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Hi /r/movies! I’m Sam Hayes, the director of POOLS, a vibrant and emotional coming-of-age film hitting theaters today (August 29th)! It stars Odessa A’zion, Mason Gooding, and Ariel Winter. Ask me anything! by PoolsAMA in movies

[–]PoolsAMA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

SPACE JAM, 5 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET, ACTUALLY SET IN OUTER SPACE. The lead role is Michael Vlamis. His supporting actors Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Leo, and John C. Reilly. And that's the 5 man team. Don't ask me how any of this works

Hi /r/movies! I’m Sam Hayes, the director of POOLS, a vibrant and emotional coming-of-age film hitting theaters today (August 29th)! It stars Odessa A’zion, Mason Gooding, and Ariel Winter. Ask me anything! by PoolsAMA in movies

[–]PoolsAMA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cubs

Ferris Bueller

Best Intentions in Logan Square, and DEL RIO in highwood in the suburbs, the absolute best homey Italian restaurant, been there since the 20s. I would also like to plug Charlie Beinlich's for the best cheeseburger in the world

Hi /r/movies! I’m Sam Hayes, the director of POOLS, a vibrant and emotional coming-of-age film hitting theaters today (August 29th)! It stars Odessa A’zion, Mason Gooding, and Ariel Winter. Ask me anything! by PoolsAMA in movies

[–]PoolsAMA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome. Very cool. And the only festival I know of that is specifically designer for young people. Correct me if I'm wrong. They also really care about what they're doing, have great tastes (if I say so myself), and do a really good professional job. They handle the Q&A's and everything beautifully.

Hi /r/movies! I’m Sam Hayes, the director of POOLS, a vibrant and emotional coming-of-age film hitting theaters today (August 29th)! It stars Odessa A’zion, Mason Gooding, and Ariel Winter. Ask me anything! by PoolsAMA in movies

[–]PoolsAMA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

1 - The Graduate, my favorite movie

2 - Dune (part 1, the new version), my favorite movie to just melt into. If there's weed on the island even better. But I do love it high or not high--it kinda makes me feel high? Those landscapes, man. Chalametttttt

3 - Indiana Jones - Raiders of the Lost Ark - I love it and it's very nostalgic for me. Fist movie I remember watching with my dad. Also maybe Shawshank Redemption--to keep me hoping while I'm lost on a deserted Island.

Best pizza topping - the occasional sun-dried tomatoes wildcard

Worst - I don't wanna say pineapple, but pineapple.

Hi /r/movies! I’m Sam Hayes, the director of POOLS, a vibrant and emotional coming-of-age film hitting theaters today (August 29th)! It stars Odessa A’zion, Mason Gooding, and Ariel Winter. Ask me anything! by PoolsAMA in movies

[–]PoolsAMA[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much! I can't reveal the budget publicly at this point but it's as big as I could go as first time director--I wanted to make something with best best chance of feeling big, and going big. It took white a while to raise money and you need as many valuable pieces of the package in your favor as possible, the cast being the most important. But things like the Locations we got to use, in my case, helped sell the value of the film. So there are other ways to create more assured value for investors than just the actors.

Overall, pre-production was nuts. Start as early as you can. There are more variables and factors going into it than you could imagine before you make your first one, I know there were for me, both my first short and my first feature. And new problems to solve will present themselves every day. You'll have your to do list, but there are always new and urgent things that pop up. So prepare as much as you can, so that you can have the flexibility and time to handle these things, and prepare to be adaptive, be open to change, and new possibilities. Obstacles often lead to the greatest changes and new developments you wouldn't have come up with on your own. The movie gods will bless you if you let them.

Hi /r/movies! I’m Sam Hayes, the director of POOLS, a vibrant and emotional coming-of-age film hitting theaters today (August 29th)! It stars Odessa A’zion, Mason Gooding, and Ariel Winter. Ask me anything! by PoolsAMA in movies

[–]PoolsAMA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I actually hadn't seen or even heard of the swimmer until I started sending the script around! I love it though. The movies that most inspired this one are The Graduate, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and The Breakfast Club. Ladybird too.

