Mammoth Film Festival / Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival 2020 – Dope Mister Dee
With the help of his father’s best friend and a mystical underwater world, 12-year old Dizzy must learn to let go of his missing father.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Editor Juliet DeVette
Watch Dope Mister Dee on Vimeo
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I was in my last semester of film school at USC when I felt I would be graduating without something to show the world. Fortunately, a few people believed in the idea enough to help bring it to life, and over the course of the past three years, we have worked together to push our ambitious little film to the finish line.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
If you love beautiful cinematography, tender moments of writing, ambitious storytelling, whales and submarines, and holding your breath... this is the film to watch.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
As a filmmaker, I am very interested in exploring human issues with environmental backdrops. In my films, the environment often becomes a character, pushing the story in one direction or another, becoming a catalyst for movement and change. This has been a large part of my upbringing... I was raised nomadic by two parents across continents. Our concerns were primarily of our relationships with each other, and being global citizens attuned to our planet.
Universally, I think many of us can relate to loss on some level. When some person or object close to us disappears, it is difficult to come to terms with the drastic difference. We often need some form of sign that will give us hope. It is once we have hope--we can eventually shift from surviving to living.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script was written in a very short amount of time (two days), production shot over the course of four days, and the story has evolved since then, with a lot of visual effects work done by our good pal Stefan Matthes in Germany. With his incredible attention to detail, we managed to pull off some of the most ambitious scenes in the script.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The film is poignant and sweet. It tells the delicate story of a boy dealing with loss and transition. Some parts are profound, while others are an indication of my young-director-self's writing and early style. It's interesting to look back and see the way I wrote and created when I was still in school, and how I have evolved since then. Also, the visual effects are astonishing for the budget we had.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback on the film has ultimately enabled me to grow as a professional filmmaker. I am proud and grateful for the opportunity to have made this film. It took many years of conquering self-doubt, and persistence from the cast and crew, and my friends and family. Like Dizzy, our film would not have survived without the immense support from our communities.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I am looking to showcase my team's underwater storytelling abilities, be able to connect with more creators with concepts in environments, highlight my female-driven production and development partners, and the opportunity to fund my next project, a feature film which currently in development! Finally, my co-producer and I hope this film connects with those who also deal with grief, and let them know that it will be okay.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I'd love to partner and speak with producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, and journalists. Feel free to reach out to me on any social media platform!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like this film to show audiences the beauty of the ocean, and the important role it can play in our lives. Through highlighting a young boy and his relationship with his family in this way, I hope viewers see the poetry of the situation and recognize similarities in their own lives.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Have you ever had so much pain in your heart you didn't know how to let go?
Would you like to add anything else?
If you are reading this, you are amazing, and there is enough love for you and what you dream to do.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am co-writing and partnering with a production company to develop a dramatic feature film based on a pivotal tragic event in the world of international free diving.
Interview: February 2020
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
Dope Mister Dee
With the help of his father’s best friend and a mystical underwater world, 12-year old Dizzy must learn to let go of his missing father.
Length: 9:02
Director: Juliet DeVette
Producer: Kendall Severson
Writer: Juliet DeVette
About the writer, director and producer:
JULIET DEVETTE is a USC Film and TV Production alumni, with production crew credits including Ozark, Snapchat, and Funny or Die. She splits her time between Los Angeles and Atlanta, and has also worked in NYC and Nashville. She was born and raised in Southeast Asia; her writing and filmmaking has been nominated and featured in festivals across the United States. She is currently developing a feature-length screenplay based on a pivotal tragic event in the world of international free diving.
KENDALL SEVERSON is a financial guru turned independent film producer. Her experience with Dope Mister Dee has proved her to be a powerful force in the independent film world, able to spearhead ambitious projects and apply her years of experience in business to the world of filmmaking. Her son, CARSON SEVERSON is an actor with credits including Oscar-nominated AFI thesis film Balloon.
Key cast: Carson Severson (Dizzy), Murilo Franco (Charlie), Corbin Severson (Dad), Kendall Severson (Mom)
Looking for: producers, film festival directors, sales agents, journalists
Facebook: Juliet DeVette
Twitter: @julietdevette
Instagram: @julietdevette, @dopemisterdee
Hashtags used: #DopeMisterDee #DMD2020 #underwater #h20storytelling #fatherandson #lostandfound #5stagesofgrief #disappeared #independentfilmakers #indiefilmmaking #surfrider #ocean #sea #diver #familyaffair
Other: Vimeo
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? 10:30AM - Monday, March 2, 2020 - Mammoth Film Festival - Narrative Shorts Block #2 - Minaret Cinemas, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546, USA