Hollyshorts - Mommy Heist
Three moms and a baby rob a jewelry store to save their families from financial ruin.
Interview with writer-director Anna Gutto and producer Marion Cecinas
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I wanted to put a comedic twist on all the challenges and crazy circumstances you encounter while figuring out life with a baby in New York City. My own challenge was to make it through film school at Columbia with a newborn. Frankly, it would’ve been easier to rob a bank. And there came the idea for the film.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
This is your one chance to see a bunch of encumbered moms pulling off a heist. It’s never been done…in film…
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Every person wants to find purpose in life and a community that feels like family. Through the crazy ordeal of the heist, our characters find their purpose as individuals and as members of a community. Being a mom is one thing. Being a poor mom is another. These women work together to find a solution to a problem which society could not solve for them.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
It's been a great process with talented collaborators at every stage of development. I worked with two writers on the script, Jesse Soursourian and Michael Soussan, both of whom brought essential perspective to the process. My producer, Marion Cecinas, was also a true creative contributor to the process from script to screen.
I always wanted it to be a light heist comedy, and for me - a filmmaker whose previous successes have been in drama - that was a beautiful challenge. And, as it so happens, when you get going with the truths of reality and our screwed up ways of dealing with it, life tends to be pretty funny. Funny, and true, and a little bit sad - but sad in that way that keeps you connected with an eternally optimistic view on life.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Laughter. That's number one. It's been a fun ride, to be honest. It's a great feeling to sit in the theater and hear the audience crack up laughing at all the right places. And then, when on top of that, you get the gasps and the 'aws' at the exact moments you had hoped for...well, as a filmmaker, you can't ask for much more than that. And yet I got more, in the form of new directing assignments I couldn’t have aspired to before.
We’re also fielding offers to adapt it into a TV series, Marion (the producer) chimes in.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The one thing we didn’t expect, says Marion, is that the film plays so well with international audiences. As a team of international filmmakers, the response to the short film is encouraging for us and for what comes next as we develop the concept into a TV series.
Perhaps there is something globally entertaining about moms committing crimes, says Anna.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
It’s great to reach a niche audience directly and without any fuzz. Audiences enjoy the film, so the more people share in the oddball fun, the better.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We're off to a good start at Hollyshorts, and we’re happy to hear from other journalists and film festival directors who like what we're doing. Since the film gives audiences a good laugh it’s been working well mixed into a shorts program.
There is plenty for journalists to sink their teeth into. Bad Moms is one thing, criminal moms is another. What we’re looking at doing as we develop the concept into a series, is Desperate Housewives meets Breaking Bad. The diamond industry is the single most secretive and corrupt business in the world. Women are usually on the receiving end of this industry, but our ladies will take charge and turn the entire industry on its head in this planned 30-minute comedy series.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We hope more moms will turn to crime and succeed. Just kidding.
In addition this, Marion adds, we’re also hoping it’ll keep encouraging women’s effort to make films and to be talked about in films.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Is it moral to rob a jewelry store while pregnant in order to provide for your unborn child? Is it moral to pretend that your water breaks in order to complete the heist? How about changing a poopy diaper on a jewelry counter? Use the cuteness of your baby to gain access to the vault? Flaunt your toddler's psychological trauma to fool the police?
We say yes. You be the judge. So what if the expected morale of the mother is a bygone virtue? We say what’s long gone is the morale of the society that forces them to take extraordinary measures to survive.
Would you like to add anything else?
Um…don’t try this at home…or, if you do, call us, we might have some tips.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Apart from developing the TV series based on this short, I won an Award for my feature script PARADISE HIGHWAY last year. I'm working with APA Agency and moving into development with my producer. Other than that, I'm hired to co-write two episodes on a TV-show , and I'm slated to direct the film adaptation of the New York Times bestseller Radical Remission (where Marion Cecinas is also involved as a producer). I also direct music videos and commercials.
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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MOMMY HEIST
Three moms and a baby rob a jewelry store to save their families from financial ruin.
Length: 13min
Director: Anna Gutto
Producer: Marion Cecinas
Writer: Anna Gutto, Jesse Soursourian and Michael Soussan
About the writer, director and producer:
Anna Gutto (director/co-writer) is an Award-winning filmmaker. She recently relocated to Los Angeles from New York where she left a successful career in the theater, earning accolades such as "universally excellent" in The New York Times.
Jesse Soursourian (co-writer) graduated from Columbia University with an M.F.A. in screenwriting, and co-wrote the short film, Hugh the Hunter, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015.
Michael Soussan (co-writer) is a TV writer/creator on M.A.D., a European co-production with Viaplay. He is also a journalist and author. The film adaptation of his book "Backstabbing for Beginners" is starring Theo James and Ben Kingsley and is slated for release with A24 in 2018.
Marion Cecinas (producer)
Marion is a French producer who began her career in Paris working on Academy-Award finalist ‘Dripped’. She’s currently working in TV development and co-productions for various International studios between Europe and the U.S.
Key cast: Tiffiny Dixon, Canedy Knowles, Ashley Ward
Looking for journalists, film festival directors, a good comedy writer for the TV series developed from the concept.
Social media handles:
Facebook: ‘Mommy Heist’ https://www.facebook.com/mommyheist/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: @MCecinas (producer) #MommyHeist
Instagram: @marion.cecinas (producer) #MommyHeist
Other: Director’s website: www.annagutto.com
Made in association with: Columbia University