Acclaimed filmmaker Kenneth Lui is set to unveil his much-anticipated crime comedy, “Artists in Agony”, through Global Digital Releasing on VOD platforms worldwide on July 21.
A Unique Peek into a Historic Massacre
“Artists in Agony” brings to life newly unearthed footage that sheds light on the mysterious deaths of four infamous hitmen during the notorious Coda Teahouse Massacre. These hitmen include Frosty, a new father; Lucien Mercy, the stay-at-home mom; Red Rick, the hopeless romantic; and his apprentice, Lady Faith, the upcoming star.
Led by Ex-CIA Agent Jonathan Sully, audiences are taken on a journey through the footage, suggesting the killings were orchestrated by the legendary assassin artist, Rockstar, considered the greatest hitman to have ever lived. The film’s ensemble cast boasts talents such as Melanee Nelson, Courtney Sara Bell, Paul Byrne, and Ken Breding.
Kenneth Lui’s Approach to Filmmaking: A Blend of Improvisation and Trust
Kenneth Lui, the visionary behind “Artists in Agony”, shares how the idea for the film was born from a desire to create a project where the actors could “look cool shooting bad guys” while adopting a documentary-style approach.
Drawing inspiration from the cinematic style of “This is Spinal Tap”, Lui adopted a cinéma-vérité style for his project. He notes, “Instead of a script, I’d give the actors goals and specific phrases for each scene and have them improvise, with only myself knowing how the story ended.”
Lui test-ran this concept by conducting interviews with the actors, discussing their approach to the craft of acting, which he later edited to appear as though they were discussing the craft of being assassins. The outcome was both hilarious and fascinating, as regular people casually talked about killing as if it were an art form.
Unveiling “Artists in Agony”: A Satirical Crime Exposé
“Artists in Agony: Hitmen at the Coda Teahouse”, the resultant feature film, is an absurdly violent mockumentary that follows the comedic demise of four hitmen and the hilarious circumstances leading up to it. Described as a satirical crime exposé with its tongue firmly in its cheek, it’s sure to be a unique addition to the crime comedy genre.
Kenneth Lui, also a professional editor for social media and commercials and a visual effects artist for major Marvel and DC movies like “Captain America: Civil War,” “Batman V Superman,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy,” brings a distinct visual style to this endeavor.
