Interview with Screenwriter Ryan Katzer (JACK IS PRETTY)

Ryan Katzer’s written short film “JACK IS PRETTY” was the winner of Best Film at the July 2016 FEEDBACK Film Festival. 

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?

Ryan Katzer: None of us had made a film. Jarek had the equipment. I had the script. Why not? We had to start somewhere with Indy film, and figured a short with limited dialogue would be easy…..like I said, none of us had made a film.  We liked the story, the fairy tale quality and innocence blended with darkness. The rest was a summer-long blur.

MT: From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

RK: I plead the 5th.

MT: How would you describe your short film in two words!?

RK:  Modern Fairytale? Dark Fairytale? Take your pick. Not sure. Never been that concise, 7 pages transferred to 26 minutes, you know?

MT: What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

RK: Time constraints and limited days at locations each week.

MT: What were your initial reactions when watching the Toronto audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

RK: Joy. Intelligent audience. They got it.

MT: How did you come up with the idea for this short film?

RK: Always loved fantasy and fairytales. Originally it was simply about a protagonist dealing with pain. The protagonist finds a magic box, puts her pain in the box, and the box changes her pain into an avenger of some sort that hunts down the antagonist. Then magic happened. The “what if’s” came into play. “What if the protagonist is a little girl?” “What if the story is inspired by ‘Pop Goes The Weasel’?” “Oh! What if the box is a Jack In The Box!”  Bingo!

 

MT: What film have you seen the most in your life?

RK: Let The Right One In (Scandanavian Version, not to be confused with Let Me In, American) 9 times. Maybe more.

MT: What is next for you? A new film?

RK:  Just shot “Away From The Ribbon” with some of the team from “Jack”.  After that “Broken Crown”, the first part of the “Jack Trilogy”.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video of JACK IS PRETTY: