The accidental invention of an asshole AI spells trouble for a tech startup in the late 80’s.

Interview with Writer Samuel Roots and Director Joel Jay Blacker

Watch Who You Are here:

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

SAM: This project initially started as an entirely different short film that I wrote the script for back in college. At the time, I thought it was helpful to have a character, the machine, that embodied an inner, critical voice that I was spending a lot of time with. It's the only script from back then that I could look at without getting embarrassed, and at a certain point Joel got a hold of it and thought we could do something with it. I personally like telling a story about technology that isn't explicity damning of it. It's absolutely semi-damning, but a lot of what brings about the downfall of these characters has more to do self-worth and the pressures of a capitalist society than the intrinsic evils of technology.

JOEL: With the constant talk and threat of the future of AI, we thought it would be funny to take an opposite approach to questions of morality and singularity. We're all so confident that the end is nigh when talking about technology, but what if an AI was just as depressed and cynical as us? The show is about three creators of what they believe is the future of tech. Instead, it's just another headache.

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

SAM: I think there's an immediacy and chaotic energy to the first episode that's exciting. For me, at least, it's quick to jump in and just feel immersed in the world that we've created. I also think it's pretty funny. The debut feels a lot more self-assured than I do talking about it.

DeJean Brown as Daryl Mundi in Who You Are. Dir. Joel Jay Blacker. Shot by Tanner Hall.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

SAM: It's kind of there on the tin. "Who You Are" is about identity and self-worth, especially in response to a world that wants to strip both from you.

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

SAM: This project was initially smaller in scope. It began as a promotional series that was mostly created so we could drum up excitement for the original short script that I wrote. As we spent more time with the characters and started fleshing out the world around the machine, it just became bigger and bigger. It spiralled out of control a little bit, but in a good way.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

SAM: We've been told that some people aren't exactly sure what to make of it, but they want to keep watching anyway. That's good. Probably.

JOEL: The exact quote was "I THINK this is brilliant?"

L to R: Skinner Myers as Jonathan, Marie Oldenbourg as Gillian, and DeJean Brown as Daryl in Who You Are. Image Shot By Carolina Rodriguez.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

SAM: I never thought of what we were doing as strange, really, until somebody said it to me. In that way, it's surprised me. It could be a whole lot weirder.

JOEL: People connect to the material which surprised me. The series reflects Sam's and my dumb sense of humor. I made what makes me laugh. I didn’t expect others to laugh.

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

JOEL: We have some pretty major announcements to come regarding the future of the show and we hope people are interested in following to find out what we unveil. If you like even just a semblance of what the show is about, we can assure you it's going to being expanded upon.

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

JOEL: We're currently developing Who You Are into a long form series and we're hoping to speak with anyone interested in the show. The pilot playing at Santa Barbara International Film Festival in the shorts program is a small part of what we're working on. We’re looking to curate an audience and further the show’s reputation with our festival run and eventual distribution. Then translate that to a long form series.

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

SAM: As a filmmaker, it's hard to ask for more than just being able to entertain people. That being said, if I could get people to question the core tenants of capitalism as well as its stranglehold on technology, that would be really cool.

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

SAM: Is there value in being told who you are?

Would you like to add anything else?

JOEL: I don't think "Who You Are" shows it, but it really was a micro-budget production. We shot five episodes, 28 pages total, in two days, in a garage, in the middle of a heat wave during the summer. We're lucky enough to have a crew that really believed in what we were shooting and were scrappy enough to make this work. We owe the show's success to them.

SAM: All movies are real.

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

JOEL: Sam and I are working on developing "Who You Are" into a long form show. We're also working on a feature film based on a short we did titled "Let's Do It" that you can find online.

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

Who You Are

The accidental invention of an asshole AI spells trouble for a tech startup in the late 80’s.

Length: 4:45

Director: Joel Jay Blacker

Producer: Tanner Sawitz

Writer: Samuel Roots

About the writer, director and producer:

Based in Los Angeles, British writer, director, and editor, JOEL JAY BLACKER has honed a sensibility for making others laugh when they shouldn’t. Award-winning short film “Let’s Do It”, about a couples attempt at an orgy, premiered online via Short of the Week and has accumulated over 80k online views. Music video “How It Goes” for artist Keenan the First earned a Vimeo Staff Pick and features on EARMILK, CrossFader Magazine and Booooooom TV. Some of his commercial clients include FatBurger, Trikke, St Joesph and MVMT Theory. As an editor, Joel has cut several videos for Fujifilm and EDM artist Marshmello. Joel is working on adapting “Let’s Do It” to feature length and “Who You Are” for TV.

SAM ROOTS grew up in Solvang, Danish Capital of America, a town that is very real. He studied screenwriting at Chapman University, focusing mostly on relationship dramas before moving almost entirely into comedy when he realized he was being a bummer. He helped write the award-winning short film “Let’s Do It,” playing at a variety of comedy film festivals before premiering online with Short of the Week. He recently completed work on a draft of the feature length version of the film. In addition, he crafted commercials for Candwich, the Virtual Reality Company, and HyGen. His biggest influences are Deadwood, sleep paralysis, and Vine compilations on YouTube.

TANNER SAWITZ works as a producer and line producer in Los Angeles where he also owns and operates the production company Leviathan Filmworks. A graduate of Chapman University, Tanner worked for RRKidz - the home of Reading Rainbow - as an editor and post supervisor. He now works as a line producer and production manager for companies such as Jaguar and Vizio, while continuing to grow Leviathan producing commercial videos for clients such as LinkedIn. Line producers get a reputation for saying “no” a lot, but Tanner tries to find the balance between being harshly realistic and yet ambitious.

Key cast: Skinner Myers (Jonathan), DeJean Brown (Daryl), Clayton Farris (The Mundi Machine)

Looking for: sales agents, distributors, journalists, buyers, producers

Facebook: Who You Are

Twitter: @whoyouareseries

Instagram: @whoyouareseries

Made in association with: Leviathan Filmworks

Funders: Self-funded

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Cinequest/Silicon Valley - March 7, 10, 15, 16