Month: May 2024

Filmmaker William R.A. Rush (GROUP)

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GROUP, 2 hours, USA
Directed by William R.A. Rush
At a group meeting for recovering drug addicts, not everyone is revealing the full truth.

http://www.ogcinpro.com/
https://www.instagram.com/originalcinematic

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

It started with seeing a friend’s Facebook post one morning and then running into that friend hours later. The friend, in person, (demeanor, attitude, outlook, disposition, etc.) bore no resemblance to the Facebook persona. I thought “is any of this real?” That experience came around the time when one of the myriad tragedies we see in the United States had happened. Two commonly-stated refrains in the wake of these tragedies are that “no one saw this coming” and “everyone should have seen this coming.”

I wondered how far people would go to maintain a false persona. I thought of a group therapy session where people had to be honest in order to get help. Would these people, even if under the protection of anonymity, be honest? Or would these people present a glossy version of themselves, even if that glossy presentation prevented them from getting better? Of course, when people are focused on a false persona they may miss the obvious signs of danger around them. ‘Group’ was what was borne of that idea. No one sees it coming, but maybe they should have.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

Including post-production, the total time from when I first began writing to the final cut was just under ten months. I know how crazy that sounds, but in my career as an attorney, meticulous planning and time management for preparation of a trial is the norm. Years that come down to the performance of your case over a very brief period. I use the planning, coordination, collaboration and delegation aspects of the legal profession to filmmaking to the greatest extent possible.

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

Viscerally realistic.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Well, with the impending strikes and the uncertainty of things, I would have to say the principal photography schedule. Even with the meticulous planning and establishing contingency plans, it was still a frightening thought that we would only have the actors on set for three days. That was it. I basically approached it like half-trial and half-play.

The best thing I did was getting the best cast and crew on Earth. That was 90% of the job.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

My wife, Xxena (producer Xxena N. Rush) was with me. My literal reaction was “They all got it!” Everyone completely understood what I was going for and trying to convey. My goal is to make films that do not compromise my vision at all. I am a performance-focused director, and I believe in collaboration with cast and crew. I tell everyone involved in making the film that we are to respect the potential audience, to trust their intelligence and not try and hold any viewer’s hands. To see everyone speaking my goals and accurately describing the themes and meaning of the film meant so much to me. I am still in a great deal of shock.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I always dreamed of it. I love and am obsessed with film. It is my favorite artistic form, primarily because it encompasses dozens of incredible art disciplines. I didn’t begin filming anything until Mid-December of 2022. My first project was a short Stephen King adaptation called “One for the Road”. We only had seven shooting days for it, but we completed the project on time and I enjoyed it immensely. I knew I could improve.

I have always loved film, always been passionate about it. It is my favorite visual artform. I decided if I was ever going to attempt to be a filmmaker, that was the time. The pandemic forced a re-evaluation of life and goals and the idea that time isn’t endless.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

I am all but certain I’ve seen “Jaws” more than any other film. “Goodfellas” can’t be far behind, however.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

That’s a great question. For me, it’s all about communication. Whether good or bad, the more communication the better. I think your festival should be a model for great communication. Some festivals offer no communication at all. But that little thing means so much to filmmakers. So I must thank you for your communication and openness.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

I think it’s very user-friendly and a wonderful way to learn of incredible festivals and get your work out there.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Sushi. All sushi. Any sushi. Unless there’s cucumber involved. I don’t like cucumber with my sushi.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

The film “Immersion” (which we shot directly after “Group”) is being scored and colored at this moment and should be ready for the festival circuit by the end of May. My next feature “Fetish” is in preproduction and scheduled to shoot this September. In addition, I recently finished a feature script, “Encore”, which I plan to shoot in the Spring of 2025. My sex thriller (producer’s phrasing), “Sweetener” has won numerous screenplay awards on the festival circuit and is being shopped around to various producers currently.

