Shot during the summer of 2021 on a shoestring budget, over the course of ten days, “Halfway to Amarillo” is the product of the hard work and passion of an extremely talented group of actors, technicians, and indie filmmakers that decided it was time to develop a project of their own. After a year of post-production, the film has gone on to have an extremely successful festival running. In March of 2023, the film was awarded “Best Independent Feature” at the IFS Los Angeles Film Festival. The film was picked up for distribution by Gravitas Ventures for a November 2023 release.
Can you share more about your role in the film “Halfway to Amarillo” and what drew you to this project?
Of course, my name is Burt Binder and I am the writer/director of “Halfway to Amarillo.” I also play Michael Coleman, a neurotic and self-absorbed writer working on his second novel, a Western in the vein of “Lonesome Dove.” He comes down with a brutal case of writer’s block and seems to have hit a wall. One night, after a few drinks too many, his protagonist, an outlaw named Eli West, shows up in his yard. I was drawn to writing this story because I have always wanted to make a Western but I had to figure out how to make it on a budget. I thought bringing the traditional characters I love from the “Old West” here to modern-day Los Angeles might be fun.
What was the most challenging aspect of working on a film that has recently been picked up for distribution by Gravitas Ventures?
The most challenging part of the process was easily the process of finding distribution. It is really hard to get people to watch a movie. Getting into festivals was challenging as well, but that is part of the same animal. I think one reason it was so challenging was because it came after the film was locked and completed, so part of me thought the hard part was over. Little did I know it had not yet begun.
How did the involvement of Mike Binder as the producer influence the filmmaking process and your experience on set?
Having my father as a producer was advantageous in a way that can’t be measured. He was the anchor that kept us from freaking out. Without him, making this on a ten-day schedule would not have been possible. He not only kept us on schedule, and focused, he brought forth a degree of creative experience and advice to the set. His presence gave me confidence, I knew if he wasn’t freaking out, we were going to be all right.
“Halfway to Amarillo” is now available on various platforms. What audience do you believe will resonate the most with this film, and why?
The film is meant for anyone who loves Westerns as much as I do. It’s meant to be a very lighthearted love letter to my favorite genre, so it’s perfect for someone who wants to laugh and has about 82 minutes to kill.
Could you elaborate on the collaboration with Burt Binder as the writer/director? How did this collaboration contribute to the film’s unique qualities?
There are a lot of pros and cons to directing oneself and reading one’s own dialogue. On one hand, having that level of control is amazing. On the other hand, I’ve trained as an actor for over ten years. It is my primary craft. For me, what was always appealing about acting, was it was about giving up control. To the director, to the script. It can be very freeing to relinquish control and be of service to someone else’s vision. Directing is the exact opposite: In order to do your job, you must be in complete control of every aspect of the film. Of course, you must be open to collaborating, but ultimately the final decision, every decision, is on you. So you must find a way to give up control, and take control. It can be contradictory, but it does have its advantages.
What themes or messages do you hope viewers take away from “Halfway to Amarillo,” especially considering its distribution success?
The main lesson from this film, which I hope I was able to make come across, is that art, while important, is not an excuse to neglect other areas in your life, and is ultimately not that important. I love art, and I am so grateful that I get to create it for a living, but it is not the most important part of life. At least I don’t think so. Yet I sometimes forget.
Were there any memorable moments or challenges you faced during the production that significantly impacted your approach as an actor?
Being an actor and director can be challenging. I remember watching Peter Giles and Luke Jones get into character on set. They were fully decked out in costume, practicing pulling their guns out of their holsters. They looked so great. They were having such a good time. As a filmmaker, I was thrilled, because I knew it would translate onto screen so well. But as an actor, I was jealous. I wanted to join them, but I had other responsibilities on set. I could not afford to lose myself in the role the ways they could. Fortunately, my role didn’t require that as much. But theirs very much did, and they dove right in, both delivering performances I could not be more proud of.
With the film now on Apple TV for preorder, how do you think the digital platform enhances the accessibility and reach of independent films like “Halfway to Amarillo”?
I think with ticket prices going up every year, audiences are taking less risk when going to the theater. They want to have some guarantee that if they take their family to the movies, spend a hundred dollars on tickets, and another eighty on concessions, they will not feel cheated. On streaming, there is less pressure. You can take a risk on a six-dollar comedy about a couple of cowboys running around in modern-day LA. It can be a cute movie and a fun time. It doesn’t need to change your life the way a movie you spend a hundred and eighty dollars on would. Plus, it gives an opportunity to movies that would never make it to a theater, or even movies that wouldn’t make it into a major festival because they don’t have name talent. In the past, that would be it, festivals were the last chance for a small movie to get exposure. Now, some directors I’ve met have chosen to skip festivals entirely and self-distribute the movies themselves online, hopefully building word of mouth.
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