A heartbroken woman orders a lifelike android so she can have one last moment with the man she loves. Will she finally find the closure she has been looking for or will a major malfunction change her life forever?

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Editor Chris Vanderhorst

Watch Lifelike here:

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I wanted to tell a story about someone who was heartbroken because we have all been there. I was really obsessed with someone being obsessed, so I introduced the Lifelike android.

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

The film has a great cast, and I am so grateful for that. Also, if you're a fan of the Twilight Zone, Black Mirror, etc then you'll like Lifelike. It has that anthology feel to it.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

The personal theme is love. The film is about someone dealing with having lost the one she loved. You spend the film trying to figure out who he was to her. Also, technology plays a big part. How much do we or will we rely on it in the future?

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

The script poured out of me. We shot it with 50 bucks in six hours. I edited it and I wasn't pleased so it sat on a hard drive for two years almost. I rerecorded some dialogue and had a score written for it and that was it. I fell in love with it again.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The biggest compliment I have received is the comparison to Black Mirror that it has received. That to me is such a great show to be compared to. It inspires me to keep on this journey.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

The feedback surprised me in a way motivated me to write more of the same and more stories that differ. I want to build a brand, a name for myself but at the same time, I need to show that this pony has many tricks.

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

I'd like to get Lifelike out there because it is my calling card as a writer/director. It is a clear representation of what I can do with a canon t2i, a few actors and 50 bucks for pizza and beer. I love writing and watching it come to life on set. I am so excited to keep this train moving.

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 reach festival directors to keep the film traveling and producers for future projects.

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

At the first screening of Lifelike, as the credits rolled, I heard a woman in the back row shout, "That was fucking amazing!" That moment was priceless to me. I love to hear that people enjoy something that I created.

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

That could possibly spoil the ending. I guess one good question could be: Would you have sex with an android to gain some type of closure?

Would you like to add anything else?

Thank you WAMS, it's an honor to be recognized.

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

I just finished writing a pilot titled Coyotes. It's about two guys from San Diego who find themselves smuggling illegal immigrants from Mexico to the US on their boat. It's a crime drama, I'm very excited about it.

I also shot a pilot titled Extra Ordinary with Lifelike's lead actor, Rick Lundgren. Deanna Noe is always gracing a screen or stage with her brilliance. And Ty Higgins is busy working sound mixes on feature films. We are all busy doing things we love. It's a great feeling.

Interview: November 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

Lifelike

Director: Chris Vanderhorst

Producer: Chris Vanderhorst

Writer: Chris Vanderhorst

About the writer, director and producer:

CHRIS VANDERHORST is a writer of love and violence. His motto: Roses are red, violence is, too.

Key cast: Deanna Noe (Helen), Rick Lundgren (The Lifelike), H. Richard Greene (The Man)

Looking for: film festival directors, producers, journalists

Twitter: @TheVanderhorst

Instagram: @vanderhorst

Hashtags used: #lifelike, #closure, #thriller, #scifi, #anthology

Other: IMDb

Made in association with: StrangeBird Films

Funders: Self funded

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Sherman Oaks Film Festival/Sherman Oaks, CA - Nov. 22nd