A frazzled mother puts all her energy into helping her daughter overcome an eating disorder.

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Jennette McCurdy

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I struggled with eating disorders for 13 years and wanted to make a piece that portrayed the experience of having an eating disorder in an honest, darkly comical way.

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

This isn't an easy piece to watch. Ideally, it's dynamic and thought-provoking, but also some bits are uncomfortable - so if you're on board with that, great. I didn't make this for people who like popcorn entertainment.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Personal themes infuse everything I write/direct, but I'd say the universal themes in this film are mother/daughter dynamics, loneliness, and shame.

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

I wrote the script in a day, was in pre-production for a month, shot it in one day, and was in post-production for a month. As always, the piece evolved into something new during each stage of the process, but luckily I feel like the vision I had from day one of writing the script was for the most part executed during each phase.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

People have responded positively to the characters. They've expressed that they have a lot of life to them, and they're curious how the characters might evolve in a longer-form piece. People have also conveyed that they feel very uncomfortable during moments of the short. To me, that's a great sign. It means maybe I've tapped on some truth.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I'm pretty set in my point of view, for better or worse. I like exploring serious subject matter in an off-beat way. It's the most truthful interpretation to me.

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

I want this short to reach as many people as possible and connect with the people it's meant to connect with.

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

I am open to any/all but here more just for the experience.

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

Ideally, it's divisive. if some people love it and some people hate it, I think that means I've made something specific and with vision.

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

Why do we have to treat the subject matter of disordered eating SO SERIOUSLY? Yes, of course, it's important to convey the gravity of the illness, but I don't think we should be afraid of showing the dark humor in it as well.

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

I'm writing a play and developing several projects.

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

Strong Independent Women

A frazzled mother puts all her energy into helping her daughter overcome an eating disorder.

Length: 8:55

Director: Jennette McCurdy

Producer: Joshua Fu, Jennette McCurdy

Writer: Jennette McCurdy

About the writer, director and producer:

JENNETTE MCCURDY is a writer/director who specializes in character-driven pieces that explore serious subject matter in a funny, offbeat way. Her favorite themes to explore are family dysfunction, childhood, and disillusionment.

Key cast: Maria Bamford, Addison Riecke

Looking for: distributors, producers, film festival directors

Facebook: Jennette McCurdy

Twitter: @jennettemccurdy

Instagram: @jennettemccurdy

Website: www.jennettemccurdy.com/projects/