An isolated, imaginative, perfectionist exacts ill-conceived revenge on all liars of the world via the one target she has access to: a classmate sharing her name.

Interview with Writer/Director Chell Stephen

Main photo: Erika Brodzky as Mom and Joanna Bassias as Shauna W. Credit: Brendan Adam-Zwelling

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Shauna is a Liar is based on a true story from my childhood that I always thought was funny. I like exploring characters who are in transitional moments - in this case discovering that "fair" isn't really a thing.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

If you like colors and music and a lot of fun stuff in a quick amount of time, you are welcome to watch this film! I enjoy bringing the audience as deeply into my protagonists head as I can so if you're craving a deep cranial dive into a tiny weirdo's brain, shamon.

Shauna is a Liar - Joanna Bassias as Shauna W. Photo Credit: Brendan Adam-Zwelling.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

While rehearsing with my two young leads, they both first thought their characters were firmly one thing and not another: the Mean Girl or the Bullied Girl. I was excited to explain to them, what I feel is a major personal and universal theme in the film: that they're both the same. everybody's the same. Everybody's dealing with the same stuff (usually fear and insecurity) just expressing it in different ways.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

There were of course many drafts of the script... I wanted the lead character Shauna W to have the strong personality she does, but to also give notes of the other stuff she's dealing with which is causing her to act out. I ended up writing more voice over for her after we shot to help further/clarify this point. I edited the film so was responsible for that final step in its evolution as well, working to combine the more true scene moments with the montage moments in a way that kept us linked to the lead character's journey.

Shauna is a Liar- Dia Poulos as Marla, Joanna Bassias as Shauna W and Gabby Goodman as Jenny. Photo Credit: Brendan Adam-Zwelling.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

When people who know me have seen the film I've heard them say it "feels like Chell", like me, which is one of my favorite things to hear about my work. It is a good expression of my visual style and i'm grateful to have incredible collaborators including my DP Gregg Conde who work super hard to execute that specific vision. Strangers who have seen the film have been very complimentary of the awesome young adults who acted in it, which I love! They were all so patient and cool and talented, we were very very lucky to find the folks we did.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

It's fun when people like it, or laugh or cringe or remember similar moments from their own childhood, but I don't feel like I can ask an audience member to respond in any kind of way. However they feel when they see it is worthwhile and interesting to me. Hate it, love it, very good either way.

Shauna is a Liar Writer/Director Chell Stephen. Photo Credit: Brendan Adam-Zwelling.

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I'm currently writing a short series idea, a dark comedy that takes place in the suburbs of LA and is very loosely based on a true story - or a fantasy of a true story rather - as well.

Interview: June 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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Shauna is a Liar

An isolated, imaginative, perfectionist exacts ill-conceived revenge on all liars of the world via the one target she has access to: a classmate sharing her name.

Length: 10:24

Director: Chell Stephen

Producer: Kristy Neville

Writer: Chell Stephen

About the writer, director and producer:

Chell Stephen is a writer/director originally from Toronto who likes her visuals and her characters both dark and sweet at the same time.

Kristy Neville is a producer based in Toronto who has produced such awesome films the award-winning short Her Friend Adam and the forthcoming feature Mary Goes Round.

Key cast: Joanna Bassias, Isabella Coelho, Jennifer Ferris, Erika Brodzky, John Marcucci
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):

Social media handles:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/shaunaisaliar

Twitter: @chellstephen ; #shaunaisaliar

Instagram: @chellstephen ; #shaunaisaliar

Made in association with: Think/Feel, Wildling Pictures, My Monkeys

Where can I see it in the next month? at Bluestocking Film Series at the Egyptian Theater Los Angeles