Filmmaker Britt Dallyn (MOB FAMILY TIES)

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MOB FAMILY TIES, 9min., Canada
Directed by Britt Dallyn
After grandpa Michael begins to unintentionally rat on old associates due to his mental decline, the Leslie’s, a mob family, face a moral dilemma whether they need to whack grandpa or not as they host his possible final meal in this send up of traditional TV sitcoms.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I made this at Vancouver Film School for what they call “demo shoots”. Meaning after we had filmed our higher budget, 2-3 day shoots throughout the year, we were given an opportunity to film one more project before the year ended to add to our demo reels. Unlike the shoots earlier in the year however, these projects had no budget and had to be filmed within the school for 1 day only. Everybody had to write a 6 page script and pitch it to the teachers as an assignment where the teachers would pick 6 to actually be filmed. So with those parameters I thought about what I had access to for free within the school. Then I thought “hey, that one pre-built set kinda looks like a sitcom set. I’ve always appreciated a good sitcom, so what if I made one of my own but with a dark kind of humour that you wouldn’t typically see in a show like this.” I found the contrast of all the cheery dressings of a sitcom mixed with a story about murder to be promising for a comedy. In short, like many solutions in film, it all came together out of necessity.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

In 2023, I first came up with the sitcom idea in early June. We shot on July 11th. Which meant we took advantage of 7-11 day and got free slurpees for our wrap party. Then after graduation in August the editing process was put on hold as I was working a construction job to recoup from that pesky student debt. Finally got back to it late November and finished in late December. Just in time to show family and friends for New Year’s.

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

Gangster Sitcom

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

It would have to be the editing process. Because after graduation we didn’t have access to the fancy computers from school, so I had to figure out how to upgrade my computer enough to handle the high quality footage. This proved to be a little frustrating for me as I am not the biggest technical wizard.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

Really honored to have strangers for the first time say positive things about my film. Because up to this point all my feedback was from family and friends who would of course say it’s good. It was very reassuring and helpful to hear it from different people.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Starting at 5 I wanted to be an actor and when I was 12 I started making short films on my iPad using iMovie, mostly as an outlet for the acting. But as I kept doing it, I got more obsessed with the production side of filming and from there that became my true passion.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Either Batman ’89 or Billy Madison. I had Batman ’89 on repeat as a child and I still watch it from time to time now. Billy Madison was a movie my grandma had on VHS and when me and my cousins found it when I was 8, we thought it was the funniest movie ever made. We couldn’t stop watching it and it still remains a movie I can put on anytime to get a chuckle out of.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I suppose to just keep an open mind to all different types of films and value originality in projects even if it’s not your style or “not what the market wants”.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Great! It makes everything super easy and convenient.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Sausage and Perogies.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Right now I’m pursuing getting a job as a crew member on a film set so I can pay the bills while still being involved with what I love. Once I’m in the off season (as I do live in Alberta where it snows half the year) I hope to go back to Vancouver to film another short with the friends and contacts I made while there last year. I got a script written and ready to go, along with lots of other ideas I want to pursue in the future.

Filmmaker David Babasiev (STRUGGLE)

