Cold Feet
Not every girl dreams of becoming a bride.
Interview with Director Spencer Schilly
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I've been friends with Lisa and Phil for many years and when I heard they were finally tying the knot after 9 years together I was thrilled but also surprised and taken aback by Lisa's ambivalence about marriage. This was 2010 and we were fighting for marriage equality and here is Lisa with the man of her dreams, reluctant to marry him. I didn't fully understand and I felt a need to explore her point of view.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The film is very relatable and Lisa is hilarious. It's also nice to see an opposing point of view from a woman who's never dreamed of her wedding day or becoming a bride. It's refreshing to see a woman who’s made it to age 54 and thrived without that dream goal of marriage. It demonstrates a positive point of view about being a woman and having the freedom to choose your own path that we rarely see.
Lisa & Phil at City Hall just after receiving theirmarriage license
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Marriage is a universal theme crammed down our throats by society telling us we aren't complete without it, while Lisa has spent her artistic life mocking marriage; she's now set to embrace it, fearing it will ruin her life and career.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
It's a documentary. There was over 80 hours of footage so finding the right moments to tell Lisa's story wasn't easy but focusing on her fear of marriage through the lens of her successful art career seemed to make the most sense.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I know Lisa and our friends, though being in the theater filled with people I had never met, relating to her story was truly thrilling. Experiencing the audience laughing and crying throughout her journey. So much of our audience tells me how timely and relatable her struggle is to them.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Yes, because to me the film is mainly about identity and embracing love; but to many other people it's also about independence and staying true to one's own self.
Cold Feet - Spencer Schilly (blue tie) filming Lisa at the wedding
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
It's always great for one of my films to start a conversation or be a part of a larger conversation and to do that we need to reach more viewers. We want to help expand people's visions for their lives.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We need all the help we can get!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I'd like to make people laugh and love and hope and dream.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Why do we allow societal labels to define and inhibit us from getting in touch with whom we really are?
Would you like to add anything else?
I couldn't have predicted when I started making this film that the actual wedding ceremony would basically "blurt out" Lisa's real emotions that she likely was not even aware of. There was so much authentic, wide-ranging emotion throughout that we were able to share.
Cold Feet - Cold Feet poster featuring one of Lisa's art works from the mid-nineties
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm in the process of getting my campy creature feature script - "Rabid Rabbits" produced and writing two other webseries.
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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Cold Feet
Not every girl dreams of becoming a bride.
Length:
44 minutes
Director:
Spencer Schilly
Producer:
Spencer Schilly
Phil Buehler
About the writer, director and producer:
Spencer Schilly’s career spans over 20 years as a writer, director, producer and editor. Two of his award-winning narrative features, SUMMER THUNDER and THE HOUSEBOY can be seen on Netflix.
Spencer also edited Todd Stephen’s ANOTHER GAY SEQUEL and RuPaul’s cult-classic STARRBOOTY. To date, he’s edited 9 narrative features and over 20 television series for Bravo, WE, VH1, Oxygen, Discovery, E!, Animal Planet and Lifetime.
Born in Memphis, TN, Spencer graduated with an MFA from School of Visual Arts in 2002. He currently lives in Los Angeles, primarily working as an editor, while also developing several comedy and sci-fi screenplays.
Lisa Levy did a two-day naked performance on a toilet this year making fun of Marina Abromavic and she has a talk show on Radio Free Brooklyn, called, Dr Lisa Gives a Shit.
Phil Buehler continues to make and support socially conscious work.
Key cast:
Lisa Levy
Phil Buehler
Margo Berwin
Kristin Marting
Looking for: (any of the following) producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists
All of the above!
Funders:
Spencer Schilly
Phil Buehler
Made in association with:
Spencer Schilly
Phil Buehler
Release date:
October 2016