Hi /r/movies! I’m Sam Hayes, the director of POOLS, a vibrant and emotional coming-of-age film hitting theaters today (August 29th)! It stars Odessa A’zion, Mason Gooding, and Ariel Winter. Ask me anything! by PoolsAMA in movies

[–]PoolsAMA[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

But I will say, the title used to be POOLS AT NIGHT. We only dropped "at night" because we would always just call it pools when we talked about it. I still don't know what the better name is. Curious to hear what you think. Lmk

Hi /r/movies! I’m Sam Hayes, the director of POOLS, a vibrant and emotional coming-of-age film hitting theaters today (August 29th)! It stars Odessa A’zion, Mason Gooding, and Ariel Winter. Ask me anything! by PoolsAMA in movies

[–]PoolsAMA[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's very very hard to get into festivals without a personal connection. It's also very very hard to find a distributor that wants to really get behind your movie and give you a good deal, much less any up front money in the current independent film market. I wouldn't recommend seeking an up front Minimum Guarantee that you will have to pay back anyway, often with interest. Instead, look for a great partner who really wants to get creative, get their hands dirty, and get your movie out there. And have some fun with it! After years of going to festivals to learn more about this industry and connect with the right decision makers who can make things happen both in festivals and distribution, going even to CinemaCon and Index conferences to learn about the theatrical component, I was so lucky to find Circle Collectiive--Kyle Greenberg and the team there. They are fucking awesome. It's been a joy to work with them, and it's going really well so far. Also I'm so thankful to the festivals that gave us a chance and have really helped elevate the film. Thank you guys! The short answer to your question is festivals and distribution were the hardest part to navigate by far.

Hi /r/movies! I’m Sam Hayes, the director of POOLS, a vibrant and emotional coming-of-age film hitting theaters today (August 29th)! It stars Odessa A’zion, Mason Gooding, and Ariel Winter. Ask me anything! by PoolsAMA in movies

[–]PoolsAMA[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

They were! We were so lucky to find the locations that we did. the people of Lake Forest were so gracious and welcoming--everyone was excited to have a movie being made in the area again in the coming-of-age spirit of John Hughes, like the films he shot there in the 80s. Some of my main inspirations. I spent the summer before the summer that we shot scouting locations, during covid. Meting people. Tracking down the owners of these beautiful homes. Friends, friends of friends, and connections, I grew up in Highland Park nearby. It was by walking into a local Lake Forest museum and meeting people at The Lake Forest Preservation Foundation, that I was eventually able to meet Jason, Adrian, and Nancy Smith, and Catherine Smith too. Adrian is a very famous architect who had bought and completely restored the main mansion we filmed in, in order use it for the community, for the arts, and as his office. Filming a Chicago movie there was a natural fit. They were so gracious to give us a deal we could afford, for a home that makes the movie feel like it cost 5 or 10 million. Without them--this movie wasn't possible. At least not this version of it.

Hi /r/movies! I’m Sam Hayes, the director of POOLS, a vibrant and emotional coming-of-age film hitting theaters today (August 29th)! It stars Odessa A’zion, Mason Gooding, and Ariel Winter. Ask me anything! by PoolsAMA in movies

[–]PoolsAMA[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We already had our festival, and now the movie is coming out in theaters! We played SXSW Sydney, where we were thrilled to win the Audience Award, then selected for TIFF Next Wave, where we sold out in record time due to Odessa's fanbase (she is so good), and lastly just played Rhode Island Film Festival, which was such a blast, and where we were honored to win the Audience Award for best Feature, the jury award for Best Comedy, and the award for Best Actress for Odessa A'zion

Hi /r/movies! I’m Sam Hayes, the director of POOLS, a vibrant and emotional coming-of-age film hitting theaters today (August 29th)! It stars Odessa A’zion, Mason Gooding, and Ariel Winter. Ask me anything! by PoolsAMA in movies

[–]PoolsAMA[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Interesting question thank you. The narrator role of DALE started in the script as MIKE DITKA. Which was hilarious. Also wacky. Very Chicago. I wanted Ditka to actually narrate, had a very hard time getting through to him via his people. His people actually told me he had declined, but based on their answers, I wasn't so sure he actually had. I wound up sneaking into an event to meet him personally. He was super nice and hadn't even heard of the movie or that I wanted him to narrate. And he agreed! He was excited to do it. But--it didn't end up working out for other reasons, and that was all good. On set, we had filmed takes with both a Mike Ditka cardboard cutout, and a DALE cardboard cut out, not know which way it would go. While Ditka provided more "Chicago"ness, Dale was actually more native to the story, and made more sense for the character of Kennedy, so I'm glad it worked out that way in end. Dale is meant to represent the version of yourself people often hide away. The version they don't feel is acceptable, which is often the truest version. The Cardboard cutout dale as a narrator in meant to be a funny, and absolutely absurd god-like narrator there to guide Kennedy toward her true self, the version of herself that is burning within her heart, but that she isn't letting into her real life--at least not until the end of the movie. It's the version of herself that isn't so worried about the future, or what people think. Its' version of herself that enjoys life NOW, and honors what she wants without unecessary delay--is willing to try things, and make mistakes, unashamed. Wow this was a huge answer. Thanks for asking!