Hosting the American premiere of Michael Mongillo's docufiction satire, "Being Michael Madsen," in 2007, the Starz Denver Film Festival dubbed the Connecticut native, "Indie filmmaker on-the-rise." Independent movie fans were already tuned-in to his work from his feature debut , "The Wind." Working on a micro-budget (reportedly $50,000), Mongillo co-wrote, co-produced, and directed "The Wind" in 2001. A dreamy morality tale about misconceptions and murder, this Super 16mm horror-thriller was a film fest favorite, winning two Best Picture award s and receiving five nominations, including Best Screenplay and Best Director. Praise by maverick director Ralph Bakshi and a full-page article in horror genre trendsetter Fangoria Magazine prior to its commercial release helped secure the film's international distribution. Mongillo's follow-up feature, "Welcome to Earth," focused on love and friendship during the global countdown to alien visitation. This low-fi, sci-fi dramedy, shot in just six days on MiniDV (for under $25,000), was a conscious departure for Mongillo. Unlike the controlled visual grammar and lighting of "The Wind," with W2E Mongillo embraced a handheld ENG approach, directing anywhere between two and four simultaneously shooting camcorders while employing a 'found light' aesthetic. "Welcome to Earth" went on to win a Best Sci-Fi Remi Award at WorldFest Houston and was selected as the Closing Night Feature at the New England Film Festival in 2006. "Being Michael Madsen," Mongillo's third feature as co-writer, co-producer and director, was a fusion of the techniques of his two previous works, balancing documentary-style with studio precision; yet, again, he utilized a genre backdrop (this time, mockumentary) as a vehicle to explore two common themes in his work, friendship and betrayal. Shot on HDCam in Hollywood and central Connecticut, the principal photography of this five-star (Film Threat) feature was completed in just eight days. "Being Michael Madsen" was honored with the Audience Award at the Faux Film Festival and won Mongillo the Best Director award at the Mockumentary Film Festival in 2008. Mongillo attended Boston University, Trinity College, and the Hartford Art School, earning a cum laude Film/Video major with an English minor. Following graduation, Mongillo wrote film, comic book, and music commentary for The Hartford Planet, Strictly Independent, and America Online's Rogue, respectively. Mongillo was also a founding member of the Rock band, 50 Feet Tall, a mainstay of NYC's original music scene in the 90s. Band highlights include a release on Deep Elm Records, Top 30 college radio airplay, and regularly sharing the bill with the likes of the Smithereens and Nada Surf. While in 50 Feet Tall, Mongillo created and wrote the super-spy turned superhero comic book mini-series, "The Philistine," which had earned a loyal cult following even before it was featured in Kevin Smith's "Chasing Amy." "The Philistine" remains in continuous print as a top-shelf graphic novel.
Something has taken possession of the hearts and minds of the populace. Kim, Mac, and Jane try to convince themselves it's paranoia, but before long the city is besieged by the changed. By the time they realize an alien intelligence has merged with their neighbor, Bill, a horde of changed is amassing outside their suburban home.
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Actor Michael Madsen turns the tables on notorious paparazzo, Billy Dant, by hiring a trio of documentary filmmakers to chronicle Dant's life, loves, and troubles.