"Towed"

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Watch “Towed”

October 15, 2015 by grant

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Newsletter

September 26, 2015 by grant

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Download our Movie Poster

September 26, 2015 by grant

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Director’s Statement

September 26, 2015 by grant

Grant Janes
(director/co-writer/editor)
I’ve always loved stories about people being stuck. Whenever we find ourselves stuck physically or emotionally, it’s often because of poor decisions we’ve made in our lives: decisions involving money, significant others, careers, kids and everything in between. It’s these moments that often act as emotional fulcrums in our lives – when we’re finally forced to confront the choices we’ve made that have landed us where we are.

Liza, in “Towed,” is at such a crossroads. At the beginning of the film she feels as though the world owes her something. Recovering from a recent breakup and finding herself parked in a tow-zone and out of gas, she reacts indignantly when the Tow Truck Driver attempts to take her car. It’s this same attitude that landed her in a run-down part of L.A. with no money, no gas, and seemingly no way forward.

As the story progresses, Liza realizes the Tow Truck Driver is simply doing his job and that the rest of the world cares little for her personal problems. It’s only after accepting that she needs to give up her old way of thinking – as symbolized by her stalled car – that she can allow for real change in her life, as well as a very surprising resolution to her problems.

Writing and filming “Towed” was tricky. The chemistry between the two leads – between Liza and the Tow Truck Driver – had to be palpable. And yet the Tow Truck Driver had to be, at least initially, perceived as a real threat: “Jaws” circling the boat.

Also, the on-screen action had to be literal and engaging – while the themes of change and self-awareness had to stay “under the hood” (to run with the metaphor of the stalled car). No one wants to watch a sermon on “emotional growth.”

I hope I succeeded in walking this fine line. While we faced numerous challenges (time, budget, etc.), I knew if I always hewed closely to the core of the story – the relationship between the two leads and how their interaction re-directs both of their lives – I would have a short film that an audience would thrill to.

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Film Festivals

July 3, 2013 by grant

lone star

November 22, 2016 – We are excited to announce that “Towed” has been accepted into the prestigious Santa Fe Film Festival in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The festival runs from December 7th – 11th. Here’s the schedule.
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lone star

November 6, 2016 – We are thrilled to announce that “Towed” has been accepted into the Zamoxis Short Film Showcase in Santa Monica, California. The showcase runs from November 15th – 17th at the Laemmle Monica Film Center. Here’s the schedule.
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lone star

September 30, 2016 – We are pleased to announce that “Towed” has been accepted into the Lone Star Film Festival in Fort Worth, Texas! The festival runs from November 10th – 13th. Here’s the schedule.
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la_shorts

August 17, 2016 – “Towed” has been accepted into the prestigious, Oscar-qualifying LA Shorts Fest at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles. Both producer Tonya Agurto and director Grant Janes will be attending. It’s great to be invited to a fest in our hometown of Los Angeles!
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cannes

February 29, 2016 – “Towed” has been accepted into the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner in Cannes, France. Both producer Tonya Agurto and director Grant Janes will be attending in May, 2016.
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cinequest

February 22, 2016 – We’re excited to announce that “Towed” has been accepted into the prestigious, Oscar-qualifying 2016 Cinequest Film Festival in Silicon Valley, California.

Accepted into the appropriately designated “Shorts Program 2 – “Transitions,” the festival will host three screenings of “Towed,” in competition, with the world premiere screening event on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 9:30 p.m. at Camera 12 Cinema, San Jose, CA.

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cardiff

January 30, 2016 – We are thrilled to announce that “Towed” has been accepted into the Cardiff Independent Film Festival in an out-of-competition slot. CIFF is a BAFTA (British Oscars)-accredited festival in the capital of Wales, UK. Screening will be at the Chapter Cinema in Cardiff, UK on April 4th, 2016.

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Production Credits

January 1, 2013 by grant

Cool Red Star Films wants to thank everyone involved in this project. We couldn’t have pulled it off without a great team!

Directed by Grant Janes
Written by Tonya Agurto
Grant Janes
Produced by Tonya Agurto
Director of Photography Sean Conaty (imdb)
Production Design Jeremy White
Casting Rebecca Gushin (imdb)
Unit Production Manager Joseph “J” Virdone (imdb)
Additional Photography Greg LeFevre (imdb)
Set Director David Atash
Production Sound Kelly Wright
Wardrobe Mallory Bradley (imdb)
Art Production Assistant Max Hom
Gaffers Greg LeFevre (imdb)
Ted Rysz
First Assistant Camera Leonard Walsh
Spencer Goodall
Second Assistant Camera Mimi Phan
Devon Taafe
Key Makeup Artist Judy Haft
Key Grip Lee Winborn (imdb)
Best Boy Grip Justin Langston
Best Boy Electric Andrew Simone
Zak Ettlinger
Production Assistants Hunter Bowen
Brian Ott
Ben Westley
Zach Chamberlin
Edited By Grant Janes
Credits Sequence Grant Janes
Supervising Sound Editor, Re-Recording Mixer, Dialogue Editor Fred Paragano (imdb)
Sound Effects Editor James Miller
Foley Supervisor Nick Neutra
Foley Mixer John Guentner
Foley Artist Noel Vought
Foley Editors Andrew Mayer
Casey Barker
Music By Fight Mannequins
“Hex” Vocals Tonya Agurto
“Hex” Background Vocals Michael Culhane
“Hex” Vocals Sound Mix Joerg Stoeffel
Publicity Tracy Balsz
Still Photography Carinne Meyrignac
Post Production Sound Services Paragon Studios, LLC
Foley Services Post Creations, Inc.
Mixing Facility Blackrock Audio, Inc.
Motion Graphics District Bureau, Inc.
Extras Casting Extra Extra Casting
Extras Trish Mertesdorf
Blaine Vedros
Gabriel Berber
Carlos Chavez
Catering Vicky’s Restaurant
Jennie Cook’s
Special Thanks Brian Metran
George’s Drive-in Burgers
Zumba of Boyle Heights
Joyce Kim
David L. Hovey
Frank Bancalari
Salvador Venegas
The Vanishing Angle
Lynn Kressel
James Thornton
Tim Crabtree
The City of Los Angeles
The People of Boyle Heights

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