Monty Miranda
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Monty Miranda is an American film director. His first feature film, '' Skills Like This'', won the Best Narrative Feature Audience Award at the
SXSW Film Festival South by Southwest, abbreviated as SXSW and colloquially referred to as South By, is an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences organized jointly that take place in mid-March in Austin, T ...
. The film released theatrically on March 20, 2009, on DVD November 17, 2009 and premiered on Starz, the premium cable television channel on December 31, 2009. https://buffalo8.com/portfolio/monty-miranda/ '' Skills Like This'' screened worldwide on the film festival circuit prior to its American theatrical release by Shadow Distribution in 2009. The film received positive reviews from publications ranging from ''
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'' and ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' to
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. In her review for ''The New York Times'', Jeanette Catsoulis wrote, "the offbeat chemistry of the cast, along with Monty Miranda's eye-catching direction...make all the difference... Drawing much of its energy from an eclectic and fully integrated soundtrack, "Skills Like This" gazes indulgently on 20-something aimlessness and the comfort of assigned roles. In Mr. Miranda's hands sloth can be more appealing than you might think." ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' further stated that the main characters of ''Skills Like This'' showed "considerable intelligence and chemistry" in addition to calling the film "deftly directed" and from '' Salon'' Andrew O'Heir reviewed ''Skills Like This'' as "Cheerfully anarchic ... indescribably genuine." New Video Group, reviewing the DVD, said the film "bristles with rock'n'roll energy—underscored by the sounds of Denver's music scene". The film screened in theatrical release for four months. Following graduation from the
University of Colorado The University of Colorado (CU) is a system of public universities in Colorado. It consists of four institutions: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver, and the University o ...
where he studied Film and Journalism, Monty Miranda founded the commercial production company Incite Films which launched his directing career. Miranda's producer on ''Skills Like This'' was the documentary
Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
winner Donna Dewey. '' The Insomniac'' is the second feature film directed by Monty Miranda. His first film, Skills Like This (which stars Spencer Berger, who plays Andrew Booker in ''The Insomniac''), won the award for Best Narrative Feature at the South by Southwest film festival. Salazar came up with the idea for the script when he caught someone breaking into his house after a scheduled meeting was canceled. Although nothing happened to him or his house, Salazar didn't sleep at all, thinking about what could've happened if he went to the meeting. On a radio interview, Salazar revealed that he couldn't sleep profoundly for two weeks due to the ambient sounds outside his house, fearing that someone was trying to break in again. This led to the writing of the script. The movie also stars ''
Danny Trejo Danny Trejo ( ; born May 16, 1944) is an American actor. He has appeared in films including ''Desperado'', ''Heat'', and the ''From Dusk Till Dawn'' film series. With frequent collaborator and his second cousin Robert Rodriguez, he portrayed ...
and
John Heard (actor) John Heard Jr. (March 7, 1946 – July 21, 2017) was an American actor. He appeared in a number of successful films, including ''Heart Beat'' (1980), '' Cutter's Way'' (1981), ''Cat People'' (1982), ''Beaches'' (1988), and ''Deceived'' (1991) ...
.'' Principal photography took only 18 days, with two extra days for pick-ups. Grand Entertainment Group is distributes. Miranda's third feature film is a 3D documentary
American Mustang
' described as an
artful blend of exquisite nature documentary and character-driven narrative, the majestic wild horses of the American West are revealed in stereoscopic 3D as never before. The wonder in a girl's eye pulls us into the drama that unfolds on hundreds of millions of acres of public land. The battle lines have long been carved into the landscape, and the players are deeply entrenched. Yet as the subtle choreography that has evolved over thousands of years begins, we are captivated. The intricate dance between a man and a wild horse presents lessons for us all, even the battle-hardened special interest groups fighting for the place of the AMERICAN MUSTANG."
''American Mustang'' is Narrated by
Daryl Hannah Daryl Christine Hannah (born December 3, 1960) is an American actress and environmental activist. She made her screen debut in Brian De Palma's supernatural horror film '' The Fury'' (1978). She has starred in various movies across the years, i ...
.


