a dreamlike stage where the unconscious mind rules

Interview with Directors Kedar Lawrence and Maria Theresa Barbist

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

We wanted to document a movement based performance in a natural landscape with 16mm film. This was really the starting point, everything else developed in the process of filming and editing. The sound and voice over was created to help understand the transformation of the protagonist in her journey of inner transformation.

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

It is definitely a film that speaks to people who have suffered some kind of emotional trauma and who are interested in how healing can take place.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

This is a film about resilience, about the force of life to overcome painful experiences and to fight.

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

We started with a choreography and then developed a visual plan to capture this movement in the environment. The ending of the film was pretty much left open until the editing room. We had some footage of the dress swimming away, which it actually did. We ended up not using it to leave more open space for the viewer’s interpretation.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

A lot of women, in particular, were thanking us for the film. They felt a deep emotional connection to the character and also felt seen in their own struggles.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Yes, definitely. We were surprised how touched people were by the film, especially the voice over we were conflicted about. We felt we could have done a better job with it, but the feedback on it was really good. Also people didn’t understand why Maria had an accent all of a sudden that was not apparent in the movie. That was very funny.

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

We are looking for more venues to screen the film. It has been challenging to get it out there, but we had a great screening this summer in Miami at O Cinema Wynwood in Miami and I’m looking forward to many more screenings in the future. It’s the best part of the whole adventure to get to talk to your audience and connect.

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

Film festival directors and journalists would be most helpful at this point but anyone who likes the film making style or who wants to help spread the message of the film, we’d love to have you help spread the word.

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

We would like to raise awareness about the struggle survivors of sexual abuse have to go through to keep on living and to heal.

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

A key idea of the film is what to do if someone does not feel safe in their own body. This would be a good point of departure for a conversation. And then of course the struggle and fear of connecting to other people.

Would you like to add anything else?

This film was a true collaborative effort, from beginning to start and it was wonderful to experience how our little team made this very personal project come to live.

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

We are unfortunately on different coasts at the moment, Kedar is working on projects in San Francisco, doing a lot of theater work at the moment as well and Maria is working as an artist in Miami. Hopefully they will be on the same coast again and be able to work together once again.

Interview: December 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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Testimony

a dreamlike stage where the unconscious mind rules

Length: 6:01

Director: Kedar Lawrence and Maria Theresa Barbist

Producer: Kedar Lawrence

Writer: Maria Theresa Barbist

About the writer, director and producer:

Kedar Lawrence is a collaborative video projection artist currently based in San Francisco. His work combines cinematography, video cameras, lighting, video projection, sound and photography creating an environment of interactivity.

Maria Theresa Barbist explores the effects of psychological trauma on the physical body, memories, and personal identity through performance, sculpture and film. She is currently artist in residence at the Bakehouse Art Complex in Miami.

Key cast: Maria Theresa Barbist

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