Ask the Expert: The First Solution Film in the History of the Cinema with Eugene Mandelcorn

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Hello, hello Amplifyou Michelle Abraham, your host here today. I am joined for an assay expert interview with Eugene Mandelcorn. Eugene, how are you today?

I'm fine. And

well, thank you. I don't think anyone's ever asked to have that kind of

conversational

conversational. That's what we love about podcasts. So we're bringing you on today? Because we have you have some really exciting projects. And I've always been fascinated by what you're up to. Because you're kind of like leading edge you're leading us into like the new age of doing things, whether it's web three, or how do you want our NFT Summit, you're creating new things in virtual reality and in new and new types of movies and cinema and things. And so I wanted to bring you on and let's find out from Eugene, what's happening, where like the cutting edge information is coming into you're even creating a brand new borderless studio, which is fascinating. So talk to us, what do you up to Eugene and what's going on in your world?

Well, I'm I've been always on the cutting edge. I've always people describe me, as so far outside the box that sometimes I forget where the box is and what was in it. So I have to keep surround myself with people that keep me grounded. Right. So I wrote I started out as a screenwriter. And I was I had a lot of hutzpah. So I got into a lot of big people in the industry, big producers of big studios. And they actually read the scripts, but they said, I've never read anything like this before. I don't know if we can make it because we're in the business of making money. And we don't know if this is so new and different either. We don't know if it'll make money. I found out after a number of years that I was writing in a genre that didn't exist, right. Okay. And most films that you go to see are basically entertainment. Okay. And sometimes they make you forget about your daily problems. That's another thing, you know, like an escape. So the kinds of films that we want to make are films that actually offer solutions to the problems that we face every day, that can actually change the world around us. And so what we we've developed a studio, it is a studio without borders or walls, international studio. And we specialize in this new genre of film, called the solution genre. So fascinating. I love that. And what we did during the pandemic, we shot the first solution film in the history of the cinema. And that's what the poster is behind me.

So it's called Lead the way right. And so can you tell us a little bit about the film? Okay, well,

I'll tell you, one of the most important things is that things are not the way they look always. Don't judge a book by its cover. Okay. The main character in the film is Patrick Lee. He's legally blind and autistic, the perfect candidate for President of the United States. Okay, and you see he's wearing something there you can you tell what he's wearing?

Is he wearing like a virtual reality glasses looks like so for those of you that are listening to this, Eugene's got a poster in the background of the film. So that's what we're looking at. And he's got a boy with a megaphone. And he's wearing a collared shirt, and he's got their American flag behind him. And it looks like he's wearing virtual reality goggles.

Yeah, that's yeah. 99% of the people think that's what he's wearing. Actually, what it is, is a new invention called new eyes, that allows the legally blind to see sometimes for the first time in their life. They see their spouse or their children, and it's a very emotional experience and So there are over 250 million people in the world who could be considered legally blind. And they don't know about this new invention. But it is it is throughout the film, it is woven into the fabric of the film, because the main character is legally blind. And this is the only way he can see.

Wow. So is this are these glasses are real or this is part of the film. They are

real because they make a deal with new eyes to have this invention in the film. Hmm, yes. So um, this is not the only solution in our film. I originally wrote 13, not 1312 12 solutions into the script. Yeah. But the the director read it and said, Oh, my God, this is going to be a three and a half hour epic. Nobody's going to watch a three and a half hour movie, especially in the news genre. They've never been

over solutions for the next one. Yeah,

so he told me cut it in half. We cut it in half. It's an hour and 41 minutes, the will. And now we have the material like you said for the sequel.

Great. Already got the sequel planet. So what makes this a new genre?

Well, because it actually offers possible solutions to the problems we face every day. Okay. And a lot of people in the industry, I've talked to him about it. And they keep on saying, well, film can't do that feature films can't can't actually solve problems. Maybe they can inspire you inspire you to take action in one way or another. Okay. So I said, will kind of lead the way that's what we do. We really don't solve the problems we do show possible solutions. So when the sequel, and it's true, it was written into the second half of the script, we actually implement solution, actually in the film, so it's, it's the closest to a documentary if people ask what is the closest genre to a solution film, it's a documentary, because documentary sometimes actually offer prop solutions to problems and show those solutions as they shoot the film. You know? So it's, it's a male between the documentary and narrative fiction.

