By Sahil Patel
Last year, Lexus International partnered with The Weinstein Company to launch Lexus Short Films, a series of five short films from emerging filmmakers themed around the idea that “life is amazing.”
Now the brand and the film studio are back, renewing the partnership with two new films based on the same concept.
The first, “Market Hours,” focuses on Randall, a security guard at an urban market who harbors a crush on Angela, the owner of a pastry shop within the market. Written and directed by Jon Goldman, the short follows Randall, whose vivid imagination — usually spent on describing the inner lives of the various vendors at the market — has prevented him from catching a thief. A chance encounter with an actress and her lapdog gives him the opportunity to prove his worth.
The second short film, “Operation Barn Owl,” comes from director Satsuki Okawa, who co-wrote the film with Ken Ochiai and Christopher Browne. Focusing on Ellen, a young woman who is helping her best friend Jonah create a unique proposal for his girlfriend, Ashley, the film shows Ellen grappling with her own feelings for Jonah while also working hard to manage various hiccups that arise during the planned show.
Both films were executive produced by Harvey and Bob Weinstein and Lance Still, with Joey Horvitz and Marc Longberg producing.
As part of the Lexus Short Films series, the directors also received mentorship from a group of filmmakers and creatives within Hollywood, including directors Phillip Noyce (“The Giver”), Simon Curtis (“David Copperfield”), Justin Chadwick (“Tulip Fever”), and Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day”), as well as actress Katie Holmes and Harvey Weinstein.
The famous mentors will take part in a series of vignettes about the mentoring process, documenting the process of them meeting with the two filmmakers and offering guidance and support. These videos, which will also explore the “art, evolution, and importance of the short film medium,” will be released in the lead-up to the films’ worldwide online release.
VideoInk attended the New York premiere for the films, which also doubled as an opportunity to preview The Weinstein Company’s upcoming dystopian feature film “The Giver.” (Check out some of the images from the event below.)
Both films will be released online at the end of October, following a tour of film festivals around the globe. They will also be attached to major Weinstein Company released like “The Giver,” according to Lexus.
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