Sabbatical – Interview with Writer/Director Brandon Colvin

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/30346

"Traces of deadpan humor seep through the film's austere core. Expressive elegance and simplicity guide the acting, fostering an abstract realism. SABBATICAL's minimalist form builds throughout, culminating in the film's devastating and humanizing conclusion."

From Sabbatical vimeo page.

Click through for our interview with Writer/Director Brandon Colvin.

"SABBATICAL follows Ben as he returns home to care for his ill mother and work on a new book. While home, Ben's relationships with family and friends — his mother, his brother, his lover, his high school pal — are tested, and he grows increasingly alienated. Ultimately, he is forced to confront his looming responsibilities and choose whether to engage or detach."

Description from SABBATICAL website.

I had the wonderful chance to see the film during it's pre-release tour that stopped at the Texas Theatre earlier this year.  When Brandon and I had our chat a week or so later we discussed the film's distribution plan.

Brandon is a PhD Candidate in Film Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has directed two feature films that both have taken the road less traveled when it comes to their distribution,  Like SABBATICAL, Brandon's first film FRAMES had to go through a unique online distribution plan via NoBudge.com. 

We further discussed the impact of online and social media based distribution platforms.

Brandon made a great point that so called alternative filmmaking is not what he is doing, but rather a much more artistic statement.  And this lead to an insightful discussion about how Brandon tackles making his films.

I asked Brandon about working with his DP Aaron Granat.

We discussed the great cast he assembled for Sabbatical.

I asked what it's like shooting in Madison, Wisconsin.

Brandon runs his own film festival in Madison and of course I asked about it!

We ended our chat by talking about what's up next for Brandon.

Check out SABBATICAL, here.