Blurring the line between fiction and reality, director Joe Burke (Disturbance 2013) in his feature directing debut draws upon real life experiences to create a refreshingly funny take on life in Hollywood. Going into production with a 45-page outline, developed over eight weeks with friend, actor and co-writer Oliver Cooper (Oliver), improvisation fleshes out the story. Focusing on sympathetic moments, Burke discovers both pathos and comedy in his hapless characters, a pair of guys drifting through their mundane days.
Burke received his MFA in directing from the American Film Institute (AFI) in 2009. In this interview he talks to Below the Line about how he was able to shoot a feature film in only two weeks with a skeleton crew of four – cinematographer Todd Banhazl, gaffer Dan Adlerstein, camera assistant Danielle Krudy and sound mixer John LaRosa.
Four Dogs will screen at 9:40 p.m., Saturday, June 22 (80 min.) at the L.A. Film Festival.
Expanding on Below the Line’s popular Directors Series, senior writer/film editor, Mary Ann Skweres, and writer/cameraman, Bob Bayless, go behind the scenes at the L.A. Film Festival (June 13-23) to talk to directors about how their crew helped bring their films to the screen. Below the Line’s L.A. Film Fest Video Director Series is sponsored by Sony and Lightworks owned by EditShare, and produced in association with DreamStar Film & Music.
For a full schedule for the L.A. Film Festival screenings, visit http://www.lafilmfest.com/