Changing of the Leaves
A weary old woman seeks help around the house from a sweet neighborhood boy.
Interview with Writer/Director/Editor Emory Parker
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I wanted to capture a meaningful vignette, a loaded moment, that had an incredible impact on the character going through it. Thus, I created Alma, a weary old woman who is incapable of moving on. Though “Leaves” is only eight minutes long, we learn a great deal about this character: her glorified past, delusional present, and doomed future.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I believe that many people can understand the universal concept of loss. Grief can be crippling. Those who have experienced it know how hard it is to move on. When we lose someone we love, we often wish that things could be the way they were. Though, most of us realize that it is impossible to make that wish come true.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
A common theme in my work is disillusionment. Almost all of my characters have skewed perceptions of reality and false hopes for the future. I’m interested in the moment when the veil of lies is lifted and the character is forced to confront herself. This happens in “Leaves,” but Alma refuses to face the truth.
We should all look in the mirror every now and then. We may not like what we see, but self-reflection allows us to become better people.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
This story was born from an image: a tiny old woman angrily throwing leaves across her lawn. I worked backwards from there.
The earlier of the drafts of the script were much darker. During the rehearsal process, I discovered that the story was more melancholy than grim. I’m glad we decided to go in that direction.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Audiences seem to be moved by the film. I’m happy to see that it resonates with all kinds of people.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The amount of times people have laughed while watching this film is surprising. “Leaves” is definitely not a comedy, but some of the odd, awkward moments can actually be funny. All tragedies can benefit from a little bit of humor.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We Are Moving Stories is the perfect platform for my project. This site is immensely supportive of female filmmakers and truly helpful in getting our stories out there. I’m honored to be a part of of it.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
It would be great to get some kind of distribution for this film. It has played several festivals, but needs a home online. I’m hoping we can find the right one.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want people to see how holding onto the past can be detrimental. It’s important for us to realize how it negatively affects ourselves and others.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
“When the world is full of hate, injustice, and sorrow, how do we keep going?”
Would you like to add anything else?
I could not have made this film without my outstanding actors, Joyce Cohen and Jarrad Biron Green, and my incredible cinematographer, Natalia Bougadellis.
Natalia and I have been working together since 2014. She has shot two of my music videos and both of my short films. While many cinematographers go for glamor and grandeur, Natalia shoots for the story, focusing on the characters and their ever-changing emotions. In that raw authenticity is an effortless beauty.
Jarrad and Joyce made our jobs easy. Their performances were so honest, so nuanced, that it felt as if we were experiencing those eight minutes with them. I was so impressed by Jarrad’s interpretation of the role. It was original and unexpected. Jarrad found Robert’s vulnerability and ran with it. He was a great complement to Joyce, who embodied the role of Alma. Her portrayal of this broken woman was so heart-wrenching that it actually brought me to tears. Though, it was those moments between the words that really stuck with me. These three people made this film come to life. It was a pleasure to work with such a talented bunch.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Natalia and I just finished shooting my newest short, “The Perfect Fit.” The film is currently in post-production, but will hopefully be on the festival circuit by June.
Visit our Facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/theperfectfitemoryparker/
Interview: April 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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Changing of the Leaves
A weary old woman seeks help around the house from a sweet neighborhood boy.
Length: 8 minutes
Writer/Director/Editor: Emory Parker
Director of Photography: Natalia Bougadellis
Producer: Andrew Donald Petrilak
About the writer, director, director of photography, and producer:
Emory Parker (writer/director/editor) - Emory is a NYC-based auteur who focuses primarily on character-driven pieces, often working both behind and in front of the camera.
Natalia Bougadellis (director of photography) - Natalia is a young director/cinematographer from Athens, Greece. She is a strong advocate of gender equality and the promotion queer narratives in film.
Andrew Donald Petrilak (producer) - Andrew is a writer/producer who has spent the last three years working for Netflix and the Fader while simultaneously producing films at NYU.
Key cast: Joyce Cohen and Jarrad Biron Green
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists
Social media handles:
Facebook: facebook.com/changingoftheleaves
Twitter: @emoryparker77
Instagram: @emoryparker @nataliabougadellis
Other: https://www.youtube.com/emoryparker77
Funders: The Parker Family
Made in association with: The Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film & TV at NYU Tisch School of the Arts
Where can I see it in the next month?
The film cannot yet be released online, but it should play a few more festivals in the near future.