Big Sky Documentary Film Festival / Sundance Film Festival 2020 – Character
A meditation on power, privilege, and the perils of being a "type."
Interview with Director/Producer/Editor Vera Brunner-Sung
Watch Character on Vimeo
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
As my practice has shifted from documentary into fiction filmmaking, I've been increasingly compelled by actors -- their talent and skill, as well as the nature of their labor. I made this film to try to understand these things more deeply, through one actor's experience.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It explores the life and career of the character actor Mark Metcalf, most known for his roles in Animal House and on Buffy The Vampire Slayer -- but it becomes about much more: power, privilege, and the kinds of characters that repeat themselves in our culture. It's an unconventional documentary in that it's told in the first person, and is built out of devised scenes and moments rather than talking heads or archival footage. It will engage your head and your heart.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
It's a truism that through specificity, we can find the universal. My film is about one person's career and experience, but it's a lens through which we can understand our own ambition, dreams, and disappointments.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
We began with audio interviews, which I slowly edited down into a roadmap of sorts for the film. Mark and I worked together to come up with activities and moments to film, that could engage or deepen the ideas at play. I had a solid plan when it came time to edit, but the "script" continued to evolve; we even went back into the recording studio to do one more round of interviews as it became clear what the film still needed.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Our premiere at Sundance was a really special experience, in large part because of the warm reception. My sense is that people are connecting with it in a personal way, that they find it moving and even provocative. That's really exciting to me.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
People have had different interpretations of the film -- different takeaways -- and I think it can be read on different levels, and that's a good thing. The happy surprise has been just how accessible the film seems to be.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I'm interested in having as many people learn about the project as possible!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We've just started our festival run, so fest screenings and press are great.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
For me, it's a film that's relevant to our current cultural and political moment, and I hope it can contribute, in some small way, to the conversation.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How do people's assumptions about us shape our identity?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm currently in development on my second fiction feature.
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
Character
A meditation on power, privilege, and the perils of being a "type."
Length: 16:45
Director: Vera Brunner-Sung
Producer: Vera Brunner-Sung
About the writer, director and producer:
VERA BRUNNER-SUNG was born in Michigan to parents from Korea and Switzerland. Her films have been screened at festivals and museums around the world. Her first feature, Bella Vista, premiered at the 2014 International Film Festival Rotterdam (Bright Future) and won her the George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award at the San Diego Asian Film Festival. She is the recipient of a Center for Asian American Media writer/director fellowship.
Key cast: Mark Metcalf
Twitter: @verabsung
Instagram: @vernababylon
Hashtags used: #characterdoc
Website: https://www.brunner-sung.com/
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Big Sky Documentary Film Festival/Missoula, Montana - Feb 15 & 24