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Trailer Watch: Jake Mahaffy’s Free in Deed
Jake Mahaffy appeared on Filmmaker‘s 25 New Faces list in 2005 following his Tarkovsky-esque black-and-white (shot on a hand cranked camera, no less) tale of American collapse, War. His very different 2008 feature Wellness won the Grand Prize at SXSW and now, seven years later, Mahaffy is back with the Venice-premiering Free in Deed. Produced by Mike Ryan, it’s easily the film I’m anticipating most on the Fall festival circuit.
From the film’s Facebook page:
Set in the distinctive world of storefront churches and based on actual events, Free in Deed depicts one man’s attempts to perform a miracle. When a single mother brings her young boy to church for healing, this lonely pentecostal minister is forced to confront the seemingly incurable illness of the child… and his own demons as well.
Last year, for the film’ Indiegogo campaign, Mahaffy wrote up five lessons from the ten-year journey to make this movie. An excerpt:
Filmmaking is about progressively failing less. I’ve never gotten it exactly right. Each time I get close to nailing it, the variables change. This doesn’t mean playing it safe and harmless for fear of failure. Aiming far and hitting beyond your planned target can send you on to greater things. Reaching beyond your grasp might leave you with an empty hand but the ambitious act itself might transform your life; I think that’s a risk worth taking. I love all kinds of cinema, but the kind I’m interested in making is the one that doesn’t feel like a “movie.” It’s dangerous, like it could fly off the rails at any moment, the film might go places beyond my expectation or comprehension.
