The Dreams of Al Capone
A Film by Mitch Temple
Artist Statement
Inspiration:
I had the idea of making a film out of other films. I knew what my story was going to be about—a collision of the personal and the political in the collapse of American politics from neoliberalism into right-wing fanaticism.
The key was to figure out what form could hold both the idea and the what the story was about. Then it came to me… Dreams.
Then Covid happened, so it was a perfect time to make “The Dreams of Al Capone.”
The Process:
The film was made by shuttling back and forth between a traditional linear production and a reverse engineered one. Scenes were matched across actors, then placed within a rough narrative. Cause and effect of plot was figured out afterward, and then scenes were rearranged for dramatic emphasis. Finally, the dialogue was written within the limit of available takes in the sampled scenes (after reading their lips and determining how many syllables for each line!).
I knew I was going to dub the whole thing in French before I started. French smuggles in a heightened suspension of disbelief and adds a painterly sensuality to help the film’s cohesion.
The music is Beethoven for the Romanticism and cover songs of Radiohead because of the film’s means of production.
Odds and Ends:
The story is told using 24 films across the cast I chose.
There are 21 other videos, news clips, and other samples.
Perhaps the most “influential” cast member is Peter Higgs of Higgs Boson/“The God Particle” fame who appears as a reporter asking Kristen Stewart a question.
One film I “sampled” that is not seen, is an abridged version of Saul William’s “Sha Clack Clack” poem from “Slam”.
Yes, I agree, the idea of AI in this context has a number of fascinating possibilities.
A Fair Use Film that transforms samples from existing films and other videos into a new story. The project is a satirical parody of a political thriller.
Chapter Guide
Don’t have time to watch the entire film in one setting; enjoy each of the ten chapters at your own pace.
Chapter 1:
he Reporter, her mother, and her father.
Annie Oakley and a story of U.S. Terrorism. Her editor wants her to be on the story, but the reporter refuses.
Chapter 3:
The Editor is kidnapped. The Father asks Al Capone for information. Annie Oakley asks the Reporter to go on a dangerous mission.
Chapter 2:
After a visit to her lab, the Reporter’s mother commits suicide. The Reporter searches for clues, but her Father won’t help. Her Editor is warned by the FBI.
Chapter 4:
The Reporter steals ‘the keys’ from Guantanamo. Annie Oakley sets up a meeting that never happens. Houdini reactivates The Dream Machine.
Chapter 5:
Al Capone visits The Dream Machine. Houdini is arrested. The Scientist tortures Houdini in The Dream Machine.
Chapter 6:
Annie Oakley begs Al Capone to rescue Houdini from The Dream Machine. Houdini sacrifices himself to provide evidence. The Reporter’s story is confirmed to the world.
Chapter 7:
The reporter visits The Dream Machine to ask Al Capone for help. The Reporter asks Annie Oakley for help. Annie Oakley visits The Dream Machine to confront the Scientist.
Chapter 8:
Al Capone destroys the Scientist’s new Dream Machine. The Senator offers Al Capone a deal with a catch. Al Capone tells the Reporter what she doesn’t want to know.
Chapter 9:
The Reporter visits The Dream Machine in search of answers. The Reporter exposes the Scientist who imprisons her in The Dream Machine. Al Capone challenges the Scientist and tries to help the Reporter.
Chapter 10:
Al Capone testifies and pays the price for it. The Reporter frees the Editor, and they figure out who betrayed them. The Reporter makes her own justice in The Dream Machine.
Film Credits
Films
Gangs of New York
Phantom Thread
There Will Be Blood
Déjà vu
Devil in a Blue Dress
Flight
Man on Fire
The Manchurian Candidate
The Equalizer
The Equalizer 2
The Last Face
Biutiful
mother!
The Gunman
The Sea Inside
Children of Men
Far from Heaven
Still Alice
Camp Xray
Clouds of Sils Maria
Personal Shopper
Seberg
SLAM
Videos
CERN Higgs Boson July 4th 2012 Press Conference, CERN
Behind the Eric Garner Video Of a Deadly Confrontation With Police, TIME
The Rise of Extremist Gamers, The Economist
Inauguration Day Highlights in 8 Minutes, CBS News
Kristen Stewart Twilight Breaking Dawn Pt. 2 press conference
Voices from the Black Lives Matter Protests, Vanity Film
Music
Sybarite 5, “Everything in its Right Place: Radiohead Remixed”: 15 Step, Everything in Its Right Place, Paranoid Android, Videotape, Weird Fishes, No Surprises, Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box, Pyramid Song, 2+2+5, Motion Picture Soundtrack.
VSQ, “Strung Out on OK Computer: VSQ Performs Radiohead”: Exit Music for a Film, Let Down.
Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, “Beethoven 5 Cello and Piano Sonatas”, Live from the 1964 Edinburgh Festival, Legendary Treasures, Diapason D’or.
London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Georg Solti, “Beethoven: Symphony N. 4”.
Murray Perahia, “Beethoven, No. 2 ‘Tempest’”, CBS Records.
Berliner Philharmoniker, conducted by Herbert Von Karajan, “Beethoven Symphonie No. 3, ‘Eroica’”, Deutsche Gramophon.
Voice Artists
Kikee Bah: Annie Oakley, Figment, Reporter
Philippe Cotte: Houdini, Editor/Julian, Agent
Jacques Denigelles: Philip, Hitman, Bellman, Reporter
Julien Heron: Houdini, Editor/Julian, Reporter, Agent, Peter Higgs
Sylvie Pardon: Sylvia, Senator Meres, TV Journalist
Seth Shannon: Al Capone, Agent Suter, General
Selynne Silver: Andromeda
Sound
David Norfleet
VFX
Adam Taylor
Special Thanks
John DeFazio
Cameron Melka
Augustus Piazza
Get in touch.
Have questions about the project or interested in hosting a screening? Get in touch with us today!