Oregon Short Film Festival 2020 – A Moment
Quirky relationship comedy: A couple embarks upon a passionate discussion that serves to transform the dynamic of their relationship in a single moment…
Interview with Writer/Director Emily Jennifer Lerer
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
We found that various relationship dynamics started to have some really profound and hilarious similarities and wanted to explore that more.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It's short, simple and sweet, exploring the complexities of modern relationships and what it means to try to sever from one.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
In a personal way, A Moment deals with a breakup and a strange one at that. Ben doesn't know how to end his relationship with Laurel. Universally its a love story.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
It started out much longer, Cason and I can be pretty verbose.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
People are finding it more dramatic than we had originally imagined it to be. We're getting a lot of "I didn't see that coming" and "I knew that's where this was going the whole time". It's interesting to see which parts of the film people connect to.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
With each new project, you learn a lot. We've learned so much making this film, that we plan to take with us into the next one.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Hopefully, more people get the opportunity to see our short film.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Distributors
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We hope it's an enjoyable ride.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What is the most ethical way to break up with someone?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We're in pre-production for our next short Punch Drunk.
Interview: February 2020
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 Moment
Quirky relationship comedy: A couple embarks upon a passionate discussion that serves to transform the dynamic of their relationship in a single moment…
Length: 7:00
Director: Emily Lerer
Producer: Josh Kirkwood & Zoe Moacanin
Writer: Cason Weiss & Emily Lerer
About the writer, director and producer:
EMILY LERER is a director, writer and post-production manager with a background in theater telling stories from Shakespeare to new works. Her passion is storytelling that explores heavy subject matter with a comedic approach. Her post-production experience spans Docuseries Wolves and Warriors (Animal Planet), and Scripted tv: Woke (Hulu/Sony), Twenties (BET), and Shameless (Warner Brothers/Showtime). Emily recently made her film directorial debut in A Moment currently making the film festival circuit. She is a proud member of the Alliance of Women Directors, SMPTE, and HPA. www.emilyjlerer.com
CASON WEISS is a writer, comic and frequent flier of UCB who most recently co-starred as President Donald Trump in Les Deux You Remember This: The Musical for the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Having moved to LA in pursuit of stage performance and storytelling, Cason began his stand-up career in the underbelly of Silicon Valley, where still occasionally visits to see his favorite barber. Featured on such shows as FCCFREE Radio Ha Ha, Mutiny Radio's Alta-Cast with Latoya Shariff Wynn, and Personally Speaking show, he has also performed with the Playwright's Center Theater Festival, penned stories for The Moth, and provided voiceovers for radio (NPR, What A Tomato Produce Co., Asiento Tapas). www.casonweiss.com
JOSH KIRKWOOD (Director of Photography, Co-Producer) is a producer and director of photography based in Los Angeles, California. Born and raised in LA, Josh attended Brooks Institute of Photography, where he earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Film Production. After graduating, Josh spent three years working in commercial production and an additional five years working as a freelance producer, director, and DP for a multitude of shorts, music videos, commercials, and documentaries. He is currently producing for and co-owner of Caninwood Pictures.
ZOE MOCCASIN (Co-Producer) is a producer, writer, and comedian based in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from The University of California, Irvine and has studied comedic improvisation, screenwriting, and film production at The Second City Hollywood, UCB, IO West, The Pack Theater, and The Groundlings. She has written and produced for multiple YouTube channels, staged sketch shows, and stand-up performances spanning the Los Angeles area. Zoe has worked for prominent production companies such as Voltage Pictures and Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Robot Chicken, Super Mansion), Co-Owner of Caninwood Pictures. She wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the half-hour comedy pilot Legacy which is currently in consideration at multiple festivals.
Key cast: Anna Chazelle (Laurel), Cason Weiss (Ben)
Made in association with: Caninwood Pictures & Roaring Kitten Productions
Funders: Self-funded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Oregon Short Film Festival/ Portland, OR- Feb 20th; Brightside Film Festival/Jersey City, New Jersey-Feb 28-March 1 TBD; Poppy Jasper Film Festival/Morgan Hill, CA- April 2nd.