Cannes Short Film Corner – Crush
In a society enslaved by phones, Natalie eyes a young man on the subway. She decides to follow him. They begin an unlikely connection that leads them down the path of a happy marriage. But is it all real?
Interview with Writers/Producers/Actors Shai Frumkin and Kyvon Edwin
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you!
The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute host an annual private film festival where students and alumni are challenged to create films. We instantly knew we wanted to create a project together as we'd recently worked together in a theatre production, An Enemy of the People, as the leads.
Our passion project Crush was inspired by the shocking disconnection society currently faces within the hands of technology. As artists, we wanted to create a story that centered on this narrative to spark conversations and inspire change.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Crush is a reflective film. It aims to put a mirror up to society and exemplify our behavior. It is our hope that the film strikes a chord and inspires viewers to take a harsh look at the downside of our technological use, hopefully for them to live fully and seek to connect with each other in a more truthful way.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The central theme of Crush is the disconnection that breeds among humanity as a result of technology. It is a microscopic look at what occurs as humanity evolves, enslaved by these devices.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Anytime we would sit and reminisce on the journey it had been creating Crush we muse at our original idea, that was of a horror film involving a bloody bathtub (lucky us and lucky you, we've pinned that one for a later date).
Once we had decided on our main idea for the film, centering around two people being able to connect authentically, while not being thralled to their devices, we brainstormed ideas such as "reality vs. fantasy"; presenting that which is authentic and that which is false; what could happen in one scenario- whether our eyes go with a fact or a lie, an idea you create for yourself. The story itself started out broad and went through several drafts where we'd constantly cut it down so that only the essentials remained that would capture our message.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Our film was selected to Festival de Cannes - Short Film Corner. It won the awards of Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best of Fest in the Strasberg Film Festival. It was an Official Selection to the Lift-Off Sessions (UK). It was an Official Selection to the First-Time Filmmaker Sessions (UK). Our film was featured in an article by Loop: http://www.loopslu.com/content/lucian-kyvon-edwin-film-prestigious-cannes-film-festival
We have received feedback of people thoroughly loving the film and looking forward to our future collaborations. Moreover, they thought that the acting was charming, truthful and expressive. People said they connected to the story through us, the directing and its cinematography, as well as liking its statement and the rhythm of the story’s progression.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Perhaps the most surprising feedback we get is instances where the film resonates deeply with an individual to the extent that it angers him/her. Its almost as if they are being disappointed with themselves and with society, through the awareness that comes to life, of how technology often times kills the real connection between human beings.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We hope to spread the message of this wide-reaching film across New York and society at large. We’d love to expand the idea of how we as humans could benefit by escaping the chains of technology and communicating further with each other.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We would highly appreciate every and anyone to the building of our creation.
We are currently in the midst of our film festivals’ run. Therefore, we would love to get the attention of film festival directors. We are also keen on gaining more publicity to put the film’s message out there by telling its story through different platforms.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Truthfully, we would love to affect people and influenced by the manner of little goals, one at a time. Meaning, that if we had managed to impact positively on one person- we would forever be grateful.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Does technology lead to the advancement of humanity or its demise?
Would you like to add anything else?
Our film, Crush, is deeply close to our hearts. We would like to thank you sincerely for your art platform and your commitment to new voices in film. This community is precisely what makes the art of filmmaking so beautiful!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
SHAI: I am currently writing a short film named Oxytocin. The story deals with two soldiers, who fought in a war. Their military mission went wrong and one of them got captured by the enemy. His partner tries to uncover the real truth of his disappearance.
I served two years in the Israel Defense Force and this subject is very sensitive to me. I want to create an artistic statement that will reach traumatized soldiers and share their realities. I would like to shed light on issues such as the disconnection with life experienced by soldiers after or during their military service.
I am very excited about this upcoming project and will start crowdfunding very shortly!
Interview: April 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
Crush
In a society enslaved by phones, Natalie eyes a young man on the subway. She decides to follow him. They begin an unlikely connection that leads them down the path of a happy marriage. But is it all real?
Length: 8:38
Director: Giacomo Gex
Producer: Kyvon Edwin, Shai Frumkin
Writer: Shai Frumkin, Kyvon Edwin
About the writer, director and producer:
Half British and half French, GIACOMO GEX grew up in Egypt and Spain. At the age of 21, he made his first short film based on first-hand experience with his father. Later on, he began to find his voice with documentary filmmaking, a style he developed and also used for his scripted films. Giacomo is currently working on a documentary feature film about a young man searching for buried treasure in the Philippine jungle.
SHAI FRUMKIN is an actress and a writer. After serving two years in the Israel Defense Force, she moved to NYC, where she is currently based. She is also a musician, playing Flute and Piccolo. She is the co-star, co-writer, and co-producer of the short film Crush.
KYVON C. EDWIN is a St. Lucian actor and writer based in NYC. He is the co-star, co-writer and co-producer of the short film Crush.
Key cast: Kyvon Edwin (Marcus), Shai Frumkin (Natalie)
Looking for: film festival directors, producers, journalists, buyers, distributors, sales agents
Facebook: Kyvon Edwin, Shai Frumkin
Twitter: @KyvonEdwin
Instagram: @_k_y_v_o_n_, @shaifrumkin
Hashtags used: #nyc #newyork #actors #shortfilm #film #technology #creation #love
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Crush is being screened as a part of the Official Selection for the Lift-Off Sessions (UK). In addition, Crush will be a part of Festival De Cannes- Short Film Corner (France) from May 20th to 25th.