Smokescreens
After escaping a secret rehab stint in the desert, Evan - more tightly wound than ever - must face her road to recovery, while driving her estranged, chaotic friend to a funeral.
Interview with Actor/Writer/Director E.C. Timmer
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
This film is about the painful grace of being seen: that vulnerable moment our flaws are on display, and another flawed person sees us, then embraces us. Vulnerability like that is a human craving, and (honestly) it's a great fear too.
This era felt like the right moment to make a film not just for entertainment, but for connection. I entrusted my brilliant team with a personal story, nearly haunting, and the way they embraced it, transformed it, the way it all went down in our Arizona film-bubble, mid-Pandemic, living the thread together then and now: it’s the soul of Smokescreens.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Ok: so there are lots of films in the world. Lots. And myriad reasons to watch films: for entertainment, distraction, escapism. If you're open though: I offer this little film for another purpose: for patient connection - with ourselves, with others.
We glimpse two estranged friends - both running, caught in their private shame. Two smokescreens to mask their pain. And when the truth settles them like dust:
"I see you. You see me, a mess. And I’ll love you this way."
I offer these 18 minutes toward being seen as you are. As I am.
In a loud world: just this one intimate, broken moment - unfolding into Grace.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I wrote this script from raw personal experiences of rehab, breakdown, and the restorative love of friendship. Honoring a long tradition of artists (whom I admire), I tried to be specific with the experiences here, so that it might just touch the universality within each of us of shame, fear, connection, and ultimately: healing.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
This is the wildest, best part of "Smokescreens." The script began as a personal expression, and by entrusting it to my remarkable collaborators, it became so much richer, more textured, and more poignant than anything I could have created on my own. Visual motifs were added, the "fat" was trimmed, streamlined, scenes were cut, sound design motifs brought depths of emotion... On-set improvisation enriched the characters and their dialogue. The story doesn't belong to me anymore. From the Cinematography (Miguel Tafich), to the Sound Design (Kevin Khor), to the performance of Zara Michales as Stefanie, to the editing (Kristina Fabela), I was humbled and inspired watching this personal narrative transform and elevate in the hands of the artists around me.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I'm incredibly grateful to have received excellent feedback. Thanks to my crew and team! Honestly: they made this film more than I could have. From Industry respected Directors, to The Hollywood Reporter's former Executive Editor, to audiences thus far, the feedback centers on powerful connection with the emotions and characters in the film. For some, it's a little too emotionally immersive, and I respect that. For others, there's not quite enough "story," and I likewise respect that feedback.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The "lack of narrative" feedback, has been particularly helpful to ponder. I intentionally set out to create a film more centered on emotional experience, rather than being "plot-driven." But this feedback has catalyzed me to dig into how I might've offered a little more "plot" for some audiences, how that might've changed the film, and how to craft my stories moving forward.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Community! I want to connect to a thriving, diverse, brilliant community of filmmakers. I mean... it takes a village, right? And mutual inspiration and collaboration is the secret sauce for filmmakers, for creatives. I love this about the vision of We Are Moving Stories!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I'd love for "Smokescreens" to resonate with Film Festival Directors, Producers (more films like this to come!).
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Connection! (My favorite word right now.) I don't mean "connection" as a buzz word. I mean that I'd love to see this film inspire real conversations, reflection, and healthy vulnerability.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What shadow are we running from?
Would you like to add anything else?
I'm grateful for this little space to share, and for this community of filmmakers! Happy to create alongside you all!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm developing a feature film, as well as two more short films, and an immersive installation for poetry and music! Here's to giving it all my best shot!
Interview: December 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
Smokescreens
Length:
17:48
Writer/Director
E.C. TIMMER grew up amongst evergreens in Washington State. After a decade of travel through Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa - filming documentaries - she now writes and directs films in Southern California. Emily is fascinated with the natural poetry of life, and she hopes to create enlivening art all across our planet until she's much older, wiser, and wears dentures. She’s an avid runner, and she'd like to make it to the moon. Someday. She's still fond of evergreens.
Producer
GOIRICK DAS enjoys observing a multitude of untamed and
developed scenery and interacting with all kinds of people
from various backgrounds to gain perspective and gain a
better idea of what the world around us is like. Goirick
enjoys investing his knowledge and resources to help
talented and motivated individuals achieve their full
potential and see their dreams come alive, whatever they
may be.
Key cast:
Zara Michales (Stefanie), E.C. Timmer (Evan)
Looking for:
film festival directors, distributors
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/emilychristina
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/smokescreensfilm/
Hashtags used:
#smokescreensfilm