Ten minutes of exquisite filming, SPACEMAN utilizes genres of sci fi and fantasy and animation to tell a story about an actor with talent who begins to question his talent to perform, setting off on a path that can lead to him undermining his career. Or: is there a better fate awaiting him.
Director Dan Abramovici. Picture by Samantha Falco
Written and directed by Dan Abramovici. SPACEMAN Stars Academy Award-winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash, Being the Ricardos, Red One), Mena Massoud (Aladdin, The Royal Treatment) and Trevor Copp (Bulfinch’s Mythology). WORD patrons should not confuse Abramovici’s SPACEMAN (2024) filmshort with the feature length SPACEMAN (2024) starring
Mena Massoud by Alexi Lubomirski
Adam Sandler and directed by Johan Renck. It is produced by Ali Mashayekhi (The Last King, Evolving Vegan), Mena Massoud, and Dan Abramovici.
Although publicity states, “Starring J.K. Simmons,” he’s not sceen, rather, he is the nagging, badgering voice of impotence.
Attention WORD patrons: Pantomime is the art of creating the realistic illusions of imaginary objects and situations.
Talented pantomimers can mesmerize audiences with gestures and motions and body movements, causing audience members to feel and sense the imaginative reality that seem to be created right in front of their eyes.
“Did the great Chaplan or Marceau give up when things didn’t go their way,” sneers his doppelgänge-ing nagger who happens to be him or an subconscious or unconscious element of his consciousness. “If this is your passion, go master your destiny. Get better.”
SPACEMAN was selected as the opening film for the 20th Annual Oscar-Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival that is already in play this date at the TCL Chinese Theatre 6 in Hollywood. The film has already had its screening but was so good that this reviewer decided that to do the article review nevertheless. SPACEMAN uses mime, stop motion, classic animation, and theatrical elements, to explore one artist’s loss of creative passion and his journey to try toget it back.
Trevor Copp has to travel through the looking glass and battle his imposter syndrome played by J.K. Simmons in order to truly see himself once more. Note: The persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills. Director Abramovici’s masterpiece explores identity, artistic passion and the fragile nature of human connection. It weaves themes of self-discovery,mental health, and the pursuit of dreams.
“My hope is to blur the lines between the tangible and the ephemeral. By delving into Spaceman’s subconscious we are able to explore the cathartic nature of artistic creation and the ways in which it can offer a sense of purpose, as well as the danger and risk to one’s sense of self,” Director Abramovici is quoted as saying. “Spaceman is a unique film in many ways, including it being highly commercially viable while staying true to its artistic integrity. It’s a movie that audiences all over the world will relate to on so many levels.”
SPACEMAN Filmmakers Bio
After immigrating to Canada, Abramovici used filmmaking to explore his questions about identity, and he often used a surrealist approach to broach complex human moments. He began his film career as an actor, most recently on projects such as Sofia Coppolla’s Priscilla, HBO’s Jane, FX’s What We Do In The Shadows, and CBS’s Star Trek Discovery.
Abramovici sold his first feature film, BEN’S AT HOME, a comedy, to Netflix and then went behind the camera, writing and directing a series of short films, including the Academy-Qualifying PLAY IT AGAIN (Austin FF Best Short Winner 2021), LIMINAL (Raindance, HollyShorts), STUCK (Dances With Films LA), and SPACEMAN.
He is also a Top 10 screenwriting award winner at Cinequest, where Laurence Kasdan (Star Wars, Indiana Jones) and Dennis Lehane (The Wire, The Drop) served as writing mentors.
Ali Mashayekhi has produced over 85 films around the world since 2003 including; Japan, Indonesia, USA, Netherlands and France, screening at over a 100 festivals and winning several high profile awards including Best Short Film for “Play it Again,”directed by Dan Abramovici, at the Austin Film Festival in 2021.
Mashayekhi also is Executive Director of Ethnically Diverse Artists (EDA) Foundation, a non-profit and charitable organization founded by Mena Massoud (Aladdin). It aims to inspire inclusivity and diversity in the arts. Additionally, Ali is the “Lead Creative Ambassador” for the International Network of Aid and Relief Association (INARA) founded by Ex-CNN senior international correspondent Arwa Damon, bringing creative film related initiatives to philanthropic work.
