Your new movie 86
Melrose Avenue - in a few words, what is it about?
86
Melrose Avenue is a /thriller/drama that addresses several
themes: The antipathy of the other, the vagaries of the human
condition and the insidiousness of mental illness (PTSD) What
were your sources of inspiration when writing 86
Melrose Avenue? 86
Melrose Avenue is a character-driven narrative, where interpersonal
drama unfolds during a fateful night in Los Angeles. I wanted to
address major themes that are current in today's political-social
climate, as well as being very relevant to a world filled with
misperceptions, xenophobia, violence and miscommunication. Of all the characters in
86
Melrose Avenue, who could you identify with the most and who the
least, and why? I think almost
every character in my story has a little bit of me, a little bit of all
us. We all have had a major event in our life that has shaped our
perception of people and life in general. I identify with Nadia
who like me is a Lebanese - American. I was born and grew up during
the Lebanese war and carry the invisible scars of PTSD, just
like Travis and Nadia and Bill as well, who witnessed his son's
traumatic suicide. Avi lost his wife and I can relate to the pain
that comes from losing someone you love. We all have had an episode
of anxiety in our life and therefore we can relate to Cathy. I
think the least character I can identify with is Fiona. She is a woman
who has never been outside California and therefore never been exposed
to the rest of the world, to different cultures and different
people. Do talk about your movie's approach to
the thriller genre? 86
Melrose Avenue is a drama/thriller.
I wanted
to make an engaging and entertaining film that would also address
serious social issues. It
is about this diverse
group of people at a gallery opening who are taken hostage by an
ex-Marine suffering with PTSD and forced to confront their cultural
differences, their pasts, and their looming mortality as time ticks
away. Will they come out alive? What is going to happen to them?
There is this heightened
feeling of anticipation and anxiety, with stakes getting higher as
time passes.
The main portion of 86
Melrose Avenue is pretty much bound to just one location - so what
can you tell us about the location, and what were some of your techniques
to keep things visually interesting?
During the first and the last week of filming we shot all the scenes
that were not at the art gallery. The second week we moved to
filming all the gallery scenes. I decided to shoot those gallery scenes
in chronological order. The reason was because I wanted to create for my
actors that mounting feeling of entrapment and danger. The actors
fused into characters with that heightened tension, fear and sense of
helplessness, during those long days. They had to be with one another in
a stressful environment where time was ticking and stakes were getting
high. One moment they were starting their evening with a nice calm photo
exhibit and suddenly, life takes a turn to the worst and they find
themselves at the mercy of someone with a gun. They don't know if they
are going to survive or what's gonna happen. Throughout those long
shooting days. the actors were emotionally and physically tired from
going through that ordeal. They also started bonding with one another
and there was a sense of "camaraderie" that came out of
it all. They were united through that experience. Even the hostage
taker, Travis. Because he is someone damaged who does something bad and
yet is not a bad guy. He is also a victim: A victim of a system that has
used him and abandoned him.
We shot with 2 cameras. The takes were long and we used lots of hand
held shots. Some shots were very tight which helped create a sense of
claustrophobia as well as increase the tension.
Do talk about the
photographs exhibited in the film's gallery, and how did you happen upon
them?
All the pictures used at the art gallery were pictures that my co
producer Alexandre had taken in France, as well as pictures I had
taken in Lebanon. What can you tell us about your directorial
approach to your story at hand?
86
Melrose Avenue is aconflation
of ideas that came together — human connection, interconnection,
everyone has a story. I have always been interested in
relationships and interaction. We are all very interesting and complex
human beings with past traumas and unique experiences. So I wanted
explore those ideas in particular setting: An art gallery. It's a place were
you can meet anyone. I created characters that had seemingly nothing
in common and yet to whom we can all relate. All my actors were
from different backgrounds and origins. They all had
interesting past and stories. It was so special to work with people who
were so diverse and yet what brought them closer together was this
shared sense of danger, fear,tension and
the possibility of
dying! Do talk about 86
Melrose Avenue's key cast, and why exactly these people? I
had worked with Gregory Zarian on my first feature film. He is such a
versatile actor and a great human being! I knew I wanted Gregory to play
the main lead of Avi and I approached him with the screenplay
3 years before filming. Dade Elza I had met him 2 years prior to
filming as I had seen him in my friend's film and I gave him the script
and told him I think he would be great as Travis, the main
lead. Dade is such a good actor. The rest of the actors was through
casting. A
few words about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere?
It was a fun and yet a long shoot. A shoot that drains you both
physically and emotionally. Especially the gallery scenes, because we
filmed them chronologically.
Anything
you can tell us about audience and critical reception of 86
Melrose Avenue?
The film just released 4 days ago so it's too soon to judge the
reception. But one thing is for sure: This film addresses serious social
issues such as mental illness, gun violence, PTSD, the antipathy of the
other which of course might stir some critics and controversy. Any future projects you'd like
to share?
I have a couple, feature films and 2 TV projects I am working
on. What got you into filmmaking in the first
place, and did you receive any formal education on the subject?
I was always drawn to storytelling and films ever since a
very young age. I went to school for it. I got a BA in Communications
studies and Films from Saint Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon and an
MFA in Film Productions from Loyola Marymount University here in Los
Angeles. What
can you tell us about your filmwork prior to 86
Melrose Avenue?
I had done a few shorts and one feature film. 86
Melrose Avenue is my
second feature film.
How would you describe
yourself as a director?
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I dont know. You gotta ask my cast I guess. I think, although I tell my actors what I want from them in a specific
scene, I also love when they bring something genuine from within
themselves. Sometime it adds authenticity to their characters. I am very
open to conversation between a director and her actors about their
character and their motive in a specific scene. Filmmakers who inspire
you? I
was very influenced by Ingmar Bergman, Luchino Visconti, Claude Sautet,
John Cassavetes, Elia Kazan, to name a few. They had an amazing
way to tell relatable and captivating stories with such raw
emotions.
Your favourite movies?
I would say favorite movies are: Splendor in the Grass, Rebel Without
a Cause, A Woman Under the Influence, Blue (from the trilogy Blue,
White, Red by Krzysztof
Kieślowski), Shawshank Redemption, Les Choses de la Vie (by
Claude Sautet). ... and of
course, films you really deplore?
I am scared of horror films so I try not to watch them. I have seen real horror
during the war, so horror is my least favorite genre.
Your/your movie's
website, social media, whatever else?
I am terrible at social media but I am on Facebook and Instagram. Anything else
you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?
Not that I can think of. Thanks
for the interview!
I want to thank you for the interview! J
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