EPINEPHRINE was the winner of BEST PERFORMANCES at the April 2018 Experimental FEEDBACK Film Festival in April 2018.

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?

Kat Scott: This film came about as a class project for a class called Socially Responsible Filmmaker. The same semester was my first six months getting sober. My current sobriety date is Trump’s election, so for me the personal is political (to borrow a feminist phrase). The class addressed Feminism, Black Female Spectatorship, and other ideologies and theories–we were expected to apply what we learned into a film. I decided to articulate my experience coming of age on Tumblr, and the various social movements and negative influences juxtaposed in an intercut work.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?

Due to a busy schedule of the dancers, we had one blocking rehearsal, one rehearsal of test footage and lighting, and only a two hour shoot. Editing happened in a short weekend period. Concept design floated around for a month before shooting.

3. How would you describe your short film in two words!?

Choreographed Tumblr.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Scheduling with students, and I am not a natural editor so I had to turn over that control.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I understood the first critique about it feeling like an opening to a feature. I think beyond millennials this film might not translate as well. I was aware of that limitation when making the film when I ultimately decided to make it an internet zeitgeist piece. I think the younger commentator really for at the heart and intention of the work. It was moving to hear him and the moderator speak about their interpretations.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

6. How did you come up with the idea for this short film?

I spent my coming of age years on Tumblr and noticed a drastic change in images after I came out as queer and got sober at the same time. The first song represents my closeted and masked adolescent years trying to fall in line with my girl peers. The second song was me coming into my queerness but experiencing addiction. The third song is being liberated by social movements and activist communities that replaced the escapist images on Tumblr from prior years. Some of it is also informed by my experience with trauma and admiration for dance.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Juno. So in love, that soundtrack too!

8. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway, what are you feelings of the submission platform from a filmmaker’s perspective?

I can’t believe how my small-no-budget class project in St. Louis, Missouri got transported all the way to Toronto. Perk of this internet age!

9. What song have you listened to the most times in your life?

Possibly the third song, Doin’ It Right by Daft Punk, or What’s Up by 4 Non Blondes

10. What is next for you? A new film?

My senior thesis film, Gay Basher, is in post-production. A queer transwoman turned vigilante bashes back at bigoted cops and rapists.

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Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 20-50 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every single month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Festival held in downtown Toronto, and Los Angeles at least 3 times a month. Go to http://www.wildsoundfestival.com for more information and to submit your work to the festival.