4th Dementia tells the story of a woman with Alzheimer’s who embodies different version of herself and encounter strange families she doesn’t remember, all in search of her husband. To learn more about 4th Dementia and the director, Ian Wexler, and the producer, Ally Condrath, check out their responses to our questions to our “5 Questions With” series below!
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Ian, were there any challenges in making this project?
I think every element of this movie presented its own challenge. This was not an easy film to make, but I think the logistics were the hardest part. The whole film takes place in one room, so logistically that should have been easy, right? But figuring out how to completely transform that room into eight different dimensions in four days, and still have time to light it, shoot it and get great performances was really tough. The schedule was like a rubik’s cube that required a ton of collaboration between all departments. Our Art Department did an amazing job re-dressing the room at lightning speed, sometimes three times a day, and our G&E team was extremely speedy, but it still felt like every minute spent in that room was precious, since there wasn’t a single shot of the movie that we could film outside of that one room. Also getting a piano up a flight of stairs was quite challenging.
Ian, is there any type of message or emotion that you hope the viewer takes away from watching this film?
We hope that we brought a bit of levity and imagination to the subject of Alzheimer’s Disease, which so often is depicted in films in the saddest way possible. I don’t think this film is making a statement so much as asking questions like: what if the disorientation and confusion that comes along with Alzheimer’s is actually something else? Is it possible that the disease unlocks the brain, opening it up to different realities? Different lives they might have lived? Different dimensions?
There’s room for different interpretations of the film, which I love. But I hope that it gives people a new lens through which to view Alzheimer’s. For people who are unfortunately losing loved ones to this degenerative disease, I hope they might find some solace in the idea that maybe their family members aren’t “gone”, maybe they’re experiencing something we can’t see. Maybe they are occasionally off on other adventures, experiencing otherworldly, beautiful realities.
Ally, how does it feel to be able to screen the film at HollyShorts?
To be screening at the TCL Chinese Theatre is a bucket list item, for sure! As a kid, obsessed with I Love Lucy, I’m in awe of this iconic, historical place. Who knows, maybe we’ll steal John Wayne’s footprints too! But truthfully, we are just so excited to share our film with a wider audience on the west coast and to meet inspiring filmmakers in one of the landmarks of our industry.
Ian, what inspired you to start making films?
The four writers/creators of the film, myself, Ally Condrath, Kyle Miller and Jake Mann, we all grew up with a huge love of movies. When we met in College at Emerson, we would spend a lot of our weekends making short films, instead of going to parties. Making movies together was one of the ways we bonded and became best friends, and it’s something we’ve been working toward ever since.
Ally, what’s on the horizon for you?
The next one! Our four person writing and creative team, Dinner for One, have been working together for a decade. As we continue to write and perform live sketch comedy in NYC and produce digital sketches, we are currently in pre production for our next short film which will be shooting early September. It’s a comedy about Millennials and the housing crisis…funny stuff.
Thank you so much, Ian and Ally, for sharing your responses! Click here to get tickets for the 20th Annual Hollyshorts Film Festival, running from August 9th to August 17th at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres.
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