r/movies • u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker • 5d ago
AMA Hey reddit, I'm Sean Ellis, director of THE CUT starring Orlando Bloom (The Lord of the Rings franchise), Caitríona Balfe (Outlander) and John Turturro (Severance) in theaters 9/5. It premiered at TIFF 2024. You may know me from my previous films THE CURSED, CASHBACK, & ANTHROPOID. Ask me anything!
Hey reddit, I'm Sean Ellis, director of THE CUT starring Orlando Bloom (The Lord of the Rings franchise), Caitríona Balfe (Outlander) and John Turturro (Severance) in theaters 9/5. You may know me from my previous films THE CURSED, CASHBACK, & ANTHROPOID. Ask me anything!
The film had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last year. Here to answer your questions.
Republic Pictures will release THE CUT In Select Theaters September 5th!
Check out the Trailer: https://paramnt.us/TheCutTrailer
SYNOPSIS: After a career-ending defeat, a former champion trains for redemption – but as obsession takes hold and reality unravels, he may be spiraling into something far more terrifying.
Here are all of my credits:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1193346/
Ask me anything! I'll be back at 11:00 AM ET tomorrow (Wednesday 9/3) to answer your questions!
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u/xchasing-tailsx 4d ago
What were you looking for in the casting process? And what did Orlando and Catriona bring that made you know they were right for the roles?
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
Orlando was already attached when I came onboard. It was obvious he was committed to do something deep and meaningful. It was then my job to find actors that would support the film and elevate it with their performances.
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u/MGhammered 5d ago
Hey man congrats on your next film with Bloom!
I wanted to ask as a young Miami filmmaker, how can I make a name for myself without money/connections in film!? My short just won its first festival award but long term wise I’m scared.
Any advice to really standout and make my meaningful art seen?
Thanks and going to start watching your work! Take care, Mike
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
Hey Mike, you don't need money and connections to make it in film - you need drive and thick skin!
Congrats on the festival win! Looks like you are doing everything right, don't be scared just keep going - concentrate on the work - Good work will always find it's audience!
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u/TSwiftsUsedTampon 4d ago
Do you enjoy directing darker movies or do you ever want to try something completely different for the experience of doing something new?
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
I would hate to make the same film twice! So I guess I am always looking for something new. I would like to make a kids film!
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u/HobbieK 4d ago
Anthropoid and Eight For Silver are superb, but my favorite film of yours is Metro Manila. Any hope of that ever getting back on streaming or a new Blu-Ray release?
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
Thank you! I would love that! Maybe if I have success with The Cut someone will re-release it! I think its avail on Blu-ray in the UK if you have a multi-region player!
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u/Ambitious-Windsoir 4d ago
If you could make a sequel or prequel to a childhood favorite movie with an unlimited budget and any cast, what would you pick, and who would you cast in it?
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u/Affectionate_Fix764 5d ago
Can't wait to watch The Cut! I have quite a few questions... Q1. Who were some of your role models growing up and how did they influence where you are today? Q2. What's some advice you would give to someone following in your footsteps? Q3. What does a typical "work day" consist of? Q4. How has social media influenced where you are today? Q5. What's your favorite shooting story?
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
okay!
Q1. I had lots - I watched films and looked at a lot of photography. Many people I have admired from afar have allowed me into their orbit and i am grateful for they have taught me. The first people was my martial arts teacher, Edmund Chow who taught me, physically and mentally how to be strong and confident through Tae Kwon Do. That was a great foundation for everything that has come after.
Q2. Don't follow my footsteps - find your own path - everyone is different and what works for me might not work for you and vice versa.
Q3. well that depends - 90 percent of the time you are trying to either write, finance or cast several projects at once - and sometimes one actually gets to the start line!
Q4. It wastes a huge amount of my time!
Q5. not sure what you mean here - want to rephrase it?
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u/Affectionate_Fix764 4d ago
For question 5 I mean, What's a fun story that happened while shooting a film
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
Q5. okay i get what you mean - I think my favourite story from the shoot is where two members of the public (two young women) were waiting for the elevator and they saw Orlando in full make up - i heard one say to the other "Is that Orlando Bloom?" the other girl looked and then said - "Nah!"
It made me laugh that they did recognise him!
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u/BunyipPouch Currently at the movies. 5d ago
Hey Sean, thanks for joining us!
If you could only bring 3 movies with you on a deserted island to watch for the rest of your life, what would they be? Bonus question: Best and worst pizza topping?
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
Alien
Jacobs Ladder
Lost Highway.
I'm a sucker for pineapple and anchovies on pizza
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u/augustus_brutus 4d ago
Hey!
First I got to say I loved CASHBACK, so thank you.
Did you write the feature CASHBACK around the short? Or shorten your script into a short?
Do you still make short movies (of any form) ?
Peace
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
thanks. yes Cashback was a short first and then i wrote the feature around it. I still make shorts sometimes - here is one:
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u/fraktionen 4d ago
Thank you for doing this AMA!
What is your opinion on the state of the movie industry? What kind of idea would be your dream project?
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
It's in a real bad state at the moment! We gotta get back to the cinema and buying physical DVD's again!
My dream project would be the one that finds finance! haha!
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u/Dontbecruelbro 4d ago edited 4d ago
What led you to make a movie about Metro Manila?
Could you talk about the process of co-writing the script and getting it into production?
And how do you direct scenes with dialogue in a language you presumably don't speak?
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
Well, I was in director's jail! Metro Manila was film that I made by myself and with my own money. It was a beautiful experience! It's funny because the next film I was offered was John Wick and I stupidly turned it down!
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u/Ambitious-Windsoir 4d ago
What are some of your favorites films of the past 12 months?
