HollyShorts - Exit Survey
A woman asks her ex to answer a few questions to help her move on. But is she ready for his answers? A short comedy about finding out what REALLY went wrong in a relationship.
Interview with Director, Co-Writer Thom Harp and Writer Kristyn Carey
Watch Exit Survey here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
KRIS CAREY (KC): I had gone through a string of failed relationships and thought how nice it would have been to have some sort of parting questionnaire each time I broke up so I could see if there was any sort of pattern to my behavior, i.e. things I was doing wrong or just picking the same type of douche bag to date.
THOM HARP (TH): Two things: first, I was getting tired of writing features that weren’t getting made and secondly, I wanted to write with Kris. I had always wanted to do something about our obsession with data, and I thought it would be funny to do a customer satisfaction survey with relationships. Kris came up with the idea of the breakup survey and it just clicked.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
KC: Being dumped is something I think a majority of us can relate to at one point or another in our lives, and it's a real ego bruiser. I think our film lends some vindication for our dumpees - you may not have been steering the breakup ship, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're to blame for the demise of your relationship.
TH: I think the flipside is also true: do you REALLY want to know what went wrong? That obsession with knowing leads to the most cringe-worthy parts of the short and I love how Kim Shaw (our actress) handled it.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
KC: My most recent ex (before I married my husband) dumped me so he could get back together with his ex-girlfriend, and he actually thanked me in his break up speech for showing him (implicitly through how terrible I was) how much he missed his ex. I feel like a lot of his particular je ne sais quoi was channeled through our amazing "douche bag" boyfriend, played by Blake Cooper Griffin.
TH: Maybe the cruelest lie is “it’s not you, it’s me” because we all know it’s bullshit. The fuel of the story is the line “well it’s not NOT me” which everyone feels afterwards. And you wouldn’t believe how many people have asked me if there really is an Exit Survey app.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
KC: What started off as a conversation regaling horrid breakup stories over coffee and laughter turned into a living, breathing project. All of these cringe-worthy moments started to take shape that offered six minutes of catharsis for me.
TH: I’d add that it really took shape once we met Kim Shaw at a script reading. We needed someone who could pull this off, and Kim was excited by the opportunity and really contributed to the story. We had a great, 50% female crew, including DP Alyssa Brocato and Editor Sara Gustafson who made it look fantastic and found the perfect rhythm for the film. And now that we’re done, Kris and I are thinking about expanding it into a feature.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
KC: It's been really positive, and that's always nice! I think what I hear the most is how fun the film is, and how relatable the theme is.
TH: I’m excited to see the film with audiences because every laugh validates the hard work we put in to make it seem effortless.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
TH: Not really – although I’m glad that people find the ending satisfying. I think we have our finger on the jugular of breakup comedy.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
KC: For me, I just want to expand our audience. If our film is something that mitigates the sting of being dumped for another person, we've done our job well.
TH: We really tried to make people think as well as laugh and your site focuses on that intersection between message and entertainment. It’s been amazing to get into film festivals but I’d like for it to expand to an online audience as well.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
KC: If all of the above feel compelled to jump onboard, I'd welcome them with open arms. And probably a fruit basket.
TH: Would you like a routing number to my checking account? I take all currencies except bitcoin. Also: we are thinking of ways to expand this into a feature all about the worst breakup ever.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
KC: I just want to make people laugh.
TH: What she said.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
KC: Have you ever been dumped? Have you even been dumped by a douche?
TH: Why do you need to know why someone dumped you? Is it morbid curiosity or potential for personal growth?
Would you like to add anything else?
KC: Embrace your heartache and pain. They end up making the funniest stories.
TH: Be nice to those people doing customer service surveys. It’s a shitty job, but someone’s got to do it.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
KC: I'm trying to raise my son in a way that keeps him off a therapist's couch, while simultaneously baking his brother or sister, due in February. During rare moments to myself, if I'm not staring at a wall and drooling, I'm happy and amazed to be invited to collaborate on projects by friends who fully realize I am living in a vegetative state and probably have nothing more to offer than my insights and musings on the different shades of infant poo and what they mean.
TH: I’ve got two features in various stages of development at studios. And I’m working on a new script that’s unlike anything I’ve done before: Zombie Western Melodrama. In space.
Interview: August 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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Exit Survey
A woman asks her ex to answer a few questions to help her move on. But is she ready for his answers? A short comedy about finding out what REALLY went wrong in a relationship.
Length: 6 minutes
Director: Thom Harp
Producer: Dave Holton
Writers: Kristyn Carey & Thom Harp
About the writer, director and producer:
Thom Harp (Co-Writer, Director): Thom has made over 6 shorts that have played at film festivals around the world. He also created PROFILES IN EXCELLENCE, a mockumentary for SoulPancake starring Randall Park (THE INTERVIEW, ABC’s “Fresh off the Boat”). He has several scripts set up including DRUNK DIAL (Stage 6/Broken Road) and HOME DELIVERY (Voltage Pictures). He is repped by The Gersh Agency.
Kristyn Carey (Co-Writer): Kristyn was on staff on Dick Wolf’s hit TV shows CHICAGO FIRE and CHICAGO P.D. and has written several pilots and feature screenplays which she is shopping.
Dave Holton (Producer): Dave works as a Writer and a Producer and is the CEO of Holton Productions, LLC, which develops and produces commercials/promos and scripted content for Film, TV, and Digital Media. His recent projects include THE FRIENDLESS FIVE, a digital series airing August 1st on Fullscreen, and WRESTLING ISN’T WRESTLING, a mockumentary that has over 2 million views on YouTube.
Key cast:
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): YES PLEASE ALL OF THEM.
Funders: self-financed
Release date: July 9, 2016
Where can I watch it in the next month? We will be playing at HollyShorts in August and several other festivals pending. Also, you can watch the film on Vimeo https://vimeo.com/thomharp/exitsurvey and FunnyOrDie: http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/012e47236f/exit-survey?_cc=__d___&_ccid=_sk4w