Armed with an electric mixer, a Mysterious Woman gives Naked Man the battering of his life, but the sexy interrogation brings up feelings that are hard to swallow. Can she have her cake and eat it too? Or will love turn her batter bitter?

Interview with Writer/Actor Caden Douglas and Director Foster Wilson

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

FOSTER: When I first read Caden’s script, it jumped off the page at me. I immediately could see the colors, the humor, the tragedy, every detail. I have no other way to explain it, except I was itching to bring this story to life. Luckily, Caden and Julianne let me.

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

CADEN: I love a film that will make you laugh, and then surprise you when it's trying to get at something deeper. So I think you should watch Platypus because hopefully it will make you laugh out loud, and then stop and make you ask yourself about authenticity and love.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

FOSTER: With Platypus we are touching on themes of honesty and truth, authenticity or lack thereof, and connection. We are truly walking the line between what is fiction and what is reality, between pleasure and pain, and who has the power.

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

FOSTER: When I came on board this project, the script was already in incredible shape, pretty much ready to shoot. In rehearsal, we tweaked a few dialogue pieces to assist the character development and the comedic timing. Caden put so much attention to detail in the pacing and the arc of the story, we ended up shooting precisely what was on the page.

CADEN: Platypus is based on one scene from a play I wrote several years ago. It was always my favorite scene, and I thought it would make a great stand alone piece. So there has definitely been some evolution of the story.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

CADEN: So far people have really responded to the humor and sexuality. I think that's not always an easy marriage, but people have talked about how it's really funny, but also really sexy.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

CADEN: I think it's a bit of a difficult film to categorize and so the feedback has been really interesting to engage in. Everyone has a reaction to this film... it's been a lot of fun to discuss it.

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

FOSTER: We make films to entertain and for me, it’s always about the audience. My goal is to reach as many people as possible, and hopefully leave lasting images and ideas in the minds of other individuals.

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

We just got offered a distribution deal, so now hopefully we'll have some buyers come on board to help us share the film with a larger audience.

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

FOSTER: Most importantly, I hope people laugh. If this very dark humor appeals to you, there’s a greater chance you will understand these characters and their bizarre situation. In the end, their story is a simple, universal one, but it’s wrapped in a deep layer of chocolate and sensuality.

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

Why do you think Rebecca says Platypus? (A much-debated question among ourselves!)

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

FOSTER: I directed another short, Made Public, which will premiere at Cinequest in March and I’m in development on a dark comedy feature called Living Will.

Interview: February 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

Platypus

Length: 8:46

Director: Foster Wilson

Producer: Julianna Dowler, Erin Dellorso

Writer: Caden Douglas

About the writer, director and producer:

FOSTER WILSON is an award-winning director and filmmaker. Her film Waffles premiered at Inside Out Film Festival in Toronto and went on to play at over 25 festivals, garnering 8 nominations and 4 awards. She also directed the film Made Public, which received the Emergence Award for Female Filmmakers and will make its World Premiere at Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival in March 2019. Foster was one of 6 women selected for the first ever Alliance of Women Directors Short Film Initiative. The resulting film, Mía, premiered at Disney Studios in October 2018. Additional projects include Platypus (Dam Shorts Film Festival, Nevada Women's Film Festival), the pilot presentation Love Scenes LLC and a comedic series titled Gross Anatomy. She holds a BFA from NYU Tisch, and is repped by Fourth Wall Management. www.fosterwilson.com.

CADEN DOUGLAS is an Actor/ Writer/ Director & Producer originally from Canada who now calls Los Angeles home. His career in theater has taken him across the globe from Edinburgh to Tokyo. He has performed in such award winning productions as WAR HORSE, MAMMA MIA, and at the world renowned STRATFORD FESTIVAL of Canada. He has appeared in numerous television shows and films. His multiple award winning short film Pop is currently on the festival circuit. His full length feature script THE KING & AILEEN is currently in development with Johnny Depp’s production company INFINITUM NIHIL.

JULIANNE DOWLER is an LA based filmmaker, writer and actor. She has appeared in numerous films, web series, and commercial campaigns. Julianne sits on the Board of Directors for the musical theater parody group, 30 Minute Musicals. She runs the production company Domestic Breaks with her husband, Jason Shook. Julianne's most recent short, Danni & May marks her directorial debut.

ERIN DELLORSO is an actor/comedian/producer living and working in LA. She has written, produced, and acted in numerous sketches with her all female sketch group, Socks with Sandals. Their sketch ""Dick Pic"" was featured in the Funny Women Fest and the iOWest Shorts Festival. Her improv team, CRUMBS, hosted a weekly show at UCB for over a year and continues to perform regularly around town. Last year she co-wrote, produced, and starred in a horror short in Idyllwild and is consistently producing short films, including Platypus and Danni and May. She worked as an Associate Producer on the NBC show Little Big Shots and most recently as a Segment Producer on The World's Best, hosted by James Corden, and premiering directly after the Super Bowl on CBS.

Key cast: Julianne Dowler (Zahara), Caden Douglas (Naked Man), Christine Lin (Bride)

Facebook: Platypus the film

Twitter: @platypusthefilm

Instagram: @platypusthefilm

Other: IMDB

Made in association with: The Collaborative

Funders: Kickstarter

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Coven Film Festival/ San Francisco February 9; Dam Short Film Festival/BoulderNevada February 9