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STRUGGLE, 5min., Armenia
Directed by David Babasiev
In the remote mountains a family facing intense challenges as the mother and their prized cow approach childbirth simultaneously.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
I’ve always wanted to showcase the reality of the struggle that many face. This film is a reflection of that desire, aiming to shed light on the raw, often unseen challenges people endure. How people are capable of facing two challenges at the same time and going through that.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
From the initial idea to the final cut, ‘Struggle’ came together in just over a month. We dedicated a month to planning every detail, spent a day shooting, and then invested a week in post-production to bring our vision to life.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Struggle, struggle.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
The biggest obstacle we encountered during the making of ‘Struggle’ was capturing a specific scene involving a cow giving birth. It was crucial for the narrative, but finding the right moment proved challenging. Eventually, we located the perfect cow in the midst of labor. However, on the day of shooting, we faced another hurdle when our car got stuck in the snow. Thankfully, the locals came to our aid, allowing us to reach the location just in time. With only an hour to spare, we managed to film the scene, overcoming both logistical and natural obstacles to bring this pivotal moment to life in the final version of the film.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
Watching the audience feedback video was incredibly rewarding for me. I was particularly pleased to hear viewers noticing and appreciating the specific details and themes that I aimed to highlight in the film. It was fascinating to see the diverse interpretations of my ideas and how they resonated with different people. Additionally, receiving positive feedback about the shots and cinematography was especially gratifying, as it validated the creative choices and efforts of the entire team involved in bringing the vision to life. Overall, it was a fulfilling experience to witness the impact of the film on the audience and to hear their insights and reactions.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
My passion for filmmaking was sparked during my childhood when my uncle gifted me a camera. From that moment on, I found myself viewing the world through the lens, captivated by the idea of capturing moments and crafting narratives. The ability to create my own world within the frame ignited a deep-seated desire to pursue filmmaking as a form of self-expression and storytelling. Since then, I’ve been driven by the profound impact that film can have on both creators and audiences alike.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
The films I’ve watched the most in my life are “La La Land” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” They both hold a special place in my heart for different reasons, from the mesmerizing musical sequences and heartfelt performances in “La La Land” to the gripping storytelling and powerful characters in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” Both films have left a lasting impression on me, drawing me back to rewatch and rediscover their magic time and time again.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
Networking events where filmmakers can connect and share ideas would be incredibly helpful. Having designated spaces or online platforms for networking, along with panels or workshops where we can learn from industry experts and meet fellow filmmakers, would be fantastic additions to the festival experience.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
Working with FilmFreeway has been a breeze. The platform is user-friendly, making the submission process smooth and hassle-free. I’ve found it to be a great tool for managing festival submissions, and I’ve even taken the time to leave a review sharing my positive experience with the platform.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Armenian “brduj”!
Just cheese with estragon wrapped in lavash bread!

11. What is next for you? A new film?
I’m currently in the pre-production phase of my next film, which is set to begin shooting in August this year. It delves into the dynamics of relationships, focusing on the arc from initial warmth and perfection to eventual heartbreak. I’m eager to bring this narrative to life and explore the complexities of human connections on screen.

Submit to the UNDER 5 MINUTE Film Festival:

Filmmaker Allexxis Youngs (PLEASE CLICK 2)

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PLEASE CLICK 2, 4min., USA
Directed by Allexxis Youngs
Two friends fight to keep their sanity after encountering a
mysterious video online, there is no escape but to become a part of the video.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Lol, this film was for a screenwriting class. We had to come up with 3 to 5 ideas. Me being a Reddit user and into the deep web stuff. I saw a story that made me think about human interactions with tech/media. And it just clicked, the response I got from my professor and classmates made me keep pushing to make this film. Everyone wanted answers and loved how universal it is through the audience and media format-wise.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

Around two years I think, I started writing in my junior year second semester but started filming the first part in my senior year first semester. The 2nd part was filmed in my second semester. But for the second part, the editing wasn’t finished until a couple of months after I graduated.

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

Interactive and creepy.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

There were a lot of obstacles; time, money, equipment, etc. But I guess the biggest at least for me was time, that’s why there are two parts. Originally I’ve written a script for a 30 – 50 min short film with more backstory and lore. But since I was shooting during school, I had to play around with it, gearing it more towards young adults. Making it into a TikTok horror short/backrooms video. If I had more time there’d be a lot more build-up and tension.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

Happiness and excitement, I knew everyone would love the ending sequence because of how clever it was. I love that the audience was still able to feel the suspense and get some sort of creepy factor from it. I was scared that it wasn’t going to be scary enough. But seeing that the audience was freaked out and even reacted to the jumpscare made me excited.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

To be honest, I don’t know, ever since I was a little girl my nose has always been a book, I was a part of book clubs, I had three different library cards, and my favorite place has always been a bookstore. But as I got older my love for storytelling transitioned into media; TV, film, YouTube, etc. This continued until I started theatre in high school. So when it was time for me to choose a career path I knew it was going to be something in the storytelling medium. I chose films over books because when I was really little before I was adopted. My biological mom and I would watch scary movies together. Those were some of the happiest memories with her. So I guess to answer the question I knew since I was little that I would make my films.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

