Fort Worth director making film using digital SLR camera

by Steve Smith of West and Clear

Fort Worth filmmaker Andrew Disney, second from left in the photo, is getting a lot of buzz all over the Internets for his new Fort Worth noir feature, Searching for Sonny, not so much because of the subject, but because of how he’s shooting it — using a digital SLR. In other words, he’s using a camera much like some of us would use to shoot vacation snapshots to film a feature-length film for commercial distribution.

To me, this sounds a little like driving to Hawaii, but Andrew assures me it’s much more feasible. He was kind enough to endure the grueling agony that is the West and Clear email interview. Here’s what he had to say about the film:

West and Clear: Why are you planning to shoot a feature film on digital SLR? Is this just a gimmick or are you just trying to torture yourself?

Disney: Ha. This question seems to have a couple of assumptions. Gimmick? Maybe… If it is, then it’s working because we were featured on the two biggest tech blogs (actually some of the biggest blogs.) People from over 90 countries have been to our website and it just went public on Thursday… we also shot the trailer a week ago. The video has been viewed 35,000 times as of this minute, and it’s all because of the fact we’re shooting on a DSLR.

But there’s another reason, a better reason. DSLR is easier, cheaper, and faster to shoot on, BUT it looks great. We’ll probably go with the Panasonic GH1 which shoots 24fps at 1080p. It’s coming out in Japan in April and it’s retailing for $1500. WIth the DSLR, we can shoot stuff that has that filmic look, mainly because we get to use 35mm lenses. We get to play that nice depth of field. Once we figured out how to work around the setbacks with Canon 5dM2, the shoot was pretty painless. There’s more detail on all this at Gizmodo.

West and Clear: What’s the film about?

Disney: Searching for Sonny is about three bumbling friends who go back to their high school reunion and get sucked into a small town murder mystery that seems eerily like a play from high school. It’s very Fort Worthian. I wrote it when I was going to college at NYU, missing Fort Worth and imagining it as a fun place to have a detective story. It’s basically a Fort Worthian noir Film. Instead of smoky bars, empty alley ways, and mean city streets, it has big country clubs, private schools, and suburban cul-de-sacs.

I also wrote it imagining my friends from high school coming back to Fort Worth and realizing that I was missing. But another big part of the film is that it all seems like a play from high school. It might get semi-meta for some parts, but only semi.

It’s all very funny at this point though that more people in China know about this Fort Worth noir film than people in Fort Worth. We’re on a lot of blogs in China…they were the first to come out with the story.

West and Clear: Saw the trailer, looks cool, very Wes Anderson? But is this going to be quirky Coen Brothers noir like Fargo or something darker, like No Country for Old Men?

Disney: As we were shooting it we realized that it all had sort of Wes Anderson noir feel. I think the titling makes it seem Wes Anderson, but if you’re into typography you’ll clearly see that we use Neutraface whereas Wes Anderson uses Futura. It’s a big difference.

Imagine if Wes Anderson and the Coen Brothers had a love child, and then it was raised by Charlie Kaufman and the character Gob from Arrested Development. That’s what our movie is.

Okay, it’s more of a bromance with three friends who find themselves caught into a Raymond Chandler novel … or at least think they are.

West and Clear: Are you shooting in Fort Worth?

Disney: BFW. FFW. By Fort Worth. For Fort Worth. It’s about Fort Worth … and I want to see Fort Worth be a cool film town that has more to offer than cheap horror films and the ending of Logan’s Run … though I love both.

West and Clear: How can fans help you? Send you 10 bucks?

Disney: Fans can help us by blogging, posting, visiting and talking about our movie website, SearchingForSonny.com. BUT if you’re a fan with a pocket full of money … then contact us about investment possibilities.

If you like Fort Worth, want a producing credit and want to be part of a fun film, then talk to us. Our company is PATAHOUSE. Check us out.

West and Clear: Can I be in the movie? I was thinking a convenience store clerk who meets a bloody and untimely end a la Rockets Redglare in Mystery Train?

Disney: Maybe, let’s talk. (EDITORS NOTE: With answers like that, I think this guy can make it in Hollywood.)

West and Clear: Anything else I should of asked or you want to tell Fort Worth fans about your film?

Disney: I’m looking at all our web traffic and I still thinks there’s something to be said about the fact that people from 90 countries are interested in this Fort Worth noir bromance movie… that’s still largely unknown in Fort Worth. I guess that’s the nature of viral internet. This blog is claiming I’m a Los Angeles filmmaker. So I guess I’m saying: Fort Worth, take notice and be proud … the world is watching and waiting.

Thanks for your time, Andrew. Thanks for representing Fort Worth so well. Good luck and keep us posted!