PLEASE WATCH: "Arctic Plunge" Trailer: https://vimeo.com/briantophoto/arcticplungetrailer Actor Leonardo DiCaprio and director Alejandro Iñárritu talk at Q and A for The Revenant at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles on January 22, 2016. DiCaprio says eating bison liver was like a giant hot zit bursting in mouth. (Video by photographer Brian To - www.briantophoto.com) My thoughts: Enjoyed experiencing "The Revenant" with jaw-dropping performance by actor Leonardo DiCaprio and phenomenal direction by director Alejandro Iñárritu. It really is an example of filmmaking at it's very best and most difficult. It's always nice to hear how careful planning, rehearsal and clear intentions help manifest such a deeply moving piece of art. The elegant direction by Alejandro Iñárritu mixes beautifully with Leonardo DiCaprio's quiet restrained yet extremely passionate performance that communicates so much thought, feeling and desire without the use of words reaching the audience on a visceral primal level that makes you feel, empathize and relate to the perfectly executed set-up and story of a frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s who fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. Tom Hardy is also exceptional one of the most well-drawn antagonists who Iñárritu makes you feel sympathy for his perspective while hating his guts at the same time. (www.briantophoto.com) "Arctic Plunge" Trailer: https://vimeo.com/briantophoto/arcticplungetrailer Press: http://www.examiner.com/article/sally-kirkland-narrates-heartfelt-short-film-arctic-plunge?CID=examiner_alerts_article "Arctic Plunge" Synopsis: Arctic Plunge is an apology from an older woman (Academy Award nominee Sally Kirkland) to a 16-year-old boy who took his own life after she rejected him during an Arctic tour years ago. While imagery conveys the breakup of man’s endangered relationship with Earth, sorrow and regret haunt her as she reflects on the void left in her heart. "Arctic Plunge" Production notes: ARTIC PLUNGE was shot over three years in various Arctic regions. In 2014, filmmaker Brian To thought he was shooting stock footage at the time until meeting 16-year-old William Dewar and 25-year-old Jessica P. Jackson while on a polar bear tour of Svalbard, Norway. This inspired him to create a break-up story line. In 2015, the real life-murder suicide of a couple, who were cast members of To's last short film, "Dry Dock," helped to inspire the narration performed by Sally Kirkland. (Dry Dock link: https://vimeo.com/briantophoto/drydockthefilm) www.arcticplungethefilm.com

• published: 23 Jan 2016
• views: 4138