IFS Film Festival - Cooties!!!
When a family’s dark secret is revealed, the town they call home turns on them. Faced with the ultimate would you rather, they are forced to choose between fight or flight.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Lizze Gordon
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Do you mean ideology vs. aesthetics? Just Kidding, filmmaking is my thing. I try to always be working on a project even when it’s not a paid job.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Audience members should watch this film because it’s four minutes of a much needed distraction from the endlessly terrifying 24/7 news cycle.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Cooties are real... metaphorical. Cooties is a substitute for “difference.” I think, with social dynamics as tense as they are in Trump’s America, I am strong enough to be okay in any space and not necessitate that every space to be a safe one. A major concern of mine is that people will restrict themselves and society by demanding everything be PC, and no one will ever speak or move out of fear ever again.
I love that this family goes from harboring a dark secret that they are embarrassed about to fighting for their right to spread cooties. For example, as a woman I may be a marginalized member of the film community, but by no means does that mean that I am not going to force my way into every room, project, party etc.
I may not be wanted or expected at the table, but I’m surely going to invite myself over for dinner.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script evolved due to budgetary restrictions. Originally I had scripted a period piece set in the early 90s. I had mom watching Oprah and giving guidance to the people on the show, but we couldn’t afford Oprah footage, so we opted for a comedy beat of mom pretending to paint.
Everyone always says that no money leads to more creativity, sometimes it’s good and lands, sometimes it doesn’t. On a project of this size it’s a real defining factor. Keep the page count down, locations at a minimum and be ready to wear every hat, because you will have to.
At this stage, you believe in your dream more than anyone else can be expected to. Set yourself up for success, and be your own hero.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
People are laughing, and saying nice things. Maybe also lying to my face, who knows. I’m pleased with the project.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It’s always a learning process. Surprise wears off early, but generally I was surprised that anyone was into it.
I try not to allow feedback, good or bad, to alter my process unless the feedback is in regards to the craft itself.
At the start of each project I feel like I am better informed/more skilled as a result of the former project. I believe the previous feedback is what launches you to the next level. New information always challenges my point of view and I think that’s a great thing. It’s the perpetual nature of education, were always getting better and we will always learn more (hopefully).
That being said, I also don’t take every note or every offer of guidance. I think there’s strength in knowing which notes to take, and which notes to leave, but it takes a lot of experience to know the difference. So at the early level I’m open to making mistakes, and I celebrate the lessons I garner from those errors.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Back to the #WomenInFilm conversation. In the entertainment industry, the assumption is that we need someone to approve us, hire us, give us opportunities. I hope that by having Cooties!!! featured on We Are Moving Stories, and by discussing my process I can pull back the curtain and show other women who are feeling like the opportunity pool is too shallow to dive in, that they can make their own opportunities.
No suit ordered this short. I didn’t sell the concept to a producer to make it happen for me. I improvised the scene. I loved the scene so I wrote the short. I loved the short so I taught myself how to produce. I produced the short so I taught myself how to direct. I shot the short so I taught myself how to edit, and I never hesitated to ask for help, or to seek more information.
By no means was Cooties!!! something I could have accomplished on my own (Hi Josh WIllis), but after I decided I was going to make this short I was empowered and that’s the important thing I want filmmaker viewers to walk away with.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Cooties!!! Is just a short, continued filmmaking is the goal. I would love to use Cooties!!! and my next independent short Petty Till The Bitter End (A comedy about a ghost who can’t R.I.P. until she clears her name of false fart allegations.) to serve as examples of my continued progress as a writer/director/producer.
As my work progresses, and my skills are honed I would love to bring on producers, investors and sales agents for future, feature films.
I have three feature films that I wrote and acted in on assignment slated for release in 2017. They were ultra low budget producer driven films, and I would love to build off those experiences to garner the support of producers and investors who want to make a Lizze Gordon feature.
I have a dark, ridiculous, often unbelievable, deck of life experience which provides me with a quirky and unique point of view that I would love to force upon the masses. Help a sister out!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Generally laughter and humility. For a specific audience, I hope to inspire.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Do you have cooties?
Would you like to add anything else?
I personally do not have cooties. For the record.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Josh and I, the founding and only partners of Irrelevant Banditos are in preproduction on our next short - Petty Till The Bitter End, another comedy short scheduled for production mid may 2017.
Personally, I am in development on a passion project feature film about a personal hero of mine. An inspiring story of one 16 year old girl who set out on a journey to prove her worth, and which resulted in the birth of our nation.
I am scheduled to direct a film that I wrote on assignment later this year and I am over the moon excited for this experience.
In addition to these projects, I have also been tweaking two spec pilots that I hope to be shopping around in the near future.
Interview: May 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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Cooties!!!
When a family’s dark secret is revealed, the town they call home turns on them. Faced with the ultimate would you rather, they are forced to choose between fight or flight.
Length: 4 min.
Director: Lizze Gordon
Producer: Lizze Gordon & Josh Willis of Irrelevant Banditos
Writer: Lizze Gordon
About the writer, director and producer:
Lizze Gordon and Josh Willis met in Rob Watzke improv. class the Turbine Art’s Collective. After playing together in class for a few months the two formed the two man team Golden Grills, and performed Monday nights at The Club House’s Church Night Improv.
At one of the Turbine shows Lizze improvised a scene with Alexandria Dilks Pandola and James Singleton where she played Alex’s mother, and Alex played an upset daughter after a kid in her class exclaimed publicly that she “Had COOTIES!!!” In the moment, Gordon accepted this piece of information and ran with it. The scene performed that night is very close to the script that Lizze wrote and she and Josh then produced May of 2016. Lizze directed the short, and Josh stared in it as the hero Dad.
Key cast:
Josh Willis - Dad, works for Nasa and is an amazing improviser, storyteller, climate scientist!
Jill Marie Hoffman - Mom, is a Groundlings trained improviser, and regular performer on The Turbine Arts Collective Stage.
Tessa - baby girl, is a star on the rise! She’s may be tiny but she is fierce, she is a recognized and award winning actress in the independent film community.
Mykelha Garner - Taylor Murphy, was recently accepted to the Los Angeles High School For the Performing Arts with a focus on acting. She’s also a strong writer and has scripted a fantastic horror short film.
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Social media handles:
Facebook: Lizze Gordon
Twitter: @lizzegordon
Instagram: @Lizze.Gordon
Other: Subscribe to our channel!!! We only have Cooties!!! up currently but we will have lots more! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCljumv2x107t_K-Q4tnxQUQ
Funderz: Lizze Gordon & Josh Willis
Made in association with: Turbine Arts Collective
Where can I see it in the next month?
May 7th at the Independent Filmmakers Showcase Film Festival - 6PM @ Beverly Hills Music Hall (Beverly Hills)
May 12th at the Die Laughing Film Festival - 9PM @ The Complex Dorie Theater (Hollywood)
(YouTube) Whenever/Wherever: https://youtu.be/dF-8EnExG1o