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Meet the Filmmaker: Annanya “Andy” George, “1000 Bad Films”

Q: Why did you become a filmmaker?
AG: I started out as a professional magician, I would film YouTube videos every weekend with my best friend at the time, I would then get home and cut them into tiny 10-15- minute videos. Over time, I grew to love the film medium and, what I could achieve through cutting more than the magic. So, I ditched the cards and made a movie. It wasn’t good, but that’s when I think I started becoming a filmmaker. Now, looking back at it, I realize that its mostly because I felt like I had something to say, but magic wouldn’t let me do that, Movies do. It’s easier to show people what I’m feeling or thinking than it is to tell them.

Q: What are we going to see at the EFP? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your
plans for it?
AG: You’d be watching my student documentary, 1000 Bad Films, in many ways it’s my first official documentary. This was made back when I was still trying to find my visual voice. The one thing that has carried over is my affintiy for humor through cuts. The film has been screened at an online film festival called the “Hollywood Verge Film Awards” and it’s screened at Century theatre in Boulder, as a part of a student film gathering organized by some friends who work there. I have no plans for it. It’s probably going to be an extra feature on a DVD or Blu-ray of a movie I make in the future.

Q: What else are you working on?
AG: Quite a lot actually, I’m currently in the process of writing my short film, Schadenfreude, which is about how massive death is to us as a concept, but in reality, it’s not at all as massive and gripping as one might think. This would probably be expanded into a feature, then there’s “Un-Indian Indian”, a semi-autobiographical film about being Indian but not accepted by the Indian community outside, or even, inside of India. Then, I’m in the process of writing 3-4 features that I’m going to keep on the back burner, not announcing them yet. I’m in Post for my second documentary “Open Mic”, which is about the underground Stand up comedy community in Boulder, CO. We’re shooting a TV pilot in early July – late August of a show called Legacy. This show was the reason I started a YouTube channel in the first place. And Finally, one of my best friends and I are finishing the final draft of a musical we wrote together, called The Millennial Paradox. He did the music.

Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?
AG: Weird thing about me is that I’m a scatterbrained talker/thinker. So, if I’m super excited, say goodbye to my sentences making sense to you. Most often (not in the film you’ll see at EFP), my movie’s thesis statement or introduction to who our protagonist is as a person, comes in the opening scene before the title.

Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?
AG: My website www.annanyageorge.com is a good place to start, there’s the usual Instagram @annanyageorge and a Youtube channel that I would link here but I’m in the process of starting a new one, hopefully It’d be up by the time this post goes up, the link to my youtube would be on my Website and that link will get updated the day the new channel is up.

Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
AG: Thank you. I never thought that my movie (any of them) would be screened at a legitimate, respected theatre. It’s awesome to see you guys do this and I wish there was a ton more of you guys out there so that broke, hungry, film people like myself, can actually take pride in their work again. I hope to come back with a better film (if that’s an option) and thank you times a thousand.

1000 Bad Films will screen at The Emerging Filmmakers Project on Thursday, June 20th at The Bug Theatre.