[Watch the video interview on YouTube here]
Film Courage: If it’s true that there are a thousand ways to die in the Amazon metaphorically, are there a thousand ways a film career can die or that your film can die metaphorically?
Marlin Darrah, Filmmaker: Yeah, metaphorically. It’s good having worked in the Amazon. I definitely have mentioned the idea that there are a thousand ways any of us could die in the Amazon. You just walk away from the river 100 yards and then you can become lost and then you’ll never be seen again, then the creatures will come for you.
But for a filmmaker, someone said:
“Making films is like parachuting. If the parachute doesn’t open, you’re going to die.”
It’s almost like if you film the big effort that you’ve done to create a movie, if it doesn’t work, you can die. It’s theoretically possible. But that’s why you always want to have not thrown everything into any one film, it’s just such a dangerous thing to be able to put all of your money and resources or your mortgage into a film. It’s not a good idea at all. I did that once. I have lost a home due to investing too much in a movie and it’s been a big lesson…(Watch the video interview on YouTube here).
About:
Marlin Darrah is probably the world’s most traveled filmmaker. Darrah’s ‘s 44 years of award-winning production experience have taken him to more than 140 countries worldwide, yielding more than 100 documentary, travel-adventure programs and dramatic movies to date.
In 2023, Darrah completed his third feature film “An Egypt Affair,” an award-winning suspense-thriller that was entirely filmed in Egypt, along the Nile River between Luxor and Aswan.
One of his more recent feature films is “Amazon Queen” – an 85-minute adventure-thriller shot entirely in the Brazilian Amazon. The film was completed in September 2021 and is presently being distributed throughout N.America and worldwide, by Vision Films of LA. “Amazon Queen” has enjoyed millions of views on streaming platforms worldwide. That film won awards and nominations at more than 100 international film festivals.
Marlin also wrote, directed and produced the acclaimed 90-minute dramatic feature film, “Monsoon Wife,” in Cambodia – the first American movie shot entirely in that SE Asian country since “Lord Jim.” Universal Studios acquired Darrah’s movie and television rights were sold to more than a dozen countries.
In September 2014, Darrah was honored with a Knighthood in the Royal House of Portugal, presented by His Royal Highness Dom Pio. This was in recognition of Darrah’s extensive worldwide educational and charitable film productions Darrah’s international shots have been aired on programs appearing on all the major television networks, including PBS, History Channel and Discovery Channel.
His twenty 90-minute geo-travel lectures and features have been presented to audiences in more than 100 theaters and auditoriums across America, including venues such as the Harvard Club and the Philadelphia Geographical Society. Recently, a two-hour documentary Darrah shot and directed in Egypt was screened at the Cairo Opera House to an audience of 3000 guests. National Geographic represents and markets thousands of Darrah’s best worldwide shots.
WATCH ‘AMAZON QUEEN’
Tubitv.com/movies/678598/amazon-queen
WATCH ‘AROUND THE WORLD WITH MARLIN DARRAH’
Tubitv.com/series/300005580/around-the-world-with-marlin-darrah
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CONNECT WITH MARLIN DARRAH
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