It’s a full house on this episode of #BTLRadioShow thanks to our two very special guests – MARK PELLINGTON talking his new film THE SEVERING and JOY VILLA talking THE CONTRAST!
MARK PELLINGTON joins us at the top of the show to talk about his new film THE SEVERING which makes its 2022 debut at Slamdance Film Festival, running from January 27 through February 6, 2022. Slamdance is once again being held virtually and while you miss out on the in-person fun of the festival experience, it affords you the opportunity to view festival films 24/7!
THE SEVERING is the best of two worlds from Mark as this is an experimental feature dance film that captures and evokes emotion and feelings through movement. As many may know, Mark is not only an acclaimed feature film director but also an award-winning music video director. THE SEVERING melds those disciplines with powerful imagery of dance (and color) that tells its own story, something unique and different that I found enthralling on watching.
Take a listen as Mark and I dive deep into THE SEVERING and its visual power of body movement in translating the emotion of grief and the exploration into the journey of working through that grief and coming out on the other side, and how that is brought to life in the construct of THE SEVERING through the work of choreographer Nina McNeely, body painter Blake Armstrong, and cinematographer Evelin Van Rei. A deeply personal and cathartic film, Mark speaks to his decision to tell this story through movement and text versus the traditional narrative storytelling, the very nature of which allows for individual interpretation and meaning.
Plus, get an update on ALL of Mark’s projects currently in the works, including an upcoming book release described as a “visual memoir” describing Mark’s work in multi-media platforms over this career, multiple television projects including those based on his lauded and awarded “Arlington Road” and “The Mothman Prophecies”, and several new feature films we can expect to see in the not too distant future.
THE SEVERING is currently screening at Slamdance Film Festival through February 7, 2022.
And then hold on to your hats as Grammy winner, YouTube sensation, and actor JOY VILLA, joins us talking about her new film THE CONTRAST. One of the most unique progenies for a film, THE CONTRAST is a contemporary adaptation by Chris Johnson of the very first professionally produced play in America, Royall Tyler’s 1787 play “The Contrast.” Regular #BTLRadioShow listeners will recall that Chris was on the show in June and gave us some tidbits on THE CONTRAST at that time, so I am so thrilled to now have seen the film and speak with the film’s lead actress and executive producer JOY VILLA about it. A romcom that boasts charm, humor, and heart, with some very cool nods to the play’s Colonial roots, Joy is a breath of fresh air and quite frankly, a joy to watch!
Not just a producing title on the credits, Joy was very hands on in the production and the process of bringing THE CONTRAST to the screen and speaks not only to her character and the story, but delves into the script and working with Chris Johnson in developing the tone and modernization of the character, casting and chemistry, cinematography and working within the confines of the bed & breakfast location, incorporating the history of Colonial America into the production design, directors Sean Dube and Presley Paras, Joy’s musical contribution with two tracks for the film, skeet shooting and so much more.
THE CONTRAST is currently available on Amazon Prime Video and other streaming platforms.
