We recently connected with Jorge Ameer and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jorge thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?
As a filmmaker in a constantly changing landscape, you have to be constantly rolling with the punches. The change in technology is one of those constant element that you have to be updated with if you plan stay competitive in this business. By far one of the karmic and crazy storiest stories to affect the course of my work was my latest film Altered Perceptions. This film was born from my last
film “The Family Tree”.
Neuropsychologist Dr. Wayne Dees saw “The Family Tree” on Amazon Prime and loved it. He contacted me out of the blue to let me know how much he loved that film and started pitching me a concept he’s been working at for quite some time. Now for purposes of full disclosure,there was history between myself and Wayne. Before he was a neuropsychologist, he was a publicist. I hired him for a previous film I’d released in theatres almost 30 yrs ago called “California Myth” starring Tyrone Power Jr. We lost touch and reconnected after “The Family Tree”. After I read the script, I thought it was very poignant to the times and ther was an urgent message that I feel needed to be told to anyone who would watch. I thought it was so important that I put on hold my current project – a feature to a short that I shot 10 years ago went that viral during the pandemic called “Quarters”.
But as i weighed my options I felt so strongly about the message that a figured it must be told and it must be told now and released for public consumption prior to the 2024 elections.
The other stranger than fiction thing that happened, is as soon as I signed onto to produce, see the film through from concept to distribution.- the budget of the film was there – ready to go!
So I wasted no time. I got a list made of all of the actors I’ve always wanted to work with and signed them on. The only actors I wanted that I did not get were John Travolta, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford. They weren’t available but I know someday I’ll work with them.
But for now, I’m incredibly grateful foe the cast I got. I casted all the stars from my previous films plus my favorite actors from the 80’s. Lance Guest who starred in on of my favorite 80’s film “The Last Starfighter”, “Jaws: The Revenge, he also starred opposite Jamie Lee Curtis in “Halloween 2” (1981) are amongst the long list of films he’s been in. Also, Eric Roberts (Star 80), William McNamara – who starred opposite Jodie Foster and Mark Harmon – He also had a cameo in my previous film “Medusa”.
Brent Bailey, Academy Award Nominee/ Golden Globe winner Sally Kirkland, Lynn Lowry who starred in one of my favorite 70’s film Larry Metxger’s “Score” – she’s also Scream Queen Icon who’s starred in many of George Romeros films- Joaquín Garay III who starred in “Herbie Goes Bananas” in other words it’s been a nostalgic dream come true for me.
Principal photography was an adventure to say the least. But once it came together I knew we had more than a movie- I felt it more like an experience – a profound difference experience worthy of debate because everyone who watches the film will have a different perspective base on their prevous life experiences and that to me was the main goal of the movie. To open debate and have a conversation about many social issues that plague our society currently.
Then the release of the film has also been interesting. We live in very trying times when it comes to movies. Streamers are over saturated with product, the pandemic has severely affected the cinema movie going experience and the actors and writers strikes have everyone moving w caution as these are some unprecedent times.
But the human spirit is uncompromising and we truck along amidst uncertainty. My last film “The Family Tree” (2020) was scheduled to premiere in Cannes but was cancelled due to the pandemic. It was the first time since World War 2 the festival was cancelled. But out of every negative comes a positive. Years later NBC/Unicersal would acquire my film for their newly formed channel Peacock.
Altered Perceptions has also had an extraordinary introduction into the market. It premiered at this years Cannes Film Festival at the Marche Du Film. During the festival it won best Cult Film be Cult Critic Magazine. It was also selected to open the Marina Film Festival for its US premiere wher.w I won Best Director- Narrative. The film was also selected as the closing night film for the Silicon Beach Film Festival for its Hollywood’ premiere. And it opens on September 22 at Laemmle Theatres. (Tickets are now available) just In case this coverage come out on the eve of the movie’s release)
The combine message to my experiences is perseverance is the name of the game.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Award winning provocative author, filmmaker, actor and activist Jorge Ameer began his professional career while in his late teens. At the age of 18, he was selected to participate in the Walt Disney College Program. He worked in the marketing departments of New Line Cinema, Paramount and Columbia Pictures. In motion picture development, Jorge worked as a story analyst for Richard Gere’s production company and Wendy Finerman’s productions at Tri Star Pictures in the early nineties and the now defunct Fries Entertainment. His acting credits include, ” Gramercy’s “Panther” and “Tales from the Hood”, HBO’s “Social Friction Fables” New Line’s “Friday”, and cameo appearances in his films “The Truth Within”, “Strippers”, and a supporting roles in “The Singing Forest”, “Contadora is for lovers”, “The House of Adam”, “The Dark Side of love” and “D’Agostino”. He co-stars opposite award winning actor Matthew Leitch (Star of AKA) in the carnival romp “Sabor Tropical”.
