Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2020 – Louie's Antiques
In Louie’s shop, antique objects get a second life–- and come to life. An unusual antique dealer, Louis Farrick, provides a tour of his richly laden little store in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Interview with Director/Producer/Editor Melissa McClung
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I first met Louie when I unsuspectingly wandered into his antique shop and fell down the rabbit hole. Two years later, I've emerged, with this film in tow. I usually go into making films with a plan and a vision, so it was a joyful experience to follow my instincts, play, and see what bubbled up. Louie quickly became my unlikely muse.
Unfortunately, due to rising rents in our small city of Northampton, MA, Louie was recently forced to close his shop after 38 years. The magical portal has closed. Each viewing is a peek through the peephole.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
To spend 8 minutes with Louie and his strange objects.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Louie touches on themes of life, death, destiny, vibes, and mysticism. We hear Louie's life philosophy through hearing about his relationship with the items in his shop.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I first came upon Louie as I was writing a fiction script. The characters on the page weren't coming alive, so I went searching for local, real-life characters to study in order to enhance my writing. As soon as I met Louie, I knew I had met a character. He seemed instantly comfortable with me and in front of the camera. It was like he was waiting his whole life to be on screen! From there, I spent time with him as often as I could, and the film organically emerged.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Laughter is the best feedback I've gotten so far, as well as many questions about my process, the animated elements and Louie's biography. I chose to sidestep Louie's life story in the film, instead of focusing on his relationship with the objects in his shop. Part of this focus was me, as the filmmaker, exploring and playing with the objects as well. Animation and observing the objects through magnifying glasses and macro-lenses came naturally from that standpoint.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I'm always surprised to hear laughter when I screen my films because I often don't realize if and when something is funny or surprising. I go about filming and editing with a certain earnestness and hear audience reactions. Screening films is always informative, and I truly believe that an audience brings the final element to a film and story.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I would like to have more exposure for my film so that audiences know to look for it in the shorts program at the Melbourne Documentary Film Fest.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I understand that shorts are hard to market and sell, but nonetheless, I would love to find someone to work with to release the film online and/or help the film through the rest of its festival run. I would love to release the film on a platform that allows it a broader audience than just my friends, family and community.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would love to release the film on a platform that allows it a broader audience than just my friends, family and community.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Do you believe objects are instilled with their history? Is there sacredness in inanimate objects? Are antique shops themselves antiquated? Should society keep objects that come from or represent our problematic histories?
Would you like to add anything else?
Thanks so much to We Are Moving Stories for supporting my film and others!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Melissa McClung (Director) is in post-production on a hybrid short about a young girl who saves the world from an asteroid. The live-action film features animation, puppetry and elements of documentary. Louie plays a small role-- as a fictionalized version of himself!
Interview: July 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
Louie's Antiques
In Louie’s shop, antique objects get a second life–- and come to life. An unusual antique dealer, Louis Farrick, provides a tour of his richly laden little store in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Length: 8:23
Director: Melissa McClung
Producer: Melissa McClung
Writer: Melissa McClung
About the writer, director and producer:
MELISSA McCLUNG is an award-winning filmmaker based in Western Massachusetts. Her short documentary, Louie's Antiques, is an Official Selection of the 58th Ann Arbor Film Festival and Melbourne Documentary Festival, among others, and it will be preserved in Historic Northampton's permanent archive. Melissa received her MFA in Film from Vermont College of Fine Arts, where she was advised by filmmakers Nina Davenport, Josephine Decker and Laura Colella. See some of Melissa's work at melissamcclung.com.
Key cast: Louis Farrick (Featuring)
Looking for: buyers, film festival directors, sales agents, distributors, journalists
Instagram: @melissasmarbles
Hashtags used: #louiesantiques
Website: www.melissamcclung.com/louies-antiques
Other: IMDb
Funders: Self-funded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Melbourne Documentary Film Festival preview screening- 30th June 2020 - 15th July 2020; Ann Arbor Film Festival 2020 touring program- TBD.