Two women, discovering and asserting who they are as young adults, come to realize the painful truth of how a shift in perspective can sometimes end a close friendship.

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Anna Fredrikke Bjerke

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Thank you! This film comes from a deeply personal place. It is about moving on from a friendship breakup – why growing apart is so painful, our emotional response to getting let down, and the journey back to healing ourselves.

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

You should watch this film because is portrays a complex and unique female friendship where a change in perspective is the reason for conflict, which I think most audiences will recognize.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

I think the reason for why The Way Things End resonates with people is because it’s specific and for that an universal story. Whether we grow apart or intentionally break away moving on from adult friendships affect our emotions deeply. It can leave us feeling betrayed or fill us with doubt and anger. We might even lose connection with who we are. These are themes that have come up in conversation with friends when I was working on the script, during the production with cast and crew, and after screenings with members of the audience.

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

The making of this film has been a very collaborative process though the film evolved most during post-production.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The feedback we’ve received so far has been really positive. People have seemed to connect with the film on a personal level, which is everything I could hope for as a director.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Not really. What’s been the most rewarding feedback though is that people don’t want the film to end, which has encouraged me to keep writing and directing in general.

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

I think any visibility in the process of releasing this film and elevating the team behind it is helpful. I am grateful for the opportunity to be interviewed!

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

I would love for The Way Things End to be accessible to audiences across online platforms for which we need distributors and journalists to help spread the word.

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

I hope this film could have an emotional impact on its audience and encourage more films made by queer women.

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

How do we grow into the same perspective or find a common ground instead of letting it become the reason for breaking apart?

Would you like to add anything else?

The Way Things End was developed and supported through production by Mediefabrikken’s directing initiative for women.

Most of the production team were women, the cast is all-female, and several members identify as LGBTQIA, myself included.

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

I am currently in pre-production for my next film project Outline, which is a drama set in the dramatic landscape of Northern-Norway. The story is about a young woman who spirals into darkness following the death of her mother. With a few of the team members from The Way Things End and some new additions, we are planning to shoot the film this Fall.

Interview: September 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

The Way Things End

Two women, discovering and asserting who they are as young adults, come to realize the painful truth of how a shift in perspective can sometimes end a close friendship.

Length: 5:30 minutes

Director: Anna Fredrikke Bjerke

Producers: Anna Fredrikke Bjerke

Co-producer: Vilde Moberg

Writer: Anna Fredrikke Bjerke

About the writer, director and producer:

ANNA FREDRIKKE BJERKE is a filmmaker from Oslo, Norway. She has a BA from Central Saint Martins and an MA from New York University. She is an alumnus of Mediefabrikken's directing initiative for women.

Key cast: Thea Green Lundberg, Jenny Ellegård

Looking for: Distributors, film festival directors, journalists.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/marlowefilmsno

Twitter: @marlowefilms

Instagram: @marlowefilms

Funders: Mediefabrikken, VIKEN Ung

Made in association with: Marlowe Films, Mediefabrikken

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? The film is screening at Filmens Hus in Oslo, Norway on September 15th.