Award of Merit – “Wink” (USA)

Title: Wink
Runtime: 15 min
Country: USA
Director: Monika Petrillo
Placement: Award of Merit
Competition: September 30, 2017

Synopsis: A lonely and slightly repressed housewife discovers an unusual way to spice up her afternoon.

FILMMAKER Q&A – Monika Petrillo, Writer/ Director/ Editor

GS: What was the inspiration for your film?

MP: I was on a road trip, driving through Death Valley with my godmother who mentioned this idea about a blonde and a goldfish. And as soon as she mentioned it, my mind literally exploded with all these images. I could see the whole movie. When I got home, I sat down to just jot down some thoughts, but before I knew it, I had written the entire script.

Unlike another short film idea, which I have now been working on for over a year, this one felt like it came to me. And once I started writing it, I fell in love with it, not only because of its potential for rich visuals, but also because I thought isolation within a relationship is something that many people can relate to.

GS: When did you conceive the idea for your film and how long did it take before it was realized?

MP: From the day I wrote the script until we shot the film was 6 months.

GS: What was the most challenging aspect of working in a short film format?

MP: The rhythm of a short film is different. It has to have an unexpected, surprising moment shortly before it ends. And there is much less time to set up the conflict. My biggest challenge was during post production when I realized that my first assembly was 27 min long. I knew I wanted my film to be no longer than 15 mins, so I had to cut much more than a few frames here and there…

GS: What was the most challenging aspect of your production?

MP: I thought it would be dealing with animals and nudity. I had literally “trained” my four goldfish by only hand-feeding them for three weeks, but I had no idea if my plan was going to work out… Not until my brave actress set foot in that bath tub filled with 68 degree cold water. But then… magic happened!  🙂

–No, I think what was the most challenging in hindsight was having to ask so many people for favors, to work for free, to lend me their equipment, their cars and furniture, to watch my kids for the weekend.  Even though everybody seemed to be glad to help out, I always felt bad that I couldn’t afford to pay them.

GS: Do you have any advice for first-time filmmakers?

MP: Hm… Write about something you know. Don’t attempt stunts or effects in your first film. Rather focus on the characters, the human interaction between your characters. Keep your shots simple. A steady static shot looks much more professional than a shaky handheld shot. Make sure you get good sound. Nothing says “amateur” as clearly, and immediately, as badly recorded sound. And last, but not least, it is my personal opinion that putting yourself in your film is something you should only attempt once you’ve been acting and/or directing for decades.