LA FOCUS - The boy who cried Fish
Film Title: The boy who cried Fish!
Logline: Miranda's life falls into pieces when her son, Adam, wouldn't take off her blue bra.
Length: 17 mins
Director: Dalia Musaad
Producer: Anabelle Munro, Jason Daks
Writer: Dalia Musaad
About the writer, director and producer:
Dalia Musaad is a writer, director and editor currently based in New York. Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, her experiences range from gritty documentary films such as Oscar-nominated “The Square” to more intimate story driven films like her debut short film “The boy who cried Fish”.
Anabelle Munro is an award winning producer, actress, writer, director and CEO of the LA based production company Blue Boots Entertainment. The collaboration with Dalia on “The boy who cried Fish!” is one of the most outstanding experiences in her career as a filmmaker.
Jason Daks has worked for several companies, including ReelzChannel and DefCon-One Productions. Bringing Dalia's "The Boy Who Cried Fish" to life marks his second collaboration with Anabelle Munro, with many more to follow.
Key cast: Breeda Wool and Jacob Hopkins
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): All of the above
Funders: Kickstarter (Production) and Fork Films (Post Production)
Made in association with: Fork Films, Wika Productions
Release date: June 2016
Where can I watch it? World premiere is at Dances With Films festival. Screening on Sunday June 5th, 12:30 pm at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. For future screenings check our FB page: https://www.facebook.com/theboywhocriedfish/
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made that film because it was the only way I could process my feelings after taking an active part in the Egyptian revolution back in 2011. I started writing the film after I came to Los Angeles to pursue my directing studies. I travelled right after a big shift had taken place in my country, and it was not easy to process such a life changing experience with all its ups and almost pit-like downs.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I think you should watch this film because it offers a new way of looking at things; it derives a very unlikely connection between a single mother raising her child with autism in Los Angeles, California and an Egyptian female protestor in the heat of a popular uprising. You’d be surprised how the two stories are similar to each other in the most unexpected ways.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Oh, they work very closely together. I see a seed in every little personal story that I come across. Once nourished, and given enough light this seed can form a wonderful and universal story that can resonate with a lot of people. Also I have to admit my inability to understand barriers or separating lines, like the “Us vs. Them” narrative.
I acknowledge cultural differences but I never see them as dividing lines. In my film I deal with issues of bullying and violence, which are common social issues in many countries, I don’t even attempt to dissect the psychology of why they take place, but I draw a parallel on two seemingly different situations that are thousands of miles apart and I let the audience decide how they want to look at it.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
There was an ongoing active collaboration between the two leading actors Jacob Hopkins, Breeda Wool, and I. They brought so much to the table by their imagination and their personal interpretation of the script and the details they added to their characters. That’s why it was one of the most rewarding experiences working with a cast as talented and perceptive as they are.
Generally, we worked closely with the script, but we improvised on set, especially with the mise-en-scène of the intimate scenes between Mother and son. No matter how carefully designed in pre-production it was, I had to allow the personal chemistry of the two characters to take a lead, it was almost like a performance that happened with no spoken words.
I feel a big part of my job, as a director is to provide enough input/inspiration for the actors, and take a stand back to watch the interaction happen naturally. The core of the story hasn’t changed from start to finish, but we did remove a couple of scenes in the editing. Sometimes less is more. I realized the shortest most efficient path to tell your story, the richer it becomes, because it leaves something for the Audience to work with.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
So far, the feedback has been outstanding from the private screenings we held. I received an Indie Fest award of excellence for best woman filmmaker and the film hasn’t even premiered yet!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
We’re still looking forward to our world premiere, and can’t wait to hear what the audience thinks.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
More exposure for the cast and crew, and personally as a female director, more opportunities to direct and be on set.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I would like more festival directors and decision makers to be on board, and have a chance to watch the film for what it is. We want to screen The Boy Who Cried Fish in as many festivals as possible and in different countries across the world.
I’m also looking for talent representation to get me more work as a director, same for my producers. If some buyers are interested, great! But, I strongly believe in sustainability and personal growth as the biggest reward. Ultimately this will be a stepping-stone to produce a first feature and that’s why we want to gain the attention of film financiers and studios. As a team, we like to push and create momentum around quality stories that are becoming harder and harder to find.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I’d like the film to instigate conversations and discussions that are typically avoided. Especially when it comes to the experience of being a mother, and a woman in general, I’d like to give more voice to what it means to be a woman in this modern day, still male dominated world.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Tell us more about the bathtub scene… Was she masturbating? =)
Would you like to add anything else?
Please come and watch the film, ask us questions and tell us what you think.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Writing a feature film with a lead female character inspired by my own personal Journey from Cairo to New York.
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If you enjoyed reading about 'The Boy Who Cried Fish' please check out our platform: www.wearemovingstories.com We embrace new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you are a filmmaker - we'd love you to contribute. More info: Carmela (cbaranowska@protonmail.com)