Woods Hole Film Festival - Life Hack
Cover your webcam.
Interview with Writer/Director Sloan Copeland
Congratulations! Why are you making your film?
In addition to showcasing everyone involved, I wanted to portray a humorous example of some of the online privacy issues that we face in the digital age.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Above all else, to be entertained. There's A LOT of humor -- audiences have been finding it hilarious -- But also to become a little more informed about surveillance and hacker threats.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The subject matter of "Life Hack" is material that pretty much everyone can relate to. Being spied on doing something embarrassing via your webcam and being blackmailed with that video is an example that is a threat to everyone with a computer or smart device. The same goes for identity theft, or a hacker getting access to your personal information, emails, pictures, etc.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I've had the basic idea of privacy vs security for a while, but as technology has evolved I started to incorporate specific things like webcam access, spyware and ransom ware. A challenging aspect to all of this is how quickly and exponentially technology has evolved over recent years. So I needed to focus on future-proofing elements in the story so that nothing would be outdated from the time of my writing the script and shooting to the time the movie is released.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The audience and festival feedback has been amazing! We premiered last month at the Brooklyn Film Festival and were awarded Best Screenplay. We've won 7 more awards at festivals in the past month - highlighted by a special screening at Def Con (world's largest hacker conference - with over 25,000 attendees) in which we were awarded Best Film.
Audiences have been finding our movie extremely funny and incredibly relevant. Even the hackers love it and were most appreciative of how they (and the subject matter) were portrayed. The movie takes you on a fun ride.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback has been ultimately encouraging, letting us know that we did it right. We made a very funny and entertaining movie with a lot of educational relevance.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We're looking to get the word out. We're looking for exposure. This is a movie that people are really enjoying watching, and want other people to see it!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We've just recently started our festival run and are currently looking for distribution. So any distributors, buyers, sales agents and festival directors that are interested in our movie, please feel free to contact us.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I'll be happy if people walked away from our movie feeling a little more educated on some of the digital threats, and maybe becoming more involved in the dialogue that will ultimately create new rules for online conduct. As well as running to tell their friends about this hilarious awesome new movie called "Life Hack" that they just watched.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Where do you draw the line between privacy and security?
Would you like to add anything else?
Did I mention how funny and relevant the movie is?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Currently in development on a new TV series as well as my next feature film.
Interview: August 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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Life Hack
Cover your webcam.
Length: 85min
Director: Sloan Copeland
Producer: Jessica Copeland, Sloan Copeland, Doug Roland, Benjamin Zimbric
Writer: Sloan Copeland
About the writer, director and producer:
Sloan Copeland is an award winning film director, writer, editor and producer born and raised in New York City. His last film, "Wet Behind the Ears," won over 20 awards and is distributed globally. Other credits include "unREAL," "Synapse," "From Date To Mate" and "In The Now."
Key cast: Derek Wilson, Jessica Copeland, Mike Giese, Dylan Pinter, Christine Cartell, Doug Roland, Sean Kleier, Devin Ratray
Looking for: buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists
Social media handles: @lifehackmovie
Facebook: @lifehackmovie
Twitter: @lifehackmovie
Instagram: @lifehackmovie
Where can I see it in the next month?
We are currently screening at festivals across the country. Please check our website and follow us on social media for info on a screening near you.
@lifehackmovie