A simple lunch turns into a catastrophe when Jasmine and Penn, a new couple with an uncertain future, find an anonymous suicide note at the home of the happiest couple they know.

Interview with filmmakers Brittani Nichols & Carly Usdin

Watch Suicide Kale on Vimeo on demand

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

We made this film because we felt like we didn’t have a good reason not to.

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

You should watch this film because it’ll make you feel like you’re in the same room as these characters. The conversations will stick with you as you evaluate your own viewpoint on the topics the film covers.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

This movie hits a lot of the big ones, love and death being the most obvious. No two characters feel exactly the same about either which creates a world full of stubbornness and contradictions. This movie takes place in real time so there’s not the same opportunity for character growth but you see the seeds of those ideas being planted.

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

The film is heavily improvised so the development process included while we were shooting. We shot mostly in chronological order so that helped us stay in touch with the ebbs and flow of the emotional arc of the film.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The feedback has been incredible. The film deals with sensitive subject matter so we’re pretty relieved that we’ve been able to start a dialogue in a way that doesn’t trivialize or stigmatize the mental health topics the film touches on while still being genuinely funny.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

It hasn’t. We’ve very confident in what we pulled off with no money and a limited amount of time. We shot this film in five days. It has a lot of heart and I think people see that.

Suicide Kale - Brittani Nichols and Lindsay Hicks.

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

We’re very appreciative of the opportunity to be showcased on this platform. If we can reach one person that will feel represented by this film or inspired to go out and make something that’s underrepresented in this landscape, we’ll be delighted. Everyone on our team has stumbled on something that changed them forever when they least expected it.

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

Sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, and journalists are all welcome.

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

We hope this film cause people to widen their expectations of LGBT film and invest in up and coming LGBT and PoC voices.

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

We’re planning on shooting another film in late summer/early fall. Right now we’re planning on a similar production style as this film but would love if someone threw some money our way. If we could do this with no money, imagine what we could do with an actual budget.

Suicide Kale

A simple lunch turns into a catastrophe when Jasmine and Penn, a new couple with an uncertain future, find an anonymous suicide note at the home of the happiest couple they know.

Length: 78 min

Director: Carly Usdin

Producer: Brittani Nichols & Carly Usdin

Writer: Brittani Nichols

Brittani Nichols is a comedian and actor from Chicago. She currently lives in Los Angeles. She's appeared on Transparent and co-hosts Hamilton the Podcast. Carly Usdin is a director and producer from New York. She currently lives in Los Angeles and primarily creates short-form digital content. This is her first feature.

Key cast: Jasika Nicole, Brittani Nichols, Lindsay Hicks, Brianna Baker, Hayley Huntley

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

Funders: Entirely self-funded

Where can I watch it? Frameline (SF): June 18, 3:45p @ Roxie Theatre

My True Colors (Brooklyn): June 20, 6:45p @ Wythe Hotel Screening Room

Queer North (Ontario): June 25, 7p @ Sudbury Secondary School

Outfest (LA): July 15, 9:45p @ DGA Theatre