An aspiring actress encounters a mysterious, Shakespeare- quoting stranger and finds herself drawn into his bizarre world, as the lines between fact and fiction begin to blur…

Interview with Writer/Director Melisande Bliss

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I was inspired by an experience my mom had back in the eighties. When she told me about it, it sounded so surreal, I was immediately intrigued. She had just come to New York City to pursue an acting career. One night, when she was on her way home from work, she was approached by a man in a car who invited her for a drink. She took the risk and got in the car. From there, the situation spiraled out of control and things took a really dark turn.

I felt compelled to make a film based on her experience because it had all the components I look for in a good story. It was dark, suspenseful, strange, and set in New York City. It was exactly the kind of film I wanted to make. Having grown up here myself, I’ve had my own share of strange experiences and this was a story I could relate to on many levels.

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

It’s a chance to escape to another world, take a trip down the rabbit hole and go for a ride with these two mysterious strangers, and hopefully be surprised along the way. There’s a lot of layers to the film and I think the performances and cinematography draw you in and keep you on the edge of your seat.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Eight of Spades explores the complexities and duality of human nature by focusing on two characters who reveal themselves to be much more than meets the eye.

Thematically, the film explores notions of identity and self, expression and repression, perceived deviance, sexuality, sanity and madness. These are themes that are both personal and universal as they all relate to the shared human experience.

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

The first draft of the script was basically a true retelling of my mother’s experience. Then, I started adding and fictionalizing certain parts to make it feel even more surreal. And I wove in quotes and references from Shakespeare’s Hamlet to bring that aspect of the film to life. Unfortunately, a lot of this ended up getting cut in post. The first cut of the film was a whopping 46 minutes long. There was too much dialogue, too much Shakespeare and too much B roll of the city. Of course, it took me a while to admit this to myself.

I was very attached to everything we shot and didn’t want to cut anything at first. But, after getting feedback from colleagues and friends, I realized the film needed to be a lot tighter. I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t easy. There were a lot of long, stressful nights spent in the editing room. But it was all worth it. The final run time is under 18 minutes and I feel confident that every second on screen is necessary.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

We’ve gotten some great feedback. People have said it’s suspenseful, kept them on the edge of their seats, surprised them, had a lot of twists and turns… I’ve also had people tell me they enjoyed the performances and cinematography, and loved the integration of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. A few people have also commented on how they felt the film has a Lynchian vibe to it, which makes me really happy because I am a huge David Lynch fan and he was one of my biggest inspirations when making the film.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the feedback. People seem to be picking up on all the film’s subtleties and themes. It’s been very validating to see audiences respond the way they have.

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

I hope that it gets more people interested in coming out to see the film. It’s also important to me as a female filmmaker to get as much visibility for my film as possible, because it is such a male-dominated industry. We need more female voices in film.

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.

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

I hope the film makes people think or question their own sanity. Ha, just kidding. I don’t know. I hope it makes people feel something or at least enjoy the ride. And I hope they remember it. If they leave the theater with even one visual from the film stuck in their head, that’s great. I want it to seep into people’s subconscious and stay with them.

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

Would you get in the car with a stranger?

Have you ever had an experience so surreal it felt like a dream?

Are we all just like actors playing different roles in our lives, and if so, why do we do it?

Are good and evil, right and wrong, sanity and madness, all relative concepts?

Would you like to add anything else?

Check out www.eightofspadesfilm.com for updates and info. on the film’s upcoming screenings!

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I’m working on a feature script right now, finishing post-production on a surrealist short I shot and directed, and preparing to start production on another short film which I will be co- directing. Eight of Spades cinematographer, Terrence Laron Burke, is currently in production on several forthcoming projects, as is Sebastian Kauderer, Eight of Spades composer. Check them both out on IMDB to see what they’re up to, and head over to my website www.melisandebliss.com for project updates!

Interview: November 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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Eight of Spades

An aspiring actress encounters a mysterious, Shakespeare- quoting stranger and finds herself drawn into his bizarre world, as the lines between fact and fiction begin to blur…

Length: 18 minutes

Director: Melisande Bliss

Producer: Natasha Soto

Writer: Melisande Bliss

About the writer, director and producer:

Writer/ Director: Melisande Bliss is a filmmaker and photographer based in New York City. She is an MFA graduate of City College class of 2016, and a BAFTA scholar, sponsored by Discovery Communications. Through her work, she strives to explore human nature and the social psyche through a vivid, often impressionistic lens. “Eight of Spades” is her graduate thesis film.

Producer: Natasha Soto is a producer whose previous credits include short films “Frame Shop” (2016), “North” (2016), and “Cloud Kumo” (2016).

Key cast: Alyssa Kempinski, Mark Ryan Anderson

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):

Producers, agents, shorts distributors, film festival directors, journalists, and future collaborators.

Funders:

Executive Producers Steve Fagan & Debra Rosen, plus all our amazing Kickstarter Backers!

Made in association with:

The City College of New York

Where can I see it in the next month?

Thursday, November 17th @ New York No Limits Film Summit

Saturday, November 19th @ Williamsburg Independent Film Festival

Friday, December 2nd @ Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival