“Dicks I Like” is a short film that revolves around the artistic process of a female artist who sculpts and explores the subject of male genitalia. The protagonist and a male friend used to work together, and she used to model before pursuing her studies at university. Later, she asks him to pose for her art, and he willingly agrees.
Throughout the film, the artist discusses her creative approach and how she finds empowerment in creating sculptures that challenge the societal norms and toxic masculinity associated with male genitalia. She expresses her frustration with the way society views and treats such art compared to the admiration for female body art. The film also touches upon how women often face silence or trauma related to similar experiences.
The artist finds joy and healing in her art, viewing it as a release and a means to confront and confront societal expectations. She embraces her work as a storytelling medium, exposing the ridiculousness of male behavior while highlighting the empowerment it brings to her and other women.
The short film conveys the idea of reclaiming power and control through art, challenging stereotypes and societal expectations surrounding gender and sexuality. The protagonist’s creative process serves as a reflection of her journey of self-expression, acceptance, and healing.
5 Questions With Johanna Gustin
What inspired me to start making films:
Films have really been the only thing I’ve cared about for as long as I can remember. Thanks to some deeply internalized misogyny as well as growing up in a relatively low-income household, making films wasn’t really something I saw as an option for myself personally. I positioned myself as closely to films as I could, both academically and professionally, but never saw myself in the role of a filmmaker. But when I started dating my now husband and DP, he really encouraged me to try it. Basically, I just needed the permission of a tall white man to see that there was nothing stopping me from making films myself if I could just get going.
Challenges for Dicks That I Like:
Once I got to know Daniela (the protagonist in Dicks That I Like) and her work, it became clear to me that I had to find a way to give the viewer the emotional impact of the things Dani has experienced without going into too much detail. Part of this was practical; her work is inspired by hundreds of things, ranging from micro-aggressions to things that are much, much worse, as well as joyful experiences, and there would be no way to include everything. But primarily my concern was that I didn’t want to make trauma porn. I didn’t want viewers to sit there and think, “gosh, she’s so angry, but does what happened really warrant such a reaction?” Because that’s what happens all the time when women speak up about their experiences. I want viewers to focus on the emotional impact that these cumulative experiences have had on Daniela. I want them to have a really personal experience with her and who she is right now, not focus on the minutiae of all the things that she has experienced (things that are actually pretty commonplace for most women).
What do I hope the viewer takes away?
Basically, I want women to feel seen and men to feel uncomfortable.
On Hollyshorts:
It is absolutely wild to be screening at Hollyshorts! It still feels pretty unreal to be honest. I’m just so grateful that people saw our tiny little no-budget doc with the word “dicks” in the title and that it spoke to them and they decided to give me the opportunity to share it with the Hollyshorts audience.
What’s on the horizon?
I’m in pre-production on a narrative short right now. It’s thematically very much a sister to Dicks That I Like, but also a very sharp, quick comedy. I’m really excited to start shooting that and I’m definitely hoping it will bring me back to Hollyshorts!
A big thank you to Johanna for the interview. You can see her film and many others at the HollyShorts Film Festival. Tickets for the festival, as well as the screening schedule, can be found here. They can also be viewed digitally, with tickets available on BitPix.
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