Our Best Short Film winner will receive our custom Global Shorts statuette which we ship anywhere in the world, free of charge. The award is manufactured by Society Awards, the same awards company that manufactures the Golden Globe and the Emmy. All winners will receive our Global Shorts Winner laurels in black, white, and gold.
FILMMAKER Q&A – Ken Holmes – Writer, Co-Director, Producer
GS: What was the inspiration for your film?
KH: I originally wrote this to be performed by Audrey, my co-director, and with me as Chatter. Then I decided to make it more about someone with a rich imagination (or a tumultuous mental state) having an argument with her own mind. I do feel like as a creative sometimes our greatest asset can also be our greatest enemy. As a dancer, Jasmine is a creative. But a voice within her is telling her how to dance. Is the voice giving good advice or leading her astray? That was my intention in writing this. Kind of a commentary on our own instincts and the voices within and how they can clash.
GS: When did you conceive the idea for your film and how long did it take before it was realized?
KH: I conceived it while sitting with a gathering of writers who get together at a local bar. I wrote the first draft in one sitting. It went through different versions, and the idea of incorporating a doll didn’t come about until we actually started filming. We filmed in a storage unit, so in addition to Jasmine letting her mind tell her what to do, she is also letting her material items dictate her.
GS: What was the most challenging aspect of working in a short film format?
KH: Getting my ideas out there in a short period of time is the most challenging aspect. Fortunately, while I have my own intentions behind my stories, I am also open to audience interpretation, and if an audience doesn’t see what I see or makes up their own interpretation, that is fine by me. So that makes it somewhat easier.
GS: What was the most challenging aspect of your production?
KH: Figuring out where the ideal location should be. Pre-production took months, but the shoot itself was only a few hours. It was written as a warehouse. At one point I wanted to film at my house, but that didn’t look right. Finally we decided on the storage unit and it was perfect.
GS: Do you have any advice for first-time filmmakers?
KH: Don’t tell people about your ideas. Don’t talk about your films. Work in secret. Talking is a substitute for doing. Also, if you have limited means, do simple films that don’t require many actors or a big crew. You can do larger scale films when you have the budget. For now, think of it like an episode of “Chopped”…telling a story with a few ingredients and making it work as well as possible.