Sundance 2019 – Count Your Curses
In a town where supernatural beings are part of everyday life, two roommates face a recurring problem: their house spirit was devoured by an unknown creature overnight. They go on their way to find a replacement spirit and a solution to their pest problem.
Interview with Writer/Director Lorène Yavo
Watch Count Your Curses on Vimeo
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Count Your Curses is my graduation film, so I made it during my fifth year at ENSAV La Cambre (animation). I had been thinking about an urban fantasy project for a couple of years and couldn’t wait to start working on it. I really wanted to do some world-building and to create a fun and unusual setting. Focusing so much on the universe where the story takes place also allowed me to insert common themes into it and explore them in a different way. A story about friendship and communication always seems a bit different when there are monsters all around.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It is lighthearted and funny with warm tones and a fantasy setting, so if you want to clear your head and explore a new world, it may be just what you need! It may remind you of previous experiences or see things differently, and I hope you’ll enjoy it!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Basically, the main characters, two roommates, have a problem: the house spirit that protects their apartment gets killed every once in a while and they don’t know who’s doing it. The main theme is the friendship of the two characters that is threatened by their lack of communication. The house spirit being killed repeatedly is a symptom of this lack of communication, the house cannot be whole and at peace if they do not find the source of the problem, which resides within the house itself. One of the characters favors lies over asking for help and it degenerates until each character is forced to accept the truth.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Not much actually. I knew I wanted to work in an urban fantasy setting so after doing quite a lot of research since late 2015 and settling on the house spirit theme in August 2016, the script was completed in late October 2016. The film was finished in early June 2017 and except for a few different angles and a couple less shots, it’s pretty much the same as the first draft.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
To my relief, people actually liked the jokes that are in it! They enjoyed the world and found the characters believable, so the feedback has been pretty positive. I’ve also been told that people would like to see more of it, which is always good to hear!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It sure has! I wanted to have fun making it and to be something that I would like to watch if I was a spectator, so I poured my heart into it and didn’t know if anyone else would really enjoy it. I didn’t expect people to want to know more about the world and the characters but being told that some of them do has been incredibly motivational.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
It may help me connect with new people and hear what they have to say about this film, getting some more feedback and exposure sure is appreciated!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
My school takes care of the distribution, production and sales but it’s always great to meet new people and discuss possibilities. Getting some feedback from festivals and journalists has also been really interesting.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I’d like people to have fun watching it, and there’s a lot of terrible things happening everyday so it would be great if my film could clear someone’s head and cheer them up a bit for 8 minutes. I know I like to get away from the real world sometimes and if my work could help someone feel better just for a moment, that’d already be an accomplishment!
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
"What’s up with the corn?"
Would you like to add anything else?
I hope you’ll enjoy the film. Don't trust fairies!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I’m currently working on a few different projects. I’d like to start a web series in the same world and I am also working on a few comic and short film ideas, not in the same setting but still about folklore.
Interview: January 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
Count Your Curses
In a town where supernatural beings are part of everyday life, two roommates face a recurring problem: their house spirit was devoured by an unknown creature overnight. They go on their way to find a replacement spirit and a solution to their pest problem.
Length: 8:30
Director: Lorène Yavo
Producer: Vincent Gilot
Writer: Lorène Yavo
About the writer, director and producer:
LORÈNE YAVO (b.1994) is a young Belgian director. She received her diploma of secondary education in 2012 and began her studies at ENSAV La Cambre at age 17. In 2015, she directed her first film, "Nadir". The next year she directed the short film "Twisted" as well as "Alive" a music video for the band Amarante. In 2017, she directed her graduation film "Count Your Curses".
Key cast: Peggy Pexy Green (Sophie), Adrien Yavo (Charles), Marie Simonet (Mrs N), Quentin Vanaverbecq (House spirits), Fabio Dimasi (The fairy), Jérémie Vanhoof (The spirit vendor)
Looking for: film festival directors, journalists, buyers
Facebook: A Chacunsa Malediction
Twitter: @CursesYour
Website: https://loreneyavo.com/
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Sundance 2019/Park City, USA; LTUE Film Festival/ Provo, USA