At the 32nd Annual Austin Film Festival, Sell Out was an opening night World Premiere on October 23rd at the State Theater. It is written and directed by Austin-based filmmaker brothers Nick and Josh Holden. The Holden brothers’ first feature film, The Golden Rut, premiered at the Austin Film Festival in 2016. Sell Out is a satirical look at a neurotic novelist who can’t tell if his biggest problems are the blank page, his Southern family, or his best friend’s off-the-rails political campaign. The film stars cast members who are from Texas (as well as Austin specifically), Nick Holden, Stephanie Hunt, Adrianne Palicki, Olivia Applegate, Jimmy Gonzales, Gabriel Luna, Temple Baker, and Bill Wise. The film introduces the Holden family members, including Lana Holden as Marie Dink and Adeline Holden as Lili Dink.
The film was primarily shot in Austin, with many familiar and well-known venues featured throughout the story. The filmmakers selected great locations in the city to tell their story about Benny Dink (Nick Holden), a novelist and single father of Lili Dink, on the cusp of forty, who watches his life unravel. His latest book is rejected by his publisher, and his relationship with his fiancée begins to fall apart.
Spiraling and not really on board with attending his sister’s third wedding (played by Stephanie Hunt), he returns to Louisiana and unexpectedly prepares to officiate. Back in his hometown, he wrestles with questions of integrity and compromise – dodging his childhood best friend (Temple Baker), who’s running an unsavory political campaign, and weighing a lucrative job offer that feels like selling out. There are some very funny moments in the story, most especially when the family gathers again and shenanigans arise.
The film’s soundtrack was composed by Il Maestro Mario Matteoli with additional music provided by Danny Levin. The film is produced by Morgan Pollitt, Jennifer Kuczaj, the Holden brothers, and co-produced by Michael Greene.
Don’t miss the second screening at the Galaxy Theater, 6700 Middle Fiskville Rd. Austin, 78752 on Thursday, October 30th @ 7 PM
The filmmakers shared this statement through a press release: “We are beyond excited to share this film. It’s a true passion project, made with love and intention. We designed the pace of the shoot to tell the story on our own terms—giving ourselves and the cast the time and space to inhabit the characters, explore their nuances, and have fun improvising. The result is a film we are deeply proud of; a timely and resonant story about what it means to sell out in today’s world—and, more importantly, what it means to be true to yourself.” Nick Holden and Josh Holden.
About the filmmakers:
Brothers and writing/directing/producing partners, Josh and Nick Holden, started their production company, Mishnoon, in Austin, TX, in 2008. They cut their teeth on music documentaries and music videos in the Outlaw Country music scene, featuring artists such as Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Kris Kristofferson, and others. This led to filming b-roll for the making of the (2009) Grammy-winning Crazy Heart soundtrack. Originally born in Los Angeles, the brothers were raised in Louisiana and moved to Austin, TX, for college in the early 2000s, where they have remained ever since. Nick enjoys philosophy and literature, which he studied at St. Edwards, especially when they can be woven into his films. And Josh graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Radio, Television, and Film. In their films, they strive to blend their love of character, philosophy, and the absurdity of life.
The film trailer is available on YouTube.
Source: AFF, Holden Brother Films