There is where his film career actually began. He served as a festival coordinator during the very beginnings of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. At the LALIFF, he worked alongside Edward James Olmos and Marlene Dehmer the current festival director. Ameer also served as the coordinator for the 1988 Latino Entertainment Industry Conference and as a member of the advisory board of the Methodfest Film Festival. Other previous industry positions include being a U.S. representative for the Barcelona G & L Film Festival and a film programmer for the Palm Springs G & L Film Festival. At these festivals, Ameer helped in the selection of many foreign features. After noticing a lack of recognition of foreign and independent gay themed films released theatrically, he founded the International Gay Film Awards, the Glitter Awards (2001-2008). Ameer currently is the US representative for Festival Mix (Mexico) where he assist in curating foreign features and shorts.
Glitter Awards, the only award show of its kind, attracted celebrities presenters such as Academy Award nominated actress Lupe Ontiveros, Karen Black, “Grease” and “Summer lovers”, “Blue Lagoon” director Randall Kleiser,Ayre Gross, comedian Jason Stuart, Peter Miller (star of “Mambo Italiano”) to name a few.
In 1997, as a distributor, Ameer started Hollywood Independents with the theatrical release of “California Myth” starring Tyron Powers Jr.. Thereafter, the company has released such titles as the Jamaican/American co-production “Klash” starring Jazmine Guy, “Eastside” starring Mario Lopez, “Tequila Body Shots” starring Joey Lawrence, “Poor White Trash” starring Jamie Pressley, Jason London, William Devane and Sean Young, Spain’s Academy Awards Winning film (Goya Winner) “I will Survive” (Sobrevivire), and “Hotel Room” from the director of “Nico & Dani”. Other releases include his film “The Singing Forest”, and “Junked” starring Thomas Jane (star of “The Mist”, “Punisher” and the popular HBO series “Hung”) and Jordan Ladd (star of “Cabin Fever”, “Hostel 2”). Mr. Ameer has authored, produced, and directed the theatrical features “The Truth Within”, “Strippers”,”The Singing Forest”, “Contadora is for lovers”, “The House of Adam”, “The Dark Side of Love”,”Sabor Tropical”, “D’Agostino”. All projects released theatrically through Hollywood Independents.
Ameer has produced, written and directed countless 35mm comedic shorts films to name a few “My Straight Boyfriend”, “Popcorn & Coke”, “Uninhibited”, “Midnight Snack”, “Tease” now available on DVD as a compilation of shorts called Straight Men & the Men who love them. This collection has been so successful, Ameer has executive produced, program and curated two programs of the same titled Straight Men & the Men who love them 2 and the upcoming Straight Men & the men who love them 3. The latest compilation of shorts is a collection of international shorts curated from the Cannes Film Festival (short film corner).
His documentary works include the 2005 Glitter Awards, 2006 Glitter Awards and “Classic Hollywood Cinemas” an in depth look at the old Hollywood movie palaces, their historic and preservation value and impact. In this documentary, the movie theatres are the stars!!!.
He’s also produced and arrange the publishing of the historical and award winning first ever “Guide to Gay & Lesbian Film”. The first edition was published through Blood Moon productions. The book has won many book awards for its detail, educational and historical contribution to independent films, specially gay & lesbian films released in theatres.
A human rights activist, Ameer has spent most of his career creating controversial, cutting edge trivial stories with thought provoking subject matters to challenge audiences from the stereotypical social conventions and outdated traditional values which detract from enhancing the global human experience.
In addition to filmmaking, within the exhibition industry, Jorge Ameer was the last person to re-open the historic Vogue theatre in Hollywood as a movie theatre to showcase independent films. Films such as “Nico and Dani” (TLA Releasing) and “Just one time” from the now defunct Cowboy Releasing played at this theatre. The resurgence of film exhibition at the Vogue was short lived due to alleged hauntings at the venue where a paranormal research group leased the theatre from Mann theatres to set up shop as headquaters for their research group. The theatre was gutted a few years later to make way for a nightclub that never opened. This short stint with this historic theatre has made Ameer a part of the Hollywood Historic Cinema experience as he was the last person to play films at what was a great film venue back in its day.
Jorge Ameer’s theatrical distribution company Hollywood Independents International opened its theatrical distribution operations in Central and South America in 2006 with the theatrical release of “Grande Ecole” a film by Robert Salis. The French film was censored and banned in Panama due to its explicit sexual content where his company was schedule to open it in theatres in January 2007. Ameer took a trip to Panama to denounce the banning of this film. After outraged from the Panamanian press, the film opened successfully in Panama. It opened number one at the Alhambra-Plus Transistmica beating studio films “Night at the Museum” and “Deja Vu”. It broke box office record locally, for this genre of film, playing for eight week theatrically.
