Thanks to Jamie Stuart for the heads up about the trailer for After Last Season, which is in the early stages of going viral by virtue of its genuine oddness. Michael Tully at his Indiewire blog writes, "It’s like Todd Haynes lost his mind after Safe and was hired to direct a series of cable access sci-fi infomercials," while David Lowery writes, "I've watched the trailer about ten times now, and have yet to tire of it. It is so beyond logic in its construction that it essentially reinvents itself anew upon each viewing." In addition to being featured on the film's own website, the trailer also appears on Apple's trailer page.
Jamie at Knox Road says he's spoken to the film's director, Mark Region, and the picture, which many doubt is an actual feature film, is apparently for real and slated for a June 5 release. Region also says in the interview that the film's budget is $5 million.
From Knox Road:
[Region] said the trailer for the movie can be misleading.
“It’s pretty much what you see in the trailer, but more than that,” said Region. “It’s different.”
Although Apple Trailers labeled the film a comedy, Region said it’s a mistake. He said the movie is more like a Hitchcock film, dark and mysterious.
“The movie is just a regular mystery… with special effects and computer effects,” he said.
The special effects, which appear in the trailer, cost a big part of the movie’s $5 million budget said Region. He said most of the money came from local investors, not from Hollywood.
He said he wanted to keep the set simple and hired local actors to keep the the film low-budget.
“It took a lot of effort, we tried to do our best,” he said.
The trailer for After Last Season is below. And I agree with Lowery — this demands multiple viewings.
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posted by Scott Macaulay @ 3/27/2009 10:05:00 PM
Comments (17)
If you have five million dollars do you still have to use the camera mic? #posted by Anonymous @ 3/28/2009 12:08 PM
This is fun. Reminds me of the documentary "Who the #$*& is Jackson Pollock," which did such a beautiful job raising the question of "what is art" and more pressingly, what is "good art."
So is this a trailer for a brilliant, and carefully constructed post-post-modern movie? Or a mish-mash of artistic delusions and mistakes? And does it even matter? I'm very curious to see the result...or at least the first 15 minutes of it. #posted by Helena Handbasket @ 3/28/2009 2:56 PM
Yes, I'll be very curious to see at least the first 15 minutes too.
As for the $5 million budget, it is a puzzling claim. However, the director says the film is going out "regular wide," so maybe that includes distribution expenses. #posted by Scott Macaulay @ 3/28/2009 7:11 PM
I bet a lot of that 5 million dollar budget was spent on a time machine to get back to 1994 for the wardrobe and hairstyles #posted by Todd S @ 3/29/2009 4:09 AM
If this is all intentional, it's genius. It's like Eyes Wide Shut by way of David Lynch doing Brecht on acid. Otherwise, it's Ed Wood looking like Orson Welles. #posted by Anonymous @ 3/29/2009 1:07 PM
Not Todd Haynes... Hal Hartley directing sci-fi infomercials.
Anyway, this trailer is something interesting. On the surface, the trailer is inviting us to see what looks like a mumblecore sci-fi trainwreck waiting to happen. And it could very well be just that. But the fact that it's so awkwardly blocked and acted with effects that look like pre-visualization software, you can't help but hope that there is something going on, some inside joke that we might be missing. Especially when the director says that it costs $5 million.
The trailer works in the sense that I'm now aware of the film where I might have otherwise not looked twice at the title. But do I want to see it? Right now, no. I can't tell if it's too self-aware and twee for my tastes or completely unaware and mistaken for subversive. Either way, I'm only interested to know what it's about... if anything. #posted by Alex @ 3/29/2009 2:18 PM
This is a scam. Ask yourselves - how difficult is it for an average indie filmmaker (esp those going the DIY route) to get their trailer featured on Apple's movie trailer page? - make no mistake, someone with influence is behind this and they can shove their post-ironic posturing up their ass!
Do the world a favor and don't spread this crap any further #posted by Anonymous @ 3/29/2009 4:12 PM
What's really interesting is that there's no writing credit at all among the others.
Actually, that makes perfect sense. #posted by Shelly @ 3/29/2009 9:19 PM
Actually, it's not that difficult to get Apple to play your trailer if you have a release date. #posted by Scott Macaulay @ 3/29/2009 10:18 PM
I'm IN this movie and I don't know what it's about. Never did. #posted by Anonymous @ 3/30/2009 6:51 PM
File it under "Unintentional Surrealism". Oscar Micheaux would have loved it. #posted by paulzucker @ 3/30/2009 7:21 PM
Hey Anonymous, forward me some contact info on the film. Would love to hear more. (editor.filmmakermagazine AT gmail.com) #posted by Scott Macaulay @ 3/30/2009 8:09 PM
My brain hurts. I think I need an MRI now. #posted by Wiley @ 3/31/2009 11:28 AM
I love the trailer, would like it to be real, but am starting to think April Fool's... #posted by Anonymous @ 3/31/2009 11:31 AM
Hmmm, not very convinced this isn't a hoax. And what day is it tomorrow btw? ;) #posted by Jeff @ 4/01/2009 12:38 AM
I believe it's for real. #posted by Scott Macaulay @ 4/01/2009 1:53 AM
if it's a hoax, i don't know why they are doing this to me. someone once said that it usually gets warmer this time of year, i don't know. when the car arrived i got in it. think we thought we were making Prime? they made me put all the dialog in the trailer because research shows people like people. the plastic box that moves required 17 different layers composited in Flame. it was a great experience. i'll see it when it comes out. #posted by Anonymous @ 4/01/2009 11:35 AM
