A bereaved woman delivers a convoluted speech to a gathering of family and close friends. She then retreats to a waiting room where the surreal meets the real by a water cooler in Funeral, a heavy, fertile, mourning comedy.

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Animator Leah Shore

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I was asked by a really cool, hip, site to pitch an episode about motherhood and for some reason, my mind went straight to death and birth. They really liked it but thought it was a bit much for their show, so passed. I loved it too much not to make and luckily my collaborators loved it too!

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

If you love a heartfelt comedy and you love animation, a unique perspective on birth, and a strong female performance, I think this is for you.

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

It was really fun to spitball with Jonathan. What I enjoyed most was the dialogue with him. I think we just tried to make each other laugh the most but what also was interesting was an emotional scene. It was rather interesting to write that. We took our own experiences on death, family, etc and incorporated it into the film. I think it will take you on an emotional roller coaster for sure...in 7ish minutes.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

I think it has been pretty good. People don't expect to be emotionally manipulated in it. They expect it to be a comedy, but it's more than that. HAVE FUN WATCHING IT. :D

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Not really? I love good/bad feedback in general. It fuels me to write something else. You know they say all feedback is good feedback!

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

I am looking to have an interest in having our really unique film viewed more and perhaps people will want to see it! Come over and ask us about the film! HIIIIIII!

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

We need buyers, distributors and we could always show it at festivals for sure. I think we are ready to show it somewhere to a larger audience. Come at us, world.

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

Some sort of feminist, pregnant, single impact one? I am not quite sure. I would just love people to watch it! Look at this fun, comedic/dramatic quirky film. Independent film is beautiful.

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

What happens after you die? Can you be reincarnated? Can we please build a poop room? xo

Would you like to add anything else?

I have written a bunch of other films. Please help me make them. Kay thanks.

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

I have a bunch of tv show concepts and am writing a few features. Come at me world.

I would also LOVE to thank my crew who helped produce this epic short film. Without them, this could not have been done. I would also love to point out that animation is a very very hard product to make. It takes a team, time, carpel tunnel, and I absolutely loved my mini animation team who helped me out. THANK YOU. Thank you also, live action crew. Thank you Jennifer Prediger who killed it, acting with nothing in the room. Thank you, Jarret Kerr, who voiced the crap outta Dave. Thank you. You guys are too talented! Holler to my extras, my mom, Nightspark Pictures, Native Boy, Cutters, my EP's, the funeral home we filmed in. They were incredibly generous.

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

Funeral

Length: 7:57

Director: Leah Shore

Producer: Leah Shore and Jonathan Federico

Writer: Leah Shore and Jonathan Federico

About the writer, director and producer:

LEAH SHORE is a Director, Filmmaker and Artist. She has been fortunate to have her films shown at film festivals, museums and galleries worldwide. She was named one of the Filmmaker Magazines “25 New Faces in Independent Film” and has been written about in publications such as VICE, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, Nowness, Indiewire, Filmmaker Magazine and Talkhouse Film, etc. Her film, Old Man is currently on The Criterion Collection playing before the film Easy Rider. She aspires to make a feature and perhaps, one day, even have an episodic show.

She has been decorated with multiple Vimeo Staff Picks, spoken on panels/colleges, and has also been a guest judge at Film Festivals such as SXSW, New Orleans FF, Slamdance, Ottawa International Animation FF, and more. She now writes and directs narrative films, branded content, and commercials. Clients include: Comedy Central, [AS], Giphy, MTV, truTV, Nike, Vice, Viceland, CNBC, FOX ADHD, Sesame Street, Jash, Google, Dominos, Entertainment Weekly and more.

Key cast: Jennifer Prediger and Jarret Kerr

Looking for: distributors, sales agents, buyers, journalists

Facebook: Funeral

Twitter: @Leah_Shore

Instagram: @funeralfilm

Hashtags used: #funeralfilm #womendirectors #womeninfilm #wealldie

Website: www.leahshore.com

Other: IMDb

Made in association with: Nightspark Pictures, We All Die, LLC, Native Boy

Funders: Indiegogo, Self Funding, Nightspark Pictures

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Indy Film Festival