Filmmaker Josh Wagner (COLD ISLE)

COLD ISLE, 5min., Ireland
Directed by Josh Wagner
A seagull living in a harbour village starts to evaluate its existence and flies to a remote island for answers.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

As part of my PhD, I’ve been attempting to experiment with narratives that decenter the human in order to develop more ecocentric perspectives. After continuing to come across dead seagulls along the coast, I wanted to tell a story about them.

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

I slowly gathered footage for this film over the course of about two years, not quite sure how I’d be putting it together. When I wrote the soundtrack (independently), I was compelled to cut video to it… I remembered my seagulls and it all flowed together very naturally. This second phase took about two weeks. So two years and two weeks, I guess, is the best answer.

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

Bird mysticism

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

Living fairly isolated in the southwest, I don’t get much opportunity for collaboration. This one had a deadline, so I ended up doing everything on my own, even a few jobs I don’t feel too confident about.

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

Well of course it’s nice to see and hear these reflections. I come from a prose fiction background. As a novelist, unless you have some sort of following or fan-base, you rarely get to hear people talk about your work.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

My friends Brad and John suckered me into it. I resisted the whole endeavor for years. Now I’ve got the bug, though, particularly when I get to work purely with images and music.

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

Probably “The Adventures of Baron von Munchausen” or “Sneakers”

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

Audience feedback and interaction opportunities are great! Facilitating community between filmmakers that might open the doors to collaboration would be good as well.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

No complaints! Probably wouldn’t submit much without them.

10. What is your favorite meal?

I love a good Tagine.

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

I’l be focusing on composing scores, making music videos, and trying to get my screenplay produced.