When life seems dull, a young man tries to find comfort in the voicemail of a woman he can no longer have.

Interview with Writer/Director Aiyana Irwin

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

We made this film for two reasons. One was as a way to continue learning different filmmaking strategies through the creation of a film. We all wanted to try roles that were different for us within the craft of filmmaking itself. I'm usually an actor or a screenwriter, however I directed this film. Our editor and DP Tyler Whitman usually directs. Norjir Tullao leans toward fight choreography and comedy, yet in this he tried his hand at drama. The second reason was we wanted to try new things while creating a film that was simple but (hopefully) well done. We wanted to take a concept that didn't have anything super fancy or thrill seeking and show that connecting to the character is one of the most important parts of a movie.

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

You should watch this film because it touches on something that is universal. Loss. We have all come across it in one form or another and how people deal with loss ranges as well. Our movie shows different ways to cope while still keeping the audience engaged and relating to feelings that you and everyone have had to deal with on some level.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

As I mentioned before, loss is a big theme in our movie. But where there is loss there is also the potential for growth. This film deals with a person who is stuck and can't seem to move forward with his life. Paired against him is his roommate who is dealing differently with the loss and seems to have managed to move on, but is stuck in other ways. It is universal in not wanting to let go of something that you loved, but coming to the understanding that if you don't then you are not really living.

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

We have actually filmed this script 2-3 times, this is the third one that you are seeing. When Tyler Whitman (Original writer) showed me the script we both decided it needed a rewrite. It was originally twice as long and had one or two more characters. Also both characters were men during the first 2 go arounds. This time, playing off of the dynamic of a man and a woman friendship while also taking certain stereotypes of those relationships and changing them made the movie more impactful.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

So far the people who we have shown it to have been quite receptive and have enjoyed the movie. Most people did not expect the ending (although some did think it was obvious). There were clearly mistakes within the movie that those that created it think stick out, but most people were invested enough in the characters themselves that they didn't seem to mind the occasional flaw.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I was surprised how much people enjoyed it. Maybe because I have seen it so many times the magic of what it means and how it can affect and relate to people has dissipated. I'm happy it is resonating with people, making them see experiences in their lives and reminding themselves to let go of things, even little things, that are stopping them from moving forward.

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

By having the film more visible we hope to allow more people to experience the film and allow it to relate to their own lives. Hopefully it shows audiences that a movie does not need to be complex (or long) to be good and important. A lengthy movie doesn't necessarily mean you will care more about the characters, which is what we hope we accomplished with this film.

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

Obviously any sort of help to amplify or distribute our film would allow us to reach more people. Also having funding to create a longer version so as to better explore our themes and characters and show their journey in a more long term session would better allow the audience to connect to the film as a whole. So Producers would also be a big help.

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

We would like this film to connect with a wide audience of people. People from all different places and backgrounds that can connect to different aspects of the film. We hope to make people feel something when they watch the film and relate it back to experiences in their own lives.

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

Some questions that could contribute to a conversation involving this film would be:

-At what point does mourning a loss become dangerous? Is it when it starts affecting the people around you, or when you, yourself can no longer function without the idea of mourning?

-What are ways that people coping with loss can ease themselves back into everyday life?

-Since people experience things differently and express them differently, what are good ways to communicate between two people who are hurting?

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

We are very thankful for everyone who has viewed the film and we can't wait to continue doing more projects in the future.

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

Tyler Whitman is currently writing a new feature called What if Machine that he hopes to shoot in the coming year. Norjir Tullao has been choreographing fight sequences for several short films, and I have a feature film that I acted in coming out this year called The October Flowers.

Interview: January 2018

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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTIQ+, scifi, horror, world cinema. 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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Phone Bill

When life seems dull, a young man tries to find comfort in the voicemail of a woman he can no longer have.

Length: 5 minutes

Director: Aiyana Irwin

Producer: Dominic Hamilton & Tyler Whitman

Writer: Tyler Whitman & Aiyana Irwin

Tyler Whitman currently works at Sneaky Big Production Studios and focuses on DP and Directing work while also writing his own content.

Aiyana Irwin is an actress, screenwriter, director, who focuses on dramatic comedies and horror films. She is making her directing debut at the Chandler International Film Festival.

Dominic Hamilton makes his Producer debut at the Chandler International Film Festival. Since this project he has become a client coordinator on several music videos and spends his time networking with other potential clients.

Key Cast: Norjir Tullao, Kenya Alexis Terrel

Social Media Handles:

Instagram:

aiyonicbond : Aiyana Irwin

tdw.whitty : Tyler Whitman

norjir : Norjir Tullao

alexisham : Alexis Hamilton

thedomh : Dominic Hamilton

hannagaylewatts : Hanna Watts

kbterrelle : Kenya Alexis

_michaelmartin _ : Michael Martin

Made in Association With : Thunderhead Films

In the coming month you will be able to watch this film at the Chandler International Film Festival and the Women Worldwide Film Festival