Prim little Beth has yet to discover the magic of ‘flicking the bean’ to the horror of her best friend Jo, so she embarks on a surreal journey of self-discovery and, most importantly, self-love.

Interview with Writer/Director Jemma Cotter

Watch Flicking the Bean here:

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

It started with Gretel, the co-writer and lead actor, who wrote a script for a short skit based on some funny interactions with friends. She approached me and asked for some feedback on the writing with the intention of turning it into a short film. I gave her a million notes and she took almost all of them onboard, which is quite rare and very flattering. At the next script editing session she asked me if I might want to direct it and I thought, why not?

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

Flicking the Bean is a candy-coloured, surreal comedy poking fun at the ‘code words’ women use to describe masturbation, oh – and it features a giant bean mascot.

Flicking the Bean - Beth (Gretel Sharp) tries her first bean.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Personally, Flicking the Bean makes me think back to times growing up when I was first learning about sexuality. I couldn’t seem to get any clear-cut answers during sex ed classes at school, so I turned to my next best options; friends, Dolly Mag’s sealed section, and some pretty dodgy internet sources. I think when information about sex is learned in this way, via whispered conversations and hiding your computer screen when your mum walks into your bedroom, a sense of shame is cultivated. I think many young people can probably relate to this feeling. By joking about taboo topics, we also make them easier to talk about.

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

It was expanded from a conversational skit into a narrative short during the screenwriting process and we injected a fair bit of surrealist comedy into the story from there. Basically, we embraced the silliness.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

So far, we’ve been told it’s quite funny. One reviewer from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival said, “Some promising work here from young Aussie film makers on the fringe of the comedy scene, featuring...one ginormous horny baked bean which is burned into my brain forever.”

Flicking the Bean - A romantic moment between Beth (Gretel Sharp) and Mr Bean (Pearce Hessling)

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

One piece of feedback that surprised me was several women told me they’ve never heard the phrase ‘flicking the bean’ before. They were equally as perplexed as the main character Beth as to what it entailed. I guess that makes it educational too?

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

Well, hopefully I encourage some folks to head out to a festival we are screening at and buy a ticket to see our short film. The local film industry needs your support!

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

Any film festival directors, distributors, or journalists who would like to feature our short film on any kind of platform.

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

I hope it makes a bunch of people giggle!

Flicking the Bean - Beth (Gretel Sharp) is caught at an awkward moment

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

Why do women feel embarrassed talking about masturbation?

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

I’m currently writing my first feature which is a horror film set in far North Queensland, as well as finishing off a couple of short form projects at the moment too.

Interview: April 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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Flicking the Bean

Length: 5 minutes, 16 seconds.

Director: Jemma Cotter

Producer: Brett Tinning

Writer: Gretel Sharp and Jemma Cotter

About the writer, director and producer:

Jemma Cotter is a creative writer/director based in Melbourne who is passionate about telling stories that make audiences laugh, cry, scream, or preferably all three.

Gretel Sharp’s love for performing lead to experimenting in original theatre and film projects as a way to pursue all her passions simultaneously.

As one half of the Quiet Giant team, Brett Tinning has spent the last 5 years establishing himself as a versatile producer specialising in narrative works.

Key cast: Gretel Sharp, Caitlin Duff, and Pearce Hessling.

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Film festival directors, short film distributors, and journalists.

Social media handles:

Facebook: facebook.com/quietgnt

Instagram: @quietgiant_

Other: vimeo.com/quietgnt

Made in association with: Quiet Giant

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?

We have screenings happening right now, so get your diaries out and write down:

Melbourne International Comedy Festival (Mar 31st - Apr 22nd)

Australia’s Funniest Shorts program

Every Saturday/Sunday at 5pm

Coopers Inn, 282 Exhibition Street Melbourne

For Film's Sake Festival (Apr 10th - 15th)

Hot Mess screening

Saturday April 14th at 2:45pm

Event Cinemas, 505/525 George Street Sydney

Setting Sun Film Festival (Apr 26th - 30th)

Rouge Program

Saturday April 28th at 3pm

Sun Theatre, 8 Ballarat Street Yarraville