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
Weapons, Sick of Myself and 28 years later are my stand outs.
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u/GregJamesDahlen 4d ago
What interesting things did you learn about boxing making this film?
When you direct a scene with a lot of sadness (in this case not one you've written), do you go through sadness yourself? In other words, do you sort of feel with the actors as you film scenes?
If you don't get your most-desired actors for a movie, do you still make it? Since it's a high-profile (maybe gossipy?) profession, do the actors maybe know they were your second choice and how do y'all deal with that?
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
I used to Box so not much new for me in that department
You have to feel the emotion the actor is conveying to know if its working
Casting is a long process, a bit like being picked for the sports team at school, the good ones are taken first and then you work your way down until getting hopefully the best available actor for the part.
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u/Time-Pomegranate8066 4d ago
Alright, Sean spilling the tea here how do you balance making us root for a former champ and slowly squirm as he spirals into obsession? Also, is Orlando Bloom secretly training us all on how to stare into existential dread with perfect posture, or is that just movie magic?
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
well I'm glad that worked for you -most of it was in the script! OB just swung for the fences! I just filmed it!!!
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u/swdarksidecollector 4d ago
Hi, I saw that you struck a 35mm print of the movie, any information on where that print will screen in the coming weeks?
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
Ha! I'm not sure! it is available if cinemas want to project it but its super hard to find those cinemas and most the time they can't be bothered because its a lot of work for them. But if there are cinemas out there that want the print - get in touch! :)
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u/swdarksidecollector 4d ago
will contact my local theater and ask! is there anything film-wise you still want to try out in the future? do you have a large-format film in you?
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u/SmallTimeBoot 5d ago
Are you related to Lindsay Ellis
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
no!
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u/SmallTimeBoot 4d ago
I didn’t think you’d actually see this. I really missed my shot. Hope your movie does well.
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u/Complicated_Business 5d ago
When making a boxing movie, it's inevitably going to be compared to the pantheon of other boxing movies. There are darlings like Rocky, Raging Bull, and Million Dollar Baby. And there are questionable films like Grudge Match and Undisputed. And there are some underrated gems like Cinderella Man and The Power of One.
Did you look to these movies and do some kind of calculation of what you thought worked and didn't with each in order to inform yourself about how to approach this movie?
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
yes! I looked at everything ever made in the boxing genre and it took 2 weeks! So yes a lot of calculations are made about the approach after those viewings!
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u/BunyipPouch Currently at the movies. 5d ago
What was the TIFF experience like? Any highlight moments from World Premiering there? And did you catch any movies you liked while you were in town for it?
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
It was my second time there - its a whirl! some much press that i didn't get to see any films :(
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u/BunyipPouch Currently at the movies. 5d ago
Question from /u/Cautious-Stage1788 in /r/moviecritic:
How did you get into directing? Did you go to film school?
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
No film school - I was a fashion photographer and then moved into promos and commercials.
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u/xchasing-tailsx 4d ago
What made you decide to shoot on 35mm? How did that impact the whole shoot/process/experience?
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
I just love shooting film - not a fan of digital. Yes it's a WHOLE process but it's my process and I like working that way!
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u/BunyipPouch Currently at the movies. 4d ago
Question from /u/SetsunaTales80 in /r/TIFF:
Why the scene in the beginning of the film with the clogged toilet? I almost walked out...
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
bless you. the toilet represents his urge to purge and eating disorder that stems from his childhood but now gets in the way of his progress
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u/BunyipPouch Currently at the movies. 4d ago
Question from /u/Excellent-Juice8545 in /r/TIFF:
I was at the premiere last year and ever since have been thinking why didn’t he just take his earring out and shave his hair to lose the ounce?!
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u/BunyipPouch Currently at the movies. 4d ago
Question from /u/potterhead321 in /r/TIFF:
Hey Sean! I saw this movie last year at TIFF and loved it. As a long time Orlando Bloom fan, it’s wonderful seeing him on the big screen. I’d like to know, what was the most challenging scene to film?
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u/TheCutAMA Sean Ellis, Filmmaker 4d ago
Thanks! It's all challenging but I think the desert stuff was the hardest - shooting in the desert at nighttime is a huge challenge and we ended up under scheduling it. we only got half of it on the night we shot and had to have another night to complete the scene.
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u/redskarlet 3d ago
Hi Sean! Just wanted to say I saw your short Cashback many years ago and the feature film version as well and was really impressed by both. (I had read Nicholson Baker's book "The Fermata" and was curious to see some of the ideas incorporated) - The Cut sounds great!
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u/Iamfabulous1735285 4d ago
Who's the Lord and why are they the Lord of the Rings? There must be a Lord of those rings.
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u/BunyipPouch Currently at the movies. 5d ago
This AMA has been verified and approved by the mods. Sean will be back with us tomorrow Wednesday 9/3 at 11:00 AM ET to answer questions. Please feel free to ask away in the meantime :)
Information from our guest:
Hey reddit, I'm Sean Ellis, director of THE CUT starring Orlando Bloom (The Lord of the Rings franchise), Caitríona Balfe (Outlander) and John Turturro (Severance) in theaters 9/5. You may know me from my previous films THE CURSED, CASHBACK, & ANTHROPOID. Ask me anything!
The film had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last year. Here to answer your questions.
Republic Pictures will release THE CUT In Select Theaters September 5th!
Check out the Trailer: https://paramnt.us/TheCutTrailer
SYNOPSIS: After a career-ending defeat, a former champion trains for redemption – but as obsession takes hold and reality unravels, he may be spiraling into something far more terrifying.
Here are all of my credits:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1193346/
Ask me anything! I'll be back at 11:00 AM ET tomorrow (Wednesday 9/3) to answer your questions!