Ari Gold (filmmaker)

Ari Gold
Gold at the 43rd KVIFF, 2008
Born1970 (age 53–54)
San Francisco, California, United States
EducationColumbia University,
New York University
Occupation(s)Filmmaker, actor, musician
Parents
RelativesJ. Richardson Dilworth (grandfather)

Ari Gold (born 1970) is an American filmmaker, actor and musician. His short film Helicopter was about the aftermath of his mother Melissa Dilworth Gold's 1991 death.[1] His feature debut Adventures of Power premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and made its European debut at the 2008 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

Early life

Ari Gold was born in 1970 as son of writer Herbert Gold and Melissa Gold (née Dilworth) in San Francisco, California.[2][3][4] His twin brother is musician Ethan Gold, and he has a sister Nina Gold.[5] He also has two half-sisters from his father's first marriage. His mother, Melissa Dilworth, is the daughter of J. Richardson Dilworth, a longtime financial advisor of the Rockefeller family.[6]

He attended New York University (NYU) to study film, and Columbia University, graduating in 1992.[1][3][7]

Career

The Song of Sway Lake (2017) was co-written and directed by Gold, the story centers on Ollie (Rory Culkin), a record collector who, with a friend, Nikolai (Robert Sheehan), makes a furtive trip to his family’s lakefront summer home in Upstate New York, months after where Ollie’s father committed suicide in the icy lake.[8] The film was considered ultra low-budget and did not track at the box office in its limited release, with Variety calling it "A clunky, lurching affair populated by barely sketched individuals who seem to be competing for a most-intolerable prize."

Adventures of Power (2008) was written and directed by Ari Gold, and is a cult comedy about a mine worker (played by Gold) who discovers an underground subculture of air-drummers that has the power to change the world.[9][10]

Helicopter (2001, copyrighted 2000) is a short film dealing with the aftermath of the death of his mother Melissa in the 1991 Vallejo helicopter crash that also took the life of rock impresario Bill Graham and pilot Steve Kahn.[1] An experimental narrative combining animated sequences and live action, the film was awarded in 2000 the Student Academy Awards competition for film students (not to be confused with the official Academy Awards).[1][11]

Culture (1999), which Gold directed and starred in, is a 60-second short film, shot entirely in one take with no rehearsal.[1] Gold followed set of self-imposed rules while making the film, including “only black, white, & primary colors may be used” and “the camera must not move.” Culture premiered in the United States at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival, and Reel.com called it “the best sixty seconds of film” at that festival.[12]

Some of Ari's more unusual distinctions include winning High Times Magazine’s "Stoner of the Year" award (2001).[13] He's also enshrined in the Guinness Book of World Records for commanding the largest air-drum ensemble on earth.

Filmography

Feature films

Year Film Credited as
Director Producer Writer Actor
2018 The Song of Sway Lake Yes Yes Yes Yes
2018 Los Angeles Overnight Yes
2016 Azure Yes
2011 FRED Learns to Airdrum with Power Yes
2011 Lucas Gets Kidnapped! Yes
2011 Another Earth Yes
2008 Cyndi Lauper: Into the Nightlife Yes
2008 Adventures of Power Yes Yes Yes Yes
2007 Revolution Summer Yes
2005 The F Word Yes
2004 Invitation to a Suicide Yes
2002 Unforeseen Yes
2002 On_Line Yes
2001 Plead Yes
2001 Helicopter Yes Yes Yes Yes
2001 Eight Yes
2001 Who Is A.B.? Yes
2000 Groove Yes
1999 Culture Yes Yes Yes
1997 All Over Me Yes
1996 Frog Crossing Yes Yes Yes
1995 Nonstop Pyramid Action Yes Yes Yes

Short films

Year Film Credited as
Director Producer Writer Actor
1995 Nonstop Pyramid Action Yes Yes Yes
1996 Frog Crossing Yes Yes Yes
1999 Culture Yes Yes Yes
2001 Helicopter Yes Yes Yes
2011 Lucas Gets Kidnapped! Yes Yes Yes

Music

Gold is an occasional member of two comedic music projects with The Brothers Gold, with his brother Ethan Gold on guitar; Ari sings and plays ukulele.[14]

Gold also sings in the new wave folk band, The Honey Brothers.[15] The Honey Brothers started small in 2001, a few college friends singing for people on the street corners of New York.[16] Since then, they have released two studio albums, one live album, and made a guest appearance on the TV show, 90210. The other core members of The Honey Brothers are Andrew Vladeck, Daniel Posner, and Adrian Grenier.[17] Ethan Gold is a former member of the band, in 2010 he was replaced by Dan Green.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "On a Quest for Student Gold". Los Angeles Times. 2 July 2000. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Melissa Gold, 47, Aide For California Causes". The New York Times. 1991-10-28. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  3. ^ a b Felver, Christopher (2007). Beat. Last Gasp. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-86719-671-9.
  4. ^ Helicopter – Biography film director. In: torinofilmfest.org, access date 16 February 2021.
  5. ^ Susan Cohen: Meet Ari Gold, the Director from San Francisco Making His Own Path. In: kqed.org, 25 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Melissa Gold, 47, Aide For California Causes". The New York Times. 1991-10-28. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  7. ^ "Ari Gold '92 | Columbia College Today". www.college.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  8. ^ Schager, Nick (2018-09-20). "Film Review: 'The Song of Sway Lake'". Variety. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  9. ^ "'Adventures of Power' Starring Ari Gold, Shoshannah Stern, and More Is Now on Amazon Prime". Nerds and Beyond. 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  10. ^ Rubin, Courtney (2012-09-08). "They're Not With the Band". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  11. ^ "Student Oscar Award Winners - Student Academy Awards Winners". Awardsandshows.com. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  12. ^ "ARI GOLD PREMIERES HELICOPTER ONLINE | Filmmaker Magazine". 7 October 2009.
  13. ^ "GOOD AS GOLD: AN ARI GOLD INTERVIEW | Film Threat". 2001-12-30. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  14. ^ "The Brothers Gold". Arigoldfilms.com. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  15. ^ Price, Jason (2012-04-18). "The Honey Brothers: Adrian Grenier & Ari Gold Talk "Time Flies Like A Peach"". Icon Vs. Icon. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  16. ^ a b "Interview: How The Honey Brothers (with "Entourage" star Adrian Grenier) Do Dallas". D Magazine. 2012-04-23. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  17. ^ "Adrian Grenier & Honey Brothers Pick 5 Bands to See This Summer". Spin. 2009-07-01. Retrieved 2021-04-19.