CineKink NYC - Pizza Roles
A porn production is run off the rails by a corporate cult of diversity that sees only the bottom line.
Interview with filmmaker Ari Chivukula
Watch Pizza Roles on PinkLabel
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I lived in Seattle 2013 - 2017, working at Facebook as a software engineer. As a queer/trans mixed race PoC I was an oddity at Facebook; as an upper-middle-class person I was a rarity in the queer/trans community. In each place I sought to contribute what I could to build a bridge. I founded the role of ‘Seattle Diversity Coordinator’ at Facebook to see what I could do to improve representation in tech. After a bit more than a year I burned out of that role, frustrated from my lack of lasting impact. The experience embittered me toward the corporate diversity cult: glossy marketing photos staring a rainbow coalition with nothing behind it. I’ve learned the best way to recover from a failure like that is to make art about it and thus, Pizza Roles.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
This isn’t like any porn you’ve seen. It defies audience expectations by forcing them to see how the sausage is made. What’s uncovered behind the scenes doesn’t just lack sex appeal, it’s actively problematic. The powers that be are swapping actors like so many cogs in a machine, optimizing return on investment through diversity.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
“All sorrows can be borne if you put them into a story.” My films are personal experience decontextualized into focused narratives. The pain and joy of existence are universal, as long as I stay true to mine I know others will relate,
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The structure of Pizza Roles hasn’t changed much since the original draft. The back and forth between porn and meta-porn was the keystone it was built on. It was my first script though, meaning much of the evolution was focused on refining my framing language and fleshing out character actions. I learned to fight my pursuit of brevity over clarity.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Lots of positive feedback! I’ve shown it to family, friends, festivals, and co-workers.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I was surprised how clearly the meta-message was parsed; I assumed many fewer people would get the commentary on power and privilege.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I want to connect with other filmmakers pursuing counter-counter-cultural commentary.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We could use press coverage and distribution!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want to expand the way diversity is discussed. I’ve aped the cultural frustration with diversity programs while laying the blame with capitalistic dehumanization. I want so-called ‘conservatives’ and ‘liberals’ to transcend their petty reductionism and build a more sensical world, least they end up in the one they see on screen.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
This film is consumed on a spectrum between: (a) those who flinched at the problematic elements and relaxed after seeing the meta-commentary and (b) others who enjoyed the problematic elements and missed the meta-commentary, themselves part of the joke. The question is, where do you fall?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I’m working on a new film inspired by three events:
* Sexual abuse at the hands of a relative as a child
* The Me Too movement and Mayor Ed Murray’s resignation https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Murray_(Washington_politician)
* https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/25/porn-ster-pentagon-ari-chivukula-queer-church-co-f/
I’m workshopping it on a queer filmmaker cruise later this month!
Interview: February 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTIAQ+, 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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Pizza Roles
A porn production is run off the rails by a corporate cult of diversity that sees only the bottom line.
Length: 5min
Credits: http://m.imdb.com/title/tt7195222/
About the writer, director and producer:
Danny Tayara was born in Oahu, Hawaii, raised in the Pacific Northwest, and lives in Seattle, Washington. She is a director and animator, and her work focuses largely on LGBTQ issues and community. She manages Reel Queer Youth, a video production training program for LGBTQ youth ages 13-20. They are Festival Director for TWIST: Seattle Queer Film Festival and Senior Programmer for Translations: Seattle Transgender Film Festival.
Ari Chivukula lives at the intersection of art, law, and tech. They’re a Digital Service Expert at the Pentagon focused on modernizing cyber warfare tactics and training. They’re a law student shaping the future of internet policy. They’re a Co-Founder of the porn production company Queer Church where they write, direct, and act.
Looking for: Journalists & Distributors
Facebook: http://facebook.com/QueerChurchPorn/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/queer_church
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queer.church/
Tumblr: http://queer-church.tumblr.com/
Other: https://queer.church/
Funders: Queer Church
Made in association with: Blanket Fort Films, Danny Animation, and Big Mario’s Pizza
Where can I see it in the next month: CineKink NYC