DC Shorts - The Blue Car
A young, poor East African boy faces the reality of running out of food and water while caring for his dying mother. But in his imagination, he travels the world in his favorite blue toy car to save her.
Interview with Writer/Director Henrick A. Meyer
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made my film so I could start a conversation about third world countries. Most of us here in the Western world take going to school, having medicine and hospitals, and clean drinking water very much for granted. Whereas most third world countries don’t always have that “luxury”.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I hope people will watch my film and be grateful for the life they have and all the opportunities they had growing up as a kid. Hopefully the audience will take action and help kids in need around the world, who would break their right arm for the opportunity to go to school and etc.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I travelled to 36 countries as a backpacker and work for a magazine which helps out third world countries. I had a sponsor kid myself for over 12 years. I have seen how much a little help can do and make a big difference and get a smile back on kids' faces.
I promise myself that one day I would make a film about this subject and tell a story of how brutal life can be when an environmental catastrophe hits an area where life is already hard from the beginning.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
It started as a story in my head about a little kid with a blue car traveling the world to save his sick mother only using his imagination. I had the main story in the first draft, and just tweaked minor things over the next three drafts. I had some of my friends and colleague reading the script, who always give their honest opinion about my scripts, and all feedback they had was, “Henrik you have to make this film”.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
So far the feedback has been very positive. Audiences who have watched it said it was spot on and the message got out.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
All feedback has been great so far. Some audiences have seen new ways and undertones that just make the story stronger.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible onwww.wearemovingstories.com?
I hope to open up people eyes in regards to helping out kids in need and make their lives much better. Let the audience know that there is still a need for our help around the world. I also hope that the film can help my career and let me tell more stories that needs to be told.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I need sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists to help my film get out there.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I hope that the impact of the film will be that kids in the third world countries will have much more time to play and use their imagination, go to school and be educated with help from people who can afford it.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
The main point of this film is to tell that there is still a big need for helping kids in the third world countries.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm currently working on a feature film as a cinematographer around September-October 2017.
Interview: September 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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Film Title: The Blue Car
A young, poor East African boy faces the reality of running out of food and water while caring for his dying mother. But in his imagination, he travels the world in his favorite blue toy car to save her.
Length: 11:26 minutes
Director: Henrik A. Meyer
Producer: Henrik A. Meyer
Writer: Henrik A. Meyer
About the writer, director and producer: Henrik A. Meyer found himself drawn to the camera at the age of 10 when he first started taking pictures, which turned into a lifelong passion for cinematography and telling narrative stories.
Key cast: Tré Jamison and MaameYaa Boafo.
Looking for producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists.
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebluecar/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBlueCar2017
Where can I see it in the next month?
DC Shorts film festival: 9th, 12th and 13th of September 2017.