Sherman Oaks Film Festival 2019 – Long Distance
A traveling man learns of his mother's degrading health through a series of voicemails.
Interview with Director/Editor/Actor David Austin Thompson
Watch Long Distance here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
This film started as a form of personal catharsis for me as I processed the recent loss of my mother. After working with the footage for a while it gradually turned into something that I was very happy to be able to share with a wider audience.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Hopefully, its message is pointed yet ambiguous enough to help others dealing with a similar situation, or show people who haven't experienced a traumatic loss just how valuable every moment with a loved one is.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
It's a story that is literally extremely close to me, so I knew the emotional charge was there. The film was a form of cathartic release for me and after showing it to some people, I realized the story works on a much more universal level and it has something many people can connect with in terms of dealing with, accepting, and overcoming loss.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script came together very quickly and it was shot all in the course of about 3 weeks. After spending some time editing and designing the sound it went through a few different iterations until it became something I was happy to share with a wider audience.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
For the most part, the feedback has been very positive. Some have expressed some ambiguity in the story - and since the story is told through some pretty vague and experimental visuals and many points, I can see where they are coming from!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I am hoping to be able to share the film with more people and find a place to share some more details behind the film's creation. At the same time, it's a plus to be able to help an up and coming platform such as We Are Moving, there's a mutual interest here!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Currently, I am working on a much bigger feature film project titled Ojai. It is a Soft Sci-Fi Drama based on some experiences and life events I went through during my time living in Ojai, CA. With it being a feature film and not a seven-minute personal project, the ever-pressing need for money is very high up on the list.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I'd love for Long Distance to serve as an emotionally charged and quickly digestible piece that people can watch and process their own experiences through. I believe some of the best books, shows, and movies have the unique gift of being open and ambiguous enough for the reader or viewer to not get bogged down in the details of the story, but instead ride the emotional arc of the piece and insert their own story, allowing them process things through a whole new medium.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
I think a big question that could be raised is how do individual people process their grief. We all have different experiences, upbringings, and outlets for release, and it's interesting to see what people do with their emotions.
Would you like to add anything else?
This has been a wonderful opportunity, thank you!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
As mentioned earlier, my bigger project, Ojai is in many ways a larger-scale version of the emotions explored in this film. We are currently in pre-production and have locked down all key cast, crew and filming locations.
The film centers around a boy named Ricky, who is slowly losing his mom to cancer. After seemingly trying every experimental treatment in the world, they learn about a new experimental treatment being hosted in the quaint town of Ojai, California. They relocate and the treatment begins. Ricky begins to see less and less of his mom as she spends more time at the treatment facility. Some days she seems well, maybe even better; other times Ricky could swear she’s about to die. In the end, Ricky learns a lesson similar to the message of the Serenity Prayer:
“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
– Reinhold Niebuhr, American Theologian
Ricky must realize that some things in this world are out of his control, even when they involve the people most dear to you. He must learn to let go.
Currently, we have 20% of our budget raised and are seeking a final round of fundraising to launch the project into production. People can find out more at www.ojaifilm.com
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
Long Distance
A traveling man learns of his mother's degrading health through a series of voicemails.
Length: 7:07
Director: David Austin Thompson
Producer: David Austin Thompson
Writer: David Austin Thompson
About the writer, director and producer:
DAVID AUSTIN THOMPSON is a young adult filmmaker from the greater Los Angeles area. He has no current known favorite colors or foods; giving all of them an equal opportunity to win his favor.
Key cast: David Austin Thompson, Vesta Tuckute
Instagram: @dat.mov
Website: www.data-bent.com