Mindhacks

How did a simple street creative person go from painting grains of rice to directional a film with two Academy award Winning Legends? The answer to this question can be summarized in one word- chutzpa (and barrel loads of it at that!)

I’m guess a few of you don’t cognize this term- it means audacity or nerve. The classic definition is that given by Leo Rosten:

“that quality enshrined in a man who, having killed his parent and father, throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan.”

I’m not expression for a second that this is what Bret Carr would-be do but he surely possesses the same qualities. I spoke to Bret on the phone last week and am finding it impossible to support his astounding story to myself.

Many folk in the same position would-be have been flooded with the feelings of despair but Bret had another ideas- to manifest his dreams.

Here’s his story- be prepared to be virtually stunned at the lengths one man wish go to for the success of his vision.

 

Bret Carr affected to Los Angeles and began activity as a street creative person painting images on rice grains for tourists. But his real ambition was to do movies that change people’s lives.

 

Bret improbably managed to get two Academy award winners to give him their time and energy for free and created the film RevoLOUtion which he asterisked and directed in. It was discharged to the general public in Apr 2006.

This is amazing in itself but you’ll have to believe me once I say it’s only the beginning of the feats that Bret force off. Bret endured more difficulties then you could ever imagine on the way and the devising of RevoLOUtion was a complete rollercoaster ride. All of these feats I’ll give to you in kind of a ‘chutzpah list’ called “The Rise of RevoLOUtion”. Prepare to be shocked.

First things 1st here’s the lowdown on what RevoLOUtion is about:

The Odd Plot - A Boxer that Stutters

RevoLOUtion is the fictional story of Lou, a stuttering ex-boxer who can only speak usually once starting trouble protective the Borough neighborhood in which he lives. Lou transforms from violent, extreme stammerer into a great, powerful communicator.

Awareness magazine note:

“The viewer so identifies with Carr’s Academy award Caliber performance, that they are taken on a near death psychological journey with “Lou”, and move out having had their own awakening.” 

The Rise of RevoLOUtion

I’m going to share with you 8 fantastic stories that galore would-be consider apparently impossible that absolutely demonstrate the sheer audacity and nerve that Bret possesses.

1. Giving up a $250 million Inheritance

 

The Chutzpa of Carr was evident from a really early age-  at 18 he left his family where he was vice president of a billion dollar holding institution ran by his grandfather, Victor Posner. He gave up a 250million dollar inheritance, and then exposed him on front page of Wall Street Journal as a child wrongdoer to protect his sister.

 

He couldn’t get her away from him, because Posner had 4 gun toting bodyguards that would-be chase her down and take her car back every time Carr got her out. Some Carr and his sister had no money so Carr had the audacity to take the initiative.

This story goes a long way in explaining why Carr is so ablaze simply about acquiring this film out. Carr grew up in a comparatively dysfunctional family and found a way out of re-experiencing that drama- RevoLOUtion.

A tough decision to make… not for Carr!

2. Recruitment the help of Academy award Winner Redeker and Funding RevoLOUtion

Pic Left: The Cervid Hunter, 5 times Academy award Winner written by Quinn Redeker, writer of RevoLOUtion

Bret Carr got in touch with Quinn Redeker, the writer of the five time Academy award Winner The Cervid Hunter leading Henry m. robert De Niro and Patron saint Walken, to help him realize his dreams.

Redeker laughed off any suggestion of help, that was until Bret shared his amazing techniques that would-be be embedded in the film.

Truly divine by Carr’s vision Redeker waived his usual 6 numbers fee; so Carr set simply about his task armed with only passion and a small organized crew of technicians acquiring them to activity for free. (You mightiness be justly acquiring the impression now that Bret can be really persuasive)

The out of pocket expenses were funded in a rather eccentric fashion- Carr is a gifted street creative person who can capture dreams on single grains of rice, which he would-be then sell to tourists.

The 300,000 dollar creation was besides really hard to obtain- Bret had to explain to Kodak that he was devising the 1st film in 3 decades from the guy who liberated a generation of Vietnam Veterans with The Cervid HUNTER, and how dare anyone want to charge him for the production. Let’s be honest, he’s got a point, The Cervid Hunter is a masterpiece with an huge cult following. Kodak caved in and Bret got the $300,000 funding.

Bret has shown one way of producing a film with no money any and how to attract Academy award Winners- Could you have done the same?

 

3. Acquiring Bill Conti, the musician of the Rocky Sound recording for free

Pic left: The Innovational Academy award Winning Rocky Motion Image Score by Conti

Carr was troubled to get composers for the sound recording to RevoLOUtion, with even as those who only had a history in commercials charging hefty prices.

