Woods Hole Film Festival - Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse
Real-life couple and comedy duo, Gabriel Diani and Etta Devine, play themselves as struggling filmmakers in Hollywood who go on the road with their dog and cat after the apocalypse hits to find a safe place to be.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Etta Devine & Gabriel Diani
Watch Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse on Tubi, Plex, Prime Video and Vimeo on demand
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! Every generation is convinced the world will end on their watch. We love apocalypse stories and wanted to show a more realistic version than what we usually see. Our characters don't get whisked off by helicopter to save the human race, instead they are ignored and abandoned along with everybody else. The apocalypse is hard, but so is living every day and we wanted to explore our existential dread about the end of civilization while still making people laugh.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The apocalypse can be fun!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
We play ourselves and really deconstruct our relationship in the film. So it’s extremely personal. We were worried about it being solipsistic and self-involved but the hope was by going at the personal we could hit something universal. And the response has been pretty overwhelming from people in long term relationships saying, “Oh, this is exactly like me and my husband.”
How have the script and film evolved the course of their development and production?
It’s always evolving. At every stage. We were constantly tinkering, cutting scenes or writing ADR lines during post production. But the structure of the script came out pretty fully formed on the first draft and it’s really been about refining.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Audiences have really seemed to have a good time at the screenings we’ve had so far and we’ve won awards at the Mill Valley Film Festival, Spokane International Film Festival, San Luis Obispo Film Festival, Derby Film Festival, Phoenix Comicon, and the LA Comedy Festival. We’ve also gotten great reviews in the Austin Chronicle and Screen Anarchy. Of course, it’s important to keep things in perspective. Not every piece of art speaks to every single person.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Yes and no. It’s always a little surprising how people react because no audience is the same. Some people laugh at one joke and not at the other. So it’s always a rollercoaster. But that’s just the nature of any kind of entertainment.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
More eyeballs please!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Buyers!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We hope people enjoy it and that it helps us to make the next thing!
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Civilization is a fragile construct. It can all go away very quickly. How many of us our actually prepared if our infrastructure falls apart? How many of us have the skills that allow us to survive?
Would you like to add anything else?
People can preorder their copy of the film at www.ddmta.com!
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We’re writing for a cartoon show right now and developing some TV ideas. We’ve also got a couple film projects brewing as well.
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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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Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse
Real-life couple and comedy duo, Gabriel Diani and Etta Devine, play themselves as struggling filmmakers in Hollywood who go on the road with their dog and cat after the apocalypse hits to find a safe place to be.
Length: 90 minutes
Directors: Etta Devine & Gabriel Diani
Producer: Etta Devine & Gabriel Diani & Chad Meserve
Writer: Etta Devine & Gabriel Diani
Key cast:
Etta Devine is an actor, writer, filmmaker, and comedian. She recently wrote, directed, produced and starred in the feature "Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse” with her comedy partner, Gabriel Diani. Often compared to “Nichols & May” and “Burns and Allen,” the two have become audience favorites at comedy clubs and festivals all over the country. She co-produced and co-starred in the award-winning independent film “The Selling,” published the book “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn [Robotic Edition],” and can be heard doing multiple voices for the hit cartoon "Bee and Puppycat.”
Gabriel Diani wrote, produced, and starred in the horror comedy "The Selling" which was in the Top 10 of About.com's Best Horror Movies of 2012 and received rave reviews from The Huffington Post, Ain't It Cool News, and Filmthreat. He has performed at comedy festivals around the country as one half of the comedy duo “Diani & Devine,” made waves with the satirical Kickstarter campaign "Replacing the N-Word with Robot in Huckleberry Finn,” and raised over $100,000 on Kickstarter with his creative partner Etta Devine for their second feature (and directorial debut) "Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse."
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Yes, please!
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DianiAndDevineMeetTheApocalypse/
Twitter: @dd_apocalypse
Instagram: @dd_apocalypse
Funders: Kickstarter
Made in association with: Ludicrous Productions
Where can I see it in the next month?
Woods Hole Film Festival
DragonCon
Release date: TBD