PU EKAW TNOD
A couple watching a horror movie find themselves sucked into a waking nightmare.
Interview with Writer/Director/Editor Rebecca Culverhouse
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
During lockdown, I moved into a flat that I strongly suspect was haunted. Doors refused to stay shut, and strange banging noises would occur while the neighbours were out. On top of that, it had an incredibly creepy basement, which I knew would be the perfect setting for a horror film. At the same time, I was having recurring nightmares about a presence in the basement and decided to exorcise them by translating them into a film.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I'd describe this film as an arthouse B-movie, as it uses repetition, giallo aesthetics, experimental AI VFX and subliminal sound design to recreate the feeling of being trapped in a strangely familiar nightmare. Hopefully, it will give you a chilling dose of deja vu and moments that will haunt your dreams.
Also, the film was entirely self-funded and made by a small but mighty team with a lot of passion for filmmaking, so it might inspire other filmmakers to go out and make something using what's freely available to them.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The film comes directly from my dreams, which were affected by all sorts of doom-inducing things from the pandemic, the housing crisis... and possibly a sleep paralysis demon. In making the film, I tried to make something that felt as close to a dream as possible. Although incredibly subjective, dreams are also deeply connected to our collective subconscious and contain many shared elements and experiences that we still don't fully understand.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Just as I'd finished the first solid draft of the script I learned that the flat was being sold and I'd need to move out. So as time was running out to use the basement there wasn't time to keep rewriting. During rehearsals with Dorothea and Harold they suggested ideas to make the dialogue more natural, and we also planned details like outfit changes and at what point in the film they'd happen. We stuck pretty closely to the storyboard and shot the VFX scenes with only a vague idea of how we were going to animate them, generally hoping for the best. Luckily everything fell into place.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
There is a certain moment that seems to be successfully creeping a lot of people out, and many people want to check their TV or device after the film has finished, just in case! The end credits get a mixed reaction, depending on people's preferences. Of course, there are many subgenres of horror, so this one could be a bit niche for some people's tastes. But overall feedback has been very positive.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Considering the film is basically a DIY B-movie made for very little, I'm blown away by how well it's doing on the festival circuit. While I was in the middle of the painstaking process of creating the stop motion AI VFX, I thought I had wasted a year of my life on what would ultimately be a silly little passion project that no one would like. Happily, this has turned out not to be the case, and it is truly heartwarming that people are being scared by it all over the world!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I am looking to build a bigger audience for the film, especially in the horror community. I am currently thinking about how to adapt the short into a feature film, so am looking for people who are interested in that.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
They would all be great! The short currently has no sales agent or distributor so I'd like to change that.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I just want people to feel creeped out and enjoy the ride... then maybe be a little haunted by it late at night when they can't sleep.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How do you know you're not dreaming right now?
How do you know the Bad Place isn't just around the corner?
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
PU EKAW TNOD
A couple watching a horror movie find themselves sucked into a waking nightmare.
Length: 6:48
Director: Rebecca Culverhouse
Producer: Pamela Pifferi
Writer: Rebecca Culverhouse
About the writer, director and producer:
REBECCA CULVERHOUSE is a neurodiverse artist filmmaker from England who has made short films, branded content and music videos in London, Berlin and Tokyo. Her cinemagraph short #eatpretty was commissioned by Random Acts and was broadcast on UK TV and screened at BAFTA qualifying festivals London Short Film Festival and Underwire Festival. Her new film PU EKAW TNOD premiered at the BFI London Film Festival. Rebecca is currently developing several moving image and feature projects.
PAMELA PIFFERI is a Creative Producer who has worked on short films and branded content for brands such as Adidas, Pinko, and D&G in the UK, Europe and the US. She has recently been working as a Unit Production Manager on several acclaimed feature films such as Living and The Kitchen. Her work focuses on the research of new styles of visual storytelling and formats, as well as on supporting women behind the camera. She produced short films including Zara Burdett’s Maneater, (Stage 32 short film contest winner) Ayo Akingbade’s Akimbo Stylee (commissioned by LOWE) and Rebecca Culverhouse’s #eatpretty (Broadcast on Channel 4’s Random Acts). She has recently been working as a Unit Production Manager on several acclaimed feature films.
Key cast: Dorothea Jones (Me), Harold Addo (You)
Looking for: sales agents, distributors, journalists, film festival directors, producers, buyers
Instagram: @rebel_cub
Hashtags used: #puekawtnod
Other: IMDb
Funders: Self-funded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Slamdance Film Festival / The Yarrow, Park City - Jan 19th & University of Utah, Salt Lake City - Jan 22nd
Oska Bright Film Festival - Brighton Dome Corn Exchange - March 16th