LA FOCUS - Move Me
Logline: While hiking, a couple find a mysterious man who can only move while in physical contact with another person.
Length: 22:22
Director:
Gabe Crate
Producer:
Kerri Parker
Writer:
Gabe Crate
About the writer, director and producer:
Writer/director Gabe Crate began his career in comics - writing and illustrating such titles as “The Tick” and “The Flickers.” As a professional storyboard artist and produced screenwriter, he’s honed his storytelling and composition skills and is excited to get started on his first feature with his producer wife, Kerri Parke
Producer/production designer Kerri Parker Graduating with a BFA in Printmaking and Drawing from Washington University, Kerri Parker pursued her artistic interests to Los Angeles in the entertainment industry. She co-founded Flophouse Productions in 2015 with her husband director, Gabe Crate.
Producer John Salcido began his filmmaking career as a seventeen year old freshman at Stanford University. Since earning his degree in English, he moved on to attain an MFA in film production from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinema-Television. He is now an Emmy- award winning television producer and filmmaker, under his B-side Pictures banner. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife, daughter, vinyl records and English bulldog.
Key cast:
Danny Jacobs, Catherine Parker, Aidan Bristow, and Caroline Macey
Looking for: We are interested in finding like minded, talented producers/financiers to partner with for future projects.
Funders: Primarily funded by Flophouse Productions, with some much appreciated crowd funding to help put us over the top.
Made in association with: Flophouse Productions, B-side pictures, Pace Pictures
Release date: March 2016
Where can I watch it at the film festival or in the next month?
June 4th 2:45 PM - Los Angeles, CA - Dances With Films (shorts group 2)
June 6th 10:00 PM – Middletown, NY – Hoboken Int’l Film Festival (block B)
June 12th 9:30 AM – Jerome, AZ – Jerome Indie Film and Music Festival
June 22nd 5:00 PM - Salt Lake City UT, Filmquest (block 20)
http://www.movemefilm.com for ticket info
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thanks, we’re really excited by how the film is being received.
I’d had a few short screenplays produced, all the while making ends meet as a storyboard artist. After getting traction/interest on a feature script, my wife suggested I’d be happier directing my work than handing it over to somebody else to interpret. I’d had mixed results with other directors in the past (some great by the way) and frankly I was really surprised that with my visual background it never occurred to me to direct my own scripts. My wife is a smart woman.
After being told not to attach myself to the project as writer/director (unproven entity = pain in their ass) by several producers, we decided to produce “Move Me” on our own to showcase of our talent. And I think it’s having the desired effect (fingers crossed).
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It’s a fun and unpretentious film that still manages to have a substantive core. I can honestly say it represents me as an artist extremely well and I’m proud of the hard work that went in to making it.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I enjoy the fact that there’s been various interpretations of the themes and I certainly don’t want to diminish anyone else’s viewpoint, but to me this film is about co-dependency. A man finds himself completely dependent on others to function and this inspires change within himself. On a greater more universal level it can also be about the need for basic human contact.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
Not much actually, I wrote, storyboarded, and then directed “Move Me” in rapid succession with a very defined idea of what it was. Once we were editing and refining, there was a bit of cutting the fat, but still, it came fairly whole cloth.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We’ve had three screenings in various fests so far and won a juried “Best Short Film” award as well as a “Honorable Mention Best Short Film.” That’s wonderful and amazing to win some awards, but we really enjoy the response we’ve gotten from the people who approach us after the screenings. Some very enthusiastic people have been interested in discussing the film with us at length. It’s very flattering.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I have noticed that, despite the fact I was writing comedic story, that the feedback has focused more on the emotional impact. That’s fantastic, but I am genuinely surprised.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Haha. That’s a very direct question. Bottom line is that we have our next projects ready to go. I’ve worked them at the script level, done readings with actors, and all I need now is folks to like or recognize the potential in my work. That and we just want to share our work with as many people as possible.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Again, this is more for our next project (no plans to expand “Move Me” in to a feature), but we are hoping to eventually partner with folks we really like in all areas “financial” and “promotional.” We can make ‘em, we just might need help from the right people once they’re made.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Firstly, I hope the positive reception continues. But beyond that, I hope it gives people an opportunity to reflect on the relationships in their lives. Both positive and negative.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
With “Move Me” I was worried that elements of the story could be perceived as sexist. I can’t get in to it without spoiling plot points, but I almost switched the sexes of the characters to discourage that idea, but I was thankfully talked out of it (love my cast as is). Nobody has brought it up, but as a feminist I’d be open to discuss it.
Would you like to add anything else?
Continuing in the theme of feminism; I would just like to say that my wife Kerri, and I are committed to fostering an inclusive work environment counter to the so called “industry boys club.” I’m pretty pissed off by the present landscape for both women and other misrepresented people. In both content and in our creative approach we genuinely want to make an impact. I realize that this sounds like eye-roll inducing platitudes coming from a white male filmmaker, but tough. It’s important.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We have two features and a short documentary we’re developing, all of which we’re excited to start work on!