Austin Film Festival - Take With Water
After her first one night stand, Emma navigates the awkward aftermath of casual sex and learns to embrace her sexuality.
Interview with Writer/Director Tara O’Sullivan
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! I made this film at a time where I was thinking a lot about what makes people feel positive after a sexual experience, and what makes them feel negative. I wanted to tell a story about a girl who is struggling with these feelings, and who ultimately comes away with something positive. It came from a lot of serious thoughts that I chose to approach in a comedic way, since that’s how I approach most things.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I think you should watch this film if you like awkward, dry, or even slightly surreal comedy. If you want to laugh and also think. Most people walk away from watching it feeling good, so it sends a positive message.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Sex and relationships are personal by nature. I wrote the film from a very personal place, and because of that I wasn’t sure if it would be something that connected with wider audiences. Screening it over the past year has shown me how it really does resonate with people of all ages, genders, and sexualities which has been a really cool thing to see happen. Everyone has had their share of awkward encounters, mistakes, and confusion so many viewers see themselves in the characters and are able to laugh along. On top of that, everyone experiences sex, but not enough people talk about it. I think it’s becoming a less and less faux pas topic, which is great, but I think it’s still a theme that has a lot of exploration to do and new perspectives to be seen.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
I love this question, because it’s something I think about a lot when I’m making anything. The initial “vision” I have when I’m writing a script is always fairly different from the end product. The best actors seem to come into the audition room and bring a lot of daring things to a character that I would never have thought up on my own, budget restrictions force creative solutions, and scenes are completely rearranged in the editing room. One big change, for instance, was the pharmacy scene. I saw it exactly how you’d expect: in a CVS or other big brand pharmacy, but that was an impossible dream. We talked to over 15 independently run pharmacies before finally finding one two and a half hours away that was willing to work with us. It was a tiny, rinky-dink old fashioned pharmacy with an old school soda fountain in the back. I think it had a lot of personality and gave some fun detail to those scenes that I never expected.
What I love about filmmaking is how collaborative it is. Every person who comes onto the project brings a unique, creative perspective to my script. I love working with people who are passionate about my idea and come to me with ways that a costume can deepen a character’s persona, how their bedroom can tell audiences who they are, how lighting a shot in a specific way can add a new comedic beat that wasn’t written in. So many hands shape the script from its conception and turn it into a three dimensional, textured film.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We’ve gotten really great feedback on the film! Mostly positive. There is no better feeling than sitting in a crowded theater at a festival and hearing laughter everywhere. Especially if it’s during moments where laughter was intended.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Sometimes I’ve been surprised at the parts of the film that resonate with people the most, or the parts that resonate the least. When certain scenes don’t come across as strongly as I’d hoped it’s definitely challenged me to consider what I could have done differently throughout the process to make my point of view come through stronger. Feedback is the best way to learn and grow for the next project.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I’m looking forward to reaching more people! We’re planning on releasing it for everyone to see soon, so I’m hoping it will bring in more viewers. I’ve loved having this film screened to people because it’s such a special project to me, so widening it beyond the festival circuit is a really exciting prospect right now.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I would welcome any and all of the above. Always. For anything. But really I think distributors are important at the stage we’re in with it right now. I don’t even mean paying distributors, I realize the market for short films is pretty slim. But we would love to release it somewhere other than just Vimeo or YouTube. Some kind of shorts-specific website for audiences who love the short film format. Journalists are always great for amplifying the message as well. The more the word spreads the better!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would love for it to continue dialog about sex as well as awkward contemporary relationships. We’re living in a weird time for both of these topics, and the film touches a lot on that. I also just hope people walk away from it feeling good and remembering it.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What is your most awkward sexual encounter?
Would you like to add anything else?
I hope everyone reading gets around to seeing the film and enjoys it! Thanks for reading.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We’ve all spread out across the country and are still working towards our film goals! I’m living in New York City right now working as an assistant editor at editorial/post-production company called PS 260. I’m also working on a sketch comedy series that I’m really excited about and am continuing to write and develop other scripts for future projects that will be further down the line.
Producer Susan O’Brien is also living in NYC. She’s been doing a lot of freelance cinematography work and was working as an assistant to a documentary filmmaker for a while, among other exciting projects.
Producer Kayla Adams is living in Atlanta, GA and working as a production manager at a broadcasting and media production company called EventStreams.
Cinematographer Allie Schultz is currently a part of the AFI Conservatory program earning her masters degree for cinematography.
Art Director and costume designer Jen Grubbs is freelancing in New York City and currently works as a costume PA for the Netflix show “The Get Down.”
Editor Jocelyn Schofield is working as an assistant editor and media manager for “The Incredible Dr. Pol” on Nat Geo Wild in Washington DC.
Interview: October 2016
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. 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
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Take WIth Water
After her first one night stand, Emma navigates the awkward aftermath of casual sex and learns to embrace her sexuality.
Length: 9min 55s
Director: Tara O’Sullivan
Producer: Susan O’Brien/Kayla Adams/Tara O’Sullivan
Writer: Tara O’Sullivan
About the writer, director and producer:
Tara is a writer,director, and editor with a passion for comedy and filmmaking living and working in New York City.
Susan is a multi-talented writer, director, producer, filmmaker, and artist living and working in New York City.
Kayla Adams is a hardworking production manager living and working in Atlanta, Georgia.
Key cast: Hailey Vest, Tom Perkins, Chloe Kay, Dandy Barrett, Larry May
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Funders: Funded independently via Indie Gogo
Made in association with: the Savannah College of Art and Design
Release date: Winter of 2016/17
Where will it screen in the next month? We’re making decisions on where and how we want to wide release it, but we’re rounding the end of our festival run so we’ll probably be doing that in the next month or two. If you follow our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TakeWithWater you can stay up-to-date on its progress!