The Atlanta Film Festival has kicked off this weekend at various venues around Midtown and tens of thousands of filmmakers, actors, producers and movie buffs have converged on the city.
One of the more anticipated films is “Speed of Life,” which was directed by filmmaker Liz Manashil.
“Speed of Life” stars Allison Tolman, Ann Dowd and Jeff Perry in a movie that takes place in the immediate aftermath of rocker David Bowie’s death.
‘Speed of Life’ debuts at Atlanta Film Festival
Manashil, whose first feature film, “Bread and Butter,” uses “Speed of Life” to explore how a legendary musician’s demise affects everyday life of a handful of characters.
AtlantaFi.com got to interview Manashil as part of the Atlanta Film Festival. Here’s what she had to say:
1. What inspired you to get into filmmaking?
I wanted to be an actress for quite some time but had an epiphany while watching a film called “Stolen Kisses” in high school. I love the creative control that comes with writing/directing and I love the ability I have to work out my own anxieties with the films that I make. Most of the things that I make are personal and somewhat autobiographical.
2. For people who are not familiar with David Bowie, what are you hoping this film conveys about him?
The film is inspired by Bowie but not about him. The main thing we want to convey is that his impact on this world was so dramatic that it felt like the universe broke when he died. There were a lot of jokes about how the fabric of the universe ripped when Bowie died, this film riffs off that idea.
3. Do you have any other films/film ideas in the works?
“Speed of Life” is my second feature and I am attached to direct a third feature, “Lady Parts,” this summer and am in development on my fourth feature, “Sex and Jesus,” as well. I recently made a short film about the film festival process that I’ll be releasing online soon.
If you can make the Atlanta Film Festival, go see “Speed of Life”!