with The monster war is over. It wages war on the word “content” and fights for movies!
This movie comes from the writer and director Brian Lonanobelow you will find an interview with them talking about the project. This is shared in partnership with FilmQuest Film Festival.
What was the inspiration for your film? How did you come up with this idea?
I’m a big fan of Tetsuo: Iron Man, but I don’t like the word “content.” I wanted to make a film that declared war on the word art.
Tell us about yourself. What is your background? How long have you been a filmmaker?
I have been making films for the past 18 years and have made 17 short films. Other films I’ve produced include CROW HAND!!!, BFF Girls and the infamous short Gwilliam.
What inspires you to work in genre films and tell these kinds of stories?
The escapism of strange worlds, absurd gore, and people dressed in robot and monster costumes inspires my work. I love embracing the craft of filmmaking.
What was your favorite part of the filmmaking process on this project?
Storyboarding, shooting the film, and editing the film are my favorite parts…so I guess all stages of production are my favorite. Even the Foley recordings are fun.
What are you most proud of about this film?
How the film goes from one thing to another in a matter of minutes.
What’s your favorite story or moment from the making of the film that you’d like to share?
Shooting the transformation scene was probably my favorite moment of shooting this movie. We shot in a garage with a black background, smoke machines and fans blowing, and shot a lot on film and Super 8 film. Even though it was hot in the garage, we felt very creative while shooting this shot.
What was the most challenging moment or experience you had while making the film?
The filming time of this movie was 7 days, but 7 days was more than 2 years. There were a couple of weekends where we were shooting all day, but then we had to stop and then shoot one afternoon a few months later.
Since the film had many different types of effects and a lot of sound work to do, it extended the production time of the film. It was probably one of the most difficult movies I’ve ever made.
If so, how did your film change or differ from the original concept during pre-production, production, and/or post-production? How does this impact the way you approach future projects?
Some elements from the original script didn’t make it into the final product, which was probably for the best as it would have made the production much more difficult.
Some shots had to be cut due to crew availability, and we had to do a lot of the sound post-production ourselves because some of the people we used were unavailable.
Who are your collaborators and actors in this film? How did you start working together?
Blake Myers is the film’s co-director and producer. We’ve been making films together since 2013 and he’s a great collaborator. He often does production design and special effects makeup on my films. Gary Powell and Tony Rhames shot the film.
Gary and I have been making films together since 2006 and this was my first time working with Tony. Both are great people making movies. Kevin Daniel Lonano is my brother and we make movies all the time. I thought he did a great job editing the film.
Costume designer Toniet Gallego is a wonderful artist and collaborator. Blake introduced me to her in 2013 and we’ve been making movies ever since. In fact, she was nominated twice at the FilmQuest Film Festival for costume design on What: Lo-Fi Men and BFF Girls.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received as a filmmaker?
If you don’t know the answer, don’t be afraid to ask your collaborators for help. You have to strike a balance between knowing what you want and not being a dictator on set. Be good. Say thank you. Feed your team. Schedule your photo shoot date. Make a shooting list. have fun.
What are your plans for your career? What stories would you like to tell in the future?
I have an idea for a feature length film, but I’m very proud of all the shorts I’ve made and hope to see them on Blu-ray from a boutique distributor in the near future. There are 17 short films on one Blu-ray disc, so cool!
What’s your next project?
Not sure when you’ll see it, but I have a narrative feature idea, some documentary ideas, and some short films. I just want to keep creating until my hands fall off and my brain turns to scrambled eggs.
Where can we find more of your work? Do you have a website or YouTube/Vimeo channel? Social media handle?
www.brianlonano.com, youtube.com/brianlonano You can find me on instagram @brianlonano
Bonus Question #1: What is your favorite movie?
Silence of the Lambs. this is a perfect movie
Bonus Question #2: Which film inspired you the most as a filmmaker and/or influenced your work the most?
Jurassic Park. I saw this movie in a cinema when I was ten years old and it blew my mind. I was a fan of Spielberg and Lucas, then moved on to David Lynch and the Coen brothers, and then it kept branching out to Japanese genre films from the 1930s to the 1960s, American and British horror films and B-movies, I’m now getting to know outsider filmmakers who are getting into Mexican genre cinema and flying under the radar.
Enjoy the short video!
