Interview with Filmmaker Samantha Casia Kaiza-Williams (SUPPLE HEARTS)

SUPPLE HEARTS won BEST FILM at the June 2018 Experimental FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?

Samnatha Casia Kaiza-Williams: The film is autobiographical I guess, and it was a way of dealing with and acknowledging a traumatic event that happened to me, I think for a very long time, I told myself I wasn’t in agony, when I was and had been for quite some time, making the film was me acknowledging what had happened, and forgiving myself.

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

It took 18 months in total, the process was very long winded, the film itself is based on a poem which has the same name, I self funded the film so I had to work a lot of hours to save up to pay for the film and then it took me another couple of months to save up and pay for the colour grading and sound mixing, I also edited the film myself whilst working as a night receptionist job it was just tough so the process just took a lot longer, plus the film is very personal, I wanted to get everything just right.

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

An honest conversation ( Sorry I know that’s three, but my films are my honest conversations, no bullshit no lying just me owning my truth)

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

Financial, it was just hard, I don’t come from a moneyed back-round, it was just very difficult to self fund, but I got there in the end.

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

I cried, it just made everything real, my film had a screening at the BFI last year, and I hid my head in my mothers shoulder, because I was just so anxious about people watching it was all a bit much for me, and I left quite quickly after the screening, as I was a little to anxious, so it was good to face up to a fear of mine and actually hear peoples opinions on it, from the safety of my home.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

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

Autobiographical, but it is based on the poem I wrote, which was inspired by a traumatic event that occored when I was 12.

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

American Beauty

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

Love it, really good platform actually, super easy to use and gives you maximum exposure to all the right festivals.

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

Lykke Li – Until We Bleed (Hopped on iTunes to double check this ha)

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

Yes I shot a film in April called “Don’t Stutter” and I spent all of May and June working like crazy to pay everyone off, I’m just properly beginning the editing process, it’s a narrative driven film so no “poetry in motion” this time.

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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.