Ask an Alum: Atlanta's Alex Orr
We talked to three-time #ATLFF alum Alex Orr about his first ATLFF experience and an upcoming project.
In recognition of our final month of submissions for the 2017 ATLFF (!!!), we're catching up with some of the local alumni who continue to make great things in Atlanta and beyond. This week we say hello to three-time alumnus Alex Orr of Fake Wood Wallpaper Films. He's produced the polarizing #ATLFF 2016 selection and nationwide festival darling THE ARBALEST, FX's new smash hit Atlanta, and Easy—a new Netflix Original Series directed by Joe Swanberg (DRINKING BUDDIES, DIGGING FOR FIRE).
ALEX ORR STARS IN HIS SELF-DIRECTED, SELF-WRITTEN FEATURE "A IS FOR ALEX"
Q: How did you first hear about the Atlanta Film Festival?
A: I was in Film School at GSU and it was at the Hollywood 24 way on the north side of town. It was my intro to truly indie cinema. The first film I saw was a feature called Santa Smokes, the filmmaker was out front of the theatre jawing at people to go see his film.
Q: Why did you submit your films to ATLFF?
A: I live here and like to hang at the festival and see other filmmakers I know and meet new ones. It's great. I still work with people I've met at ATLFF through the years.
Q: Okay, everyone's favorite question—what are you working on now?
A: A Christmas Special for Adult Swim. It will be out...this Christmas time.
Q: What sets Atlanta apart for you as a creative home?
A: I lived in LA for 4 years and made more indie projects my first year back in Atlanta than the whole time i was in LA. There's a lot less of the pretension and false promises to sort through in the South.
Q: If you were an Atlanta neighborhood. which would you be?
A: I would be Buckhead because I think I'm better than you, but I'm really just another redneck with a spray tan.
Want to join our alumni family or to see your work screened at the 41st Atlanta Film Festival? Submit before prices go up on October 28th. Already an alum? Have two cents to give about art in Atlanta or an upcoming project we can mention? Email us to be considered for the Q&A.
Sixteen ATLFF '15 Films Now On Demand!
Look no further for your next movie night selection!
We love when our selections find a wider audience! Whether you missed it at the 2015 festival or saw it, loved it, and want to share it with friends (who must come with you to the 40th annual festival in April), you can now catch sixteen feature films across various platforms like iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, and Vimeo.
Highlights include Blood, Sweat, and Beer, the dynamic craft beer documentary we paired with a sold out afterparty; Breathe (Respire), Mélanie Laurent's dreamy drama and two-time César-award nominee; God Bless the Child, winner of the ATLFF 2015 Narrative Jury Prize; Masculinity/Femininity, Russell Sheaffer's experimental documentary that questions our gender-normative society; and The Sisterhood of Night, the mysterious teen drama that announced our New Mavericks program.
And for the first time, you can find the complete list in one place. Bookmark atlantafilmfestival.com/ondemand; we'll update the list as it grows! No more "What should we watch tonight?" Atlanta Film Festival has you covered.