Lady Filmmakers Festival 2019 – A Dreamer's Melody
A trip to the movie theater sparks a passion for a young girl and her shoes.
Interview with Writer/Director Kendra Ann Sherrill
Watch A Dreamer's Melody here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
A Dreamer's Melody is my first film in almost two years, which is just one of many reasons why this little piece is so magical for me. This film is my simple love letter to the cinema, specifically those Golden Age musicals that I hold near and dear to my heart. The little dancing girl is me! It still is me! Movies have always sparked wonder and passion inside me. Movies have introduced me to new things to try, new ways to think and new adventures to have!
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
A Dreamer's Melody is short, sweet, and will make you smile! There is a childlike spirit that drives this story, and it will warm your heart.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
It is important to find your own passions, hobbies, and the things that make your soul happy. It's okay to be different - everyone has their something, embrace it!
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
From the very beginning of this project, I had imagined this story being told by shoes. I wanted to bring the focus of the story-world to the ground, where the audience could watch the adventure of these little white shoes unfold from a simple perspective. I wanted the viewer to only be able to experience the story through the confines of the shoe's world. I think this gives the film a breath of fresh simplicity. However, as we got into production, this turned out to be much easier said than done. My wonderful Cinematographer Adam Gaulke took on the challenge of shooting the entire film on the ground and, although we weren't able to get certain shots that played out perfectly in my head but were impossible due to realities, I am very proud of how we're able to tell this story in such a visually unique way.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I have received lovely feedback from festivals, audiences, and, most importantly, kids! Children are the best audience you can have - their reactions and opinions of films are so genuine and sweet. The best part of a screening is when a little boy or girl comes up to me afterwards to tell me they really liked my film.
I also shared the film with one of the Producers at Pixar. He enjoyed it so much that he invited me and my partner to visit him and tour Pixar Studios! Just that experience alone has made me extremely proud of this film.
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 just love for this film to be seen by kids and families around the world!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I hope that my film can make people smile and remember the passions that they had when they were little.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am currently editing an educational children's television program, Look, Listen, and Learn, and am in the middle of writing a narrative children's television series.
Interview: September 2019
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
A Dreamer's Melody
A trip to the movie theater sparks a passion for a young girl and her shoes.
Length: 4:19
Director: Kendra Ann Sherrill
Producer: Rebecca Cook
Writer: Kendra Ann Sherrill
About the writer, director and producer:
KENDRA ANN SHERRILL attended the film program at Eastern Washington University, where she was awarded the Best Director and Best Feature-Length Screenplay Awards and was a finalist for the DGA Student Film Awards. She recently worked as the Senior Producer/Editor for the Emmy-award-winning television show Washington Grown and the children’s television program Look, Listen, and Learn. She currently works as the Production Services Coordinator for Washington Filmworks.
Key cast: Josephine Kahler (Dancing Girl), Bella Bailey (Neighborhood Girl), Alyx Mathews (Neighborhood Girl), Mairead Kahler (Neighborhood Girl)
Twitter: @kendra_sherrill
Instagram: @kendra.ann.sherrill
Website: www.kendrannsherrill.com