WAKING CONUNDRUM, 11min., Canada
Directed by Dale Loon, Alyssa-Rose Hunter
Waking up in a room with a ceiling that seems to never end. A man struggles with his memory of recent events but remembers everything else from the past. The man meets a woman and brings him down to great disbelief and shock that shakes every atom in his body. A scheme is planned to escape this room. But is the plan for real?

Get to know filmmaker Dale Loon:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Your not gonna be so impressed, but at the time when I was in school. I came to a point where I needed a script in order to advance in the Toronto Film School program. And I only had one class, 4 hours to do it. 20 minutes was spent making beats of the story. Another 40 minutes character building. Then the last 3 hours was spend writing the script in a rush.

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

When I wrote the idea I actually put the script on the back burner because the class was done. So, in between terms there is a 1 week reprieve for students. I got bored during that week and decided to shoot it. I grabbed the laptop and made a post online facebook for people. Then, 2 days after? We shot Waking Conundrum in one day.

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

Unseen Betrayal

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

The biggest obstacle in completing this film was the production design, I gave $2,900 and after all was shot I got $1,900 back. But we made things work with what we had.

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

The one thing I expected for sure was the unseen betrayal from Venora. The audience saw a connection sparking between them, then at the end? They were shocked and shooked. Everything I wrote is what I wanted in the audiences reactions, and it was puuuuurfect!

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

. I didn’t realize, I was actually a homeless drunk who drank everyday on the streets back at home. As I was drinking with my usual drinking buddies, I once stood up and said. “I’m going to film school!”. As I walked away, my drunk friends thought I was joking. Then next day i borded the bus and made the 53 hour bus ride to Toronto.

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

The one film I have seen the most was Space Balls. I love to laugh. I also love to watch the reactions of people who never saw it before with the endless ship at the beginning. It will never get old!

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 just want to say to the festivals that no matter where you come from and who you were. An idea can actually make people entertained and make them think or keep them at the edge of their seats.

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

Working on the film festival site was a very easy experience. Before my 11 years of being homeless and drunk, I was very handy with computers and repaired them. So point and click interfaces were clear instructions

10. What is your favorite meal?

Tacos. Always Tacos.

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

The next move for me is to produce and direct waking conundrum 2 next year. And while waiting for the time, I'm going to be writing episodes 3-7 of Waking Conundrum. Gotta find out what is gonna happen to the handful of men, right?