Seeing is Hearing: Companion Pictures sits down with Director Arthur Luhn

Boston’s independent film scene is too small for this Director! Arthur Luhn brings his passion and enthusiasm for film to the streets of South Boston with his most recent feature, Conned. This action packed comedy has got the audience laughing on the edge of their seat, as a group of local criminals find themselves jumbled in the chaos of the Boston underworld. All of the levelheaded operators have gone to jail, and all that’s left behind are the eccentric and dysfunctional criminals deemed unworthy of being put behind bars. From Napolitano who runs the North End with the belief that every room is bugged, to Mr. Million, who is so insecure he needs constant reassurance, to a rampant outlaw gang that can’t take directions from anyone, simply because they can’t hear a single thing- their preferred method of communication is sign language. This leaves everyone asking, just what is going on? Out of this melting pot of nut jobs, whacks, and lunatics, bizarre ambitions arise and inevitably clash. Luhn, also the writer and chief editor of the film, has been quite successful in the festival circuit recently winning Best Feature, Best Director, and Best Cinematography at the Reel to Reel film festival in North Carolina.

Luhn was born in Aspen, Colorado and moved to Vermont with his mother when he was 3. In Vermont, he began attending the Austine School for the Deaf. The seed for his film career was planted early, when he discovered an 8mm camera is stepfather had around the age of 7. The Luhn household soon became the audience and film set for Arthur’s comedy and horror films. Upon his transfer to Brattleboro Union High School, Luhn’s filmmaking seemed to be put on the backburner during most of his adolescent years. He later found his way to Boston University, where he studied a wide array of subjects; from Archeology to Religion and Philosophy. It wasn’t until after college that he rekindled his affinity for film. With the purchase of a marked down video camera, Luhn was back at it. Starting with his first short film Destination Eyeth which was featured on PBS’s History Through Deaf Eyes that aired nationwide. He then went on to write and direct his first full length feature, The Golden Legacy a year later and finished the film in two years. This was followed by Conned his biggest and most audacious project to date, taking three years to make.

Companion Pictures recently sat down with Luhn to discuss his most recent film work and the general dynamics of his film making process.

Where did the idea for ‘Conned’ come from?

Arthur Luhn: I can’t really say specifically. Ideas just arise by themselves, but I was getting tired of seeing ‘gangsta’ flicks from Southie that were gray and dreary so I thought a comedy would be a fresh breathe.

Tell me about your current project(s)…. Genre of the film, inspiration? When can we look for it to be finished? And lastly, what are your hopes for this project… festival circuit?

Luhn: Current projects – there are two of them. A short action-comedy film: Lil’ Miss Repo about a repo girl who channels the 70′s as she goes about her work repo’ing cars. Also, my next feature: House Across the Street, a psychological thriller. We’re aiming for this film to get picked up for distribution.

Did you go to film school?

Luhn: {No}. A lot of hands on practice — which I think is actually the best way to go.

Do you feel that not having the ability to hear, has strengthened your visual sense and any other areas of film making?

Luhn: It has definitely made my visual acumen heightened and a lot more sensitive. And on the other hand, I think I had a great cast/crew because I never heard anyone complain!

Where does your sense of humor come from… do you have a particular influence or inspiration?

Luhn: Good question. No idea… but I think its very integral to life, to being resilient.

Silent films were the beginning… How important are words and sound/audio in telling a story? Is audio needed?

Luhn: Interestingly, my first short film — Destination Eyeth — was a silent film. I’ve always believed, like Lucas, that you want to tell a visual story in such a way that if the sound went out in the theater showing your film, people wouldn’t get right up and leave.

Is it difficult to communicate to actors, crew and everyone on set?

Luhn: Not if you are organized efficiently and everyone knows beforehand what they are supposed to do. I believe in being 100% prepared, and not wasting time.

Craziest moment on set for Conned?

Luhn: We had quite a couple of them — one was a building that disappeared. We shot at an auto repair shop — went back about a month later for re-shoots and the place was completely gone. Just a grassy lot. I still have the keys to the auto repair shop!

Does your experiences and your life show in your writing and directing, or even in the characters of your films, such as Conned?

Luhn: I have no idea and neither do I want to know. I just tell stories and leave the analysis to others.