Memories of Ancestors

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Sasha Goodnow

Main image: An ancestor shows life and death

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I had won first place at the 2012 Gimme Truth, a contest put on by the True False Film Festival. Contestants make a 2 minute documentary or mockumentary and try to fool the judges… Anyways, one of the prizes was a three day rental of a RED camera, which at the time I had hardly made any film, but knew that I didn’t want to waste a good opportunity! This is some of the result as well as some added collage since then.

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

I strive to tell two stories at once with film by creating atmospheres on top of the given narrative. With this short, I used a lot of handmade projected color swirls and layered footage to guide the audience into their own psyche as the main character moves throughout the film.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

The Human Quilt is about memories surrounding family heirlooms, real and imagined. The main character reflects on his time with the heirloom piece as well as imaging his ancestors with it. Dreaming of our ancestors and ruminating on the cycle of life, I think is something we all do at one point or another.

The Human Quilt - A walk down memory lane

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

When I wrote the script, it revolved around a young woman instead of Jon, who actually in the beginning, was the antagonist. This is only a third of the initial footage, and I plan on creating a sequel to this short with it, but again, very different from what I initially wrote. It took a few years, but once I found the music, it made sense for me how to proceed confidently with it. The song used in the short is from an excerpt I listened to a lot as a teenager, which sort of was my inspiration when I wrote the initial script. So somehow, even though it's completely different, the project came full circle.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

I have screened it at a local filmmaker's night as well as used it as an art installation at the True False Film Festival, with no sound. I haven’t gotten too much feedback except on my use of liquid projections, people seem to really enjoy it!

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

It has built my confidence in creating video art and using it interspersed throughout narrative film.

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

More opportunities to screen The Human Quilt!

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

Journalists and film festival directors.

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

My hope is that it inspires art and reflection on past memories.

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

How much history is tied to any one object?

Would you like to add anything else?

Check out my youtube for more videos like this and others! youtube.com/pizzatalklove

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

I’ve been working on a diy soap opera called, Nettle Pointe Soap Opera, as well as other shorts called Camera Lines. Nettle Pointe is about a small berry town in Missouri with a psychedelic drug problem from the plant, stinging nettle. Camera Lines was in participation with music and arts festival, Dismal Niche, where people entered a confessional booth and answered one or more of five prompts.

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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The Human Quilt

Memories of Ancestors

Length: 4:32 min

Director: Sasha Goodnow

Producer: Sasha Goodnow

Writer: Sasha Goodnow

About the writer, director and producer:

I have been making film for seven years after receiving training from the non-for-profit, Columbia Access Television. I have screened my video art installations at multiple festivals as well as the narrative flash short, I’m Sorry, at Citizen Jane Film Festival in 2015.

Key cast: Mark Leman, Steph Foley, Simon Midkiff, LaToya Jackson, LaRod Jackson

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

Social media handles: youtube.com/pizzatalklove

Facebook: facebook.com/nettlepointe

Tumblr: sashagoodnow.tumblr.com

Where will the film screen in the next month? Citizen Jane Film Festival