When Kenny is passed over for a promotion, he makes a decisive choice that puts a co-worker into the hospital and leaves him to suffer with the moral consequences.

Interview with Director Robert Herzog

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

What made me want to tell this story is the moment in the film in which the protagonist is put in a morally difficult position and has to make a split-second decision whether to do the right thing or do what is best for himself. It’s a theme that I’ve explored in a number of feature-length screenplays, and when I read my co-writer’s first draft of this short years ago, it stayed with me.

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

Well, I hope that it makes the audience feel something and leave thinking about what happened. It’s a simple goal that I think we accomplished. Another reason one should see the film is it explores a unique workplace and characters that aren’t often seen on screen.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

The inciting incident of the movie is, in my opinion, as universal as it gets: the main character doesn’t get something he believes he deserves. In this case, the thing is a promotion that is given to someone else who seems not to have earned it and may even be unfit for the job, but it can really stand for any kind of recognition or reward--we’ve all been in similar situations.

As for personal themes, I grew up near Rochester, New York. While Rochester might not technically be a Rust Belt city, it also had a thriving manufacturing sector that has largely disappeared. From that background, I had a lot of family and friends who worked in machine shops and similar environments, so I guess I felt I knew the characters in this script--or at least could relate to them.

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

The biggest change was the handling of “the decision” in the movie. Not to give anything away to anyone out there who might see it, but it went from a moment that was much more deliberate--something that my co-writer and I were not satisfied with--to something more hazy and ambiguous.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

It seems the audience has its own take on what happens, which is great.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I guess the range of opinions on what the protagonist does in the story has surprised me a little bit. Some viewers think he hasn’t done anything wrong, others think what he does is monstrous, and I fall somewhere in the middle.

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

I’m excited about the opportunity to reach a wider audience. I hope people see the movie and that it stays with them, at least for a bit.

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

Well, I am writing a feature that uses this short as the first act of a bigger story, so if anyone likes what they see …. But, to be honest, I’d be happy getting into a lot of film festivals.

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

I don’t know what kind of impact it might have, but, again, I have the simple wish that people see it and think about it after they watch it.

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

This film might raise a question something like this one: If manufacturing--and essentially all similar jobs that involve manual labor and physical skill--are on the verge of extinction, or require almost a fight to the death to obtain, what do we propose the working class do in the future? They can’t all work at Walmart or Dunkin Donuts.

Would you like to add anything else?

Did I mention it was just 9 minutes? Please see it and let us know what you think!

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

As I mentioned earlier, I’m working on a feature screenplay that uses this short as a springboard to a story with more twists and turns and being a good father to my one-year-old daughter. The producers are working in NYC and LA, and my co-writer is finishing his MFA at Columbia University.

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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Turnings

When Kenny is passed over for a promotion, he makes a decisive choice that puts a co-worker into the hospital and leaves him to suffer with the moral consequences.

Director: Robert Herzog

Producer: Sam Mariotti, Giovanni Ferrari

Writer: Robert Herzog, Thomas Mentel

Key Cast: Zachary Le Vey

Looking for: All of the above

Funders: n/a

Made … : Like 8 Films and Persevera Productions