Amy George

Amy George

Promotional poster
Directed by Yonah Lewis
Calvin Thomas
Produced by Yonah Lewis
Calvin Thomas
Written by Yonah Lewis
Calvin Thomas
Starring Gabriel del Castillo Mullally
Claudia Dey
Don Kerr
Music by Lev Lewis
Cinematography Yonah Lewis
Calvin Thomas
Edited by Yonah Lewis
Calvin Thomas
Distributed by Mongrel Media
Release dates
Running time
 95 minutes
Country Canada
Language English

Amy George is a 2011 Canadian microbudget film written, produced and directed by Yonah Lewis and Calvin Thomas.[1] It stars Gabriel del Castillo Mullally as the adolescent Jesse and Claudia Dey and Don Kerr as his parents. The film tells the story of the 13-year-old Jesse who wants to be an artist, but believes that his mundane middle class life has left him unprepared. After reading a book on what it takes to be a "true-artist", he sets out looking for risk, ecstasy, wildness and women.

It premiered at the Wisconsin Film Festival on April 3, 2011[2] and had its Canadian premiere in the Canada First! section of the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.[3]

Plot

Thirteen-year-old Jesse is assigned a school project. A photographic self-portrait intended to portray one’s self without resorting to literal representation. Jesse lives with his parents, Sabi and Tim, in the lefty, middle class Toronto neighbourhood of Riverdale. A quiet and distant only-child with budding artistic aspirations, Jesse is inspired by the assignment to look for excitement and meaning in the world around him. Wielding a newly acquired camera, Jesse sets out to capture his surroundings, but soon realizes the undramatic nature of his family, neighbourhood and existence.

Meanwhile, Sabi and Tim find themselves questioning Jesse’s developing character as they watch him abandon his childhood personality and mature into an uncommunicative adolescent. Frustrated by his lack of inspiration, Jesse discovers a book in the school library which advises him: “You can never be a real artist until you have made love to a woman.” Taking the text at face value and with the encouragement of a family friend, Jesse begins to look for incident, both foreign and adult, which leads him to an encounter with his young, female neighbour, Amy. Peering into her window at night, he snaps a quick photograph of her.

Days later, the two are inadvertently reunited, allowing Jesse an opportunity to explore his prepubescent fascination with the opposite sex. After a long evening of games, exploration and hypnosis, Jesse awakes with confusion and guilt, unsure whether or not he may have overstepped his boundaries. The question of rape consumes his thoughts and Jesse is left struggling to reconcile his uneasy mind.

Cast

Production

Development

The film was funded with the assistance of friends and family.[4]

Casting

The large teenage cast was primarily found at local schools.[4] Gabriel del Castillo Mullaly who played the lead, Jesse, had never acted before and is the son of Canadian actress Maria del Mar. The characters of Jesse's parents, Sabi and Tim, were played by real-life couple, Claudia Dey and Don Kerr.[5]

Filming

Principal photography began in and around the Toronto neighbourhood of Riverdale on May 8, 2010.[6] Several scenes take place at neighbourhood parks, including Withrow Park and Riverdale Park.[7]

Music

The minimal score for Amy George was written by Lev Lewis. The film features four songs by musician Michael Holt.

Awards

Amy George won the Spirit Award for Feature Narrative at the Brooklyn Film Festival in 2011.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Smith, Ian Hayden (2012). International Film Guide 2012. p. 85. ISBN 978-1908215017.
  2. ↑ "Wisconsin Film Festival". Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  3. ↑ Punter, Jennie (Aug 9, 2011). "Toronto fest unveils 26 Canadian pix". Variety. Retrieved Aug 14, 2011.
  4. 1 2 Commisso, Christina (May 28, 2010). "The making of Amy George". Burlington Post. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  5. ↑ Orr, Caitlin (Aug 31, 2011). "Toronto talent and scenery on full display at 36th annual TIFF". Toronto Today. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  6. ↑ IMDb Filming Dates
  7. ↑ IMDb Filming locations
  8. ↑ Renninger, Bryce J. (June 13, 2011). "Battle & W. Zappatore Among Top Brooklyn Fest Winners". IndieWIRE. Retrieved June 29, 2011.

External links

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