#MondayMovies: Lexx Truss
Lexx Truss
When I watched Zarina for the first time, it had me all types of pumped up. How could I not be? I love a “short” short that grabs you by the throat and immerses you in a distilled story that bursts with energy and vivacity…all in five minutes or less. Being involved in many shorts as a writer, producer and director I respect the skill of the discerning filmmaker who, with very little time, can create a satisfying viewing experience and an enduring impression that lasts far longer than their pop rock of a movie. Lexx Truss is certainly one of those discerning filmmakers.
Lexx grew up Greensboro, North Carolina (I got love for my Carolina peeps) and was first introduced to the fundamentals of filmmaking in high school as a part of a TV Production course. In college he studied cinema production at Point Park University and afterwards moved back to NC for 2 years where he worked on dozens of reality shows. In 2017 he relocated to LA and has since crewed on music videos, commercials, scripted TV and features, all the while writing, directing and producing independent short projects.
Zarina’s concept had been with him for ten years, and in the summer of 2019 he decided to submit it to the EMERGE! Filmmaking Lab from Ghetto Film School, Little Ugly, Vimeo and Dolby. The requirement was to pitch a story that could be a 4 minute short, so he reworked the idea into a dream sequence. A $5,000 grant later and what’s resulted is an aesthetically exciting film about family: the safety, familiarity and love we feel for them alongside the urgent need to escape them.
Where to Watch
See what films inspired him below!
Kid Cudi's Pursuit of Happiness (MegaForce) Music Video
“The thought of having to execute a dream within a dream immediately made me think of this music video. It portrays a dazed and confused Cudi in a psychological cycle that constantly brings him back to his couch no matter what he does. A great reference for both writing and composing the movement from dream to dream. Also, I'm a huge Kid Cudi fan and all his creations, from music to his performances, pretty much inspire everything I do in some way, shape or form.”
Where to Watch
ROOM 104
“This is an anthology series created by The Duplass Brothers in which every single episode takes place in the same motel room but follows different characters and stories. Like Zarina as it follows a protagonist going through an experience in one location: her childhood home. There's also a big stylistic influence on our color scheme in the execution of the blue and red lighting as well as the quick transitions from warm tones to dark tones. The pilot episode, Raphie, has a strong thematic tie to our film as well.”
Where to Watch
euphoria
“Euphoria first premiered on HBO two weeks before we went into production on Zarina. Even after pitching and my treatment, Sam Mosco (the film’s DP) and I were randomly inspired by the framing and movement aesthetics of the first two episodes. In fact the majority of the visual aesthetic of our opening scene came from Euphoria; especially since it follows Rue, a character tripping on drugs and coincidentally wearing a lot of purple.”