On January 26, 2009 the Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Fairbanks Center for Motion Picture study invited Mr. Ameer’s to have his screenplays be a permanent part of “The Core Collection”. The screenplays in this collection are made accessible for research purposes; students, filmmakers, writers and actors are among the patrons.
In additional to his filmmaking, acquisition and distribution activities, Ameer programs and curates films and has been a guest speaker at countless film festival and media events worldwide.
In April 2011, Mr. Ameer started his own film series in Panama called Jorge Ameer presents Cine Serie Independiente, a showcase to promote and exhibit high profile award winning independent and foreign films in Panama. Among the few films Mr. Ameer was responsible in bringing to Panamanian audiences was Aluzio Abranche’s controversial incestuous drama of brotherly love “From Begining to End” (Do Comeco ao Fim), Andre Shortell’s “Psych 9” starring Sara Foster & Cary Elwes, Karee Andrew’s “Altitude”. During the film presentations, directors presented their work to Panamanian audiences in person and live via skype on the movie screen. This is the first time in Panama’s cinema history technology has allowed local cinephiles the opportunity to interact with award winning filmmakers virally before and after their film presentations. During the film series screenings, Panamanian audiences shared comments and exchange opinions with the artists live on-screen from their home countries. Unfortunately, the presenting cinema and only theatre exhibitor to support independent films – the Alhambra Theatres- would close the following year, on January 31, 2012, due to financial troubles. It was the last of a series of vintage stand alone cinemas constructed during the boom of single screen theatres and drive-ins in Panama. There are currently only two theatre chain exhibitors (Cinepolis & Cinemark) operating in Panama. Both chains have their multiplex cinemas located throughout today’s popular mega malls. More details of the end of the single screen theatres and era is exposed in Mr. Ameer’s documentary Classic Hollywood Cinemas.
Several months after his film series, Mr. Ameer served as producer to the opening night after party to the October 2011 edition of SCREAMFEST, the world’s premiere horror film festival based in Hollywood, California. The event was held at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel. The event brought luminaries of the genre such as Paranormal Activity’s Oren Peli, “Saw” and “Insidious” director James Wan, as well as “Grease”, “Summer Lovers”, “Blue Lagoon” director Randal Kleiser and “Firestarters”, “Class of 1984” director Mark Lester to name a few celebrity attendees. With a seance theme, over 400 votive candles were used to create the atmosphere. In addition over one hundred skulls, the screamfest symbol, were featured as centerpieces and part of the morbid “look” throughout the event. A well lit coffin surrounded by neon lights was featured in the gift room where guests retrieved their gift bags from the open casket.
In 2012, Mr. Ameer was invited to be President of the jury to the International TV, film and video Film festival of Panama. The Festival Cine Diva is a competitive festival held Sept 8-16, 2012. The festival focuses on short subject experimental, documentary, short and television works both local and foreign. Winner are awarded the Premio Diva. (Diva Award)
After many years in the making, Mr Ameer has pioneered and procured the opening of the first high school film program in Panama at the Pan American Institute in Panama City.. The film program’s curriculum was designed by Jorge Ameer and approved by the Ministry of Education. It started on March 2, 2015 with the first class schedule to graduated on December 20, 2017.
Released Halloween 2015, Jorge Ameer’s latest film Medusa, a contemporary dark gothic tale of terror based on the greek mythology starred Jeff Allen, William McNamara (Stealing Home, Copycat), Katy Foley, Britt Rose & Tom Struckhoff. Visual effects were under the supervision of Jeremy Vanneman (Godzilla, Pacific Rim, Wolverine & Star Trek Into Darkness, Avengers 2, Jurassic World, Ghostbusters 3 among other studio films). The film was officially announced to the public at the 2014 Wondercon. It was named one of the most anticipated upcoming films of the year by videodetective.com.
In 2015, Jorge Ameer had two films having their world premieres in two different programs at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, his authored feature Medusa (aka The resurrection of Medusa) which he directed and acted as as Kao the witch doctor premiered in Cannes premiere as part of the Marche Du Film. Also, Find Pauletta, a ghost story was selected as part of the Short Film Corner. Jorge Ameer stars as Douglas in Find Pauletta, a horror ghost story about a new smart phone app that enables camera phones to see ghosts.
Mr. Ameer is currently the Film Festival director of FILMS FROM PANAMA presented by The Viva Panama Organization and held at the historic Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood yearly. His latest film OASIS, shot in Panama the same week his other film MEDUSA was released in theatres in Panama on August 2016, premiered at in Cannes at the Marche Du Film May, 2017. It was released theatrically November 10, 2017 . The film represented Panama at the 2018 Golden Globes. The film was among 341 films eligible for Best Picture consideration at the 2018 Academy Awards.
