Interview with Producer Brett Langolf (WIN(D) OVER CANCER)

WIN(D) OVER CANCER, 9min., USA
Directed by Andrew Jowett
Last summer the world was closed, but our waters were open. This crew took the opportunity to make a difference – More Kids On Sailboats, a 501(c)(3) organization is proud to present our first short film – WIN(D) OVER CANCER.

https://morekidsonsailboats.org/
https://www.instagram.com/more_kids_on_sailboats/

Get to know the producer Brett Langolf:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
The motivation was the desire to do SOMETHING! My wife, Katie, and I were sitting in the dining room both working (pandemic online elementary school teacher and me trying to run a Creative Advertising department remotely) and we started talking. We had just received our 501(c)(3) status for our non-profit More Kids On Sailboats. We decided to find a path to do something with kids and activate them in these crazy times. Andrew was involved in the new non-profit and was one of our new Board Members. In the real world, he and I had been doing TV Commercials, Sailing Shorts, etc but it was the pandemic and this work had taken a pause. Getting a group together outdoors was basically our only option. So we plotted the course, and we got this crew together….we were not sure what would unfold or what may or might not happen. So we hit record and let the story come to us.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
11 months and we were finished. Then came the same race a year later and we won it! I called Andrew immediately and said, “the film isn’t done, we have a new ending.” He made the final ending & that is the film ending you see now.

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

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Keeping it short. We had a lot of content, on and off-the-water footage, drone footage and interviews with each kid ages 10-18, etc That all had to come together in a common thread that the audience would track and be connected to.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
Humbling. Exciting. Motivating. Our goal was the tell a story of critical thinking, problem solving and grit and that message connected. Also exciting to hear we were able to bring the view to the viewers.

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://youtu.be/W-NmYnQgdQQ

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
Always been a storyteller. But I always thought the story had to be written down as a book or via “giving a speech”. But when my father-in-law, Tom, bought me a Garmin action camera it opened a whole new angle for me. I started taking it on the adventure and editing the footage in a fun way to send to friends and crew. I knew then this was the way I wanted to tell stories. Then I met Andrew – he knew how to capture stories with his camera and craft & direct his vision of each story.

Finally, the vision in my brain came to life on a screen.

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

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
You and your team do an amazing job of hyping the film and hyping the people behind it. Keep up your own content creation, social leverage and audience engagements with the creators. A rising tide raises all ships!

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
Simples, seamless and relevant. Without it I don’t think we would be here.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Cheeseburger and a Dark ‘N’ Stormy Cocktail

11. What is next for you? A new film?
This all lead us to a new company called contentEXP Group. We help brands, people & organizations connect through storytelling, content creation & short film. We call it the visual art of storytelling. Anything from broadcast TV commercials, to short films to social media.

In addition to the new project work for our partners, we have two projects starting to take shape. One is covering the world’s longest continuously run freshwater yacht race and the second project focuses on sustainability in American agriculture.