Yeah, very cool. So now, is this a true story is this Well, obviously, it's not a true story, because it's not present in the United States yet. So it could be future pacing, a true story. Right?

Yes, a lot of it is speculative fiction to some of the things in the film have not happened yet. But they could happen tomorrow. You know, that's how realistic it is.

Okay. You know, so where did you get the idea for the film from?

Well, to make a long story short, I was came a fraction of a second from death when I was a young man. And at that time, I wanted to change the world for the better. i There's, I figured there's a reason that I live. Okay. And I thought I wrote the greatest screenplay ever written. And that's why I told you, I brought it to the studios. And they all couldn't make it, they couldn't take a chance. It was so different, you know. And so that was when the idea started. It was that first script, some of the material from that first script over 50 years ago, is in this film. Wow. So I've been thinking about this for a long time. I've been writing scripts for a long time, but I've been mainly a producer and producing other people's screenplays. And whenever I would ask the writer to write a solution film, it took too much time to explain it to them how it worked, you know, because it has a totally different structure than the standard film. So it was very hard to get another writer understanding what it is.

Yeah, I mean, just to kind of like invent a whole new genre of film is kind of the whole unique situation in itself. So did you know that you were creating a whole new genre? Or did you have to create the whole new genre because it wouldn't fit in any of the others?

Well, what I had to do was because nobody else was writing in this genre. I had to figure out I went tight. Well, I studied film. I'll tell you what I haven't. I was told by all these producers in the studio said, You've got to learn your craft. You know, you can't write like this. Nobody's going to make your film. You know, you have to go to film school. So I tried to get into UCLA USC in Southern California, because those are the best film schools. But I couldn't get in. I didn't have good enough grades. And even if I did, it was too expensive. They were too expensive. I didn't have the money. So I was walking down Hollywood Boulevard, because I was in the city where I wanted to eat you. Yeah. And I was walking, dejected with my edhill Blow, looking down at the stars on Hollywood Boulevard, you know. And then I looked up, and I saw signs that new film school opening. And I walked in and talked to the person who was running the school, I said, I would like to take courses here. How could I do that? And he said, Well, we won't be opening for a few months. But if you would like to be on staff, we're looking for staff, you can take the courses for free.

Oh, perfect. So I added a job

and an education at the same time. So when I started signing people up for the course of they said, Oh my god, this is not like USC or UCLA. This is amazing. Because if you wanted to study comedy, you could take a course from Lucille Ball. If you wanted to study directing, Orson Welles was teaching directly. So anyway, that's my, where I got my education. And I found out from the instructors that I was writing in a new genre that didn't exist. And I learned that you have to put in a little bit of other genres in there, like you're giving somebody medicine, you put a little sugar or spice in there, to make it taste better. Yeah, so that's how I how I hear started developing, yeah, how to write a solution film and make it so it's digestible. So people don't reject it, they think, Wow, this is interesting, this was different enough in there to make them to whet their appetite, you know,

right. So you're suddenly you've been involved in like, you know, some games and some gaming virtual reality things. And if T cryptocoins kind of thing, so what how have you always been so far ahead of the curve? And as you said, so far out of the box seat and or the boxes? So how what's what do you think has been some of the things that have contributed to that?

Just always thinking outside the box? I think we're, when we start when I started, you know, after I finished going to school, you know, at this school, I guess I could say the name of it. Nine, Sherwood oaks experimental College, okay, it still exists today. But the guy who started he's no longer around. But anyway, I was really upset because I have not made it big in the industry. I thought I was going to be big, you know. And so I was depressed again, I invited some other students who also were want to be in my living room. And five of them showed up. And the, and the six of us wrote down on a piece of paper, what credit we wanted on her first feature film, okay, for all wannabes, and then we brainstorm. What is that feature film going to be? Like? What's it going to be about what's gonna be? So fifth? 18 months later, we screened it during the Cannes Film Festival in France. And we were surrounded by other filmmakers who wanted to work with us and that's how we developed an international filmmakers organization. Yeah. Yeah. Which I ran for 20 years. So

and now you're now you have a borderless studio. So what is like, what is that solid co working for filmmakers? That kind of seems what that is like?

