Dystopian Sci-Fi Horror Short Film Bonkers CONTENTS: THE LO-FI MAN

I have a crazy short film for you to watch today called CONTENT: Low-Fi Man and takes you on an unexpected and crazy journey.

The film starts out as a documentary about a beloved cult film, then turns into a YouTube video until it turns into a dystopian sci-fi adventure, then turns into a body horror film with a kaiju battle finale. He wages war on the word “content” and fights for cinema!

The film comes from the writer and director Brian Lonanoand below you will find an interview with them talking about the project. This is shared in collaboration with FilmQuest Film Festival.

What was the inspiration for your film? How did the idea come to you?

I’m a huge fan of Tetsuo: The Iron Man and not a fan of the word “content”. I wanted to make a film that declared war on the word when it is used to describe art.

Tell us about yourself. What is your background? How long have you been a director?

I have been making films for 18 years and have 17 short films to my name. Other films I have made include “CROW HAND!!!”, “BFF Girls” and the infamous short film “Gwilliam”.

What inspires you to work in genre cinema and tell these types of stories?

Escapism into strange worlds, absurdly over-the-top gore, and people in robot and monster costumes inspire my work. I love embracing the artifice of cinema.

What was your favorite part of the filmmaking process for this project?

The storyboarding, shooting, and editing of the film were my favorite parts… so I guess all stages of production were my favorite. Recording the foley was fun too.

What are you most proud of about this film?

How the film goes from one thing to another in a matter of minutes.

What is a favorite story or moment from the making of the film that you would like to share?

Filming the transformation scene was probably my favorite moment while making the film. We shot in a garage with a black background, smoke machines and fans blowing and shooting on video and super 8 film was a lot. Even though it was hot in the garage, we felt really creative while shooting that sequence.

What was the most challenging moment or experience you had while making your film?

The film was shot in 7 days but it was 7 days in 2 years. There were a couple of weekends where we shot all day, but then we had to stop and pick up one afternoon months later.

Because the film had so many different types of effects and a lot of sound work to do, the time it took to make it was extended. It’s probably one of the most difficult films I’ve ever made.

If so, how did your film change or differ from the original concept during pre-production, production, and/or post-production? How has it changed the way you approach future projects?

There were some elements of the original script that didn’t make it into the final product, which was probably a good thing because it would have made production more difficult.

Some shots had to be cut due to crew availability and we had to do a lot of the sound postproduction ourselves because some people we used were unavailable.

Who were some of your collaborators and actors in the film? How did you start working together?

Blake Myers was my co-director and fellow producer on the film. We have been making films together since 2013 and he is a wonderful collaborator. He often takes care of the sets and make-up effects in my films. Gary Powell and Tony Reames shot the film.

Gary and I have been making films together since 2006 and this was my first time working with Tony. Both are wonderful people to make films with. Kevin Daniel Lonano is my brother and we have been making films forever. I think he did a fantastic job editing this film.

And Toniet Gallego, who designed the costumes, is a wonderful artist and collaborator. Blake introduced me to her in 2013 and we’ve been making films ever since. She was actually nominated twice at the FilmQuest Film Festival for her costume design for CONTENT: The Lo-Fi Man and BFF Girls.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received as a filmmaker and what would you like to say to new filmmakers?

Don’t be afraid to ask your co-workers for help if you don’t know the answer. You have to find a balance between knowing what you want without being a dictator on set. Be kind. Say thank you. Feed your team. Plan your shooting days. Create shot lists. Have fun.

What are your plans for your career and what do you hope this film does for that? What kinds of stories would you like to tell moving forward?

I have an idea for a feature film, but I’m very proud of all the short films I’ve made and would love to see them on Blu Ray from a boutique distributor in the near future. 17 short films on one Blu Ray would be amazing!

What’s your next project and when can we expect to see it?

I don’t know when you’ll see it, but I have an idea for a narrative film and some ideas for a documentary, as well as some short films. I just want to keep creating until my hands fall off and my brain turns to scrambled eggs.

Where can we find more of your work and where can interested people contact you? Do you have a website or YouTube/Vimeo channel? Social media handles?

www.brianlonano.com, youtube.com/brianlonano and you can find me on instagram @brianlonano

Bonus question no. 1: What is your favorite movie of all time?

The Silence of the Lambs. It’s a perfect movie

Bonus question no. 2: What is the film that most inspired you to become a director and/or had the greatest influence on your work?

Jurassic park. I saw it in the cinema when I was 10 years old and I was amazed. I was a fan of Spielberg and Lucas and then I started liking David Lynch and the Coen brothers and then it continued to branch out more and more into Japanese genre cinema, US and UK horror and 1930s B-movies – 60s and now I’m getting into Mexican genre cinema and outsider filmmakers who fly under the radar.

Enjoy the short film!