LA FOCUS - Alternate
After a long day of reality, Philip wants to surf through some alternatives.
Interview with Writer/Director Conor Holt.
Watch Alternate here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made “Alternate” because I wanted to explore the connection between humans and technology, and how something that is made to be fun & enjoyable can be overused and misused in order to distract us from reality. Everyday, I struggle with the fact that the Internet is full of wonderful art and information, but it also demands my constant attention and cuts me off from the real world. I wanted to capture that feeling of internal struggle in a visual, thoughtful short film.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Well, it’s very short, and it’s a look into a very possible future, and hopefully will make you think about if that’s a future you want.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
The story was originally longer, and gave you more details about the futuristic world and how the device worked. But as I worked on more drafts, I became interested in focusing purely on the emotional journey of the character, and expressing that without dialogue or exposition. I used the science-fiction element of virtual reality to explore the themes of isolation and delusion and the dangers of living inside your own fantasy, virtual or not.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
It would be great to get feedback from viewers, and see how they think the future will look like. And I’m always looking to make more films, so I’d love to hear from people interested in collaborating on future projects.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I’d love for the film to play at more festivals and reach a wider audience, as well as be seen and reviewed by film journalists.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I believe science-fiction has a great ability to inspire questions and debate about technology and humanity and where we are headed as a human race. I hope “Alternate” can add to that discussion, and I hope audiences enjoy a small slice of a future we may not be looking forward to.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
If you could live your entire life within a virtual reality of your own making, would you do it?
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Conor Holt is currently producing a short film by his friend Carlos Aguilar, and developing several feature film concepts.