Cannes Short Film Corner - Jerky
A man picks up the pieces of his life after the death of his husband with the biggest obstacle in his healing being his dead husband's dog to whom he is allergic.
Interview with Writer Danny Bernardo and Director Tim J. Lim
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! Danny Bernardo had the script for Jerky brewing for a few years. In 2014, he lost a very good friend by the name of Matthew Gunnels. When he was diagnosed with cancer, he adopted a rescue dog named Beef and they lived a very happy life together. When the community lost Matt, Danny realized that in the grief his friends and family felt, no one really considered how Beef was feeling. And worse, the fact that the people had each other to communicate our grief and Beef obviously didn't have the ability to do so. So Danny wrote this film in honor of Matt but also to really examine those agonizing days after the funeral. What do you do with your life? What is your new routine?
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
We like to think that we tackle loss and grief in a way that not a lot of work has before. The days after a funeral are stark and mundane. And for those closest to the departed, there's no escaping that. There's nothing glamorous or noble or romantic in the loss as other works tend to focus on. A loss is a loss. How do you move forward from that? Anyone who's ever lost a close loved one will be able to relate to it and hopefully feel validated and heartened. And even if you haven't lost someone yet, this is a glimpse into the numbness following the loss.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
We tried to keep the circumstances of Martin's death as unspecified as possible. This was to focus strictly on the loss and how it has impacted the lives of those left behind. The hardest thing about losing a loved one is being able to articulate with those around you how you're feeling. The three people left behind in our film (Gordon, Charlotte, and Jerky) are at different phases of it in their own journey. I think that's definitely something that everyone goes through when finding your own voice through different times of life.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script stayed more or less the same, however the perspective changed when Tim got involved. Even with the character of Jerky the dog as Danny's inspiration, the focus in the original vision was still on the widowed Gordon. Tim had the brilliant idea to shoot from the dog's perspective as much as we could, giving it the piece a true vulnerability and a hint of helplessness. Other small things we had to shorten as the film began to take form, just for pacing and thematic purposes. But nothing major was changed from the original script to the final product.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Thankfully the majority of the feedback we've received for the film has been overwhelmingly positive. Several folks have reached out to Danny to say that we've captured a feeling of isolation and sadness they'd never seen on film before. We also had people who had recently been separated from their dogs come up to us and say they resonated so much with the story. And of course, we've got his adorable dog in it. People love Padfoot as Jerky. We couldn't have asked for a better co-star.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
TIM: I have definitely been surprised with how much people resonated with the film. This is definitely the first film I personally made that has gotten the recognition it has. I did not come into this project expecting this result, but I'm not surprised that the story has touched so many people. Danny's script was such a beautiful script, and I was terrified to mess it up, but I'm glad the partnership between us produced a beautiful film.
DANNY: I think the biggest surprise in the feedback is that people want to know more about these people in the story. How did Martin die? What will Gordon do now? I always think that's the way you want to leave your audience: so engrossed in the world you've created they want more.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
TIM: I'm hoping people see the story and want to watch it! The whole purpose for us as storytellers is to somehow shift something small in people, whether it's a story that makes people laugh and cry, or something that changes the way people see the world. So to be able to have this story out there for people to be aware of and see one day is absolutely thrilling.
DANNY: I hope that we're able to reach a wider of audience of not only viewers but industry professionals.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
At this point, we definitely need some festival directors the come on board. Ultimately finding a distributor who can maximize this medium would be great! We want people to see the film and getting it onto as many online / VOD platforms as we can would probably be the best way of going about it.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Honestly, besides the content we would love for people to recognize the diversity and inclusion on this film. Two Asian American men wrote and created this film. You're seeing a romantic pairing of an Asian American man and Latinx man on screen which is almost never portrayed on film or television screens. We want people to see that good work can come from artists of color, especially queer artists of color and yet the piece itself is not about that. It is a human piece, a universal piece. I hope the impact for the industry leads to more opportunities for people of color. And most importantly, I hope that audiences can watch our film and see themselves reflected on the screen.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
In every conversation I've had about this film, the question of "have you lost someone close" is always asked, followed very closely with "and how did you deal with it"?
Would you like to add anything else?
TIM: I'm thrilled to be a part of this journey with this film! Being able to show a film at the Cannes Short Film Corner is something I didn't think I'd say for a while! To be able to share the screen with so many people I admire and respect, and to be able to show my work to industry professionals is a dream come true. I'm so excited to see what comes next!!
DANNY: My big mission statement in my work is diversity and inclusion on-and-off camera. It's the main mission statement for Twelve 3 Productions. I'm very proud that our debut project Jerky lives up to that. By the numbers, Jerky's principal cast was 100% people of color and a third female. Our production team was 73% people of color, 45% female, with women of color comprising 37% of cast and production.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
TIM: I am currently developing 2 feature films, and in pre-production for a Post Apocalyptic short that reflects on the current state of the various mindsets still warring in the United States. I'm also building a YouTube Channel on What TO do and what NOT to do as a broke-ass Filmmaker in Hollywood, and not go insane like I am.
DANNY: Twelve 3 Productions has just finished another short in association with Cove Creek Cinema where I am on board again as writer, actor, and producer. Little You examines the question of surrogacy through the lens of interracial couples identifying as gay, lesbian, and heterosexual. I'm taking the summer to finish up a script that's slated to shoot in the fall as a co-production with Twelve 3 and Freshly Roasted Films.
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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Jerky
A man picks up the pieces of his life after the death of his husband with the biggest obstacle in his healing being his dead husband's dog to whom he is allergic.
Length: 14:48
Director: Tim J. Lim
Producer: Twelve 3 Productions in association with Fluster Pictures
Writer: Danny Bernardo
About the writer, director and producer:
Danny Bernardo is an actor, writer, and producer based out of LA via Chicago where he spent several years working in the theatre scene there. He heads Twelve 3 Productions and Grey Ensemble Theatre, dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the arts.
Key cast: Danny Bernardo, Edwin Martinez, Dani Woodson, Padfoot the Dog
Looking for (sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Social media handles:
Facebook: JerkyFilm
Made in association with: Fluster Pictures
Where can I see it in the next month? Cannes Film Festival (Short Film Corner)