ALIENATED, 12min., USA
Directed by Tamara Hernandez
Alienated is a dark sci-fi coming-of-age story about a troubled teenage girl who discovers a strange, greenish-blue growth on her shoulder at a high school party. What begins as an embarrassing secret soon unravels into a terrifying revelation: she is an alien hybrid, the product of a covert extraterrestrial breeding program. As her powers awaken, she is forced to confront not only her fractured sense of identity but the chilling reason she’s always felt like she didn’t belong.

https://www.instagram.com/tamarahernandezdirector/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

The thing that motivated me to make this film was a crazy dream I had that I couldn’t shake. It haunted me so much that it took me down a rabbit hole that ended up changing my whole life.

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

From the time I wrote the script to post production took about a year. Although I had the actual idea decades earlier.

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

The two words to describe “Alienated” are ernie and precinct.

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

The biggest obstacle was shooting on the boat out in the ocean because the waves were rocking the boat so much that it was difficult to stand and balance the camera. Plus a lot of the crew became sea sick and we had to stop shooting so people could throw up.

5. There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development. Pre-Production. Production. Post-Production. Distribution.
What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process?

Production is my favorite stage of the filmmaking process. Shooting is always exciting to me.

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

I was asked by a producer I was writing a script for to direct a short film because he thought I would make a good director. It was never something I had thought of doing, but after the very first shot it felt like I had put a glove on my hand

7. What film have you seen the most times in your life?
Cabaret directed by Bob Fosse starring Liza Minelli. I love musicals and the choreography, music and story are great. I loved both Liza and Joel Grey’s performance.

8. In a perfect world: Who would you like to work with/collaborate with on a film?

In a perfect world I would like to work with Isabelle Huppert and/or Laura Dean, or both in the same movie!

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

I like how easy it is to navigate FilmFreeway.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Chia seed pudding with blueberries.

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

I am working on a new story that takes place in Vietnam.