Flash Back Tuesday:C.J. Renner: 'American Tender' and 'GUNN,' short films

C.J. Renner is with me today. C.J. is a writer with extensive experience in screenplays and sequential art, including comic books and graphic novels. He has produced two feature scripts GUNN and American Tender. He's authored sci-fi suspense graphic novel Colliders and a kids' soccer graphic novel Soccer Longshot. He's a lifelong teacher of writing and film making.

C.J, where did inspiration GUNN come from?

I saw the film, Dogville. And its one of those movies that's half genius , but also half not-so-great so that was a north star for GUNN-like ‘let’s learn from what they did in that movie and try to make something else.

'Gunn' Youtube trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUpgghY1Txc

Great lighting and sound was used in that film.

Yes, with everything being so minimalist, everything you put on the set is so important and it’s a chance for people to be creative;the gaffers and the set designers and everyone else.

You seem to use a lot of surrealism and existentialism in your films.

When I go see movies, I want to think about new things. I want to see a movie that will change my life.  I was really into Samuel Beckett, the playwright, at the time he was influential.

Are you pitching the films?

American Tender is showing the December 5th, and its on some video in demand sites.

And you can check out GUNN at the links below

TubiTV
https://tubitv.com/movies/485254/gunn?tracked=1

Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Gunn?id=bDOMv2q8sOI

iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/gunn/id1437326170

Vudu
https://www.vudu.com/content/movies/details/Gunn/997987

Xbox
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/gunn/8d6kgwxn2qbb?activetab=pivot%3aoverviewtab