Works-In-Progress: SELL OUT

Join us at Austin Public for a Works-In-Progress screening of Nick and Josh Holden’s SELL OUT on June 3 at 6 PM. The film will be preceded by a mixer at 5:45 PM and followed by an audience feedback session moderated by Mike Blizzard.

Please note: All Works-In-Progress films are unrated, and content varies by film. To better serve the community, AFS has introduced filmmaker-suggested content warnings to Works-In-Progress events to better inform audiences about elements within each film.

Please note: The filmmakers behind this project have suggested the film would be rated PG-13 due to the film’s content which includes: explicit language, mild drug use, and characters commenting against marginalized groups.

AFS’s Works-In-Progress series provides the growing and diverse filmmaking community of Austin peer-level critiques of rough or fine cuts of their work. Screenings are free for AFS MAKE members and above ($5 for WATCH members and non-members) and are followed by moderated audience feedback sessions. Do you have a film you want to submit for Works-In-Progress consideration? MAKE level members and above can apply here. Not an AFS MAKE member? Register your membership here!

ABOUT THE FILM

BENNY DINK, a successful novelist and single father on the verge of turning 40, finds out funding for his latest novel has fallen through, and his fiance has cheated on him. As Benny ventures home to Louisiana to officiate his sister’s wedding, he anxiously spirals downward and begins to question what it means to be a sell out and if a sell out is just who he’s meant to be after all.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

THE HOLDEN BROTHERS – WRITERS/DIRECTORS
Nick and Josh are brothers, and writing and directing partners. They started their production company Mishnoon in Austin, TX in 2008. They cut their teeth on a lot of music docs and music videos, in the Outlaw Country music scene with the likes of Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Kris Kristofferson and others. This led to filming b-roll for the making of the Crazy Heart (2009) soundtrack. They have made well over 100 commercials and videos with their company. While filming they were always writing songs and in and out of bands, while also participating in the Austin indie film scene with the likes of Richard Linklater and Andrew Bujalski among others.They have made a practice of writing daily for almost 15 years, trying to get their love of character and philosophy and the oddness of life to blend with structure and narrative, while honing their unique voice, style and tone. Originally born in Los Angeles, the brothers were raised in Louisiana, and moved to Austin, TX for college in the early 2000’s, where they have remained ever since. Josh and Nick Holden have over 20 years of collective experience in film production and client project management. In addition to filmmaking, they are Principals and Operators of Mishnoon Productions based in Austin, Texas. Their projects have been recognized by SXSW, Austin Film Festival, Sunset Film Festival, and Sundance Labs circuits. 

MORGAN POLLITT – PRODUCER
Morgan began her career worl<ing with Academy-Award nominated producer Sarah Green on Terrence Malick’s THE TREE OF LIFE and Jeff Nichols’ TAKE SHELTER. Pollitt continued on as an Associate Producer on Jorge Perrugoria’s AMOR CRONICO, Nichols’ MUD and Malick’s TO THE WONDER, VOYAGE OF TIME, KNIGHT OF CUPS and SONG TO SONG. Pollitt has worked on ABC’s THE CATCH and developed and produced projects with the immersive art experience Meow Wolf and George R.R. Martin in Santa Fe, NM. Also very involved in audio storytelling, she produced the science fiction immersive Audible Original EMINENT DOMAIN. She currently has several projects in post production and development. 

CHRISTIAN SOSA – PRODUCER
Christian is a graduate of the Red Mccombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin, and co-founded the Texas- based production company Roosevelt Film Lab with Jon Wroblewski. Sosa is a film producer with sales, distribution, and financing experience and has co-developed independent film slates for various projects in North America and beyond working with writers, directors, and financiers. Sosa’s work includes but not limited to, THE VESSEL, starring Martin Sheen, Directed by Julio Quintana and Executive Produced by Terrence Malick and Sarah Green; AGE OUT starring Tye Sheridan, Imogen Pools, Caleb Landry Jones and Jeffery Wright, written/directed by A.J. Edwards and ExecutiveProduced by Gus Van Sant. More recently, in post-production THE CHANNEL and 2023 SXSW Audience Award Winner – THE LONG GAME starring Dennis Quaid and is in pre-production on several features not yet announced. 

JENNIFER KUCZAJ – PRODUCER
Jennifer Kuczaj launched her career worl<ing at iconic Jersey Films as a story editor, creative executive and development executive for Danny DeVito, Stacey Sher, and Michael Shamberg. Later she produced her first feature, Transpecos which won the Audience Award at SXSW in 2016. Kicking off 2023 Kuczaj premiered the film MUTT at Sundance Film Festival winning the first Best Actor award for a transgender Actor and went on to win an audience award at Ber1inale. Kuczaj premiered the film The Long Game starring Dennis Quaid and Jay Hernandez at SXSW 2023 winning an audience award where she also premiered border thriller, DEADLAND, with fellow Producer, Elizabeth Avellan. She currently has multiple projects in development.