A peculiar customer interrupts a gift store owner’s quiet day. Is she really shopping… or is this some kind of game?

Interview with Director Chek Wingo

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

For years I had an idea based on the way my children would play "Store" when they were little, and I thought it would make a funny short.

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

It's fun, very short, family friendly, and makes you curious about what's really going on -- but not for too long -- with a fun surprise at the end.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

We think, in the end, everyone will find they relate to the short. I'm not sure if I understand this question, fully.

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

The film stayed very close to how it was written, minus some wonderful improvisational exploration of the movie set, which Jennifer performed during the introduction to the film.

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

Probably distributors and journalists, who might catch the eye of festival programmers.

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

We've been pleased with the reception, but it would be wonderful to catch the eye of producers and development folks who would like to work with us on future projects.

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

How soon did you figure it out?

Would you like to add anything else?

It took us one day to shoot for the price of lunch. We hope to be inspiration to those who have an idea for a movie or short and think they need an actual crew to make it.

The websites for the site is:

https://www.facebook.com/thistimeitsshopping/
http://thistimeitsshopping.com/

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

We are going to shoot another comedy short in the spring, called Passive-Aggressive Dads.
And Jennifer runs a successful improv troupe in Bar Harbor, Maine, called Improv Acadia (http://www.improvacadia.com).

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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This Time It's Shopping

A peculiar customer interrupts a gift store owner’s quiet day. Is she really shopping… or is this some kind of game?

Length: 4:10

Director: Chek Wingo

Producer: Jim Picariello

Writer: Jim Picariello

About the writer, director and producer:

Jim Picariello is a Nicholl Fellowship Quarter-finalist screenwriter trying to break into the industry from coastal, rural Maine. It's a surefire plan!

Chek Wingo is the editor and cinematographer of The Penobscot: Ancestral River, Contested Territory (Maine Public Broadcasting Network, New England Documentary Emmy Award Nominee).

Key cast:
Jim Picariello
Jennifer Shepard

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Journalists and Film Festival Directors, and anyone in the position of purchasing/licencing shorts.

Release date:
August 2015

Where will it screen in the next month?

In the first two of twelve showings in the Maine Short Film Festival, at:
STRAND THEATRE, Rockland ME
STEARNS HS, Millinocket,