The Family Tree was originally schedule to open at the Marche Du Film at the 2020 Cannes Film Festival this past May 17, 2020. The festival was canceled and other alternate strategy for distribution was established for the release of the film due to COVID- 19. The film to date has won over 23 awards with 4 nominations and movie awards. The film opened the Marina del Rey 2020 and it closed the festival winning best Picture and director of the festival. The film will next Open the 2020 L.A. Live Film Festival. It is schedule to open theatrically in Latin American through Cinepolis as of December 3. As a programmer, Mr. Ameer discovered the documentary “Jack has a Plan” directed by Bradley Berman and produced by Chris Metzler which would screen at the 25th edition of the prestigious Dances With Films film festival at the world famous TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The film would subsequently win the 2022 Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary.
On January 12, 2022 (Mr. Ameer’s 50th birthday) NBC/Universal acquired “The Family Tree” for its Peacock channel. The film was released on July 14, in anticipation to the 2022/23 holiday season. “The Family Tree” is NBC/Universal’s first acquisition from Ariztical Entertainment and Hollywood Independents.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I’m constantly pivoting because change is a constant in the film business. Every time you make a film you have to reinvent yourself and it’s never like the last one you made. That’s because it takes years to make a film and by the time you get to making it, the business p changes. I’ve been distributing films since VHE and have witnessed so many changes. Changes in film format from 35mm to digital- changes in formats from VHS to DVD to laser Disk to BluRay to streaming. So it’s been an unpredictable journey every time and. matter how much you plan, you constantly have to pivot according to what’s happening at the moment.
Any advice for managing a team?
This one is esasy for me because I use it time and time again. The secret to having a good team is making them feel like they are part of the process and their contribution is very important. You should be open to their needs and ideas and anticipate conflicts before they happen. – conflict resolution. Also, take care of your people. If you can’t afford to pay them due to budget constraints, feed them well and always show gratitude for their contributions towards helping you materialize your projects. If they do a good job for you. Take them onto your other projects. Make sure they are working in what they really like to do and keep them motivated by creating a pleasant work environment that would allow them flourish, be creative and take ownership of what they do. Focus on the positive and reassurance because absolute no one like a to work in a negative or toxic work environment. People will always remember you by the way you made them feel while collaborating with you no matter what problems the production may encounter because there’ will always be problems. It’s all about how you go about solving them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20834182/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
- Instagram: @JorgeAmeer
- Facebook: Altered Perceptions- a Jorge Ameer film
- Linkedin: https://www.laemmle.com/films?theaters%5B32219%5D=32219&theaters%5B167964%5D=167964&theaters%5B32215%5D=32215&theaters%5B343348%5D=343348&theaters%5B32220%5D=32220&theaters%5B32214%5D=32214&theaters%5B32218%5D=32218&statuses%5B343%5D=343&statuses%5BOpening%20This%20Week%5D=Opening%20This%20Week&statuses%5BLast%20Chance%5D=Last%20Chance&statuses%5B342%5D=342&statuses%5BOne%20Day%20Only%5D=One%20Day%20Only&statuses%5B344%5D=344&title=Altered%20Perceptions%20&sort=title&direction=asc
- Twitter: @JorgeAmeer
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/I9V65FrtVoQ?si=vCdiAjHhBrUuisZ2
- Yelp: @JorgeAmeer
- Other: Watch our film Altered Perceptions – Please let your friends know tickets for the theatrical release of Altered Perceptions in Los Angeles are now available for purchase! Sneak peek happening on Thursday, September 21 at the Laemmle Santa Monica 7:30 PM w Q& A after the show – OPENS SEPTEMBER 22 at Laemmle Glendale Theatres showtimes 4:20PM & 10:15 PM shows. Q& A w director & cast at Laemmle Glendale on Friday, September 22 after the 10PM show. TICKETS https://www.laemmle.com/films?theaters[32219]=32219&theaters[167964]=167964&theaters[32215]=32215&theaters[343348]=343348&theaters[32220]=32220&theaters[32214]=32214&theaters[32218]=32218&statuses[343]=343&statuses[Opening%20This%20Week]=Opening%20This%20Week&statuses[Last%20Chance]=Last%20Chance&statuses[342]=342&statuses[One%20Day%20Only]=One%20Day%20Only&statuses[344]=344&title=Altered%20Perceptions%20&sort=title&direction=asc
Image Credits
Film stills from my previous films “The Family Tree”, “D’Agostino”, Altered Perceptions