This is a hard question, I kind of have favorite films for different reasons. But I’d say any Adam Sandler movies, lol. I grew up on his movies, watching every single one, every week during family movie nights. I’ll even watch them on my own, I don’t know, it’s a good time. Particularly ‘Grown Ups’. It makes me nostalgic, and happy, but also ready for the future. You can never go wrong with one of his films.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I guess the promo aspect, as a new and young filmmaker my name hasn’t been pushed out yet. Pushing not just the film but the filmmaker helps a lot with getting the new filmmaker more connections, awareness, and more along the journey. It’s hard navigating this industry, so giving a platform on not just my film but also myself will help build my following and bring more visibility to myself and not just the single film that has been accepted/won.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

It’s easy and manageable, it’s all on one page and accessible. I like it because all I have to do is upload my films and just submit them to as many festivals as I want. It’ll keep track of everything so I never have to worry if I do something wrong. It also gives you info on the festival so the filmmaker knows if this is the right festival for their film. Very new/young filmmaker-friendly

10. What is your favorite meal?

Probably sushi, if I could afford it I’d eat it every day.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Yes, I’m working on making Please Click into a 30 – 50 short film this year. While also pushing for funding on one of my feature scripts, ‘You’re Invited’. Hoping to get it made in the next 3 years. With all of this, I’m still working on other sets. I’ve also been trying to get back into acting, hoping to land an indie feature role.

Submit to the UNDER 5 MINUTE Film Festival:

Filmmaker Daniel W. Smith (CALAMITY & MERCY)

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CALAMITY & MERCY, 98min., USA
Directed by Daniel W Smith
Calamity and Mercy is a feature length documentary film detailing the stories of individual Ukrainian refugees submerged in the chaos of battle, fleeing war, and integrating into new cultures, along with the NGOs and efforts in place to assist the incoming migrants.

https://www.facebook.com/calamityandmercy/
https://www.instagram.com/calamityandmercy

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
I lived in Japan for two years as a kid, then as a US service member, I deployed to Bosnia, Iraq, Horn of Africa, and Germany. I saw how war and conflict make it hard for civilians to survive both during and in post war periods. When Russia invaded Ukraine I saw the documentary as a document of witness. Something that could be a voice for the refugees and perhaps influence people to support them regain their homelands.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
It has been about 2 years. We filmed the interviews in the late Spring of 2022. It was self funded so I had to go slow after the filming to work through Post Production.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Calamity & Mercy

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Funding.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I was happy to see the audience understood and appreciated what I was trying to express.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
2008 thru 2014. I attended the Berlinale Film Festival a few times and realized I wanted to create films on a human scale. That is ordinary people dealing with extraordinary situations. I didn’t want superpowers, or angelic presences helping them as much as their own effort and assistance from others.I retired from the military, finished a contractor job at US Africa Command in Germany and used the GI Bill to attend film school.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
It’s a five way tie between, The Searchers, Lawrence of Arabia, the Seven Samurai, Two Women, and Casablanca.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
Distribution and streaming. Perhaps production grants/loans.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
It was simple to do.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Steak with a nice salad.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
A documentary about Afghan refugees. In particular those who served with US or NATO and were left behind. They are being hunted down by the Taliban. A second project is about Disinformation campaign strategy and tactics used by Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah.

Filmmaker Sean Winslow (PETEY POSSUM)

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PETEY POSSUM, 5min., USA
Directed by Sean Winslow
Oh no! It’s *enter name here* birthday and Petey’s running late! Follow him on his journey to make the party.

https://www.instagram.com/seanpwinslow

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I like to write sketch comedy, so I was thinking about random funny ideas. I have a memory from my 6th birthday party at Chuck – E – Cheese of a TV above the stage showcasing Chuckie getting ready in quick clips before appearing in front of a bunch of screaming children riding a sugar high. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be funny if he was getting ready, but things kept going horribly wrong as each clip progressed?”. That’s where the idea started.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

Between the writing, the drawings, and the editing, it took about a year and a half.

