Awareness Film Festival - Pounce
After an eye-opening psychedelic experience with ayahuasca, Lucas finally faces his lifelong fear of telling Samantha, his childhood friend, that he’s in love with her. To his surprise, she reciprocates - but life has a way of pushing back. It's about letting go of fear and pursuing love even when it's complicated.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Conor Chandler Simpson
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I was inspired to make this film to explore the revelations I had during an ayahuasca ceremony, as well as have a discussion about the broader subject of facing fears in life.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
To experience a bit of what it might feel like to participate in an ayahuasca ceremony, and to reflect on your own deep seated fears, inhibitions, regrets, aspirations.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I think everyone has moments in their lives when they either seized an opportunity to face their fears and go after something they've wanted, or regret not doing so. Hopefully this film encourages people to reflect on these instances and the lessons learned from them, what they take forward with them in their lives as they evolve to be their best selves.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
This begins as a personal story that I adapted into a short film, then has grown to become a 1 hour dramatic series I’ve been writing with my screenwriting partner about an ayahuasca shaman in Queens.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
People appreciate the visual and audio experience of the trip as conveyed in the film, and some of the raw and honest performances of the leads in their emotional scenes.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I’ve certainly learned to not hold back. I could have taken more time in the writing process to go deeper with what I was trying to say. I maybe played it a little safe, a little pat. This is not the case in the TV series we’ve been writing.. which faces much darker, more raw, more gritty and also personal elements of our characters and their public and private lives.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I can only hope for more discussion about all of our fears and how to all accept that we are all continuing to evolve to be our best selves. I believe that evolution is consistent throughout our lives, and that more honest and open dialogue about our personal obstacles with that process will help our fellow humans in their own journeys. I also think the Western world could use more eye opening in general about the use of psychedelics as a tools for understanding more about ourselves, our earth, the nature of our universe!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?)
I welcome any and all who would like to get this film out there! We are also about to begin pitching our series based around an ayahuasca shaman, so any avenues in that venture are also being pursued.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
That it inspires people to think more deeply about their own secrets, repressed emotions, and encourages dialogue about how to unearth them in a healthy way.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What fear is holding you back from pursuing what you want in life?
Would you like to add anything else?
Please check in on my website www.OfTheNotion.com for more work that might inspire you!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
In addition the 1 hour series I am writing with my screenwriting partner, I am also writing a feature film I plan to shoot another short for this fall. I am also developing a live dance/live visuals/live score project. I believe DP Drew Dawson is shooting a docu project in India, Jordan, Camille, and Charles all continue to appear in commercials and TV projects. J Clark is sound mixing a feature and working on an electronic album. Jason Trinidad is prop designing for a digital series.
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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Pounce
After an eye-opening psychedelic experience with ayahuasca, Lucas finally faces his lifelong fear of telling Samantha, his childhood friend, that he’s in love with her. To his surprise, she reciprocates - but life has a way of pushing back. It's about letting go of fear and pursuing love even when it's complicated.
Length: 12min 50sec
Director: Conor Chandler Simpson
Producer: Conor Chandler Simpson & Anthony Rullo
Writer: Conor Chandler Simpson
Key cast: Jordan James Smith, Camille Chen, Charles Carpenter, Sasha Chiang
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): All of the above! I have many other projects in development.
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pounceshortfilm/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conpulsiv
Other: http://www.ofthenotion.com/pounce/
Funders: self-financed
Made in association with: sole production company - Notion Features
Where can I see it in the next month? At the Awareness Festival in LA Thursday Oct 12 at 7:30pm. At the KinoFilm festival in Manchester, England in November. Online soon!