Tyler Davidson: Take 5 – Spirit Awards and Back to Sundance

Tyler Davidson’s N.E. Ohio produced cinematic masterpiece Take Shelter recently got nominated for five Independent Film Spirit Awards: Best Film, Best Director (Jeff Nichols), Best Lead Actor (Michael Shannon), Best Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain) and the Piaget Producer’s Award. These accolades add to recognition at Sundance and then Cannes, where the film won the prestigious Critics Week Grand Prize. And, The National Board of Review just named Take Shelter one of its Top Ten Independent Films of the Year.

The humble yet driven professional, Tyler, also a family man with close ties to his community right here in the Cleveland area, has experienced an incredible year. I caught up with the busy, in-demand and extremely polite filmmaker between his flights to L.A. and numerous projects. Given all the activity surrounding his production company, Strange Matter Films, we at Cool Cleveland thought that reaching out to him every three or four weeks and checking in to see what’s new is an up-to-date way to support a great local artist. After all, it was exactly one year ago that we first interviewed Tyler, just as he received the Sundance invitation. And, in a brilliant sequence of events that came full circle this past December, Tyler received the great news that he’s heading back to Sundance with his next project, Compliance.

Cool Cleveland: How did you learn about the Spirit Awards nominations and what was your reaction?

Tyler Davidson: I was having brunch with a fellow producer in New York the day after the Gotham Awards and I knew that the Spirit Awards nominations were coming that day, but I didn’t know when. The other producer looked at his phone, then looked up at me and was shaking his head in disbelief: not only was Take Shelter nominated, but more than any other film.

I was, of course, ecstatic. The Spirit Awards are the premier awards in the world for independent film. When you look at some of the other films that were nominated alongside of us, I realized that we were in some pretty tremendous company. It was extremely gratifying. The nominations feel very meaningful to me.

What do these nominations mean to you, as a producer?

TD: On a personal level, it’s extremely flattering and a huge honor. But it’s impossible for me not to consider what they mean to the film itself and the continued business that the film does. And, also, to my career.

These awards come at a good time. It’s an opportunity for people to be reminded [of Take Shelter]. As we look to other awards and the DVD release, these kinds of events are great to boost people’s awareness of the film. [Also,] I’m getting more and more recognition from colleagues in the industry. This opens a lot of doors professionally.

Why do you think Take Shelter is having this kind of impact on the film community?

TD: Take Shelter is demonstrating that when it comes to movies, size doesn’t matter. What matters is if you move people. For various reasons, people are being moved by this film. The film is tapping into a feeling and anxiety that many people in the world have right now, on a personal level and global level. It’s really resonating.

Your new film, Compliance, was just accepted by Sundance. How does it feel to be invited two years in a row?

TD: When I was invited for Take Shelter, I felt like it was lightning striking. Now, going back with a second film, the second year in a row, I feel like something good is really happening. It doesn’t feel like an accident. It’s reflective of some great people I am working with and good decisions I am making with projects that I am getting involved with. In some ways, it’s even more validating than it was last year.

What’s next?

TD: What I’m focused on right now is getting ready for Sundance and positioning Compliance for a distributor: coordinating with other filmmakers, domestic film reps and my publicist, trying to come up with the correct game plan to position the film for audiences and buyers…I feel like independent film is a really important piece of our film culture and the film-going pie. For many people, it’s the preferred form of entertainment.

Reprinted with permission and gratitude from CoolCleveland.com.