Recently he premiered at Raindance Film Festival 2024 a Stephen King short story adaptation based on Sherlock Holmes, The Last King, entirely in the Persian language. This fall, Ali is producing a gritty crime-thriller with Fortin Films, a Canadian production company from Toronto. Currently Ali is the Executive Producer on the travel vegan food show Evolving Vegan, with producing partner and Host Mena Massoud under their Press Play Productions company.
Cast
J.K. Simmons has appeared in a diverse range of projects spanning from motion pictures, television and the stage on and off-Broadway. He won the 2015 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his sizzling portrayal of merciless jazz instructor, ‘Fletcher’ in Sony Pictures Classics’ “Whiplash.”
His performance in the film also garnered him a Screen Actors Guild Award, Golden Globe, Independent Spirit Award and BAFTA Award, as well as many critics’ group awards around the world. {WORD Editor’s Note: I was in the audience at the TK Theater for his “Whiplash” which premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and won the Dramatic Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize for Best Film.
I recall how he squarely but temperately put several in the audience in their place when they were wryly suggesting that something subliminally or repressively homosexual was at work in his “Fletcher,” who was literally thuggish in the way he treated his students in WHIPLAS. He shut down that conversation down in a matter seconds.
The film also garnered five Academy Award nominations including Best Picture. Simmons will next be seen in “The Union,” “Red One,” “SNL 1975,” and “Juror #2.”
J.K. Simmon by Rob Northway
Past projects include “Terminator: Genisys,” “Jobs,” “Labor Day,” “The Words,” “The Music Never Stopped,” “Jennifer’s Body,” “Extract,” “The Vicious Kind,” “I Love You Man,” “Beginner’s Guide to Endings,” “Contraband,” “Hidalgo,” “The Ladykillers,” “The Mexican,” “Off the Map,” “For Love of the Game,” “The Gift,” “Thank You for Smoking,” “Rendition,” “Burn After Reading” and the Academy Award-nominated “Up in the Air.”
On the small screen, Simmons played LAPD Assistant Chief Will Pope in TNT’s hit series “The Closer.” He also played Vern Schillinger on HBO’s acclaimed drama “Oz,” and had a recurring role as Dr. Emil Skoda on NBC’s “Law & Order.” He has had guest starring roles on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” and a recurring role on TBS’ hit comedy “Men at Work.” Simmons has appeared on the Broadway stage in performances of “Guys and Dolls,” “Laughter on the 23rd Floor,” “A Change in the Heir,” “Peter Pan” and “A Few Good Men.”
Mena Massoud was born in Cairo, Egypt and raised in Markham, Ontario, Canada. He attended the University of Toronto for Neuroscience before transferring to Ryerson University’s notable theatre program and graduating with a BFA in acting. He got his first big break starring in ABC Spark & Teen Nick’s mystery-drama television series “Open Heart” as “Jared Malik.”
After several years of acting in high-profile television and film projects, Massoud went on to star as “Tarek Kassar” in the highly-anticipated series “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.”
In 2018 it was announced that, after an extensive worldwide search and multiple auditions, he had landed the coveted role of “Aladdin” in the Disney live-action remake of “Aladdin,” directed by Guy Ritchie. After leading “Aladdin” to the highly coveted $1 Billion Dollar mark at the box office, Massoud went on to star in Netflix’s “The Royal Treatment” which became its #1 film worldwide for several weeks in a row in 2022.
Massoud’s banner Press Play Productions was set up to address a growing need for diverse stories and content, particularly from the MENA region, which comprises fast-growing entertainment industries. The international expansion of streaming services such as Netflix into MENA has provided more commissioning opportunities for companies like Press Play.
Trevor Copp founded Tottering Biped Theatre (TBT) in 2009, known for its original, issue-driven, and intensely physical theatrical works. As a multifaceted theatre professional with over 15 years of experience, Trevor’s expertise spans acting, dance, directing, choreography, education, and arts advocacy. His dynamic career has taken him across classical and contemporary stages across Canada and in more than 40 cities worldwide.
Editor, Publisher Gregg W. Morris
Can be reached at gregghc@comcast.net, profgregwmorris@gmail.