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

Chaotic Comedy

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Myself.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I had a smile on my face the whole time. I make comedy because I want people to forget about whatever they have going on in their lives and just take a moment to laugh. Seeing strangers make comments like “It’s kinda punk rock” fills me with absolute joy.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I would make “movies” with my parent’s camcorder starting at the age of 8. I’ve wanted to continue doing it ever since.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

It’s between Jurassic Park or Dumb and Dumber.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

So far, everything that’s been provided has been excellent. Showcasing what we spent so much time on is extremely helpful. I suppose getting people within the industry involved would be another great advantage. Breaking into the industry is incredibly difficult, so making connections is very important.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

I love Film Freeway. Ever since I’ve been looking to get my shorts out into festivals, Film Freeway has been my go-to.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Peanut butter and strawberry jelly.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I’m bouncing around a few ideas. I would like to start a web series that I wrote a little while back. It would just take a lot of drawing, so I plan on looking into animators and professional voice actors to help speed up the process.

Actor Lukas Akan (DUAL)

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DUAL, 7min., USA
Directed by Yu Wang

Get to know actor Lukas Akan:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I didn’t make the film, I’ve only acted in it. I was approached with the script from a filmmaker, but I was hesitant in pursuing it. I usually don’t like horror films, but I found the script interesting to play from an acting point of view, and since I haven’t done anything like it before I thought It would be a fun challenge for me as an actor.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

Don’t know since I didn’t make it. But I believe it was a thesis film if I’m not mistaken. My guess would be anything from 1-2months.

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

Scarry and disturbing.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Well from an acting point of view, it was to try to find authenticity for the tone of the film.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I was very pleased with the positive response, and was happy that we succeed in bringing suspense and horror to the audience.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to act in this film?

I was a bit curios when the directer said it was a horror film, because it’s not something I usually participate in. However I have acted in another student horro before which was super fun to shoot, I feel like there’s a lot more play with horror. But I wanted to make sure that I knew what I was getting myself into, so right after I read the script.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Pirates of the Caribbean – Dead man’s chest and Avatar 1

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

Press I guess – articles, interviews and laurel’s/ proof of selections/winns which I got in this email.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Great, I feel like it was easy to find festivals and read about them.

10. What is your favorite meal?

A great authentic Italian pasta dish and or filet mignon with some crispy potatoes and some red wine.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Well I just finished shooting a supporting role for an independent short in Sweden, which’s was super fun, great director to work with. So I’m hoping for more film and tv.

Submit to the THRILLER/SUSPENSE Film Festival:

Filmmaker Ruben Rodas (BEFORE DAWN)

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BEFORE DAWN, 15min., USA
Directed by Ruben Rodas
“A top hit-man gets caught in the middle of a betrayal scheme within his contractors”

http://www.rodasruben.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ruben.rodas.144
https://www.instagram.com/rubenrodas/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I simply love the Thriller/crime/suspense genre and it’s been a while since I made a film like that, so it thought it was time to do a new one LOL

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

Well technically this short if part of a 8 episode micro-series, so the micro-series I wrote it back in 2010, but I got to re-write and fine tuned the scripts on 2020, and start shooting all episodes; now when is was time to shoot “Before Dawn” I shoot it over 3 days and took about 3 months of post-production just because there is some really awesome high end CGI on it so that took extra time to have it done; so overall I’ll say the whole thing just for this film was extended over a 6months between pre-pro, shooting and post.

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

Captivating awesome!

