General News

MARKET HOURS and OPERATION BARN OWL Premiere At “Life is Amazing” Lexus Short Films Series

By Melissa Thompson | July 31, 2014

On Wednesday evening, The Weinstein Company and Lexus hosted the Los Angeles premiere of their 2nd Annual Lexus Short Film Series ‘Life Is Amazing’.

Those in attendance included Harvey Weinstein, Kristen Bell, Allison Janney, Ted Danson and many others. TWC and Lexus challenged two rising filmmakers to interpret “Life is Amazing” through short film. The result were MARKET HOURS (directed by Jon Goldman) and OPERATION BARN OWL (directed by Satsuki Okawa).

In MARKET HOURS, Randall spends his days imagining the vibrant inner lives of various vendors at the multicultural urban market where he works; none more so than Angela, an angel with her own pastry shop. But Randall’s inattention to his work has led to a string of thefts and soon threatens to cost him his job. A chance encounter with a beautiful starlet and her lapdog provides Randall not only an opportunity to break the ice with Angela, but a chance to prove his worth to everyone at the market – including himself.

In OPERATION BARN OWL, Ellen and her group of friends band together to help her best friend Jonah create a picturesque proposal for his girlfriend. Ellen, however, must overcome her feelings for Jonah and any past promises they made to each other for the proposal to go as planned.

Both were testaments to the fact that you can tell an entire story in a short film.

The two filmmakers (Jon Goldman, Satsuki Okawa with script writer Ken Ochiai) are being mentored by members of the film community including actress Katie Holmes (The Giver, Wonder Boys) and directors Justin Chadwick (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, upcoming Tulip Fever), Simon Curtis (My Week With Marilyn, upcoming Woman in Gold), Antoine Fuqua (Brooklyn’s Finest, Training Day, upcoming Southpaw), and Phillip Noyce (The Giver, The Quiet American).

The group will also film featurettes that highlight the mentoring process as each talent meets with the up-and-coming directors and offers guidance and support. The pieces will also focus on the art of the short film, the evolution of the medium and its importance, and the growing global appetite for the format. The featurettes will be released leading up to the films’ theatrical run in Los Angeles and the worldwide release in October.

Photos – Gary Salem/©WAMG

Said Noyce, “It’s an honor to have been approached by The Weinstein Company and Lexus International to participate in such an innovative and important program. What they are doing with the next generation of filmmakers will have a significant impact in the world of cinema. I’m truly excited for audiences to see what these talented, young directors are creating.”

The first presentation of the shorts, Market Hours and Operation Barn Owl, took place at the Short Shorts Film Festival in Tokyo on May 29th. As part of the marketing campaign, both films will play at numerous festivals around the world including the Los Angeles Shorts Festival, The Rhode Island Film Festival, and The Portland Film Festival.

They will also be attached to major Weinstein Company releases such as THE GIVER. World premieres took place on Wednesday July 30th in Los Angeles and then on August 6th in New York.

Noyce showed footage from his new upcoming Weinstein Company film THE GIVER, starring Brenton Thwaites, Odeya Rush, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Alexander Skarsgard, Katie Holmes, and Taylor Swift at the New York event.

TWC co-chairman Harvey Weinstein about the partnership, “We launched the Lexus Short Films Series in 2013 with incredible, young filmmakers watching them develop their stories, skill and talent culminating into a special screening during the Cannes Film Festival. We’re honored to be working with Lexus again for a second year to find the next great, innovative storytellers to bring their own fresh take to the short film format.”

Executive Producer of Lexus Short Films Joey Horvitz, directors Phillip Noyce, Jon Goldman and Satsuki Okawa attend the 2nd annual Lexus Short Films “Life Is Amazing” presented by The Weinstein Company and Lexus at LA Live on July 30, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for The Weinstein Company)

Actress Kristen Bell attends the 2nd annual Lexus Short Films “Life Is Amazing” presented by The Weinstein Company and Lexus at LA Live on July 30, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for The Weinstein Company)

Actress Allison Janney attends the 2nd annual Lexus Short Films “Life Is Amazing” presented by The Weinstein Company and Lexus at LA Live on July 30, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for The Weinstein Company)