Cannes Short Film Corner 2018 - Haircut: THE MUSICAL!
Before Brian Mills leaves for his first year at Princeton University, he must come to terms with his sexual orientation and be honest with himself after some guidance from his trusted barber.
Interview with Writer/Director Jason Phillips
Watch Haircut: THE MUSICAL! on Prime Video
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Haircut: THE MUSICAL! was my Junior Thesis film at the University of Southern California Film Production Program, made to express how I felt while coming to terms with my own sexuality. For the Junior Theses at USC all production students are randomly paired into groups of three. Through the course of the semester we make a total of 3 films: a five minute short film every five weeks. During this process we do a rotation through the different roles. Each student writes/directs one, produces/sound designs one, and shoots/edits one.
It is an incredibly intense but rewarding process. I knew that I wanted to make a film that would challenge myself and expand my filmmaking abilities. Growing up, I had always done musical theater and loved movie musicals so my teammates and I decided to embark on creating a five minute and thirty-second musical with a total of five songs. It was an emotional process as I was still just beginning to fully accept myself. I wanted to make a movie that a young gay audience could watch and help spread positivity. It is extremely important to me to create and get more LGBTQIA cinema out in to the world, represent the community correctly, and supply young people with the knowledge that it is okay to be who they are.
When I was growing up, I never had LGBTQIA role models on the screen and I felt like an outsider because of this. We need more stories featuring diverse protagonists so that all young kids can see themselves represented, embrace who they are, and find their voice. This film helped me find my voice as a gay man and filmmaker.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
An audience member should watch this film to have a fun time and enjoy the music. The film is not incredibly intense or meant to be something that will make you cry. My hope is that an audience can jump on to the main protagonist Brian Mills and his journey, dancing along with him. For all audiences, it reminds you that who you are is okay and wonderful. While this film does focus on coming to terms with one’s sexuality, it also speaks to the larger idea of accepting and loving who you are.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Personally this film was about accepting the fact that I have be who I was born to be and love who I am. Growing up in a largely religious and conservative household, I was always afraid of accepting my sexuality. However, as I got older I realized that I couldn’t hide from who I was because who I am is beautiful and normal. I gained self-acceptance and respect, allowing me to embrace who I am. Universally, I want anyone who is still afraid to come out to be able to watch this movie and sing out who they are when the credits roll and know that there is a supportive community out there for them. For all audiences, I hope the themes of self-love and acceptance resonate with them.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script evolved constantly throughout the process. I had never written a song before so that was quite a learning curve. Two of my best friends made the music while I wrote the lyrics which sparked a beautiful collaboration. The process allowed me to reflect on my own experience, allowing me to evolve with the script. While the main character, Brian Mills, does not share my exact story, I did get to bury parts of my own fears in to the songs that he sings. As I looked deeper into myself, the film got much funnier and had a deeper impact.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
So far we have received incredibly positive feedback and I am excited to continue to share the film with audiences.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback has inspired me to continue to make stories that involve truthful and different LGBTQIA characters. Often we see movies that feature LGBTQIA characters with tragic endings. While these movies are incredible, I think it is time to start giving LGBTQIA characters happy endings as well.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I am looking for young audiences to be able to watch this movie and encourage positive stories for LGBTQIA characters.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
To amplify our film’s message we mainly need more exposure. I want as many young people to see this so they know that there are other people like them. For anyone still in the closet or afraid of who they are, I hope this movie can at least help them move in the right direction of self-acceptance.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like it to inspire young LGBTQIA people to come out of the closet proudly and to be able to continue to create musicals. As I mentioned, making positive LGBTQIA movies is important to me and I hope this film can spark ideas for other creators as well.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Why aren’t their large-scale LGBTQIA epics on screen today?
Would you like to add anything else?
I’d like to create large-scale LGBTQIA content that presents gay characters in movies with high production values and blockbuster debuts. Thank you so much for giving filmmakers the opportunity to express their voices and get their films out to the world.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am currently finishing an LGBTQIA Romantic Comedy Western that follows an outlaw and deputy who are in love. The story is about a young deputy who must come to terms with his feelings while attempting to rescue the love of his life from a group of dangerous bandits. This film is a University of Southern California Undergraduate Advanced Senior Thesis Film. The film will be submitted to film festivals and I hope to continue to create large scale stories for the LGBTQIA community.
Interview: May 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, 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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Haircut: THE MUSICAL!
Before Brian Mills leaves for his first year at Princeton University, he must come to terms with his sexual orientation and be honest with himself after some guidance from his trusted barber.
Length: 6 minutes and 25 seconds
Director: Jason Phillips
Producer: Adrian Vega Albela Osorio
Writer: Jason Phillips
About the writer, director and producer:
Jason Phillips is recent graduate of the Film Production Program at USC and hopes to tell truthful and fun stories that feature LGBTQIA characters.
Adrian Vega Albela Osorio is a graduate of the Film Production Program at USC and while he produced this film he primarily focuses on writing and directing.
Key cast: Matthew Manhard, Finley Polynice, Kate Enggren, John Skoubis.
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Looking for exposure so a young audience can see the movie and know that it is okay to be gay.
Made in association with: University of Southern California
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?: The film is currently still being sent out to various film festivals and we are waiting to hear back before being able to put it on the internet. You can see our debut at the LGBT Emerging Filmmakers Showcase at the American Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival.