Living The Motel Life
BitTorrent Bundle documents the making of Alan and Gabriel Polsky’s directorial debut, with exclusive behind-the-scenes videos from Willy Vlautin, Werner Herzog, Stephen Dorff, Dakota Fanning and Gabe & Alan Polsky. Also included are interviews with Stephen Dorff, Emile Hirsch, bonus footage, a signed shooting script, storyboards, photos, illustrations by famed animator Mike Smith, and more. This is the untold true story of The Motel Life. Download it here.
About The Motel Life
Based on Willy Vlautin’s award-winning novel, The Motel Life is a searing and profound examination of brotherhood set in the timeless Sierra Nevadan frontier. Frank (Emile Hirsch, Into the Wild) and Jerry Lee (Stephen Dorff, Blade Runner, Shadow Boxer) are brothers who get by on telling fantastic stories and creating rich illustrations. When Jerry Lee is involved in a hit-and-run accident, the brothers are forced across the state to the home of Frank’s old flame, Annie (Dakota Fanning, The Twilight Saga). While they seem safe from the law, Jerry Lee’s instability and all-consuming guilt render their future increasingly uncertain.
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The Motel Life
Based on the popular novel by Willy Vlautin, THE MOTEL LIFE is a searing and profound examination of brotherhood set in the timeless Sierra Nevadan frontier. Frank (Emile Hirsch) and Jerry Lee Flannigan (Stephen Dorff) work odd jobs, drink hard, and drift from motel to motel. Their only escape is through Frank’s fantastic stories and Jerry Lee’s rich illustrations. Everything changes when Jerry Lee is involved in a hit-and-run accident, which forces the brothers across the state to the home of Frank’s old flame, Annie (Dakota Fanning). While the two seem safe from the law, Jerry Lee’s insatiability and all-consuming guilt render their future increasingly uncertain. Like an outlaw country song, this directorial debut from real-life brothers Gabe and Alan Polsky finds beauty and hope in a world of casinos, gun shops, dive bars, and in the simple people who inhabit them. The film features animation by Mike Smith.
Share Your Own Motel Life Story
The story of The Motel Life is about using your imagination to escape reality. And the filmmakers also want to hear back from you. Create your own imaginative story of escape and share it on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Vine and Instagram using the hashtag #TMLStory. Gabe and Alan Polsky will choose their five favorite stories to be featured in a new BitTorrent Bundle.
“Striking. Tinged with humor and heartbreak. Emile Hirsch and Stephen Dorff are outstanding, engaged, and enthralling. Hirsch opens his heart to the role. Dorff, matching the depth of feeling he showed in Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere, excels. Kris Kristofferson is sharply affecting. Dakota Fanning is lovely.”
– Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
“Very accomplished. Impressive directorial debut.”
– Werner Herzog
“Touching story, with great performances.”
– Sofia Coppola
Watch The Motel Life
Rent or buy the film through Yekra, and receive an exclusive limited discount. Stream it for $2.99 or buy it for $7.99. If you share with your friends, we’ll give you a percentage of all the sales that you generate. It’s also available on iTunes, Amazon, and Youtube Movies – with Vimeo and VHX coming soon.
BitTorrent Bundle X The Motel Life
01 The Motel Life: Animations [Art]
02 Reno Tour: Willy Vlautin, Gabe Polsky, and Alan Polsky [Video]
03 On Reno Featurette [Video]
04 Emile Hirsch / Stephen Dorff Interview [Video]
05 Jerry Lee Illustrations [Art]
06 The Motel Life: Production Stills [Art]
07 The Motel Life: Signed Shooting Script [Text]
08 Willy Vlautin: Screening Q&A
09 The Motel Life: Storyboards [Art]
10 The Motel Life: Trailer [Video]
11 Dakota Fanning Interview [Video]
12 Werner Herzog: Screening Q&A [Video]
Gabe Polsky and Red Army
Gabe Polsky’s newest film, Red Army, was recently acquired by Sony Pictures Classics and premieres today at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Executive produced by Werner Herzog and Jerry Weintraub, it tells the story of the most successful dynasty in sports history: the Red Army hockey team. Told from the perspective of its captain Slava Fetisov, the story portrays his transformation from national hero to political enemy. Red Army is a powerful film and cements Gabe Polsky as one of the premiere young independent filmmakers and voices in the industry today. Subscribe to Red Army here.
About BitTorrent Bundle
BitTorrent Bundle is an Alpha project, made with and for the web’s creative community. Our mission is to help artists connect directly with fans, inside the content they share.
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