HollyShorts / Salute Your Shorts 2019 – Peggy
Everything always seems to work out perfectly for Peggy, but her social graces are put to the test when she throws a birthday party for her eight-year-old son.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Editor Justin O'Neal Miller
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
The story came primarily from being a parent, and from the first-hand experience at kid’s birthday parties. In particular, I remember my oldest son opening a bunch of presents that I would never let him have otherwise: rot-your-teeth-out candy, violent video games, and the like. It felt like everyone was trying to sabotage our parenting style, and as I looked around at parents drinking beer, and coworkers without kids there for the networking, I realized that kid’s birthday parties these days are more about the adults than the kids.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Even more, than seeing the film, I’d advocate finding it at a festival and seeing it in a theater. There is a unique brand of humor in Peggy that people find refreshing, and it culminates in an unforgettable scene that is incredible to experience in the theater. Not because of the film itself, but because of the corporate reaction. The humor builds and builds, and when people are gasping and screaming and hooting and hollering by the end, it’s a remarkably fun experience. I’m slightly addicted to watching it with an audience.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The character of Peggy has really struck a chord with audiences, and most surprisingly from every walk of life. She's rooted in a suburban archetype that my wife and I found poignant at this point in our life: young parents of four children, but there is something universal about the insatiable nature of human existence that she embodies so well. Whether you are male or female, white or black, married or single, gay or straight, I think that it is easy to identify that part of us that can "never have enough", and the sense of jealousy we feel when we find the people that seem to "have it all".
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The project is a chimera born out of some real-life events, some observations, and some left-field funny jokes that we threw together. It wasn't until hard prep began that we really sunk our teeth into the thematic spine of the film. As Peggy, the suburban goddess who can do no wrong, became more defined, the character of Smidge, as her direct ne'er-do-well counterpart, became more important. But I would say, overall, that the project mostly just gained focus and direction, as opposed to changing course.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback has been mostly very positive and receptive, and I couldn't be happier. As you gain a wider audience, you have to understand that you can not please everyone, and probably shouldn't be trying to do that. We've been accepted to almost 50 festivals, and have won 13 Best Short or Best of Fest awards, something that I never even dreamed of doing.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Anytime that you make something, you think it's special, but it's not until you put it out into the world that you know whether it connects or not. Connecting at all feels like some form of success and the fact that we've done that in this film is surprising for sure. There are certain aspects of the feedback I've received that have challenged me to be a better, more attentive filmmaker. There are always areas you can improve on, and lessons to learn, and I hope that I never lose sight of that.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I've been aware of WAMS for a long time, and being a part of the WAMS community of filmmakers and film lovers is an honor. The caliber of films and camaraderie of the community is inspiring!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I'm developing Peggy as a half-hour comedy series, and will certainly be looking for the right partners on that project soon. We are always thrilled to be a part of any festival that wants us, and looking to expand our fan base and viewership as we move toward an online digital launch and the series pitch process.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want to do many different things, as a storyteller and filmmaker, but with this specific project, I want people to laugh. It's a cathartic laugh, and hopefully a healing one, where we can let off some steam at the Peggy in your life, but also realize that the arms race we are in for material and physical perfection is an exhausting and unhealthy one.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Great question! I think that people often leave the theater debating the limits of Peggy's actual power. Does she have almost a supernatural power, or does the universe simply work in her favor?
Would you like to add anything else?
I'd just like to thank you for the opportunity to share our film with you!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We are developing a half-hour series of Peggy, and prepping a feature film that is very similar in tone, set in NowhereTown, USA.
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
Peggy
Everything always seems to work out perfectly for Peggy, but her social graces are put to the test when she throws a birthday party for her eight-year-old son.
Length: 13:00
Director: Justin O'Neal Miller
Producer: J Christopher Campbell
Writer: Justin O'Neal Miller
About the writer, director and producer:
A member of the film industry for more than 10 years, J CHRISTOPHER CAMPBELL has been a part of over 60 feature films and television shows. He started his career in the lighting department on such films as The Expendables, Zombieland, The Walking Dead, and Fast and Furious 7. Chris has produced and DP’d numerous shorts and features, using his experience, contacts, and resources to produce and create high quality, meaningful, independent cinema.
Key cast: Sarah Blackman, Josh Warren, Jason MacDonald, Kurt Yue
Looking for: sales agents, distributors, journalists, buyers
Facebook: Peggy
Twitter: @AlchemySet
Instagram: @alchemyset
Hashtags used: #fuPeggy #PeggedAndPinned #alchemyset
Website: alchemyset.com/peggy.html
Other: IMDb
Funders: Self-funded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? HollyShorts Film Festival - Hollywood, CA - August 15 @ 5:00 PM; Franklin Int'l Indie FF - Franklin, TN - August 16 @ 4:30 PM; Women's Comedy FF - Atlanta, GA - August 16 @ 6:30 PM; Salute Your Shorts FF - Hollywood, CA - August 17 @ 6:45 PM; Sidewalk FF - Birmingham, AL - August 24 @ 10:00 PM; Austin Revolution FF - Austin, TX - September 07 @ 10:00 AM.