POWFest - Heads or Tails
Lilly convinces her best friend René to join her on a nocturnal trespassing adventure.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Eva von Schweinitz
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
After creating several documentaries, I wanted to try my hands on live-action fiction. So I picked up a short story I had written several years ago, developed and adapted it into a screenplay and plunged right into directing my first narrative film!
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
In "Heads or Tails" two young women break into a zoo at night. It is an adventurous journey into an idiosyncratic animal kingdom conjuring the heightened feeling of experiencing something new - both frightening and exciting. You will likely enjoy the animals that live in the zoo.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
At its heart, "Heads or Tails" is a coming-of-age story that deals with a young person's struggle to find her place in the world, and more specifically to understand her identity and desires. While everybody's answers to these questions are unique, I believe that we all constantly search for - or spend time running away from - a more fully realized self.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
There are way less words in the film than there were in the script. I started out with a massive amount of quick-fire dialogue. On the page it was hilarious, on screen it just didn't work. So a big take-away (and maybe a Duh - but it's all about experience, right?) is that prose and film are different art forms with their own distinct requirements. Film needs driving action.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Everyone loves the animals!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I didn't expect that making "Heads or Tails" would turn as much into an experiment in form as it did. Without giving away too much, the approach to creating the world of the zoo (which was shot in three different parks in NYC) was more on the theatrical than the naturalistic side, using signifiers to create a particular reality. This strategy has turned out to be an extremely successful and exciting storytelling device for me that I want to explore further.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
"Heads or Tails" is having a lovely festival run so far and I look forward to more upcoming screenings. I hope that people will come out and watch it on the big screen! And that they will seek out the film and recommend it to friends when it's released through other channels further down the road.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I would love to talk to journalists. I have lots of stories to tell about shooting in NYC parks with and without permits, which included interactions with the police on the outskirts of Brooklyn, shooting in Central Park's cruising zone, encountering masturbators, raccoons, slugs, mosquitoes, and wild teenagers. Or on a more academic level, I can speak about making films as an artist with a background in theater, as well as researching sexuality in the animal kingdom (it's queer)!
I'm also looking for future broadcasting opportunities.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
"Heads or Tails" is made to delight and surprise. I hope that it will touch people's inner teenagers.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Do they die at the end?
Would you like to add anything else?
I just want to give a shout-out to my excellent team whose dedication and commitment to making this film with few resources, in the middle of the night, against all odds. You are my heroes. I also want to thank our wonderful supporters who funded our successful Kickstarter campaign. You helped make it possible! It is because of you that this film is now out in the world.
Additional fun fact: "Heads or Tails" was shot with a largely female cast and crew. I loved working in that environment and plan to continue doing so whenever I can.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am currently developing a new research-based transmedia project about adult (il)literacy that mixes documentary and fictional elements and which is planned to be released through various outlets in 2018.
Interview: March 2017
_______________________________________________________________________________
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
_______________________________________________________________________________
Heads or Tails
Lilly convinces her best friend René to join her on a nocturnal trespassing adventure.
Length: 9:16mins
Director: Eva von Schweinitz
Producer: Eva von Schweinitz
Writer: Eva von Schweinitz
About the writer, director and producer:
Eva von Schweinitz is a Brooklyn-based interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker. Her films have screened at Tribeca Film Festival, Palm Springs International ShortsFest, and others.
Key cast: Nikki Calonge, Lucy Kaminsky
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Journalists, Buyers, Distributors
Funders: Crowdfunding via Kickstarter
Where can I see it in the next month?
"Heads or Tails" screens at POW Fest - Portland Oregon Women's Film Festival on March 2nd at 9pm as part of the opening night program. There is another screening in early April in Germany, but it's not official yet. You can follow our facebook page for updates: http://facebook.com/headsortailsshortfilm