Sean Baker poses within the press room through the 97th Academy Awards.
Mike Coppola/Getty Photos
cover caption
toggle caption
Mike Coppola/Getty Photos
Sean Baker gained Academy Awards on Sunday night time for writing, enhancing and directing his movie Anora, a Cinderella story set in Brooklyn’s Russian emigre communities of Brighton Seashore and Coney Island.
An “indie movie lifer” is how Sean Baker referred to himself after successful the most effective director prize on the Movie Unbiased Spirit Awards in February.
“It is a tragedy with comedic parts,” Baker instructed NPR not too long ago about his movie. “I nonetheless need my audiences to be entertained. So simply know that they’ll be taking this wild trip with a really motley crew round New York Metropolis, in a group that they have not actually seen represented that always in movie and TV.”
When Anora premiered on the Cannes Movie Competition final yr, it gained the celebrated Palme d’Or, and demanding recognition for its actors. The movie stars Mikey Madison as a younger Russian American unique dancer who impulsively marries the reckless son of a Russian oligarch. For her efficiency, Madison gained the Oscar Sunday night time for finest actress.
Baker also cast Russian actor Yura Borisov as a tenderhearted henchman. His efficiency earned him an Oscar nomination for finest actor in a supporting function.
Baker instructed NPR it was a feat to get his low-budget movie funded. “You perceive how unorthodox that was, for me to attempt to get $6 million with simply casting Mikey Madison and a bunch of unknown Russians and Armenians?”
He mentioned when he confirmed his solid record to potential funders, “they have been like, Oh my God, Sean, are you able to please strive? … It is a enterprise nonetheless, and may you please present some recognizable names that may assist us out right here? It will assist the gross sales.”
Baker mentioned he caught to his weapons and was fortunate sufficient to have FilmNation and distributor Neon again him up.
“I’ve made now eight options, and 7 of the eight deal with — you possibly can say marginalized subcultures or communities. I wish to see it as people who find themselves chasing the American dream, however haven’t got quick access to it,” Baker told NPR. “They’re maybe an undocumented immigrant, or maybe they’ve a livelihood or a way of life that has unfair stigma utilized to it. And they also have to search out different methods of truly pursuing the American dream.”
