HollyShorts 2019 – Proper British Sex
At the turn of the century, a lady constantly badgers her husband for sex until things get out of hand...
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Shant Hamassian
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I don't even know why I got out of bed!
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
If you're expecting a true re-enactment of how high-class British people in the early 1900s would fornicate... then you're in luck!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I have a love for history and mythology, and I always try to work little nuggets of facts into my films whenever I see an opportunity. So when dealing with high-class British characters in the early 1900s, I found it rather amusing for these characters to discuss these topics regarding their sexual escapades.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I wrote the Fellatio scene years ago to entertain myself, then shelved it. I had more scenes in mind but kept them in my notes. When I began working with Ben Morrison on Superfunny, the multi-media stand up show, we were discussing multiple shorts to shoot. I took out my old script and we decided to move forward with it.
When Ben strongly felt that the scene was too one-sided since only the man was receiving pleasure, luckily I had more scenes written in my notes that already covered the woman receiving Cunnilingus and also Fornication, so I wrote those additional scenes as well. After a few backs and forth discussions, it became a full-on short from this point on!
What type of feedback have you received so far?
People have laughed so hard, they've nearly wet themselves (or so they claim).
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I'm so grateful that the response has been overwhelmingly positive and the laughs are uncontrollably loud. It feels good to have your hard work pay off more than expected.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I just want people to be more curious about sex... Proper British Sex.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Though eventually this film will be released on the Superfunny page, I don't think we are opposed to distributors, journalists, etc. getting more eyeballs on it through other channels and networks.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I hope this film not only gives people a great laugh, having them lose control of their bodily fluids, but also to reflect on our sexual nature and how everything we do on this planet in order to mate is scripted in some form, and I hope we can break that.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Who was actually in charge? The man or the woman?
Would you like to add anything else?
Special thanks to Ben Morrison for helping me make this a reality and bringing his wonderful producing and acting talents. Special thanks to Isabel Herrman for courageously playing the part every actress was DYING to play... a woman with a British Accent. Special Thanks to Jason Cook, another Superfunny Filmmaker who brilliantly designed the title cards of the film. Special Thanks to Ziggy Peters for Sound Recording, teaching us all how to listen... to the director.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Ben and I are co-writing a project together for Superfunny... and hopefully, this one will be Superfunnier.
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
Proper British Sex
At the turn of the century, a lady constantly badgers her husband for sex until things get out of hand...
Length: 5:34
Director: Shant Hamassian
Producer: Shant Hamassian, Ben Morrison
Writer: Shant Hamassian
About the writer, director and producer:
SHANT HAMASSIAN grew up in the rolling hills of Calabasas, California and attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. He previously directed the SXSW horror short, Night of the Slasher, which played in over 190 film festivals including six OSCAR qualifying ones and won over 50 awards. It was the first horror film to become a Vimeo Staff Pick Premiere and has accumulated over 500,000 views across multiple platforms. He has made music videos and comedic sketches that have been showcased on popular sites such as Collegehumor. His screenplays have made the Bloodlist and generated buzz in the industry.
BEN MORRISON is a Los Angeles based actor, writer, comedian and filmmaker. He graduated from NYU's TISCH School of the Arts where he trained under William H. Macy and David Mamet. Ben is a regular at the Improv and Laugh Factory. He served as head writer/producer on 140 episodes of Funny You Should Ask. On camera, Ben appeared in NCIS, MTV's Punk'd, and was the lead in feature films Ouija Exorcism, From the Dead, and FOX's 30 Nights of Paranormal Activity.As a comedian, Ben has made multiple television appearances on Last Comic Standing, Comics Unleashed or AXSTv's Gotham Comedy Live. As a creator, Ben has written and directed commercial campaigns for online investment firm Wealthfront and world-wide flooring manufacturer Daltile, and wrote, directed and starred in a hit music videos for Irish rock band Seneca. Ben has worked closely with countless charities, most notably the Crohn's and Colitis Foundations of America, to bring his message of healing through laughter to all afflicted through his one-man-show A Comedian's Guide to Crohn's.
Key cast: Ben Morrison, Isabel Herrman
Looking for: distributors, journalists
Facebook: superfunny
Instagram: @superfunnyshow
Hashtags used: #properbritishsex
Website: superfunny.show
Other: Vimeo
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Upcoming Film Festivals: HollyShorts (August 15th, 5pm); FilmQuest; (A major one we can't announce until September)