JACK, 5min., USA
Directed by Julian Curi
An art connoisseur finds himself on the run after he steals a priceless item from a ruthless man in this fun twist on a classic tale.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
I've always loved adventure films, and this concept had been floating around it in my head for some time when 2020 hit. My co-producer Adam Lau said we should use our time as wisely as possible and start writing. Jack was one of the scripts that came out of that time. I've always loved movies that were untouchable by time. As this one is set in the early 1940s with our style, we thought it could be enjoyable for quite some time. And I also wanted to tell a story that was fast and engaging while also being easily digestible.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
All told, from writing to final product, this took about four years to make. A good chunk of that time was postproduction as we were trading a lot of favors to put the film together. But as long as it took, it has been so fun seeing the final product out there in the world.

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

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
There were two big obstacles for our team. The first was location. For the outdoor scenes, we had to find a place away from the city that took us into this fantastic world while also being close enough to film in a day. We visited a number of locations around Los Angeles and hiked many trails. We found our ideal spot, and then got the price tag. With production dates already set we had to adjust our thinking and try new places. Eventually, we wound up at a state park and our production down to fit the rules for a low budget shoot.

The second hurdle was our post production. We were plagued by technical issues as well as the fact that our team also had day jobs to fulfill. That pushed our ability to work back further and further. And for a time I was worried, Jack would never make it out, but everyone's persistence brought the film to life .

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
Honestly, I couldn't keep the smile off of my face. The comparisons we received from fellow filmmakers and enthusiasts was inspiring. I felt like I had done it!

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
I realized I wanted to be an actor at a young age. I had grown up watching movies and loving them, dancing around to Singing In The Rain and other colorful fun. In high school I found that a lot of the intro Star Wars pursuing were because I had seen it in TV or movies, and I realized that I could just go into TV and movies and do all those things. From there, I focused on acting and getting myself out to LA, and more recently I found that if I wanted to, be in the projects that excited me, I might just have to make them myself. This began my producing and writing journey.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
There are a couple of movies that could fall into this answer. The first is Home Alone, which I've watched just about every Thanksgiving since I was a kid. It's funny, adventurous, and was filmed not far from where I grew up. The next one is Indiana Jones and the last Crusade. As much as Raiders of the Lost Ark is a perfect movie, there's just something about The Last Crusade that I love and can watch at any moment. The third movie is The A-Team. I don't know that it got as much love as it should've, but it is something that I can put on and know that I'm gonna have a good time.

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 wish more festivals engaged like this one. I think the ability to have creatives' voices heard is great, and the feedback from the community is so valuable.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
I've enjoyed working with FestivalFreeway. It's helped me engage with festivals around the world which has been amazing. The only thing that might be smoothed out a little bit, there is their search function, as I found I didn't necessarily fit the bill for every festival that popped up from a specific search, but that just goes to show how many festivals they provide.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Homemade chicken paprikash and dumplings. My grandma used to make it and my mom learned her recipe. One of the moments I knew my wife truly loved me when we were dating was when she made it as well, because it is no easy task. There's just something about that meal that makes me think of home, and it's one of the few meals that I will eat until I can't eat anymore.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
Personally, I've been doing a lot of writing. My co-producer Adam Lau and I are working on developing a number of series, as well as fleshing out concepts into feature films. I've also had the joy of working with another company, Digital Wizards, writing short form animation and a feature film, so we'll see what gets put into production first!