A New York artist's obsession makes her the leader of a squirrel war on Facebook. The pressure cooker of quarantine mixed with the polarization of politics intensifies the ire of squirrel lovers everywhere.

Interview with Writer/Editor/Director/Producer Jill Morley

Watch Squirrel Wars here:

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I have an eccentric friend who lives in New York City who has been obsessed with squirrels and politics, but never in the same breath...until this happened. She told me how she had trained squirrels to come in through her window, walk through her apartment and go out her garden door. She fed squirrels in the park, watched YouTube videos of squirrels and eventually joined the biggest Squirrel Page on Facebook. During the pandemic, everything intensified while we were indoors on our social media. One day a civil war broke out and it was led by my friend! I knew I had to tell the story.

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

This is a microcosm of 2020 told through a squirrel lens.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Personal themes and universal themes blend together. Even a group of squirrel lovers can be brought to an ugly social media brawl.

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

The doc evolved as I was editing it. I found ways to cut the film that not only was funny, but squirrelly.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The film won "Best Short Documentary" at the Hamilton Film Festival and has played to audiences around the world. People seem to love it. First of all, there are a lot of squirrel lovers out there - more than you know. Second, people in both aisles seem to enjoy the absurdity of the film.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

No.

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

I would just like to get more eyes on this story. I directed it from Los Angeles by FaceTime on an iPad. My DP lived near my friend so he walked over and they shot it outside so they would be safe. Then he mailed me the footage, I edited it, and boom. Squirrel Wars

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

I would love the film to get more exposure as it was a quirky microcosm of 2020.

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

I want people to enjoy the humor and irony of squirrels being used to fight political battles. Instead of fighting on social media, perhaps we can have a conversation

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

Is this film left leaning? Why are Republicans depicted badly?

Would you like to add anything else?

My intention was to bring some lightness and humor after so much darkness. I'm fortunate to have such an eccentric friend who is amazing on camera! This film is not meant to be liberal or conservative. IT's just a funny story that really happened.

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

Jill is working on finishing a horror/comedy called "Bloody Burlesque." She was also hired to adapt a book into a screenplay about a woman who was committed to a mental hospital by her husband and his mistress. She consulted, produced and will be appearing in an episode of the series "Never Seen Again" on Paramount Plus in the Spring/Summer.

Interview: March 2022

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

SQUIRREL WARS

Length:

8:27

Writer/Director

Jill Morley is a writer and filmmaker living in Los Angeles. Besides being a Writer's Lab Finalist, a Middlebury Screenwriting Felllow, and Semi-Finalist for Final Draft's Big Break Competition, she is also a National Golden Gloves champion in the Masters Division. Her screenplay, "See Jane Fight" is in the top 3% on Coverfly.

Producer

Angel Cheng

Key cast:

Billie Madley

Looking for:

journalists, film festival directors, buyers

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/jillmorley

Hashtags used:

#squirrelwars

More info:

www.jillmorley.com

Where can I watch it?

The American Documentary Film Festival/Palm Springs - April 8, Cleveland Film Festival