Filmmaker Corey Gilbert (EXILE)

EXILE, 17min., USA
Directed by Corey Gilbert
When an assassin decides she wants out, she is put to the ultimate test.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film? The script, written by Frank Ziede. It was an action thriller, but he based on strong character development.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? 2 years, and a good portion of that was post-production and post-VFX related.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!? That’s tough. I defer to Frank for this one.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Creating the passage of time from day to evening and finally to night, and having just two days of production budget.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video? I was excited to hear consistent praise for our cast performances. It was especially gratifying to hear our main actor, Caitlin Ewald, was successful at holding up the film as a solo performer throughout most of it. Frank and I talked about the challenges of maintaining an audience with a story that is essentially one character on screen.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films? At 15 years old when I saw the movie “Platoon” because it was a movie about my dad.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life? “Heat” by Michael Mann

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career? I love festivals that provide audience and peer feedback. My only suggestion is providing a range of feedback from the positive but also including some constructive criticism. As artists, we always want to improve, and it’s the constructive criticism that usually helps the most.😀

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site? I love FilmFreeway. It is a fantastic user-interface and resource for practically every festival in the world. It is how we found your festival which seemed to be a great fit for our film.

10. What is your favorite meal? Kung Pao Chicken

11. What is next for you? A new film? Definitely a new film, and will be one of several projects in the works with my filmmaking partner Frank Ziede.