Frogman
As a child, Patrick Humphrey had no idea his father was a spy. How much can we really know someone through the stories we inherit?
Interview with Director/Producer Tyler Trumbo
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I'm always compelled by storytelling's abilities (and its limits) to impact how we view our lives and the worlds of the people around us. This film was an exciting opportunity for me to focus on how stories, and sometimes the lack of stories, constructs the identities and legacies of our parents that we create out of the snippets and puzzle pieces of their lives.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Because its an instance where life is truly stranger than fiction. And those places are always exciting to explore.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
One of the major themes in the film is about inheriting the legacies of our parents, and how those legacies shape our own identities and choices in life. By its nature it is extremely personal and unique to each individual, yet at the same time something universally shared by us all.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
Wow, I wouldn't even know where to begin. It was a constant wrestling match with the material to understand its course and trajectory when dealing with so many different elements from the interview sessions to archival military film strips to old new reports to family photo albums. Each needed to respond and serve the next, and the entire process was asking myself how to evolve and propel the film into new directions with each new piece that was collected while remaining truthful to the perspective of my subject.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Pretty positive stuff so far. Most of it comes back to folks responding to the personal side of the story, which thrills me. The film has elements of espionage and mystery with the father having worked for secret intelligence, yet what I always felt was at the heart of the story was the personal sacrifice and resilience of the family.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Only in just how universal it has been to some folks. At the end of the day it is a story about how a son sees and remembers his father. I've had people come up afterward and say that it encouraged them to preserve their own family stories, warts and all.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Just help gain exposure to the film and hopefully get more people to experience it.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
It would be great to find a distributor, additional film festival directors, or an eventual online home to embrace it. Again, at this point its about finding as many ways to get it out to public as possible.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I'd be tickled if after watching, people would be inspired to reflect upon their own family relationships, and the stories we're told (as a family and as a country) that spin the web of how we see ourselves in the world.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Can you truly know someone just through the stories that you are told, or does it take something more?
Would you like to add anything else?
Just a tremendous thank you to my friends and family, and especially the Humphreys, the subjects of the film, for sharing their lives and allowing folks to catch a glimpse of something extremely powerful and important.
What are you developing or producing next?
I recently moved back to my home state of Virginia and in doing so really want to focus on a story that explores an aspect of southern identity. I've got a couple of ideas percolating in the research phase, so stay tuned!
Interview: September 2016
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Frogman
As a child, Patrick Humphrey had no idea his father was a spy. How much can we really know someone through the stories we inherit?
Length: 15 minutes
Director: Tyler Trumbo
Producer: Tyler Trumbo
About the writer, director and producer:
Tyler Trumbo is a Virginia-based documentary filmmaker/editor. His work has been featured on The Atlantic and shown around the world including Sheffield Doc/Fest, Slamdance, and Cinequest.
Key cast: Patrick Humphrey
Looking for: distributors, film festival directors
Made in association with: Stanford University MFA in Documentary Film and Video
Release date: March 2016
Where can I watch it in the next month? Stay tuned...