A couple debates having unprotected car sex late at night.
What inspired you to start making films?
Filmmaking is something I gradually found. I started editing AMVs at 12, just as a fun outlet. Eventually I wanted more control over the stories I was telling and ended up studying directing in college.
Were there any challenges in making this project?
This project was logistically very complicated to complete! The short is 12 minutes, and includes a 10-minute one shot sex scene that takes place in a car at night. We do a 360 degree turn inside the vehicle, and were very careful not to show any faces. Our goal was to emphasize the way we texturally remember moments, and desexualize the scene as much as we could.
I want to give a huge shoutout to our cinematographer, Elias Ginsberg, and our intimacy coordinator, Chels Morgan. Trying to direct, shoot, and choreograph this project really was a collaborative effort and they both knocked it out of the park.
Is there any type of message or emotion that you hope the viewer takes away from watching this film?
I don’t think Bree’s experience in the short is unique. Even though the evening shown is supposed to be inconsequential, it sticks with her nonetheless. While she doesn’t currently have the words to describe how she’s feeling, it’s a night that she will remember when she’s older and does.
My hope is that the film lends empathy to people who’ve had similar experiences to Bree, and gives pause to those who have not.
How does it feel to be able to screen the film at HollyShorts?
Incredibly exciting! It’s a fantastic festival, and as someone who lives in Los Angeles it’s great to screen locally. At Half-Light’s world premiere there was a fairly significant gender divide in the interpretation of the characters’ relationship, and I’m interested to see if the same thing happens at HollyShorts.
What’s on the horizon for you?
I’m looking to eventually expand Half-Light into a feature, picking up where the short leaves off. I’m additionally developing a short doc about the sex lives of cat owners involved in BDSM and kink communities.
Thanks to Lauren for the conversation! 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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