Hollywood Dreamz International Film Festival - Hungry
An idealistic grade school teacher has a fear of speaking up in public (other than in front of her kids). But when she finds out that children in her school are going hungry - thanks to federal cutbacks - it compels her to do things she wouldn't have thought she could do, to help out the children.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Jillie Simon
Watch Hungry on Prime Video
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you so much! This film came about because Thomas Simon (co-producer, co-director, composer, editor and husband), was urging me (Jillie) to write something that we could produce and make fly. I’d been cast six months earlier as the lead in a pilot for the web and had gotten Thomas onboard as composer - and there was great writing and camera-work, and of course, terrific music, but the director was trying to do everything himself, even sound and the sound ended up being sub-par so the project that we'd put our heart and hard work into, couldn’t go anywhere.
Then when Thomas shared with me a couple of articles he'd read, about teachers who found out that kids in their school were going hungry because of cuts to the SNAP program, I thought that was an important topic, with a role that I'd like to play.
Imagine I'm a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Because it would be an entertaining, thought-provoking and impactful experience. The film flies, with the terrific score and first-rate acting propelling it forward. Oscar nominee Eric Roberts got involved because he cares about the topic and loved the screenplay, and he contributed so much to his role of Congressman Thicke - and was awarded a Special Jury award for it. I’ve been honored with three acting awards so far for my role as the protagonist, and the other adult roles are played by some of New York's finest working actors, including Alex Emanuel, playing my husband and Victor Colicchio (who wrote “Summer of Sam”) playing a reporter. Thomas's musical score won a Best Music award, and the child actors are touching and adorable!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Allison, the schoolteacher in our story, has a fear of speaking up in public, except with kids. But she’s forced to step up in order to help out the children, when she finds out that some of them are going hungry. Besides addressing the fact that we need to do more to care for children in need all over the world, the film also illuminates how very important it is to raise our voices and fight back against injustice. And that one person's voice - every voice - is important.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
As I was writing the script - which was my first - before that I’d mostly written songs, for our bands (LOVE ALIEN and our current one, Musiciens Sans Frontieres), I got very helpful feedback and advice from two wonderful (and award-winning) writer-friends, Devi Snively and Eileen Deutsch. And we had a very helpful cast and crew screening, after which we cut it down from 26 minutes, 45 seconds to 23 minutes.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Feedback has been very wonderful. We’ve received eight awards, been selected to 19 festivals so far and the audience feedback has been beautiful. I'm touched by the powerful responses when people talk to me after a screening.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
A few of the audience members shared afterwards that their mother was a teacher dealing with this problem (of cuts to the lunch programs), or that they were teachers experiencing the problem - or that they had dealt with depending on the school lunch as a child - and they connected very strongly with the story. Others hadn’t been aware of this at all and were motivated to do something, which is wonderful to have raised awareness and to spur people on to action. Our challenge - and our hope - is to get a multitude of people pressing our leaders and ultimately making real change happen.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on http://www.wearemovingstories.com?
To keep spreading the word - "Hungry" is even more timely now than before, unfortunately, what with further draconian cuts to children's lunch programs in the U.S. with the new regime... The idea of resistance and citizen action is so very important with those in charge of our country trying to roll back environmental regulations, slow down progress on combating climate change, and children's futures are very much at stake. So I hope it sparks an interest in these issues. And I also hope everyone involved in this film gets recognition for their tremendous talents.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film's message?
Buyers, distributors, film festival directors and journalists would all be extremely helpful for amplifying this film's message.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want it to help shine a spotlight on the issue, so that more action would be taken to do something about children and hunger/malnutrition, which is such a preventable tragedy.
What's a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What can we do to make sure children in our schools aren't going through their day hungry? And what can we do to get global leaders to truly drive change and end hunger world-wide?
Would you like to add anything else?
If we do get distribution, any profits from the film after the costs are recouped will be donated to the organization "A Well-Fed World", a terrific charity which combines feeding families and saving animals. And thank you again for the exposure on this terrific and important site!
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Thomas and I are both in post-production on our second short film, "A Chance", a relationship story. He's also preparing to tour South America and Europe with his solo show. And I'm preparing for my upcoming lead role in "The Fighting Wagners", a feature film by Arlene Sparaco, about immigrants and discrimination in the early 1900's. We are also in the development phase of producing our first feature film, a thriller that deals with an animal welfare investigator, and murder and cover-ups at a slaughterhouse.
Interview: July 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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Hungry
An idealistic grade school teacher has a fear of speaking up in public (other than in front of her kids). But when she finds out that children in her school are going hungry - thanks to federal cutbacks - it compels her to do things she wouldn't have thought she could do, to help out the children.
Length: 23 minutes
Directors: Jillie Simon and Thomas Simon
Producers: Jillie Simon and Thomas Simon
Writer: Jillie Simon
About the writer, director and producer:
Writer/Co-director/Co-Producer Jillie Simon: Award-winning actor, singer-songwriter and filmmaker who's performed in film, television, Off Broadway, regional theater, improv shows, concert halls, clubs, festivals and benefits.
Co-director/Co-Producer/Composer/Editor Thomas Simon: European born, New York City based artist, Thomas Simon is an award winning composer/musician/producer.
Key cast: Jillie Simon, Eric Roberts, Alex Emanuel, Victor Collicchio, Verna Hampton, Bettina Bilger, Melissa Murray-Mutch
Looking for sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists: Yes (-and producer/investors for our next venture).
Funders: Self-funded Made in association with: Mabou Mines
Where can I see it in the next month? It will be screening in Las Vegas, Nevada in the Hollywood Dreamz International Film Festival & Screenwriters Event. The festival runs from Aug. 17 - 27, and the screening date is TBA,
For details, you can go to http://www.facebook.com/hungrytheshortfilm or https://www.hollywooddreamsfilmfestival.com/about-hdiff