HollyShorts 2018 - Murder for Dummies
Two high school best friends decide to kill one of their boyfriends.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Diona Oku
Watch Murder for Dummies here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I had the idea for the story of high school best friends killing someone a few years ago and found that written down in a journal last year before I started at Harold Ramis Film School. Something about the two girls stuck with me and when it came time to choose what to write for my thesis film, I knew it would be Murder for Dummies. It just felt like the right time to make this film and bring these characters to life.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It’s fun, it’s short, it’s free, it’s on, just watch it. Also, the actresses are phenomenal, the score is a banger, and it’s pretty funny, so there’s something in the film for everybody.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The story is on the surface about revenge, but it’s really a story of friendship and love between these two girls. They’re high school best friends but it’s not a catty friendship, they really love each other and this story is about their friendship and their journey, like Thelma & Louise, but without a hot young Brad Pitt.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
There were some changes from script to screen, mostly due to production limitations. The script was originally 19 pages long and I had one weekend to shoot, so I cut it down to a more manageable 9 pages. There were locations that we were unable to secure, but other than that, the script and the story stayed pretty much the same from the last draft to the last cut.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
People find it funny, which is good. I’ve also heard it’s disturbing, in a good way. Because it is such an abrasive film with these sort of aggressive vigilante-esque high school girls, I was a little worried about how it would come across, with these girls killing men for doing things they don’t like. But I think people get that it’s just a very dark pseudo-farce and that it’s not advocating or supporting their glib renegade violence.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
The more viewers the better, everyone worked so hard on the film and I just want people to be able to see it and enjoy it.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We’re currently in our festival run, but would love to be able to continue to expand the film's viewers and get it out to as many eyes as possible, so distributors and journalists. I’m also looking to start a comic book based off of the short, following these girls as they become local mercenaries, like a hyper-violent hyper-feminine Scooby Doo type of series with weekly villains, while also dealing with the repercussions of murdering Drew. So I’m looking for any people in the comic-book sphere who could help in getting that off the ground and running, like artists or publishers.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I’d really just like for this film to make people laugh, I hope people enjoy it and think about it after, but I’d mostly like them to laugh while they watch it, especially if I’m also in the audience.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Is this a feminist film? If so, then why? If not, then why not? I thought a lot about that and what I think the film is saying/what I want the film to be saying about our current social climate while writing the script.
Would you like to add anything else?
One of the best parts of making this short was the amazing cast and crew, I’m in love with everyone who worked on this short; the actors, the sound, the production design, everyone worked for free and was a pleasure to work with and it wouldn’t have been possible without any of them, so thank you to them.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Diona Oku, the writer/director is working on a web series called “Baby” and continuing to write features and pilots. Christina Shaver, Producer, is currently in post-production on Cecily and Lydia at the Waypoint, a feature she wrote and produced.
Interview: August 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
Murder for Dummies
Two high school best friends decide to kill one of their boyfriends.
Length: 9 min
Director: Diona Oku
Producer: Diona Oku, Christina Shaver, Camille Grant
Writer: Diona Oku
Key cast: Dani Valenzuela, Jess Gabor, Tate Dewey
Instagram: @murderfordummies
Funders: Christina Shaver & Nirupa Sejpal
Made in association with: Oku Productions & Big C Creative
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? It’s playing August 11th @ 2:30 at the Hollyshorts Film Festival in Los Angeles, August 18th at the Defy Film Festival in Nashville, Tennessee, and September 1st Les Femmes Underground International Film Festival in Phoenix, Arizona.