We move deeper into the stellar line-up from this year’s 19th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival, and day 3 has shaped up to be something special. With another impressive set of films to check out, ranging from Indie films, a focus on female directors, comedies and more, there is so much to see. And if anyone is unsatisfied with that, we also get to have a great chat to the Emilys, Judy-Ism director Emily Lerer and the writer and star of the film, Emily Nash! Be sure to check out the Day 3 highlights below, as well as our talk!
Monochromatic – A story told through the eyes of a six year old black girl. Directed by Karen Bryson in her directorial debut, this is an incredibly powerful film about the bits and pieces kids remember as children and the impact that can have on them. The experiences of racism young Grace have effect her, even if she doesn’t totally understand what they are or how they impact her young mind. It’s a powerful film on the lasting impact of racism in society. Starring Kenedy McCallum-Martin, who captures the innocence of youth perfectly. An amazing start to the directorial career for Bryson.
For The Safety Of Theo – Directed by Christopher Macken and starring Darragh O’Toole and Kelly Curran, this is an odd and very entertaining film that focuses on Theo, a man who suffers with OCD. Embracing the modern dating world, even with all its perils, Theo has a casual hookup that takes quite the turn, leaving Theo to reconsider how he handles things. This is a really enjoyable piece, with a story that will definitely surprise viewers. The film was also produced by Charlie Day.
Confessions – Directed by Stephanie Kaznocha and starring Carol Hermann and Eve Sigall, Confessions focuses on two nuns who decide to go on an adventure after seeing a friend pass. As they look towards the future in their final years, and realize how little they’ve experienced, they go out and live life, doing some pretty dangerous things; such as trying alcohol for the first time. The journey of these rebels of the Lord is a wildly entertaining ride, with the dark humor really setting this film apart.
Judy-Ism – Emily Nash writes and stars what they themselves call a “reverse 13 Going On 30“, as Judy, just before her wedding day, is transported back in time to her Bat Mitzvah, where she experiences the familiar feelings of her youth as she feels the simultaneous stresses of her upcoming wedding. It’s a really fun film, with Nash doing an excellent job. It manages to bring a lot of joy and heart to a short piece, with the entire cast doing so well to make this film as entertaining as it was. Wonderfully paced and directed, everyone involved should be very proud of this film.
Howl – Written and directed by Bernadette Bridges, this film follows the story of a lonely older woman who, after a bad dream, starts to make some changes in her outlook, reaching out to those around her and seeing the warmer side of humanity. It’s a very sweet film that takes its time but delivers in all the best ways. It stars Annie Tezuka.
That’s all of our highlights for the day! Thanks to everyone who showed up in Los Angeles, and to all those watching digitally. We’ll leave things off with an interview with Judy-ism‘s director, Emily Lerer, and the film’s writer and star, Emily Nash.
What inspired you to start making films?
NASH: I’ve identified as an actor for most of my life, working in theatre, musical theatre, television, film, and commercials, but I’ve always wanted to dip my toe into other creative avenues. As an actor, I got tired of waiting for other people to cast me in their projects, and I decided to take matters into my own hands and build my own world that I could have more creative control over. Making my own film allowed me not only to flex my acting muscles, but to get a crash course in screenwriting, producing, and the art of filmmaking in general. It’s been such an empowering experience, and now I don’t want to stop!
LERER: Storytelling comes naturally to me. I love getting lost in a great work of art: visual, literary and digital mediums. I come to filmmaking through theater and television. During my time in New York, I worked as an indie theater director with award-winning playwrights at renowned Off-Broadway theaters, collaborating on new works, and reimagining the classics. My tenure as a post-production supervisor on series like “Shameless”, “Twenties” and “Pretty Little Liars-Original Sin” gave me great insight into the craft of directing. After tackling my first couple of short films, I caught the filmmaking bug and haven’t let go since.
Were there any challenges in making this project?
NASH: Absolutely! As a first-time screenwriter and executive producer entering this process, I truly had to learn on the job. I was responsible for raising the money to finance our film, which was a huge undertaking, and I had to overcome a lot of discomfort and imposter syndrome in the process!
LERER: And don’t forget the rain!
NASH: Oy, the rain!
LERER: The one time in Los Angeles we planned an outdoor shoot, we had at least five contingency plans to tackle the weather, but like any good indie filmmakers, we rolled with the punches, adapting and enacting our plans b, c, d, e, and z as we shot our outdoor wedding scene!
NASH: At least rain on your wedding day is a sign of good luck!
LERER: A director is only as good as her team, and I’m so immensely proud of mine!
NASH: Likewise! Lerer is a seasoned pro and always cool as a cucumber, so I always felt confident with the production in her hands.
Is there any type of message or emotion that you hope the viewer takes away from watching this film?
NASH: Whether or not our viewer identifies as a Jew, I hope they leave the theater feeling that their identity and faith are absolutely valid and worthy of celebration.
LERER: Yeah, a feeling of intersectional pride in their identity!
NASH: Yes! We wanted to find a way to celebrate Jewish joy in the midst of so much antisemitism. We need stories of Jewish joy now more than ever.
LERER: As an underrepresented and marginalized group, Jews make up just 2% of the population in the US but the fourth largest percentage of hate crimes. In addition to being a religious group, we’re a culture and an ethno-religious people. I hope our heartwarming and humorous story resonates with our audience, bringing them closer to understanding some of the complex issues that are unique to contemporary Jews. It’s an honor to have gotten to direct a film that tackles these big questions about Jewish identity and take us one step closer to authentic Jewish representation on the big screen.
NASH: We want to make people laugh, as well as tug at their heartstrings a bit, in true romcom fashion. We find humor to be a real truth-teller, and we’re hoping people can laugh their way to feeling proud of their personal history and identity.
LERER: And though your expectations for yourself may not align with the path your family has in mind, if you fight to be you, you will always find your happily ever after!
How does it feel to be able to screen the film at HollyShorts?
NASH: It feels absolutely amazing! We filmed the project in Los Angeles, so to get to screen the film on our home turf, at such a historic venue and in such a prestigious festival, is a very special treat! I’m honored to be among the lineup of phenomenal filmmakers this year. I’m truly verklempt!
LERER: I’m thrilled to return to HollyShorts with another project! My short film, “Punch Drunk”, premiered in 2021. Screening at the Chinese Theater with an enthusiastic crowd is just such a thrilling experience. I cannot say enough good things about the festival, its directors, and staff. It is truly a filmmaker-focused festival.
What’s on the horizon for you?
NASH: Right now, we’re honoring both the actors’ and writers’ ongoing strikes and showing our solidarity whenever and wherever we can. We’re also excited to continue conversations around getting our feature film version of “Judy-ism” off the ground, once the strikes are over. I’m also continuing to audition for non-struck work, including theatre, commercials, and indie film.
LERER: As a director, I’ve been taking three independent short films around the festival circuit. Along with “Judy-ism”, I have a trans abortion romcom road trip movie, “T-Minus”, and a “Black Mirror”-esque science fiction piece, “Carly”. Navigating the climate during the strike means many projects that were moving are now on hold, and for good reason: we need big changes in our industry to make our jobs sustainable. Nash and I are excited to see what comes next for “Judy-ism”, and my psychological thriller “Turbidity” once the AMPTP makes a fair deal and we can get back to work!
That’ll do it for night three! All of these amazing films, as well as all others from the 19th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival will be available in person, at the TCL Chinese Theaters in Los Angeles on their scheduled nights throughout the 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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