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| Hard Visit, Josh Mitchell, Director |
At that time, Josh had a mere half dozen Director credits on his filmography: "Siphoned"; Helen Keller Had a Pitbull; "The Corruption of Kidiya Kitts"; "The Sacred Incense of the Drinking Man"; "Out For Buckner"; and "Pick N Roll." He has more than tripled his filmography since then.
He recently wrote, directed, and starred in Hard Visit, a feature film about a down-on-his-luck actor who is rescued from obscurity by his wealthy, sports bookie brother, but is forced to use his best performance skills to escape the clutches of a female con artist. You can watch the official trailer at:
www.vimeo.com/picknroll/hardvisittrailer
In addition to his prolific film-making career, Mitchell’s public relations company, Wickid Pissa Publicity, has become one of the most in-demand firms in the entertainment industry, offering services ranging from marketing, branding, event production, and social media management.
Fortunately for us, Josh took time out of his busy schedule to give us "the 411" on the inspiration for his work, and what lies ahead of him in the last half of 2017.
La Libertad: What was the impetus for creating Hard Visit?
Josh: Hard Visit was born at last year's Sundance Film Festival. I met a few ambitious actors, and we discussed the importance of creating and controlling your own content. We all threw our resources together... work-shopped some scenes, and carved out some characters, and the script began to take shape.
During production and a few pick-up days after, we molded and caressed the nuts and bolts of the story so it all made sense in the end.
La Libertad: Did you use a drone to make this film?
Josh: We bought a new drone and the latest GoPro 4K camera for this production because we knew we wanted to bring the viewer into the sprawling world of where these characters dwell. The opening credits focus and foreshadow the dusty desert and windmills of Palm Springs, and we outline the challenges of an actor's life by showcasing Hollywood Boulevard, casting call auditions, and the iconic landscapes of Los Angeles.
La Libertad: This film seems to glamorize gambling. Are you an avid bettor in real life?
Josh: No! Not at all! I'm a huge sports fans, though, and some of my family and friends are passionate gamblers, so I was able to pull from real life experiences. The biggest element that fascinated me... which I tried to utilize in the conflict of the film, is the idea of old technology versus new technology. When I was growing up, if you wanted to place a bet, you simply called a local bookie. In today's world, the bulk of it all is computer-based, so skilled techies can place bets 24-7 without ever having to speak with anyone.
La Libertad: What do you hope audiences get out of watching Hard Visit?
Josh: The number one goal of all of my films is to entertain. This is a rock-and-roll, high adrenaline piece that has sexy girls, guns, expensive cars, a thrashing soundtrack, a cameo from a decorated character actor, and a big finale that will leave you thirsty for more!
La Libertad: Who are your biggest creative inspirations?
Josh: The iconoclasts who have influenced me in no particular order are Henry Miller, Keith Haring, Eminem, Quentin Tarantino, and Steven Soderbergh. I like artists who lift up the random rocks of the world, and unveil a universe we would have never known existed if it hadn’t been for their inventiveness.
La Libertad: What initially convinced you to move from Boston to Los Angeles?
La Libertad: Was it difficult adjusting to life on the West Coast?
Josh: I recently celebrated my three-year anniversary on the West Coast, and the things I miss most are my family, friends, lobster, and Fenway Park. You can watch my feature film Helen Keller Had A Pit Bull to truly learn about my transition and some of the shady characters I have had to endure in the process.
La Libertad: What is the most rewarding aspect of your work with Wickid Pissa Publicity?
Josh: The thing I love best about Wickid Pissa Publicity is the diversity of talent and companies I get to work with on a daily basis. I specialize in elevating buzz, branding, and exposure for unique brands, so most days I am working with a female actress, a TV producer, a new energy drink, a T-shirt line, a Kickstarter campaign – it runs the gamut and keeps everything fresh and exciting for me. I also get to attend a surplus of red carpet events and networking parties, which usually have delicious food and open bars.
La Libertad: What are you working on next?
Josh: I’m shooting an inventive and endearing kids' movie I wrote, called Harry Head, next month, and I just finished the script for an action-zombie piece called Dirty Water.
After I execute these two thrilling projects, I hope to direct and star in a provocative new T.V. series called "NoHo District," which I plan to pitch to Netflix and premium cable channels.
La Libertad: What links would you like to share with our readers?
Josh: You can watch all of my films on Vimeo Pro, at:
www.vimeo.com/picknroll
Introduction by Josh Mitchell and William Mortensen Vaughan