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

I had some challenging sound recording issues to overcome, there were some technical issues with the recorded audio that I didn’t realize until I was in the editing room and it was upsetting as it was extra challenging to fix and that added extra time/$$ to the project that wasn’t planned for it.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

It was certainly humbling and flattering; I’m glad people liked it and enjoyed the film.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Once I finish the script and I had it read by some of the main actors, I knew we have something solid and needed to shoot ASAP hehehe

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

That’s among the most difficult questions I always get asked so I never really know lol I mean I have seen so many movies several times but at this point I may say probably “Jerry McGuire”; I don’t know there is an element there in that movie that hit home for me.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I believe that if the festivals are actively inviting and including Producers/Investors as well as production companies to participate in the festivals and connect with the filmmakers and help them to further push their careers by helping the filmmakers to make possible their next projects.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

I love FilmFeeway I find it to be a great platform for submitting projects to festivals

10. What is your favorite meal?

My favorite meal is really one specific that my Mom cooks for me LOL you won’t really find it on a menu of a restaurant nor belong to a certain culinary culture so.. but If I have to described I guess it will be a kind of “beef schnitzel with a white cheesy rice” 🙂

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I’m developing 2 feature films, (1) it’s a action/thriller packed along the lines of “24 meet mission impossible” and (2) it’s a very funny Time travel Buddy/RomCom Comedy

Submit to the CRIME/MYSTERY Film Festival:

Filmmaker Sarah London (A PRAYER FOR MY FATHER)

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A PRAYER FOR MY FATHER, 10min., USA
Directed by Sarah London
Decades after she and her late father found an unspeakable horror in the woods, Lola receives a package of his ashes, and along with it the ghost of their shared trauma.

https://instagram.com/aprayerformyfather

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
My childhood was a horror story.

Generational trauma had a chokehold on my family while growing up. Drugs, alcohol, mental illness, bank robbing, depression, narcissism… we had it all.

I grew up in a cat piss stained trailer, where every night was about survival. Survival from a paranoid schizophrenic mother, played to the backdrop of the lower class Northern California countryside. When there wasn’t food in the kitchen, I was thankful for the plentiful fruit orchards near my home… peaches, cherries and walnuts filled my stomach while my mother lay drunkenly passed out in the bathtub.

My only escape was my father. His weekend visitation rights were the only days I looked forward to. We’d trek the rolling hills and forests of upper San Francisco, filling up on diner food as we drove. He’d sit by the campfire, his marijuana smoke molding with the camp smoke as I eagerly listened to his Bigfoot stories.

But as much as I loved my father, he had a dark side, too. But his trauma was internal, sad and quiet. It was creeping and subtle.

I take an unusual amount of pride in the generational trauma he passed onto me. And this film is an homage to him and his struggles.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
Two years! Self funding a film means things happen in chunks as you save money.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Generational trauma.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Money! HA. That aside, everything went beautifully. The cast and crew consisted mainly of my friends. When your friends are used to your art, they’re fully onboard with exactly what you’re looking for and how to get that vision up and running. We also shot the first half in a public park in Sherman Oaks with a 2 ton grip truck in the parking lot. So you could say the guerilla aspect of the film was very real and stress-inducing, but we made it happen.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
Very moving. I was really pleased that everyone caught onto the story. As a filmmaker, we’re always worried that an audience isn’t going to understand a story. You try and do everything you can to prevent that (I added subtitles because I was paranoid that some of the dialogue was too fast and unclear). The audience reactions lifted that worry!

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
I moved to LA with a script in hand about my real life bank robbing grandfather. It was a feature script I had been working on since I was 20. So probably late teens.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
According to my mom: The Brave Little Toaster
According to my dad: ET
According to me: The Fifth Element

I really wanted to give a swanky auteur answer, but those are my truths. But movies that influence my filmmaking: Tree of Life and The VVitch.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
This is a great question. I’ve been experiencing a lot of scammy film festivals lately and yours is definitely the top three best I’ve experienced yet. The audience reaction video was fantastic. It made me feel like an actual audience was watching my film. I realize not all festivals are capable of doing an in-person theatrical release for the public, especially after the pandemic. I suppose if I had to add something: I’ve found that when festivals share my film / film poster / excerpts / events regarding my film on Instagram, it really helps for me to share those posts to reach my film friends.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
FilmFreeway is great. I wish the platform would weed out the scammier festivals but I realize that’s difficult to do. But other than that, it’s great!

10. What is your favorite meal?
McDonald’s french fries.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
I’m trying to find someone to assist in helping me write this script about my bank robbing grandfather! If you know anyone, send them my way!

