Fishing
Sixteen-year-old Lola has been stuck in her room for three days; she confesses to a camcorder the secret keeping her locked inside.
Interview with Director/Producer Josie Charles
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Esme (writer/actor) first performed Fishing as a one-woman play at drama school, where we were both training as actors - it was totally brilliant.
When she told me she was thinking of turning it into a short, I immediately asked if I could direct it. I love anything that explores teenage womanhood: its intense joy and intense vulnerability. Plus it was really funny!
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
If you've watched a lot of shorts you might start to notice patterns and similarities between them. Fishing is very different from most. Plus Esme's performance is really affecting.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
It's hard speaking to this without giving spoilers! But at its core, the film explores the intensity of young love, emergent female sexuality and the impact of pornography. So if you've ever had a crush or a first kiss, there's something in it for you. Though I'd be surprised (and a little worried) if anyone related to all of the specifics of Lola's story...
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The original play was an hour long. So our main script development process was basically making cuts. This is why the title can sometimes seem incongruous because there's no mention of 'fishing' in the final script.
Because it's self-filmed, we had to set and rehearse the camera positions before shooting, so that it became muscle memory for Esme and she could concentrate on acting. So once it got to the day of the shoot we basically knew what the final film would look like!
What type of feedback have you received so far?
In general, it's been overwhelmingly positive - many of my peers have said it's their favourite of my films. Though it has definitely been the most divisive too, because of the nature of the ending. A few family members are not keen to re-watch, shall we say!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I always find it interesting to hear other peoples' experiences of my films. When you've worked on it for so long, you forget what it feels like to watch it for the first time. So all reactions are equally surprising, in a way, because it's all new information.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We'd love to connect Fishing with the widest possible audience! Our World Premiere is at Slamdance 2024:
Sun, Jan 21st, 10:00 AM @ Slamdance HQ @ The Yarrow - Theater B
Tue, Jan 23rd, 1:00 PM @ Slamdance HQ @ The Yarrow - Theater A
We'll be there in person at the screenings in Utah, and it's also playing online on the Slamdance Channel.
And otherwise, please do follow us at https://www.instagram.com/fishingshortfilm/ to hear all the latest updates...
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We'd love to connect with anyone who is interested in amplifying the film or bringing it to new audiences. Get in touch!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Honestly, the impact and reception have already exceeded our expectations, given this was a micro-budget passion project. But we've got this far, so... World Peace? An Oscar? One of the two.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How did I get here?
(if you know, you know)
(if you don't, follow our Instagram to find out)
Would you like to add anything else?
Though I'm speaking on behalf of the Fishing dream team, we are very much a partnership, and Fishing has been Esme's baby since way before I got involved. It's been a joy to work with her! And if anyone is really offended by the film, it's completely her fault.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We're both developing separate long-form narrative work, but we're also jointly developing another camcorder short! Watch this space...
Interview: January 2024
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
Fishing
Sixteen-year-old Lola has been stuck in her room for three days; she confesses to a camcorder the secret keeping her locked inside.
Length: 8:32
Director: Josie Charles
Producer: Esme Allen & Josie Charles
Writer: Esme Allen
About the writer, director and producer:
JOSIE CHARLES is a writer and director from Somerset, now based in London. Her shorts have screened at festivals including Slamdance, London Film Week & Underwire Film Festival. She was a finalist for ‘Best British Director’ at the 2022 British Short Film Awards. In 2023, she was selected for the Directors UK ‘Inspire’ scheme, to be mentored by BAFTA-winning director Tom George. Her most recent short ‘Dead Cat Film’ features Hugh Bonneville (Notting Hill) & Will Gao (Heartstopper). She is currently developing her first feature. All of her projects ensure at least 50% representation for women, trans and non-binary people in cast and crew. She trained as an actor at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the National Youth Theatre.
ESME ALLEN is a queer actor and writer originally from Northampton, East Midlands. ‘fishing’ is her debut short film. She graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2019. While studying she was selected to represent RWCMD at the Sam Wanamaker Festival and the BBC Carleton Hobbs Award. Since graduating, Esme has acted across both TV (‘Slow Horses’, ‘Casualty’) and film.
Key cast: Esme Allen (Lola), Lucy Reynolds (Mum), Olivia Klein (Amy), Odhrán McNulty (Josh)
Looking for: sales agents, distributors, journalists, film festival directors, buyers
Facebook:
Twitter: @josiejanefox
Instagram: @fishingshortfilm
Hashtags used: #fishingshortfilm
Website: www.josiecharles.com
Other: IMDb
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Slamdance Film Festival, Utah (World Premiere) - Sun, Jan 21st, 10:00 AM &
Tue, Jan 23rd, 1:00 PM or online via the Slamdance Channel.
Further screenings yet to be announced...