Two deaf friends struggle towards making their first feature film.

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Austin Chapman

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

We see so much recycled content on the screen, I wanted to create something truly original that would inspire others. But also because the deaf community has very little representation on the screen and when they do get the rare opportunity it’s usually by hearing writers or directors that have never personally experienced deafness.

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

Because Lacrimosa isn’t just a film… it is a poem, created around the beauty and heartbreak of life.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

We connect with protagonists that are nothing like our race or sex or even disability because they have the same quest we all do, to get the most out of life.

Most people watching this film are not deaf but will be able to feel the soaring highs and lows of my deaf character simply because we feel immersed in that character’s struggle.

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

The two most famous lines in the film were modified from the script right before shooting. It taught me to never get too attached to the script, especially with dialogue.

The other major change from script to screen was shooting a far less elaborate ending because the original ending scene would have cost us half the film’s budget.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The rough cut has played at two festivals so far, Boise and San Antonio. At the end of both screenings the audience was choked up by emotions. That was the greatest honor I could receive, knowing that my film had emotional resonance with hearing people who have never met me.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

The earlier cut of Lacrimosa had the struggles of being deaf on the back burner instead of the forefront of the film. My good friend and producer told me the film needed to be more personal and that the deaf point of view should be thrust to the main focus. I went back to re-edit the film after a one year hiatus and the final version is much richer and deeper film because of those notes.

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

A deeper understanding of the context behind Lacrimosa.

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

The final cut of Lacrimosa will be premiering soon, we gambled our every last penny into the film and do not have any distribution yet.

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

I’m a cinephile and have seen thousands of films but less than ten have moved me to tears. Those special films inspired me to create Lacrimosa which translates into day of tears.

I simply wrote what would hit me emotionally and by some miracle I still feel moved every time I see the film, even after editing it for over two years.

I know we did something special and that Lacrimosa is an emotional odyssey, unique and unforgettable.

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

Are we doing enough for those with less opportunities than us?

How much is chaos or fate?

Would you like to add anything else?

Lacrimosa is a fictional tale but also deeply autobiographical. 80% of the events depicted in the film happened to me or our director of photography and my best friend- Taylor Bonin.

Taylor was also the co-writer and we based the two main characters on ourselves and the film threads through our major life events.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I’ve always been developing my epic fantasy world and just finished the script for the second film in the planned seven film anthropology. I’m also developing a tv show centered around deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

Interview: October 2017

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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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Lacrimosa

Two deaf friends struggle towards making their first feature film.

Length: 1 hour 18 minutes.

Director: Austin Chapman

Producer: Tommy Biglow

Writer: Austin Chapman and Taylor Bonin

Key cast: Michael Spady, Austin Chapman, Kyle Helf, and Katherine Shaw.

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): All of those are needed, especially distribution.

Social media handles:

Facebook: facebook.com/austin.chapman

Twitter: @artofthestory

Instagram: artofthestory

Where can I see it in the next month?

San Antonio was the first major festival we got in, we have lots of other festivals we are going to submit to or have already submitted to. Awaiting the news. Fingers crossed that we get into Sundance!