Marfa Film Festival 2018 - Sexxy Dancer
A woman down on her luck gets a lift when a friend loans her Sexxy Dancer for the week.
Interview with Writer/Director Jessica Makinson
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Sexxy Dancer was made for the joy of it.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It's funny and it subverts expectation.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The film starts out looking like "women's content" and then quickly shocks you into reverse objectification. Overall, it's a celebration of joy, which people need a lot more of.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
It was shot as written. Save a location change or two, the script and the film are very similar. When you are both writing and directing a comedy you have the luxury of writing scenes with the direction in mind.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Sexxy Dancer just had it's world premiere at Marfa Film Fest and it was a total blast. Everyone was really in the mood to laugh so we milked that for all it was worth. People like joyful films and we need more of them.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback is so much different outside of a cynical city. I think other film makers were so generous and complimentary because we weren't in LA. Maybe they would have been either way, but the remoteness of Marfa had people letting their guards down. Send your films to Marfa Film Festival!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We Are Moving Stories contacted me about my first short film "SKIN" and they did such a beautiful job covering it that it I was psyched to be asked again about "SEXXY DANCER". Who wouldn't want that kind of attention directed at their art? Really appreciative that WAMS is focused on balanced coverage of new and emerging filmmakers.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Looking for any and all. Producers for upcoming projects in development including a feature I'm working on about homelessness and gentrification with writing partner Ben Kasulke, (ultimate DP and director). If you like the sound of Sexxy Dancer (film festival directors, journalists) please email sexxydancerfilm@gmail.com for a link.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I'd like it to make people smile, laugh, and maybe look me up the next time they need a director.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
So many questions? Happiness and good news are just as worthy of your attention as the negative stuff.
Would you like to add anything else?
Hire female directors!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Jessica Makinson is writing a feature with Kasulke, working on getting funding for new short ideas, pitching a half hour comedy called RIDERS, and will return this season doing voice-over for the Emmy winning SOUTH PARK. DP Ben Kasulke just finished directing his first feature BANANA SPLIT and wrote and directed an episode of ROOM 104 for HBO. Producer Dan Bree is heading to the Canadian arctic to oversee season 6 of History Channel's hit survival series ALONE, and partnering with the San Diego Zoo to develop a blue-chip documentary series on wildlife extinction, starting with polar bears.
Interview: July 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
Sexxy Dancer
A woman down on her luck gets a lift when a friend loans her Sexxy Dancer for the week.
Length: 5:57
Director:Jessica Makinson
Producer: Dan Bree
Writer: Jessica Makinson
About the writer, director and producer:
JESSICA MAKINSON is a writer/director/actor living in Los Angeles focused on themes of intimacy, oddity and dark humor.
Key cast: Heidi Sulzman (Hell or High Water) Carrie Clifford (Crazy Ex-Girfriend) and Stephen James as Sexxy Dancer
Looking for: producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists
Twitter: @MakinsonJessica
Instagram: @makinsome
Other: https://jessicamakinson.com/ and https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1361758/ (IMDB)
Funders: Self-funded
Where will it screen next: Still crossing fingers on a few festivals. Programmers email sexxydancerfilm@gmail.com for a link.