So Bret and his team took the task upon themselves singing themes and going about in circles always complete up always bellow out the ROCKY theme.

 The resolution was obvious but still a bit of a pipe dream. They sent the film to Bill Conti, the musician of the Academy award Winning Rocky Soundtrack, there was after all nothing to lose.

Bill’s response was that HE COULDN’T TURN AWAY FROM THE PERFORMANCE and HAD TO DO THE THEME.

With absolutely no money Bret needful to get Bill an orchestra, he managed to persuade 20 musicians to move together for 400 bucks and the rest is history. . .

Another Academy award Winner on board for the meager sum of $400. Go Bret!

 

4. Cinematography with Cyril burt Young- ‘You Got Balls Kid’

Surely you’ve seen the legendary film Rocky- Who hasn’t? Then you’ll all remember the character of Paulie, Rocky’s brother-in-law compete by Cyril burt Young.

Carr’s producer Mary Helen of troy ran into Cyril burt Young in the street and they managed to persuade him to shoot for an hour the next day, he possibly accepted because he was playing the role of an angry stutterer.

When Bret told Cyril burt once and wherever he wanted to shoot Burt’s response was the classic “YOU GOT BALLS KID”- Sylvester Stallone eat your heart out- one of the most celebrated Rocky quotes!! Carr organized a crew to meet outside Burt’s  broadway play in front of a police station without permits. And even as got the cops to help shoot.

Check out the Video Clips Later:

Clearly Bret has huge balls- Support the Hollywood legends coming Bret!

5. Jane Fonda and Kumar Pallana Saga

Which Hollywood legend would-be Bret target next?

Carr still wanted to film several scenes for RevoLOUtion and set simply about enrolling the help of the legendary Hollywood actor and writer Jane Fonda. Despite being told by the powerful agency courtship Carr, not to bother her, Bret got Jane’s email from a journalist and sent her the movie.

Jane declined the film due to her hip operation and unfinished bus tour but instead gave a quote on the film:

“Intense film, an extraordinary performance”

She Besides enclosed in her email, brilliant film notes which Carr enforced with Kumar Pallana, the painting Indian character actor who scarf the Spielberg Film “Terminal” from Tom Hanks.  Carr’s team checked out Kumar on IMDB, he was 30 minutes outside of Hollywood, they met up, he then signed and starred. 

 

6. Hard Hit Agent Joe Klien gets RevoLOUtion the recognition it deserves

After being rejected 5 years in a row utilizing several cuts of the movie, Carr created a anonym and personality, JOE KLIEN, a hard hit agent who didn’t take no for an answer.

Bret via his alter ego ‘Joe Klien’, got the film into slamdance, an irreverent film festival. From this platform RevoLOUtion has won Jury Prizes and distinctions at 15 international film festivals.

Carr got representation from Jon Sheinberg, a Hollywood agent turned manager and son of Syd Sheinberg, ex-President of Universal for 20 years.

After being rejected 5 years in a row utilizing several cuts of the movie, Carr called up the head of the IFP who runs a activity in progress screening each year of 5 of the worlds better unrelieved films. Historically the program discovered Brothers McMullan, She’s gotta have it, and galore others.

Carr was rejected, but authorized by Shienberg who didn’t have time to represent him as hoped for, Carr created a anonym and personality, JOE KLIEN, a hard hit agent who didn’t take no for an answer.

Here’s the gist of how the speech went:

“Hello, put the Executive Director on the phone please. This is Joe Klien from Jon Sheinberg’s office.”

“Michelle Byrd? This is Joe Klien, I activity for Jon and Syd Shienberg. You cognize who they are don’t you.”

“Yes”

“Well let me prompt you. Syd discovered a filmmaker named Steven Spielberg. NOW we represent Bret Carr, whose film FIGHT THE Nice FIGHT (RevoLOUtion’s name at the time) was rejected…

“Sir, 1st of this an organization and we have a screening committee which I’m not part of. I run the organization. Second selections are closed. The point is firmly over.”

Joe, “Let me tell you what. If you don’t take that tape house and do a decision yourself on Bret Carr’s movie, you are committing soul murder of the most important Medium Voice since Steven Spielberg. Do you understand me.”

Michelle Byrd, “Are you threatening me?”

Joe, slamming his clenched fist on the table, (Bret told me he was so in character he frightened himself with the flesh smack wood):

 “You’re goddamn right I’m threatening you, I’m threatening you with being haunted by killing a masterwork. What I’m actually doing though, is talking to you like I’d talk to the head of a studio fighting for the LIFE of a filmmaker who has risked EVERYTHING to do the most powerful film any of us in this office has ever seen.

