HollyShorts / Women's Comedy Festival 2019 – Life's a Drag
A zombie with an existential crisis breaks all the rules in search of love in a dark comedy about the meaning of "life after death."
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Editor Kate D'hotman
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Well, first of all, I wrote a script that made me laugh, and thought it would be fun to make the film! But I've also been in advertising for ten years, and I guess I just wanted to make a film to remember my passion for storytelling on a bigger scale, to rekindle the flame. I've done a few personal projects here and there, but not actively pursued a career in film making until a couple of years ago. That's when I applied for and received, funding for the development of my first feature film, Losing My Religion from the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa. Around that time, I also wrote, directed and produced a pilot for a comedy series, Cooked which was selected for the IFP No Borders Co-Production Market in New York. So this film was a way for me to keep the momentum going. I wanted to enter it into festivals in the hopes of getting some international credibility as a writer-director and to use it as a platform for getting my other projects off the ground.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Think: The Office meets Warm Bodies. Admit it, you already want to see it!
It's funny, it's heart-warming and pretty unique. Everyone thinks the "zombie thing" has been done to death (excuse the pun) but this film tackles the genre from an entirely fresh perspective. You've got blood and guts, office politics and a bit of romance, all in one short comedy - what more could you want?
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I didn't think the film was personal when I wrote it, but later I came to see that there's a common thread throughout my work: I seem to write a lot about characters that feel misunderstood who end up getting fired from their jobs!
On a serious note, I like inherently flawed characters that are struggling with finding their purpose; the anti-heroes and the underdogs of the world. I've always felt a bit like a spanner in a salad - really socially awkward - and I find comedy a great outlet for dealing with that.
I worked office jobs loosely tied to the film industry for a decade, helping other people realize their creative vision. It's only recently that I took the plunge and really started pursuing my own dream. My main character is in the same predicament - the only difference is, he hasn't had a heartbeat in quite a while!
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I wrote the script a couple of years ago for a competition and didn't get selected, so I put it in the proverbial drawer and moved on to other projects. Last year, I took it out, dusted it off and tweaked it a little to improve it, and then got a great team of actors and crew onboard and shot the film in a matter of weeks. Post-production took a long time, but the film has essentially retained most of its original story, which I'm really happy about.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Mike Plante, Senior Programmer for Sundance Institute, said it was “Proof that the zombie comedy genre can still have fun ideas and remind you how you are almost a zombie in today's world.” The very first competition I entered, I won! The film won the Jury Prize for SundanceTV shorts and premiered at the London edition of the Sundance Film Festival, which was really cool. I've been nominated for Best International Director at the Women's Comedy Film Festival in Atlanta, which really gave me the warm fuzzies! And the film has been selected for a number of other festivals and it's only the beginning!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I was really shocked to win SundanceTV shorts; I honestly didn't expect that. I think a lot of filmmakers undervalue their work and doubt themselves, and I'm no exception. But with each Official Selection and each win, I feel more and more like my work is actually good, and I have a future in this industry.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I think it's a great platform for women in film; we need all the support we can get! I'd like to attract interest from producers for my other projects and ultimately, get a manager and agent. And for the film, I'd like the cast and crew to get the exposure and recognition they deserve, and for audiences to get a good laugh! We all need more joy in the world.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I would love to get into more festivals, and get more coverage in the press - it helps to build interest and keep the momentum going. We've got distribution with AMC Networks already, but I'd like to start having some conversations with international producers for my other projects and connect with other filmmakers as well.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Honestly, it's not all that deep: I just want to make people laugh! These are dark times, and there's not a lot of hope or joy in the world. I like to think that my work goes a little way towards changing that, to get people to smile again.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
"Am I following my passion and embracing risk, or am I stuck in a monotonous life without meaning?" God, that sounds dark! Okay, how about: "Is the zombie genre really dead?" or "Can comedy 'travel' - will international audiences respond to South African humour?"
Would you like to add anything else?
Yes, I think one of the frustrating things for me, is that although women in film are being given more attention and opportunities, there seems to be this misconception that we all have to make films about female characters. While all my other work so far HAS focused on women's issues, I don't want to be put in a box, and forced to make one kind of movie. I just want to tell stories, from my point of view, in my own unique way.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm still developing my comedy series, Cooked, which I am pitching at the PaperChase Films PitchFest at HollyShorts, and looking for co-production partners for my feature film, Losing My Religion. I also have a few ideas rolling around in my skull for new films...always comedy. I try to be serious, but a few sentences in, and I'm already laughing!
My lead actors are doing really well: Damon Berry has just produced a feature film, The Adventures of Supermama which has been received well on the festival circuit and released in South African cinemas in June. Joe Vaz featured in the Amazon series, Good Omens with David Tennant, Michael Sheen, Frances McDormand. Garth Breytenbach starred in the film 8: A South African Horror Story which just premiered at Fantasia Film Festival in Canada and Hlubi Mboya is killing it as an entrepreneur, actress, social justice activist, and all-round powerhouse. I don't know where she gets her energy! She's an inspiration to women everywhere to go for gold, fight for your passions and never say die.
Interview: August 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
Life's a Drag
A zombie with an existential crisis breaks all the rules in search of love in a dark comedy about the meaning of "life after death."
Length: 13:00
Director: Kate D'hotman
Producer: Kate D'hotman
Writer: Kate D'hotman
About the writer, director and producer:
KATE D'HOTMAN is a writer-director whose first feature film script Losing My Religion was a Second Rounder in the 2018 Austin Film Festival and Quarter Finalist in the 2018 Final Draft Big Break Competition. She has also written, directed and produced a comedy series, Cooked which she's seeking financing and co-production partners for. She was recently nominated for Best International Director at the Women's Comedy Film Festival (Atlanta) and won SundanceTV shorts for Life's a Drag.
Key cast: Damon Berry, Joe Vaz, Garth Breytenbach, Hlubi Mboya
Looking for: film festival directors, producers, journalists
Facebook: Life's a Drag
Twitter: @misskate85
Instagram: @misskate_85
Hashtags used:#zombieshavefeelingstoo #zomcom #femalefilmmaker #womeninfilm #DirectHer #ProudlySouthAfrican
Website: bonappetitfilms.co.za
Other: Vimeo
Made in association with: Bon Appetit Films
Funders: Self-funded. Also have a crowdfunding campaign for Hollyshorts
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? HollyShorts / Los Angeles - August 13th at 2.30 pm; Women's Comedy Festival Atlanta - August 16th at 6.30pm