Interview with Filmmaker Erik Bloomquist (SHE CAME FROM THE WOODS)

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SHE CAME FROM THE WOODS was the winner of BEST FILM at the October Horror FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?

Erik Bloomquist: My brother Carson and I grew up watching ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?, which really woke up and shaped our sensibilities as filmmakers and horror enthusiasts. We wanted to go back to basics — something warm and nostalgic and spooky.

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

Just over three months. It was a super quick one!

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

Campfire rollercoaster.

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

We shot the whole thing with a skeleton crew in just two very fast overnights.

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

Heartwarming. Truly. We’ve been very fortunate to play all over the world with this movie to very enthusiastic audiences. But to hear such positive, organic feedback from a group of people when I wasn’t even in the room is extremely special. I just sent the link to the whole cast. I’m still smiling.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

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

The campground where we filmed triggered a distinct mood and aesthetic for both me and Carson. The movie just sort of spilled out of us from there.

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

Probably SCREAM or TITANIC. Pretty much the same movie.

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

Super user friendly. Great customer services. Awesome interface.

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

Between Toto and now Weezer’s cover, probably “Africa”. It’s a bop, dude.

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

We’re currently in the middle of a pretty intense USA tour with my debut feature LONG LOST. We’ve been getting some amazing responses and award recognition (including Grand Jury Prize at Laughlin Film Festival, Best Feature/Audience Choice & Director to Watch at Eastern Oregon Film Festival, and a nomination for Best Debut Director at Twin Cities Film Fest). It’s a dark domestic thriller that we shot right after SCFTW. Check us out at Facebook.com/LongLostMovie.
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Interview with Filmmaker Mark Howling (O.B.E. THE OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE)

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O.B.E. THE OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE played at the Animation FEEDBACK Film Festival in October 2018 to rave reviews.

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?

Mark Howling: This is my 3rd micro budget short that I’m doing, I try to keep the execution simple with a minimal cost. It is just an hobby (..time consuming hobby…)

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

I would say one full year from writing to final render.

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

What? Really?

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

This short is a micro budget project, was done mainly with a powerful but old laptop. I had multiple hardware failures, multiple software and hardware updates to do, with only handful software and plugin able to run on that machine. (for the record the laptop blew up one month after the short was done)

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

They seems to know what the short was talking about so I guess … did it right lol

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

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

I always read on the internet very strange stories. What did inspire this short film is maybe a multitude of them glued together.

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

Star Wars

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

I love it! Simple and easy to use.

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

Too many to list here. Sorry.

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

I’m working in the film industry so yes I’m always working on something entertainment related.

Interview with Filmmaker Andres Passoni (3:32)

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3:32 played to rave reviews at the October 2018 DRAMA Feedback Film Festival in Toronto.

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?

Andres Passoni: My work is mainly focused in documentaries and I had never worked with actors. I wanted to work with Calu Rivero, an argentinean actress, and I had an idea of a character I thought she would feel related.

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

It took me almost a year to have the final script and then a year for the shooting and post-production.

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

Intimate and delicate.

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

A lot! but I think the biggest was to tell everything I wanted in 3 minutes 32 seconds.

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

That feedback is so important to inspire yourself and grow as a filmmaker.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

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

Once I read an interview to a music producer stating that 3 minutes 32 seconds is the perfect length for a pop song. I’m a huge consumer of pop music, especially from female performers and thought it was a very interesting concept to develop a conflicted character and a short story with the same length.

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

The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock and La Mujer sin Cabeza by Lucrecia Martel, everytime I see them I discover something new about filmmaking and human nature.

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

It helps you to learn about distribution, find a lot of festivals in one place and it’s very friendly to use.

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

Ray of Light by Madonna, every time I listen to it makes me feel very creative.

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

I’m writing and developing different ideas but I still haven’t decided my next project. I’m curious what the future holds for me.
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Interview with Poet Lauren White (First Contact)

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Matthew Toffolo: What is the theme of your poem?

Lauren White: The theme was initially love, loss, and heartbreak. Towards the end, it turned into hope.

2) What motivated you to write this poem?

I wrote this about the last man that I dated. He had a huge impact on me in a short amount of time. Most of the lines in the poem have some ring of truth, including the nicknames and the Star Trek First Contact Day reference, which is the day we started talking to each other. It was a whirlwind that ended abruptly. I had a lot of thoughts and emotions afterwards that I have been processing through poetry. This was the second of several poems about him.

3) How long have you been writing poetry?

I’m actually not sure how long I have been writing. I believe that i’ve probably always written on scraps of paper here and there. The earliest poems that I can remember are those from high school. I was in high school the first time I won a poetry contest. I also participated in a literary magazine. I had been writing off and on since then, but am currently trying to write each day, as I find the process therapeutic.

4) If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

My maternal grandmother. She died when I was about two months old, so I never got the chance to know her. I hear a lot about her big heart and kind personality from my family. I like to believe she would motivate me in my writing and be very proud of me.

5) What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

In part, the discount to be honest, lol. But, I did also want to see what it would be like to have someone else put feeling to my words. It was even better than I expected. Esther captured the emotions perfectly.

6) Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

Nope, just poetry and occasional prose in the form of rants.

7) What is your passion in life?

I’m still trying to figure that out, but I believe this – writing poetry – is it. I’m enjoying exploring new forms and styles of writing and finding inspiration in places that I’ve never looked. I’m interacting, making friends, and writing with fellow bloggers. The process is relaxing and calming and helps me keep my depression and anxiety issues at bay. I’m also very into music and have been doing a “From My Playlist” series on my blog to introduce others to new genres and songs.

Go to the poet’s website: https://hellolaurentms.com.

Performed by Esther Thibault

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Interview with Poet Susan L. Brown (Response To 8 Philosophers)

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Matthew Toffolo: What is the theme of your poem?

Susan L. Brown: Looking at the idea of Philosophy through the lives of ordinary people.

2) What motivated you to write this poem?

This poem was a response to an amazing documentary film about contemporary international Philosophers.

Examined Life is a 2008 Canadian documentary film about philosophers directed by Astra Taylor. The film features eight influential modern philosophers …

3) How long have you been writing poetry?

I have been writing poetry since I was in public school. I was extremely lucky to have several excellent English teachers during my school career who encouraged and inspired me to write.

4) If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

I believe I’d like to have a conversation over dinner with a good story-teller, like ” Mark Twain”.

5) What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

I like to support all the arts and having an actor participate in my poetry was allowing an opportunity to enjoy another artist’s interpretation of my words and voice.

6) Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

I have curated art exhibitions and have written exhibition catalogues. When CBC Radio produced an independent contributors’ program named, “OUT FRONT”, I scripted, performed and edited a short production that was aired.

7) What is your passion in life?

My passion in life is creating and sharing my experiences across and through global cultures in my art.