Isla says goodbye as she leaves for Mars.

Interview with Writer/Director Keith Rivers

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I wanted to explore a small story within a big premise, the idea of a girl's last day on Earth before leaving to Mars held my attention, and I couldn't shake it. What would you do with your time? Who would you see? How would you say goodbye? How would you feel? Would you do something illegal, permanent, or would it just be like any other day?

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

You might want watch this film because you're curious to learn about how a person struggling with her own isolation seizes her last day on Earth. This is a film about saying goodbye, which has an empathetic value.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

I used Mars as a personal theme to describe Isla's feelings of wanting closure or solidarity. There's also a universal theme of feeling so disconnected and depressed on Earth, surrounded by billions of people causing all sorts of turmoil -- how do you just let the world happen without being so emotionally effected by every destructive action all of the time? -- and so she desires to go to a place that offers her some peace.

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

The script always had this Easter egg of 11:11 which you can see in the streaks of light on the wooden floors, clock, space ships, tattoo, etc. What changed was the order in which Isla went about her day and the countdown. I felt that in this short of a story I needed a sense of urgency that would encapsulate her day. In hindsight, I want to attempt another version that just captures the moment she's in with her girlfriend. Art is never finished, it's abandoned.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

Some people are confused as to whether it is a music video or a teaser trailer. Is it a visual poem or a montage? I guess it's all of those things. I'm not labeling it. It's a short idea that has wings for something greater. I hope to build upon the story someday.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Yes. It's humbling to receive feedback that doesn't just pat you on the back, but i face this with every film that I make and that's part of the process. I don't fear it anymore, I love the challenge and look forward to that sense of collaboration or opportunity to make my work better. I'm always open.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I hope that people reach out and tell me what they think of the film or share it with their network. The point of a film is to create a discussion or emotionally effect someone -- so I hope it does that.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

All of the above. It takes an army. I don't have an agent or a manager, and I don't have a lot of connections in the film festival arena, but I love making movies, so hopefully that connection will find it's way.

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

This might be a weird answer but I hope people make the connection that 11:11 is about seeking out a spiritual and spatial force within yourself, and not being emotionally wrapped up and consumed by everyone and everything that's happening around you.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Right now, Mars feels like a place that's close enough for us to achieve, but far enough in that it's life threatening. Discuss...

Would you like to add anything else?

Yes, originally my main actor was a male, and when he dropped out of the project the only person i was comfortable casting was another female, so I decided to make the two characters a lesbian couple. It happened completely by accident but it ended up being a beautiful twist to the relationship and added a lot of depth to the character and estranged relationship with her father.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I'm working on a feature film about the Barefoot Bandit that I'll be taking to market November 1st at AFM.

I'm also working on another short film about a man who's returned to a bustling society after being in isolation for his entire life. He doesn't know how to speak, and has no social etiquette. It's a very challenging social study and visual challenge in terms of how to portray his worldview.

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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Title: 11:11

Isla says goodbye as she leaves for Mars.

Length: 05:17

Credits:

DIRECTOR/WRITER

KEITH RIVERS

PRODUCER

VI PHAM

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

TRAVIS CLINE

CAST

ISLA played by LILY PIPER FAYE

JAMIE played by AMBER HODGKISS

DAD played by DOUG VOGEL

LIBRARIAN played by KATE ALDEN

TATTOO ARTIST played by THOMAS WADE

CASTING DIRECTOR

DENISE GIBBS

FOREGROUND/BACKGROUND TALENT

EDITOR

NICK PEZZILLO

MUSIC “THE WAR” BRIAN FENNELL

PERFORMED BY SYML

PRODUCTION COORD.

CORBIN RICHARDSON

ASST. PROD COORD.

HALEY WATSON

PROJECT MANAGER

ANDREW YANG

1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

KEATON SLANSKY

PROD. DESIGNER

DARCY ZOLLER

HMU

NANCY LEONARDI

WARDROBE STYLIST

RON LEAMON

VISUAL EFFECTS

MAXWELL SWET / ALAN JASINSKI

SOUND DESIGN / MIX

SEBASTIAN ROGERS

POSTER DESIGN

TYLER CUTFORTH

COLORIST

Mark Todd Osborne

FINISHING

Connor Creighton

Riley O'Callaghan

PRODUCTION COMPANY

WORKHOUSE CREATIVE, INC.

Special Thanks

Kayla Ewell

Shot on location in Seattle, WA