DISMISSING THE ENVELOPE, 10min., USA
Directed by Steven Wright Clarkson
A young girl enters the painting world of four prominent artists

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film? Really it started with my collaboration with classically trained tabla player Shreyas Iyer. After collaborating on an EP, I felt that the music had entered into a territory that was bigger than both of us. I decided on using “Dismissing the Envelope” as it was Shreyas’ favorite track and had more of an Indian Raga feel in form and length.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? It was months to finish the EP. But once the music was completed, the idea to actually have a young girl enter the paintings in the art gallery came to me naturally. I thought to myself, what better way to dismiss everything we hold for granted in the world of art than to enter and spend time there. The film was extremely complicated as an AI project. It was actually five separate AI films edited together. The prompts took a long time to come up with, given the result I desired. I hope folks see this as a positive way to use AI. To have the individual as the visionary directing the program to produce exactly what the director hoped to accomplish.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!? Art Transcends

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Really, to find the right people to accomplish my vision.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video? Pure joy! So many fantastic film makers’, musicians’ and artists’ alike influenced who I am as a musician and film maker today. This was an incredible validation that you can make films that are completely outside the box and still be relevant in todays’ World.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films? I have always felt my music works best when put to film or video of some kind. I just finished a music video production class at Berklee and that certainly cemented that my creative talents, whether film or music, will always be intertwined.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life? Monty Python and the Holy Grail

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career? Just keep taking chances on the little guy. The artistic community can be a little daunting for someone just starting on their career.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site? It’s a great site — when I stumbled upon it and won my first award for “In the Beginning”, I knew it would be a partnership that would stand the test of time.

10. What is your favorite meal? Sashimi — I spent 6 months after graduating college teaching English in Japan.

11. What is next for you? A new film? — I continue to work on my music daily. I’m hoping to continue to create films and also I would love to work on a score for a film.

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