We are moving stories

“As an immigrant whose mother was a refugee, I am very interested in how my own family made decisions that paved the path for the opportunities and lifestyle I have today. This film focuses on the relationship between a mother and a daughter, that exposes the wider feminism taking hold of the world, even in the smallest ways. It also shows how underground movements such as skateboarding are becoming a tool for cultural change and female empowerment in patriarchal societies.”

“I made the film because as a female director I found myself in the beginning of my career as a director feeling like I had to dress like a man to be taken seriously on set.I decided that I didn’t need to do change my femininity and I could still be a woman and do what I do. And so I decided to make a film to inspire women that they can still be feminine and beautiful and be a badass. So I spend 3 months searching for professional female skaters who could wear Christian Siriano’s couture gowns and skate.”

“Skateboarding and sobriety are huge parts of my life. SUNDAYS gives a small glimpse into the connection of recovery through skateboarding. Having that common thread has had a profound impact on me and so many other people that I know. I was hoping this little idea could be contagious and people could see what we have here in this group and maybe inspire others to do something similar where they live.”

“Everyone has that friend that’s bursting with life and full of potential. The concept of the show was stuck in a cycle of drunken conversations until I cracked and pushed to materialize it. It’s an exploration into a widening gap in Australian Society, those who work 9-5 and those who don’t, using the subculture of skateboarding to drive the story.”

“Cinema aesthetics itself can also be personal or at least emote personal feelings. In the first few shots we wanted to show Paris as we know it; beautiful and romantic, something people personally have experienced or imagined in their head. We then veered into a much more static and rigid way of shooting Versailles and the monarchs. After that we jumped into a very urban, cinema verite, blend of skateboarding, hip hop, soccer, drug use, and protesting.”

“The film is an unapologetic display of abandoned youths stripped back to a simplistic form. Contemplative and raw, Skates is an arresting film about a universal feeling set amidst the bright lights of a 1979 roller rink. It is a film that can resonate with those that remember the rinks of the 1970s, as well as young people today who can relate to the protagonists. There is something in it for everyone.”

“My co-writer Jenny and I found out our childhood skating rink in Texas was for sale a few years ago. We joked about buying it but decided to make a short film about it instead. RIP White Rock Skate.”

“Who else in the history of humanity has had to win a gold medal at the Olympics in order to create an art form?”

“At the age of 90, Yvonne Dowlen was still competing in figure skating competitions and on the ice at least five days a week. In fact, she believed it was easier to skate than walk. When we met Yvonne, her personality was infectious. Unashamedly herself, she is a perfect example that doing what you love, every day, is the key to a long life lived well.”

“You should watch because you love the 80s and 90s and long for a time when people danced & celebrated their diversity outdoors. There is also a kick ass soundtrack and beautiful images of Venice beach, a very special place that provided a utopia and escape of sorts for our characters. You will also get to meet Mad, the complex central character, whose story stole my heart.”

“With Dead Hairy Hipster, we wanted to build a quick, dynamic, relationship and situation-driven comedy. It is a testament to what can be done in a short time when three gifted and intelligent actors commit fully to a ridiculous scenario, and then bring a generous and playful approach to set.”

“I think everyone can relate to the freaky nature of childbirth. Everyone has had some encounter with it. Procreation is the common denominator of all living things! It is the most normal, yet most bizarre phenomena. I’ve never personally had a child, but I was a little alien baby just like everyone else!”

“People being priced out of their own homes is something that happens everywhere and I have had to move out of places because they were turned into high rent condominiums in the past.”

“I was biking past a parking lot in Venice and saw a makeshift show by a homeless future star named YumiSoCute.com, who was living in her car since she’d come out from New Orleans. I was super inspired by her, and offered to make her a music video.”

“The film is about two young aspiring punk musicians who in their pursuit of fame try to sign a contract with a sociopath. We wanted to take a gritty, honest look at young female relationships and their competitive nature. Especially when it comes to love and status. As we follow Ruby and Tuesday we start to take a look at how far they go to pursue their dreams and the kind of people they are willing to become as a result.”

“the film was inspired by personal experiences/encounters myself and the cast (who are all actual musicians) have had being people of color who navigate predominately white spaces. However, in addition to that, this is a film that explores the universal theme of identity; I feel like everyone can connect with that.”

“It’s 10 minutes long. It’s punk, like an Instagram story and poetic like a slap in your face and It’s gonna break your heart and make you hungry at the same time.”

“Blast Beat was born out of our desire to put on the screen the type of cool and edgy multi-cultural cinema we want to see as American Latinos. We wanted to put up mirrors that would depict more truthfully the Latino experience in the United States.”

“Growing up skating, I hail from a motley group that were judged before being understood. It was a quality in this script that instantly resonated.”

“It’s been super positive! People really enjoy it thankfully. It premiered at Fantasia to a sold out crowd of 700 people, which was crazy fun. We’ve been getting into some amazing film festivals too. But I don’t think my parents like it very much!”

“We often bring biases or prejudices to our interactions with other humans, and Off Ramp attempts to break down those expectations. We tried to do this by constantly shifting genres and styles and by even shifting protagonists midway through the film. It starts as one thing, then the off-ramp takes you in another direction. And hopefully in a direction that makes you feel something for the other people on earth.”

“I think the scope of it changed. It went from being ‘We’ll just talk to this guy who likes collecting old stuff’ to ‘ok turns out this is a really big deal for a lot of people and there’s all this history in Australia when it comes to games and technology that hasn’t been told yet so let’s tell it’.”