Focus on AFI Conservatory - Tape
A 16 year-old hockey player tries to repair her relationship with her teammate while preparing for the team’s pre-qualifying match.
Interview with Director Jojo Erholtz
Watch Tape here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Tape is based on my friend’s experience of first love. I found her story compelling, tragic and beautiful, so I wanted to adapt it into my AFI thesis film. In general I want to open up the conversation on queer experience and the injustice queer people face as minority. The attitudes towards the LGTB community has changed throughout history, and it’s important to remind us what so many still experience - injustice, harassment and bullying over one’s sexual & gender identity. Not to mention the traumas some people have because of not being accepted for who they are.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Tape is a subtle coming-of-age story that raises questions about identity and social pressure. When a 16-year-old star player Rooney is losing what she loves the most, she has to take action in the world of girl’s ice hockey; the world contrasting of joyful energy and cold brutality. The film is a heartfelt journey through a conservative reality, reflecting on our current world and patriarchy.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Experience of forbidden love is universal yet a personal theme. Many of us has struggled for acceptance in our lives for different reasons. What reminded me of my adolescence when hearing my friend’s story, was the feeling of shame I experienced when I realized I had feelings towards my best friend. At the time being queer was still very much abnormal. All we want as teenagers is to belong and be accepted - to be like everyone else. This caused a major conflict when I was growing up and it took years for me to be open about my identity.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
It was a challenging task to adapt a longer Finnish story into an American short film. Culturally relevant things got changed and universality of the overall dramatic arc carried the process. We chose one major obstacle and made all of the little nuances in the film to point in that direction. We also discussed with our writer Shuhan Fan and producer Amanda Freedman how much information there needed to be in the film for the audience to feel for Rooney, while keeping mind that the film should not exceed the 15 minute running time. Eventually we left one major scene on the edit suite floor as it felt unnecessary and too explanatory. The film evolved throughout the filmmaking process. Our writer Shuhan Fan did an incredible job with the narrative language. She managed to transform something vague and broad into nuances and significance.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Some people have described the film beautiful and cute, and some have been amazed by how much of the story can be achieved by the characters just looking at each other. For me, eye contact is EVERYTHING. We won Special Mention both at The Palm Springs ShortFest as well as at the Outfest Film Festival. It felt great to have such positive response, but obviously Tape like any film isn’t for everyone.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I was very pleased that people liked the film, because personally for me and for our team, this film was very difficult to pull off with the smallest thesis budget in our year. I was also constantly told by straight white middle-aged cis men that ‘these kind of love stories’ have already been told. It’s such a conflicting statement as we see every year new films about love between men and women. For me every story is different like every experience is different and no matter where you are coming from, you are entitled to be heard. Of course not every story has the audiovisual potential, but I think someone else should decide what’s good and what isn’t. Also, it’s tricky to start a filmmaking process from the question; what’s new or different. How about; what’s truthful? I’ve discovered over the years that often the truth and the personal point-of-view is more universal than something new.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I am really appreciative of this opportunity. Short films are an underrated form of art and it’s wonderful that We Are Moving Stories are showcasing new short films from diverse filmmakers. I wish more people will get interested in watching Tape. It really was made with love, sweat and tears.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We’re currently developing a feature version of Tape and we’re looking for financiers and collaborators.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
My goal with the film was to follow the emotional arc of the protagonist and to have the audience feel for her. It sounds simple, but it’s difficult to achieve. I wanted the structure and the style of filmmaking lead the audience to observe, and make their own assumptions of the main conflict. I hope the film makes the audience root for the two girls. I couldn’t have hoped for a better cast, as the leads Brittany Giles and Sarah Sawyer truly takes us into the shoes of the characters in a seemingly hopeless situation, making that world and their emotions feel real.
Also, I would dare you to ask your queer friends how their experience with their first love was like. For my friend it was a traumatizing one, but the healing started when she was able to share her story with people who cared.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Would you fight back or adjust your own self to the social construct around you?
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you for reading!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
As I mentioned we are currently developing a feature version of Tape. I’ve just finished directing a 10-part crime series MARIA KALLIO in Helsinki and I am prepping for a new drama series for another Finnish production company. I’m also writing a short film about a stage-fright that turns out to be a love-fright instead.
Interview: July 2021
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
Tape
Length:
12:40
Writer
SHUHAN FAN was born in China in 1991. She is a recent graduate of the screenwriting program at AFI. She also holds an MFA from Northwestern University's Documentary Media program. In 2016, she received the Tribeca/ESPN Future Filmmaker Prize for her upcoming short film STAY CLOSE. The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2019.
Director
JOJO ERHOLTZ is a Finnish director/screenwriter and film editor. She received an MFA in directing from The AFI Conservatory in 2019 and has recently directed a 10-part Finnish crime series MARIA KALLIO in Helsinki. Her AFI thesis film TAPE won Special Mention at the Oscar-Qualifying Palm Springs ShortFest and Outfest Film Festival. Jojo is currently in development of her debut feature.
Producer
AMANDA FREEDMAN is a recent graduate of the producing program at the American Film Institute Conservatory, and has worked as both a producer and a unit production manager on numerous short films. She received her Master's degree in Film Theory and Production from The New School in New York. After working in the Media Production department at the distribution company Kino Lorber, Amanda moved to LA, where she gravitated toward development, working as a story researcher for a prominent television writer/producer. She is a co-owner of Freedman's, a delicatessen in Los Angeles.
Key cast:
Brittany Giles (Rooney), Sarah Sawyer (Alex), Joe Coffey (Brett)
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jojoerholtz/
Made in association with:
AFI Conservatory