Outfest Fusion 2019 – The Skin of the Teeth
When Josef arrives at John’s apartment for a date, their prickly energy slowly gives way to genuine chemistry. But after swallowing a pill with mind-bending effects, Josef quickly slides helplessly down a rabbit hole of temporal sleight-of-hand, plunged into a surreal interrogation of everything he is.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Matthew Wollin
Watch on Amazon Prime
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
There were two starting points for the film. The first was questioning the idea of identity. How do we decide who we are? How much of what we see is really there, and how much is what we expect to see? And how do these questions play out within marginalized communities for whom the formation of identity is already such a charged endeavor?
The second starting point was more topical. I wrote the script in the winter after the 2016 presidential election, and a lot of that tension made its way into the script. I wanted to tell a story about some of those issues—from race to gender to the criminal justice system—and dig under their skin in a way that was unexpected, unnerving and exciting.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Because it’s fun! I promise you won’t be bored :) The audience’s reactions so far have been fantastic, ranging from people who connect with the film instantaneously, to people who tell me days later they still don’t get it but haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. The film is not quite like anything else out there and includes everything from sexy dancing to police interrogation to fox masks. Really, what more could you ask for?
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The Skin of the Teeth is fundamentally about the relationship each person has with society, and how that impacts the way we see ourselves. Some of that is definitely pulled from my personal experience of coming to terms with my own sexuality and identity and going through the progression of thinking you’re one thing to realizing you’re something else entirely. The film extrapolates on that theme so that every character is revealed to be just a little different than we thought at first, which is a universal experience, I think.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The arc of the story stayed constant all the way from the first draft to the last edit. But on set, the story evolved through countless tiny adjustments made by the talented actors, who fearlessly inhabited these weirdo characters. Each change was minuscule on its own—from the way one person holds a phone, to the way two people lean toward each other at a vulnerable moment—but together they turned the film from something inert to a living, breathing thing.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
It has been incredibly gratifying to see the way audiences have connected with the film. It's a wild ride, and so I genuinely had no idea how people were going to react. But the overwhelming response has been one of fascination: people want to keep talking about the film, get even deeper into the world, to pick apart its half-truths and illusions, which is a wonderful thing to witness.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Only in the sense that I’ve spent so much time with the film that the story seems totally normal to me at this point. Whereas people who are encountering the film for the first time tend to have a lot more “that was crazy” type reactions. But I love that—it’s a reminder that the material still has the power to startle and grab you. (Even if I can’t tell anymore because I’ve watched it like 8000000 times).
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Visibility! I want as many people as possible to have the chance to connect with the film and go on its journey. We’ve been fortunate enough to screen at a few great festivals already, and now we want to try and expand our reach to connect with as broad an audience as possible in advance of its release this coming May.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Journalists, writers, festivals…anyone who wants to talk about the film, see it and help share it.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
First: I hope people are moved by it without knowing why; that it stays with them and lingers in their thoughts. Many of my favorite movies are the ones that access some deep and emotional part of you that you didn’t know existed, and I want The Skin of the Teeth to do the same.
Second: I hope it prompts people to think. About the way they perceive themselves and others; about how stereotypes and fears can control what we see; about how society can set up structures that force us to see each other as ideas rather than people.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
When you watch the film, ask yourself: how do we know what's real and what's not? And then keep asking that question afterwards.
Would you like to add anything else?
Follow the film on social to keep up with the upcoming screenings, releases, etc., it’s @skinoftheteeth on everything. And thank you to We Are Moving Stories for featuring the film, it’s a privilege to be on here!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I’m almost done with a new script—kind of a sci-fi story.
Interview: April 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
The Skin of the Teeth
When Josef arrives at John’s apartment for a date, their prickly energy slowly gives way to genuine chemistry. But after swallowing a pill with mind-bending effects, Josef quickly slides helplessly down a rabbit hole of temporal sleight-of-hand, plunged into a surreal interrogation of everything he is.
Length: 1:20:00
Director: Matthew Wollin
Producer: Matthew Wollin, Amanda Hammett
Writer: Matthew Wollin
About the writer, director and producer:
MATTHEW WOLLIN is a filmmaker and law student and has shown work previously at the Brooklyn Film Festival and Columbus International Film Festival, as well as conducting legal work on mass incarceration and criminal defense. Other film credits include associate producing Liza Johnson's film Hateship Loveship.
Key cast: Pascal Arquimedes (Josef), Donal Brophy (John)
Looking for: journalists, film festival directors
Facebook: The Skin Of The Teeth
Twitter: @skinoftheteeth
Instagram: @skinoftheteeth
Website: www.skinoftheteeth.com
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? May 10-16 - Cinema Village/NYC
May 14 - VOD & DVD