A young artist crosses an ocean in hopes of finding her lost creativity — literally.

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Nicola Rose

Watch Creative Block (Bloc et Blocage) here:

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I wanted to make a film about a creative person who loses her creativity. It's one of the hardest things to go through, since it's where that sort of person lives. When she can't create anymore, she doesn't know what to do with herself. I was drawn to the story and character, and I wanted to see how she would get her inspiration back. Plus, I wanted to make a bilingual film that I could shoot partially in France and partially in the US, and I did.

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

I think because everyone has had the experience of losing, or questioning, their "center" — the thing that they identify with most strongly, whether it's an art, a sport, a field of study or whatever else. The depression that follows is pretty common, unfortunately, and it's something that countless people (who've seen the film) have told me they identify with. But the drive to get back your "center" is also terribly strong, and I like to think that's what will always win out in the end. You might lose yourself but you won't stay lost.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Well, I spoke about the universal themes a bit already. Personally it derived from the experience of not getting into drama school when I was 17. I had already received a lot of bullying in the theatre as a child, and then after that "final blow," I spent years denying I wanted to be in the arts at all. But obviously I came back around. You can't be true to yourself if you deny the very thing that runs your engines.

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

Oh, massively. At its beginning Creative Block was a 90-page, very realistic script, with just a touch of fantasy, about a girl who went to Paris, worked as a nanny under adverse conditions, tried to make a documentary, fell in love with an athlete, lost her virginity to someone else, etc. Now it's a 16-minute, completely fantastical film involving semi-sentient balloons and a subway that goes directly from NYC to Paris. My invention, by the way. Don't bother claiming it.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

People really relate to the theme of creative depression. As I mentioned earlier, I think it goes way beyond the specifics of the arts. Everybody has gone through some sort of downswing the way the main character does in Creative Block. Also (and this is fascinating to me) people are really divided on whether it's a funny film or not! I've seen audiences who have been terribly moved by it, and cried. I've seen others find it hilarious (in the best way). It really depends on the person, or the crowd, and their mood.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Yes! I didn't think it was a very funny film but I'm always delighted when people do think that. I'd rather get a laugh than not. Always.

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

I always want to get Creative Block in front of more people. People ask me my goal with the film. It is and will always be as simple as that. The more visibility, the better.

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

Journalists for the reasons mentioned above; film festival directors certainly; sales agents and distributors for obvious reasons, although it is always a tough call for a short film. Still, this is a unique one, for its bilingualism, its fantasy world and its message.

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

The film's impact should lie in its message, "hold tight to your true colors" (in French, "il faut bien s'en tenir à ses propres couleurs"). It's not as simple as it sounds. We're always hearing, "Be who you are," but what it so often means is "be who you are [as long as that's who society wants you to be]." In this film it just means, "Be who you are." Period.

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

What does it actually mean to hold tight to your true colors / be who you are? What are the benefits and the costs? Because there are both.

Would you like to add anything else?

Be who you are.

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

Our crew are always working on so many projects I can't keep track of them. I know that our Paris unit camerawoman, Véronique Doumbé, is working on a very long-term documentary project called Raising Zuly, which she shoots periodically in Spain. My new film is In the Land of Moonstones, the story of a little girl's first love and her friendship with her immigrant grandmother. It's due out in late 2018.

Interview: May 2018

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

Creative Block (Bloc et Blocage)

A young artist crosses an ocean in hopes of finding her lost creativity — literally.

Length: 16 minutes

Director/Producer/Writer: Nicola Rose

About the writer, director and producer:

Nicola Rose is a filmmaker, casting director, puppeteer and French-English translator. Her film Creative Block is currently in festivals, with her new film In the Land of Moonstones due out in 2018, and her next film Gabrielle in pre-production.

Key cast: Nicola Rose, Thomas Vieljeux, Géraldine Dulex, Philip Orawski, Anne Barschall, David Serero

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Any of the above

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creativeblockfilm

Twitter: @nicolarosemce

Instagram: @nicolarosemce and @eclairsoonproductions

Funders: Funded through the kindness of over 200 Indiegogo donors

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Creative Block will be playing in Brooklyn, NY on June 8 at 9 pm as part of the wonderful Art of Brooklyn Film Festival, in the "Larger than Life" shorts block. There are many other wonderful films in the block as well. Get your tickets HERE: https://aobff.eventive.org/schedule/5af1dd2a04eae100144f8067