Slamdance - Losing It
High schooler Marshall is hoping to seal the deal on prom night, but Sarah, his date, might not be as into it as he had hoped.
Interview with Writer/Director Henry Jinings
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thanks. Losing It was something I’d wanted to make for awhile, and also an effort to put myself through my own little film school.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch this film if you like dark comedy, I guess. Or because you’re already sitting down and you might as well.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
There are bits from my teenage years in there. I can definitely say that themes of teenage alienation and beauty running into darkness definitely play some big roles.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
The script gestated over the course of a few years and changed shape a couple of times. The film, I’m happy to say, ended up far more polished (thanks to my crew) than I ever could’ve imagined it would.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We’ve gotten some great feedback through Slamdance.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
People laughed. This made me happy. The film had some dark themes, but at the end of the day, it was supposed to be at least somewhat funny.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I hope some more programmers will grab it for their festivals!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Just about anyone liking the film is good enough for me.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
If it’s not too glib, I’d just like people to enjoy it.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
“Nature vs. Nurture” was something we discussed a lot on set and in rehearsals.
Would you like to add anything else?
Thanks for having me!
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I’m working on writing a new short. My DP, Andrew Ellmaker, is always doing amazing stuff. The same can be said for my beloved crew back home in Portland, Oregon.
Interview: February 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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Losing It
High schooler Marshall is hoping to seal the deal on prom night, but Sarah, his date, might not be as into it as he had hoped.
11:31
Director:
Henry Jinings
Producer:
Sara Chesney / Aileen Sheedy / Henry Jinings
Writer:
Henry Jinings. Story by Henry Jinings and Aaron Goodman
Bio:
Henry Jinings is a New York-based filmmaker. Sara Chesney and Aileen Sheedy, producers, are based in Portland, Oregon.
Rachelle Henry, Bryce Earhart, Eric Newsome, Anne Ruttencutter, Nic Chase, Mason Knight, Alice Tokaryev
Anyone who likes to make, or write about, cool stuff.
Privately-funded.
Ellmaker-Dee production company, NYC.
We premiered at Slamdance Film Festival in January 2017. We’ve applied to a bunch of other festivals, so stay tuned.