Okay, well, we started out with our base, our base is 50, screenwriters, 25, directors and 25 producers. Okay. And we specialize in a whole new genre this solution genre. Okay. Are you familiar with Blum house? Okay, that's a big was a production company started small and became very big, but they specialize in horror films, okay. And most young filmmakers make horror films right.

Why is that is that there has to read

reasons. One is because they don't need stars. If they can scare you, they don't care who

the actor is right? That Yeah, okay. And if it's

a star, they don't think they're going to be killed. Okay, so it's not as scary. Right? Okay, so and the other thing is terrible. They don't take a lot of money to make. They're inexpensive to make a horror film. Okay. So the same thing with a solution film, solution film, we don't have any stars in this film behind. Okay, behind me, because you don't need stars for a solution film. The solutions are the stars.

Yeah. Okay. I love how that's like kind of changing, like the changing the wave film industry like this, then the actors are not the celebrities is the solution. That's very cool.

Right? And that's the whole idea. I think, too. Like, if you have a film that you're trying to scare people fear is what is a big problem in the world? You know, Fear leads to hatred and hatred leads to violence, you know? Yeah. So it's, it's, you know, and that probably, if we make films that solve people's problems, they will be uplifted, they'll think anything is possible. You know, they'll be you know, that's, that's what we're trying to do. And, yeah, so we looks like we might get funding for another solution film to Britain by one of our, our members of our studios. So that's awesome.

And so the funding would be coming from organizations that want to support it, or they're like, part of the solution in the film.

Okay, we could have companies that have developed products that they want to advertise in the film. And of course, we can be advertisement for their, their product. Yeah, that is one way. There are a lot of organizations that are foundations or philanthropic, and those will be interested. But right now, like we got a distributor for lead the way I don't know if you ever heard of buffalo eight, but they're an up and coming distribution company. And they are now looking at one of our other projects, right for funding for funding. Yeah. So yeah, it just will snowball eventually. That's what I feel.

Yeah. It's fascinating what you're up to Jaden in. So I would say, I want to thank you for sharing that with us today. And, you know, I know you're into becoming a podcast guests and getting out there and sharing this message. So what kind of shows are you looking to get on?

Well, I'm looking on shows, mainly that have to do with entertainment. But eventually I would like to be on on national shows, you know, like CNN and be the BBC. And I would like to speak to the United Nations, you know, nice. Yeah. So I have big, crazy goals for an old guy.

And as you said earlier, the Jewish term Woodstock, right, you got Woodstock. Yeah. Yeah, I would like to sneak that in earlier. For those listeners that didn't know what that was.

Anybody who knows Grandma Moses, I want to be the Grandma Moses of filmmaking.

Like, that's awesome. Well, Eugene, any last words for our audience today, as we now have been inspired by your, your new genre that you have, we know to look out for this, these new kinds of films, solution based films, which I think will be super valuable. People are really into documentaries, things that are real things that are we can see that are going to make a big impact in the world and help make an impact in the world. So love what you're up to any last words for our audience today?

Well, I would say that, think positively, always think positively no matter what circumstances you're in, or what your background is. I started out when I was a teenager, when that teenager I was in my 20s, living in a tent from the center of the city. So I didn't even get into that. But that's where it all began.

Wow. For you. Yeah. And now like, now look at you. So that's awesome. You've got lots of hutzpah that I haven't lost. Uh, yeah. That's amazing.

And, and I would like to bring more talent to, to these podcasts to. There's a lot of talent out there that needs to be discovered.

Yes, well, we appreciate you for we appreciate you being here. And thank you so much for being on to amplify you ever felt you felt like going there and check out Eugene Merkley find out more information about you.

Okay, well, you can go to lead the way movie.com Okay, okay. That book tell you about the movie and also tell you about the way the new way that we're advertising it, which is a video, video games. We are going to be advertising some some video games that eventually will replace the 100 year old century old trailer. So

awesome. And so for those of you that cannot see what the sign says in his background, it's spelled L E, apostrophe D. So, lead the way.com is where you have

the posture field. Domain, no. Domain. Yeah,

exactly to something in E in there. That's all. Alright, well, thank you so much, Eugene. Have a great day, employee, amplify your family go out there. Have a fabulous week. We'll see you again next week. Big Erin.