Austin Film Festival - Fish & Chicks
"Name two figures of the French revolution?" Erwan responds with a joke scribbled on his school desk, a stranger answers back with their own scribble, and so a game begins. With each exchange, the urge to discover the identity of the other only grows stronger! Their dialogue resonates like a promise...
Interview with Director Elise Mc leod & Julie Grumbach
Watch Fish & Chicks here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
It’s a prelude to our feature that we’ve written, and although it is not at all the same story or characters, it’s the same universe and themes. We wanted to talk about missed moments in life and their impact. Also the way people communicate hasn’t really change, a lot is still written even if the technology is different, before it was a school desk now it’s a FB wall !
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It’ll make you reflect on that key moment of life when you were a teenager, even the smallest event or meeting with someone can influence the course of your life.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Fish & Chicks is a universal film, as every one of us is faced with our first love and missed moments in life, can relate to it.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
We wrote it fairly quickly, there were rewrites but no really any major changes, the structure, story and characters stayed pretty much the same.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
It touches lots of people, everyone who isn’t any longer a teenager relates back to that moment of their life and has similar stories. And the teenagers who’ve seen it often say to us, yes that’s how it is for me, or my sister, or my best friend. So I think we’ve succeeded in being able to represent and talk to numerous generations and cultures.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Our biggest surprise is how so many audience members assume a happy ending on our open ending, most people believe in love and the one, not in missed opportunities.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
As I mentionned in the beginning, it’s a prelude to our feature so we need people to know about our film for the next step.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
All of the above :) , Producer for our feature, buyers and film festival directors for Fish & Chicks.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We hope it makes people reflect on the smaller moments of their lives and if they had made another choice what would have happened.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What would you do differently if you were a teenager now?
Has communication changed for the younger generation?
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Julie Grumbach (co-director & screenwriter) and myself are presently looking for a producer for our feature script which has been written and is at 4th draft stage.
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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Fish & Chicks
"Name two figures of the French revolution?" Erwan responds with a joke scribbled on his school desk, a stranger answers back with their own scribble, and so a game begins. With each exchange, the urge to discover the identity of the other only grows stronger! Their dialogue resonates like a promise...
Length: 18 minutes
Director: Elise Mc Leod & Julie Grumbach
Producer: Gwenaelle Clauvwert
Writer: Elise Mc Leod & Julie Grumbach
About the writer, director and producer:
In 1997, Elise arrives in Paris to study cinema at Paris VIII. At that time Julie finishes her studies at ESRA, working as an assistant director on commercials. In 1999, Julie directs her first short animation “CHIFOUMI” as well as a series of corporate films for Ubisoft. In 2001, Elise, honors degree in hand, works on her first feature as an assistant director for Samantha Lang's film “THE IDOL”. In parallel Elise adapts and directs for the theatre “THE RABB'IS CAT”, then writes the play “ALL WOMEN ARE GUILTY” which she also directs. Spurred on by some actors, Elise begins her career as an acting coach.
In 2003 Elise and Julie meet for the first time on the set of the film “SAINT-ANGE” by Pascal Laugier. For almost four years they regularly work together as assistant directors. In 2008, when Julie directs a music video, Elise is her assistant. Elise starts directing commercials and naturally Julie is her 1st assistant director.
Both Elise and Julie develop their professional experience separately but they meet up regularly for projects in common. It’s in 2011 that they decide to write together. This creative union happens in harmony, with each of them bring the richness of their past collaborations and experiences. The next obvious step is to direct together. They both have complete trust in the choices of the other and they are certain that pooling their talents and expertise make them better.
Key cast: Martin Coombes, Valentine Cadic, Coline Beal
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Made in association with: Ten2ten films
Release date: 9.6.16