Early work

Miranda began directing commercials and co-created the first TV series about VIDEO GAMES, called
TWITCH Twitch may refer to: Biology * Muscle contraction ** Convulsion, rapid and repeated muscle contraction and relaxation ** Fasciculation, a small, local, involuntary muscle contraction ** Myoclonic twitch, a jerk usually caused by sudden muscle co ...
. Monty Miranda would make his directorial TV SERIES debut wit
TWITCH
at just 26 years old creating it's overall style and vision. The show was loaded with that signature 90’s “attitude” and “MTV/grunge” visual aesthetic. Featuring quick cuts, extreme camera movements and “cool kids” reading goofy 90’s review copy off a teleprompter, it literally checks all the boxes for a hardcore 90’s videogame nostalgia trip…] Miranda's work became known for its diverse use of music and keen sense of comedy. He has directed commercials for companies including
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,
McDonald's McDonald's Corporation is an American multinational fast food chain, founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States. They rechristened their business as a hambur ...
and
Redbox Redbox Automated Retail LLC (stylized as redbox.) is an American video rental company specializing in DVD, Blu-ray, 4K UHD rentals, and formerly video games via automated retail kiosks. Redbox kiosks feature the company's signature red color ...
, as well as writing and directing the launch promotions for
BET Black Entertainment Television (acronym BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting African-American audiences. It is owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global via BET Networks and has offices in New York City, Los ...
Movies (now Starz inBlack). His work has additionally been recognised by the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, the CLIO's, the Effie Award, the Addy's, BBC's Most Outrageous Commercials, the Broadcast Design Association and
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's World's Funniest Commercials. His award-winning political spots have been featured in the national press.
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, the ''
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'' and ''
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'' praised the ads for their innovative approach and contribution to a landslide upset victory by brew master restaurateur and political neophyte
John Hickenlooper John Wright Hickenlooper Jr. (; born February 7, 1952) is an American politician serving as the junior United States senator from Colorado since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 42nd governor of Colorado from 2011 to 20 ...
, helping him to win the
Denver Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...
mayor's office by the largest margin in history.


Awards and nominations

*
SXSW Film Festival South by Southwest, abbreviated as SXSW and colloquially referred to as South By, is an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences organized jointly that take place in mid-March in Austin, T ...
– Best Narrative Feature Audience Award *
Edinburgh International Film Festival The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is a film festival that runs for two weeks in June each year. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival. EIFF presents both UK and international films (all ti ...
– Best of the Fest *
Warsaw International Film Festival Warsaw Film Festival ( pl, Warszawski Festiwal Filmowy, abbreviated as WFF) is an annual film festival held every October in Warsaw, Poland which previews new films of all genres, including documentaries from all around the world. The festival ha ...
– "Free Spirit" Special Jury Award Nomination *
Jacksonville Film Festival The Jacksonville Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Jacksonville, Florida. Founded in 2002, the festival screens in competition and out-of-competition American and international independent films. According to the '' Daily Record'', ...
– Jury Prize Award for Best USA Feature Narrative *The ''
Rocky Mountain News The ''Rocky Mountain News'' (nicknamed the ''Rocky'') was a daily newspaper published in Denver, Colorado, United States, from April 23, 1859, until February 27, 2009. It was owned by the E. W. Scripps Company from 1926 until its closing. As ...
'' "Top 25 Movers and Shakers Art, Entertainment, and Culture, 2008"


References


Interviews


IndieWire Interview''San Francisco Chronicle''Film Click InterviewRadio AliceMovie Web InterviewKultur&NöjeKiller Film
*https://buffalo8.com/portfolio/monty-miranda/


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Miranda, Monty American film directors Living people University of Colorado alumni Year of birth missing (living people)