Misdirection is a queer comedy about a college freshman who falls in love with close-up magic as an escape from her unrequited crush on her roommate and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Interview with Director/Writer/Producer Carly Usdin

Watch Misdirection here:

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Thank you! This is a story I've been wanting to tell for a while, and submitting it as my script for AFI's Directing Workshop for Women seemed like the perfect opportunity to actually make the film! It combines a lot of things I love (queer characters, explorations of mental illness, coming-of-age stories and close-up magic!) and I was able to have complete creative control, which was incredible.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

I think that it's a really sweet film with lovable characters and relatable situations, but it also has some moments that are really unexpected. I wanted to immerse the audience inside the mind of someone with a very specific type of OCD... but it's also a comedy! With magic tricks! Performed on camera!

Actor: Victoria Ortiz (shot by Robin Roemer (robinroemer.com))

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

The film is deeply personal and based on similar (albeit less dramatic) situations that have unfolded in my life over the years. But I think the themes of unrequited love and figuring out who you are and what you want are very universal.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

In all honesty, the overall structure of the script and story didn't change too much during the script development or even during the shoot, but things did shift a bit once we got into the edit. It took a little time to really find the rhythm of the story and to ensure that the OCD moments were coming through correctly. The score by Jenny Owen Youngs and the sound design and mix by Joanna Katcher really, really sold it in the end.

Actors: Victoria Ortiz and Kara Royster (shot by Robin Roemer (robinroemer.com))

What type of feedback have you received so far?

It's mostly been very positive, which is exciting! I think that the story is resonating with people, and everyone is completely charmed by Victoria Ortiz, our lead.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Some of the initial feedback of the rough cuts was challenging, mostly because the OCD stuff wasn't really tracking as well as I had hoped. But that's to be expected, and it helped make the film much stronger in the end.

DP: Moira Morel (shot by Robin Roemer (robinroemer.com))

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I'm excited for this film to find as wide of an audience as possible, which I know can be tough for shorts. So having it be visible on a site like this really helps get the word out!

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Journalists to write about the film and festival directors to program it!

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

When the lights come on I want people to be sad that it's over.

Director: Carly Usdin (shot by Robin Roemer (robinroemer.com))

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

I would love the film to make people wonder why there aren't more female magicians (or queer magicians!). I also am very open to discussing the mental health aspects of it, which reflect my own experiences very closely.

Would you like to add anything else?

Just that I'm incredibly proud of the film and everyone who worked on it -- it was a real labor of love and I think it shows.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I am currently developing the short into a series! If people like the film they will probably like my comic books with Boom! Studios, Heavy Vinyl and The Avant-Guards.

Misdirection poster (illustrated and designed by Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com))

Interview: March 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

Misdirection

Misdirection is a queer comedy about a college freshman who falls in love with close-up magic as an escape from her unrequited crush on her roommate and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Length: 13:58

Director: Carly Usdin

Producer: Joe Toronto, Robin Roemer, Carly Usdin

Writer: Carly Usdin

About the writer, director and producer:

CARLY USDIN is an award-winning filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Her first feature, Suicide Kale, won the Audience Award for Best First Feature at Outfest 2016. After playing over 30 festivals worldwide the film is now available on iTunes and Amazon Prime. She is also the creator and writer of two comic book series for BOOM! Studios: Heavy Vinyl and The Avant-Guards. Heavy Vinyl was nominated for a 2018 Prism award, honoring the best in LGBTQAI+ comics. Carly recently completed her short film Misdirection as part of AFI's prestigious Directing Workshop for Women.

JOE TORONTO is an award-winning film producer whose work has played in over 150 film festivals worldwide, including Tribeca and Slamdance.

ROBIN ROEMER is a photographer, producer and co-founder of Scheme Machine Studios.

Key cast: Victoria Ortiz (Cam), Kara Royster (Jessie), Jasmin Savoy Brown (Robin), Erick Lopez (Matt), Justin Willman (Hunter), Jasika Nicole (Dr. Becker)

Looking for: journalists, film festival directors

Facebook: Misdirection

Twitter: @misdirectionflm

Hashtags used: #misdirection, #misdirectionfilm

Website: misdirectionfilm.com

Other: IMDB

Made in association with: production company: Scheme Machine Studios

Funders: Seed & Spark crowdfunding campaign, Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation grant

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Queens World Film Festival/Queens - 3/22; Melbourne Queer Film Festival/Melbourne - 3/23; BFI Flare/London - 3/30; qFlix Philly/Philadelphia - 3/31