Coven Film Festival / MICE Festival 2019 – A Love Letter for the End of the World
A multimedia, personal short film about coming to terms with climate change as a young artist, and cherishing what may be lost within our lifetimes.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Animator Alexi Scheiber
Watch A Love Letter for the End of the World here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I wanted to make a film about climate change that would connect emotionally without being overwhelming.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
If you have a hard time putting into words how you feel about the climate crisis, if you're scared but not quite sure how it'll affect you, I think my film is for you.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Through being incredibly personal and specific, making an autobiographical film, I hoped to reign in the scale of the Climate Crisis and make it manageable to think about for a few minutes. My whole film is about the personal vs the universal.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script didn't change all that much, only a few words really changed in development. I did re-animate the scene that takes place in Amsterdam a few times, though.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback has been amazingly positive. This is my first "big" film so I'm glad it's doing well in festivals, and that people are responding to it.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Some feedback has surprised me, yes. It’s a bittersweet film, and sometimes viewers walk away with only the bitter or only the sweet – I can't control how they feel though.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I am hoping to reach a broader audience, hopefully gain notice of some producers or people who could help fund my next film. I am a freelance animator and I am also open to working on other's 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 would love to get the notice of more film festivals with "A Love Letter for the End of the World," but my main goal is making connections to start new projects.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want my film to get people to not only think about the climate crisis, but feel the impact of what they might lose in their day to day. We only have 12 years to solve this, I think about it every night. This film is part of my bid to not go gently into that goodnight. I would like people to think about what my film asks, don't you love being alive? Wouldn't you be sad to lose this earth? the next time they go to the ballot box, or think about participating in climate activism.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How do you justify being an artist when you think the world is ending? Its a rhetorical question the film poses but it is one I think about often.
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you for the feature – I am looking for work and would especially love to help with films involving environmental or social justice.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am in the pitching phase of another short film, so I can't really say!
Interview: February 2019
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. 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
A Love Letter for the End of the World
A multimedia, personal short film about coming to terms with climate change as a young artist, and cherishing what may be lost within our lifetimes.
Length: 3:57
Director: Alexi Scheiber
Producer: Alexi Scheiber
Writer: Alexi Scheiber
About the writer, director and producer:
ALEXI SCHEIBER is a 22 year-old independent animator. She recently graduated Maryland Institute College of Art, where she studied Animation, with 2 minors in Creative Writing and Illustration. “A Love Letter for the End of the World,” was her senior thesis film, which features footage of her international childhood. Growing up in England, Japan, Italy, and Germany has heavily shaped her work. She hopes to continue making handcrafted films about important topics through a lens of kindness.
Key cast: Alexi Scheiber (narrator), Michael Scheiber (Himself)
Looking for: journalists, film festival directors, producers
Twitter: @alexidoesart
Instagram: @alexidoesart
Website: www.alexischeiber.art/llftew
Other: Vimeo
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? MICE Festival/Spain- February; Onotea Film Festival/Iowa - March