Salute Your Shorts 2019 – Quitting
After six years in LA, Alex abandons his pursuit of acting in lieu of a simpler life in small-town Oregon.
Interview with Producer/Actor Sherry Berg
Watch Quitting here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Brett, the writer/director, and I wanted to capture what it truly means to "pound the pavement" in Los Angeles and what happens to a person when they have not reached their acting goals after years in LA.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The dynamic between Brett and myself on screen. The story is important. The relationship we develop and the nuance of moments that Brett and I share on screen is truly magical and heart-warming as well as heart-breaking. This is a buddy film and we don't usually see a man and woman as buddies on screen. Moreover, Brett's character is gay, but he plays no gay trope. He is human. We become friends. He's not my "gay BFF". I've never seen a film that portrays a man and woman, where the man is gay, have a true friendship without the "gay BFF" factor. That was VERY important.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I think everyone knows about losing. About seeking friendship. About losing a lover. About remorse and catharsis. I think everyone knows what it feels like to quit something, no matter how hard they tried to stay on.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
After edits in the script, almost exactly the same from script to film. There is no improv in this script, despite people thinking so. We have lines and we say them as humans and people have thought we were "riffing". Not so.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
"You two need each other"
"You guys are magic on screen together"
"I love this film"
"This film is me"
"I know these people"
"Please make more films together"
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It certainly is intimidating to "make more." It takes a lot.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I want people to identify with these characters and this story. I want them to reach out to Brett and me and thank us for putting something so simple, yet thoughtful, out there in the universe.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
MARKETERS! For god sake's help us make a poster. I guess I haven't paid anyone to do it because I dread the back and forth of Brett and me giving notes to someone. I want to be able to make a poster myself too...maybe I just need a graphics person to teach me how to do this stuff! Also, journalists and distributors would be awesome and could help steer us in the right direction toward our next project: a feature.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
"Were Sherry's braces real?"
"What have you quit or failed at that was the inspiration for this film?"
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
Quitting
After six years in LA, Alex abandons his pursuit of acting in lieu of a simpler life in small-town Oregon.
Length: 16:41
Director: Brett Epstein
Producer: Sherry Berg
Writer: Brett Epstein
About the writer, director and producer:
BRETT EPSTEIN hails from Hartford, CT but calls Brooklyn his home. With a theatre degree and background, this actor/writer/director/filmmaker splits his time between New York, Los Angeles, and London - appearing in network television (Friends From College, Ray Donovan) and writing/directing/starring in films he creates with collaborators, Sherry Berg (SeaLand Cares!, Quitting) and Ben Mann.
Originally from Maryland, SHERRY BERG, currently resides in Los Angeles. Although she studied natural science in college, her true calling has always been acting and producing original work.
Key cast: Brett Epstein (Alex), Sherry Berg (Shannon), Collin Newman (Boyfriend)
Looking for: distributors, journalists, film festival directors, sales agents
Facebook: Sherry Berg
Twitter: @SherryBerg
Instagram: @sherryberg
Hashtags used: #quittingfilm (also: #brettepstein #brettepsteinoriginal #sherryberg #epsteinandberg)
Website: www.sherryberg.com
Other: IMDb
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Salute Your Shorts Festival/Los Angeles - August 17th 5:15pm