Submit to the HORROR Underground Film Festival:

Filmmaker Jerrod D. Brito (HORNED)

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HORNED, 4min,. USA
Directed by Jerrod D Brito
When a cocky cam boy jokingly live-streams a creepypasta dare, he inadvertently summons an ancient demon who craves more than just his soul.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Funny story. I attended Dan Savage’s HUMP Film Festival, a traveling film fest that features short films of an adult nature, and though they had many diverse films, I didn’t see any strictly horror movies. I felt there might be an opportunity there, so I tried to come up with a way to merge horror—my signature genre—with sex. I just started jotting notes and tried to find a way to combine them both, but be fair to both, too, and then I added a little humor. Those were the ingredients for “Horned.” But I really wanted to make sure it stood alone as a horror story, with a beginning, middle, and end, and as much character development as I could squeeze into a short in under five minutes of length. So I cut it two ways—a more explicit version for HUMP with thirty more seconds of content and a better punchline to the film (it was selected, by the way—it tours this fall), and the somewhat censored version we were lucky enough to screen at Horror Underground.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

This probably took about four years to get off the ground. I wrote it, but didn’t really have the means to make it at the time. Then, in around 2022, I felt like my film career wasn’t going anywhere, so I tried to think of how I wanted to “go out” if this was the end, and decided to have some fun and do something risky and weird. Go out with a bang, so to speak. I got my producer, Erin Delaney, on board—we used to work together at a well-known company that broadcast adult content—and a few other frequent collaborators, and everything just fell into place. Once we cast it, it was a matter of waiting a few months until everyone’s schedules lined up, and we shot it in one night. After that, I edited it fairly quickly (found footage is easier, I find), and it was finished by the end of 2023.

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

Hmmm… “Sexy Horror.”

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

I think that’s a toss-up between the casting process and the location not working out at the last minute, but both ended up working out in the end.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I was frickin’ thrilled! I think it can be very difficult to connect with an audience, but they seemed to pick up on everything I tried to put in there, so that felt really good. Overall, they seemed disturbed by it, but still laughed at the parts that were meant to be humorous. I think that’s a gift Sam Raimi has, and that’s what I strived for. So the fact that they reacted to the humor and the horror was a great feeling. It was sooooo good to hear, and I immediately showed it to my producer and makeup person, and they were equally thrilled.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Unofficially, probably three-years-old. I wanted to act, and forced my cousins into being stage plays I directed in the living room, and I wrote and drew shitty little comic books. Everything was there to point me in the direction of film. Officially, though, when I found out that I COULD become a filmmaker, and it wasn’t just for people in New York or L.A., but indie film was for everybody, I was about 19.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

I’m going to guess “Batman Returns.”

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I’m not really sure. What you offer is great and unique, and one of the best experiences I’ve had in festivals. If there was a way to tie in agents or managers watching the winners, that would be huge, too, but I don’t know the likelihood of that. I know there’s a lot that goes into festivals as it is, and I love what you’re already doing.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

I like FilmFreeway. It keeps track of everything and makes it easy to sort through submissions, wins, losses, etc., I dig it.

10. What is your favorite meal?

A Chicago Deep Dish style pizza with extra cheese and that chunky tomato sauce on top. I don’t care what anyone says, it’s a whole damn meal.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Lots! I’m co-developing a cryptid fantasy horror feature called “The Hairy Ones” with my frequent co-conspirators, Aaron Whitrock and Timothy Navarro, and I have a list of short films I’d like to get off the ground this year, too. I also wrote a demonic possession short called “A Dance With the Devil,” directed by Jake Byrd (“Adalynn”) that’s in the late stages of post and set to roll out this year, and I have a six-issue graphic novel that I’m dying to get out there, but I’m still looking for just the right artist to draw it. I’m also looking for others to collaborate with and networking every week, always looking for something new to try. I’ll write, they can make the movie, then we’ll either succeed or fail together. I just love the process and always excited to do something new.

Submit to the HORROR Underground Film Festival: