The Scoop
Conversations with culture makers and creators over ice cream
Interview with Showrunner Jeanette Bonner
Watch The Scoop here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I had been writing an ice cream blog called The Ice Creaming as a fun thing on the side and a mentor of mine suggested I use the blog in a more active way to grow my network! I was talking to a Casting Director who shared my love of ice cream, but I didn’t feel comfortable enough around to invite him on an ice cream “date.” I thought, "What if I made this an interview series?", so that other people like me could get to know others in the industry in a real way.
In the entertainment industry there are all these barriers, because ultimately we’re all in charge of hiring and getting hired by each other. Our professional reputations (and future jobs) hang in the balance of other people’s opinions of us. But at the core of it, we’re all in this wild thing together for the same damn reason: for the love of it. I wanted to tap back into that childhood place where we all decided to pursue a career in this industry.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I hope people watch this series and see arts professionals supporting one another and being real people, talking from their hearts about why they love what they do, and why the arts are important to them as human beings. Also, everyone loves ice cream.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I have literally met zero people in my life who say they hate ice cream; to me ice cream (like the arts) is a place where different people of different cultures and ages can come together. It is shared, bonded experience that speaks of togetherness and is all-American.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback we've received through email marketing and in response to releasing the series on social media has been overwhelmingly positive. We are hearing that people LOVE this idea of having a talk show over ice cream. Aside from a few one-off episodes of other food or travel shows, there isn't really a show that focuses 100% on ice cream. We've also been getting a lot of positive feedback on the split of the show. A lot of people told me they thought the show would lean more heavily towards the interview of the industry professional, but it was a nice surprise to see that the show is very equally divided - half ice cream, half industry professional.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I don't believe so because it's been in line with what I believed from the beginning when I set out to make the show. One: that people love ice cream and are very interested by the process of making ice cream, and two that people are interested in learning about people who work in the arts as an industry professional in a "behind the scenes" kind of way, i.e. how they got started, what's fun/challenging about what they do, etc.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I think your site is a great hub for the film-making community, who 1) might be interested in watching a show that interviews people in our industry, 2) might want to be a guest and 3) might want to join me in co-producing a 2nd season.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
What I really want is for the series to be picked up by a network/channel so that we can not only continue to showcase other NYC ice cream shops but ideally other shops like it around America. That's the dream. So kinda the Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives for ice cream. That would obviously take a lot of capital and resources.
Second to a network picking it up would be a production company to co-produce it with me so that we could afford to expand the show to showcase ice cream in a national way, which we could then pitch to networks.
Third tier would be a distribution network so people could find the show outside of our YouTube & social media reach.
Fourth tier would be a production company to co-produce it with here in NYC so we can simply afford to make more episodes. The 7 episodes we did make were funded by a bank loan so the future of The Scoop at present is unknown.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
It's very simple for me - I really just want the series to bring joy. Social media and the news cycle is a steady stream of negativity, prejudice, divisive politics and online debates. One of the nicest responses I got about the series was that it was nice to watch something so full of joy. And, as I mentioned, I want to showcase people working in the arts in a positive way. Maybe a young person will watch it and it will inform/inspire a new generation of people working in the arts.
One of the key questions I have been asking both my ice cream guests and my industry guests is "what's your why?" I think it's important to remember why we all do what we do. What is the greater purpose, what's it all for, why do we get up in the morning every day and deal with the bullshit? I think hearing this answer - though it may be different for everyone - helps to connect us as human beings. as we all struggle with our own why.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I, along with Associate Producer Catriona Rubenis-Stevens, are currently co-producing a piece of independent theater that will open in February 2018 called "Chekhov Dreams." It's a dark comedy about, grief and loss, and, of Chekhov.
Interview: September 2017
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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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The Scoop
Conversations with culture makers and creators over ice cream
Length: Each episode is about 10-13 mins
Director: Co-Directed by Alessia Gatti and Catriona Rubenis-Stevens
Producer: Jeanette Bonner, Kelly's Pool Hall Productions
About the writer, director and producer:
Jeanette Bonner (Creator, Producer, Host): Jeanette is an award-winning actor, writer, and producer living in NYC. Her previous series, "Ghost Light," about community theater stagehands, was an Official Selection of five festivals.
Alessia Gatti (Videographer, Editor, Co-Director):
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): co-producers, distributors, festival directors, journalists
Social media handles:
Facebook: @WatchtheScoop
Twitter:@KellysPoolHall
Instagram: @KellysPoolHall
Funders: Self-funded
Where can I see it in the next month? www.WatchtheScoop.com