A film that changes lives. And if you don’t take that tape house and have an answer for me, at your authentic discretion… A yes or a no… after that film has been watched by YOU in person tonight, then you wish be responsible for crushing the most powerful motion picture  visionary I have ever seen, and flushing  thirty five years of this masterfilmmaker life down the toilet. DO YOU COMPREHEND WHAT I AM Expression TO YOU?!”

Michelle, meekly, “Yes, sir.”

Joe, “Do we have an understanding that I wish hear from you no later than 10 am my time tomorrow?”

Michelle, “Yes, sir.”

9am next day, Michelle, “We would-be be honored to have Bret’s film in our festival.”

The Result

Bret via his alter ego ‘Joe Klien’ got the film into slamdance, an irreverent film festival. From this platform RevoLOUtion has won Jury Prizes and distinctions at 15 international film festivals.

Yet another example of steely chutzpah.

 

7. Quest for Distribution

Carr wanted Distribution after being turned down by everyone so he shot a 20 dollar short PASSION OF THE HEIST.

He emailed to 3000 people, and inside days it was forwarded all about Hollywood and according on the radio from  Marty Grove who besides is a writer for the Hollywood Reporter. He ready-made Bret FILMMAKER OF THE MONTH .

However, the distribution deal fell through, as the company’s finances didn’t move together. Restless Carr unrelentingly with no money and no distributor cracked on and recorded another short leading LOU BENEDETTI… FARANHEIT 6911 price 20 dollars and does it onto the front page again, of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER- BUT…

Despite all this success and relentless effort to get distribution Carr had no distributor UNTIL… he stumbled across an inheritance from his recently rich mother.

8. Crazy Experiment that Aghast Studio Execs:

The Drugs Test

Carr came into a lot of money- $300,000 left to him in an inheritance, however in another eccentric twist he had to take a drug test to convert his recently rich parent that his addiction to perfecting RevoLOUtion wasn’t actually a drug addiction.

Carr naturally put all of this money into the NY and LA release of the film in a revolutionary ingenious idea. Take a look below:

The Experiment

Bret then had the audacity to promote RevoLOUtion in a way that was to take the film earth by storm, you’d think it would-be be better to take things one step at a time.

This video clip has managed to get 556 diggs inside 16 hours of being announce on digg.com. It has way over 10,000 views on YouTube

Cary Berglund, NBC Reporter:

“Imagine if every dollar you had to pay to see a film was with the confidence of 20/20 hindsight”

The revolutionary experiment, pay what you think it’s worth,  is an all new approach to ticket sales and has the potential to revolutionize the film theatre experience.

Bret Carr explains the logic behind his hot idea:

“I walk out of 90% of everything I ever see, that’s why I wanted to give the power to the audience to be able to decide how more they like the film”

The result of the experiment was exceptional- the NY and LA release was double the average box office take outgrossing 90% of the Studio Independents on the way.

You’d think Bret would-be simply be happy to finally get his film out to the public but instead he creates a whole new approach to movie-going.

 Overview of The Rise of RevoLOUtion. . .

These 8 sensational stories clearly demonstrate the chutzpa Bret possesses- How more balls can one guy have? The length and breadth Bret Carr wish go to to get his film the exposure it deserves is astonishing. SO…

The Futurity of RevoLOUtion

Despite the sheer chutzpa evident in Bret Carr’s nature the major problem holding back RevoLOUtion is the problem of distribution. This film has to get out to the masses- check out the major impact it’s had on audiences who have been lucky enough to see it:

The fantastic impact the film has had on real people’s lives:

Now Carr is trying to build up a fan base for this miraculous film so the public can witness this heart-warming and wakening movie.

And you can be a part of this by subscribing to his community of videos which show excerpts,trailers, arrests, and battles in acquiring RevoLOUtion made.

SUBSCRIBE to the RevoLOUtion YouTube Community>>

Bret Carr is a truly remarkable character with a rock solid nerve who has controlled his feelings to become a success and inspiration to many. And I’m sure you’ll agree this is reflected in his movie.

Who has more chutzpa than Bret? What did you think of the movie? Share your thoughts- you can besides Stream or purchase his movie.

check out the revoLOUtion website>>

 

 Video Clips

Burt Young Anaglyph in RevoLOUtion:

In this clip Cyril burt Young threatens to bust up Lou, the stammering boxer from the film RevoLOUtion, who confuses Cyril burt for his character Paulie in the Rocky movies.

Lou introducing RevoLOUtion- check out the trailer:

Related links

The Experiment

Remember it received 556 diggs inside 16 hrs of being posted. . .

do you digg it?>>