My Idea - YACHT
It’s a painful process being an idea waiting to be brought to life, waiting to become real. Many ideas never make it. My Idea is a motion capture actor who is stuck as a motion capture actor 24/7 — eating, living, working — wondering when his creators will set him free.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Actor Kailee McGee
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
YACHT and I are long-time great friends and frequent collaborators across many mediums. In 2022, they sent me their new song "My Idea" and asked me if it sparked anything for me in the music video sphere. I sat with the song for a couple of weeks, and then the concept and story for the music video came to me. A few years earlier they had shown me an amazing, behind-the-scenes video of Benedict Cumberbatch doing motion capture for The Hobbit, which brought me endless joy and wonder. I never forgot that YouTube video, and it popped into my mind while I listened to their song. That was the initial idea spark for this music video concept.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Alex Karpovsky is a lonely motion capture actor who is stuck as a motion capture actor 24/7. He cohabitates with chickens and lives off of diet coke and fried eggs. If this sounds at all intriguing to you, this film is for you.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
This piece reflects the personal and universe themes I find myself returning to the most in my work—identity, self-actualization, and loneliness. This film asks the big question that constantly haunts and inspires me: what does it mean to be real?
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The final music video very much reflects the original concept and script. Probably more than any piece I have made, it feels very close to my original idea and how I initially visualized the story unfolding in my mind.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
To be honest, this music video has not gotten much exposure. It's very underrated in my opinion.
Here are two of my favorite Youtube comments:
"Anyone else feels like it’s almost a crime that this isn’t have at least 100,000 views yet? Extremely well shot and edited" -@AndrewCrusoe
"Completely in love with every aspect of this" -@GeorgiaTheBunny
Generally, people find it very funny and laugh, and they also seem left with several deeper questions about identity, performance, and the human condition.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The lack of views and sharing of the video has me feeling disappointed and confused about the state of music videos in general.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We are looking to find new audience members and more visibility.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We are open to any kind of person to come on board to help us find more exposure for this piece, and we are also open to finding additional homes (digital and IRL) for the music video.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I hope initially people are excited about the vibrant concept of Alex playing a motion capture actor and the cute giggles, but then they are encouraged to think a bit deeper about the struggle of the creative process itself.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What do we owe to our ideas?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Check out my new narrative film, Can, which is world premiering at SXSW.
Interview: March 2024
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
My Idea - YACHT
It’s a painful process being an idea waiting to be brought to life, waiting to become real. Many ideas never make it. My Idea is a motion capture actor who is stuck as a motion capture actor 24/7 — eating, living, working — wondering when his creators will set him free.
Length: 6:23
Director: Kailee McGee
Producer: Kailee McGee, Nichole Luna, Rich Costales, JP Bolles
Writer: Kailee McGee
About the writer, director and producer:
KAILEE MCGEE is an award-winning artist, filmmaker, and writer. She makes content for screens of all sizes and real life too. Her work frequently blurs the line between reality and fiction and life and art. In 2024, Kailee will premiere her new motion picture, Can, at the SXSW Film Festival, which will also showcase her latest short film, music video hybrid, My Idea. Kailee has directed numerous commercials, music videos, short films, and long films. Her cinematic experience, The Idea of a You, premiered on NOWNESS in 2022 after being featured at the Tribeca Film Festival. In 2019, Kailee garnered attention with her multi-faceted role as a writer, director, producer, and performer in her celebrated short film, The Person I Am When No One Is Looking, which premiered on Vulture. Kailee was born in Tucson, Arizona and raised in Laguna Beach, California. She studied at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and now lives in Los Angeles.
Key cast: Alex Karpovsky (The Actor, Claire L. Evans (The Director), Jona Bechtolt (The Sound Guy), Rob Kieswetter (The Camera Guy), Kailee McGee (The Make-Up Girl)
Looking for: journalists, distributors
Instagram: @kittypawsxoxo
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
SXSW Film Festival / Austin, Texas / March 11th and 14th