After the death of her best friend, Liz attends Julie’s funeral gathering where strange events begin to occur.

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Editor Andrew Jacobson

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Thank you! It was purely an emotional impulse like all the other work I've done. There was this image of two people being consumed by the Earth in a nightmare I had one night. I didn't know what to make of it, so I wrote it down. At the time, I was working on some ideas and they were hitting mental roadblocks. So I took the film and started writing something around that image. I don't really try to think about why I make films because it's something that occupies my soul and says "Well, you have to make this". That impulse always dictates the work I do. From there, I do the homework by unpacking it and forming it into what it is with the collaborators brought on the film.

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

I think it's a film that speaks to the struggles of understanding our future. It reflects how we accept loss around us and move forward.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

For me, the personal is always the universal. The themes are never thought of or intellectualized in the making. There are things I hope to convey and work to emphasize, but all the themes really come from trusting my voice and listening to the characters and what they're saying and how the story develops from that.

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

It took three years to make the film with over ten drafts written and we had the film shut down three times near the beginning of each production. To say it went through a lot of changes is a grand understatement. You make a movie three times: the one you write, the one you shoot, and the one you edit. You can't fight the currents of where it goes, but you have to remember always why you wanted to make it. I like the change that comes with the process of developing it, even if it feels terrifying at the moment when you don't know where it's going. You surround yourself with incredible collaborators like in this film, and they carry the torch you've walked with to guide the story along every step of the way.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

It's all been internal mostly. We're just now getting it to a wide range of audiences with the festivals, so I am looking forward to hearing what others think! I will be snooping any Letterboxd reviews or any write-ups on the film that people have.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I wish I had a better answer for this. Once we got going, it was clear what the movie we were making was. It's always more important for me to understand the reactions people come away with more than anything else. That's where the true surprise lies. I'm thankful for the truthful responses people have. That's when you know the movie has worked.

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

I'm just happy to be able to share the film on a platform like this and get eyes on it! We're working on a feature film next (unrelated to this one) so it's been about sharing this one and letting others know there's more to come.

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

Right now, we're hoping to continue the run some more and be at some cool festivals, then share it with everyone online!

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

That's a responsibility that goes beyond me. We have made the film, and the audience is now in control of what they think of it. I'm just a passenger for the reception of it.

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

I don't feel there's a direct question, but it's a film that I hope connects to those who feel they have lost something or someone.

Would you like to add anything else?

Thank you for letting us be on this site and share the film!

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

I am currently in the process of finding additional funding for a feature film being shot in the fall of 2024 with my producer/best friend Aidan Karstadt.

Interview: October 2023

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

Assimilation

After the death of her best friend, Liz attends Julie’s funeral gathering where strange events begin to occur.

Length: 13:28

Director: Andrew Jacobson

Producer: Andrew Jacobson

Writer: Andrew Jacobson

About the writer, director and producer:

ANDREW JACOBSON is a filmmaker who focuses as a writer, director, and editor living in Los Angeles. He graduated DePaul University in 2022 with a BFA in Directing. He is currently in pre-production on an upcoming horror feature film.

Key cast: Kaitlyn Chiostri, Sofia Riba, Marla Seidell

Instagram: @44isthenumber

Other: Vimeo

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?

Released online Q1 2024.