As the current climate crisis is an increasing cause of concern, there seems to be no better time to look at an environmental justice film. Set in Los Angeles in the year 2042, Cuspid gives perspective of life during a heavy environmental collapse through a young girl’s eyes. Showcasing themes of motherhood and childhood innocence, and climate change, Cuspid is a must-watch! We are excited to share our 5 Questions With series with the director, Rose Beth Johnson-Brown about the film and it’s process.
To look out for more interviews like this, be sure to check out our BitPix.
What inspired you to start making films?
Maybe I will figure that out definitively someday. I do know that when I was an only child until I was 7 and as a result, I would spend all day alone in the back yard conjuring up worlds and circumstances and friends and foes and talking to “them” (myself). And so far filmmaking is the best and most fulfilling continuation of that time, but it is even better because you get to do it with a bunch of talented collaborators who also really care about the worlds and characters you are building. So it’s a lot less lonely.
Were there any challenges in making this project?
Of course. There was the ever-present problem of not having enough money or time, and the ever-engaging challenge of making do. Our fearless producer, Gracie Garcia, had to get especially creative with our budget and schedule in order to accommodate the limited hours we were allowed to spend on set with our two child actors. But she pulled it off, thanks in large part to the flexibility and support of our cast and crew.
One of the most intimidating challenges I faced was in trying to find a way to make a family out of a cast of strangers, in the span of three short shoot days. Of course, what ended up happening was that our limited resources actually ended up delivering the solution. We didn’t have enough money to give each actor their own dressing room space, like I would have wanted to. Luckily, the actors that I worked with were not only incredibly easy-going but they actually embraced the situation and used their time between set-ups to bond, trade secrets, and become the tight-knit piecemeal little family that I was so anxious to create. After lunch the first day, I went back to their shared dressing room to find them all hysterically laughing and whispering and hugging each other when hours before they’d been strangers. It created such a positive energy on set and resulted in great performances as well. So I guess that was a challenge that turned into a gift —as it often happens.
Is there any type of message or emotion that you hope the viewer takes away from watching this film?
My hope is that ‘Cuspid’ lends audiences the opportunity to consider the future of our warming planet – a topic that unfortunately feels even more prevalent today than when I originally wrote the script in 2020. I’m interested specifically in asking two questions: What will life be like for the next generation in the face of climate change? And how they might carry on, in spite of it?
How does it feel to be able to screen the film at HollyShorts?
I am so excited and honored! I have been a fan of the festival for several years and I am really looking forward to watching the other short films in the festival particularly those in the sci-fi genre/category. I’m always amazed at filmmakers who can build a complete alternate world in such a short amount of time.
What’s on the horizon for you?
I am currently writing and developing a film set in Brooklyn, where I currently live, about the Maraschino Cherry Factory in Red Hook. I hope to shoot that sometime in the next year. I have also recently had the honor of directing my first episode of television for Showtime’s ‘Billions’. I had worked on that set for many years and it was very exciting and rewarding to step into a new role, as director. It airs this September on Showtime!
We thank you Rose Beth for sharing your responses with us! Moreover, be sure to check out Cuspid at the upcoming HollyShorts 2023 Film Festival on August 18th at 2:30pm for “Social and Environmental Justice.” Click here to get tickets for the 19th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival, running from August 10th – August 19th at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres.
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