DETECTIVE TICKLES, 6min., USA
Directed by Elizabeth Laidlaw
Detective tickles is a film Noir sketch that is in episode 1. It is about a party clown who turns Private eye. The sketch pays homage to film noir tropes, and is filmed in the classic style of black and white. The sketch stands well on its own, but I recommend watching the full pilot to be immersed into the Trash Panda world.

https://www.youtube.com/@trashpandacomedy9305
https://www.instagram.com/thetrashpandacomedy/

Get to know writer Fee Basanavicius, writer Marissa Chastain & director Elizabeth Laidlaw

1. What motivated you to make this film:

Elizabeth (Director): have been a noir nut for a long time. A WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION and DOUBLE INDEMNITY are two of my all-time favorites. I use the "anklet" scene of the latter to teach film directing to newbie film students. When Dean handed this script to me I.. well, I basically SAT on him and told him he HAD to let me direct it.

Fee (Writer): My comedy partner Marissa and I are comedians so our goal with all of our Trash Panda Comedy work is to release as many endorphins in people's brains as we can. With Tickles we wanted to do that by being as silly as possible while playing it as straight/to period as possible. Elizabeth and her expertise helped us achieve just that.

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

Almost two years. (Written August 2021/finished 2023) Dean (our DP) edited every frame of Tickles and the entire Trash Panda Episode 1. (And he has a full-time job and then some.) As they say, you can choose two: fast, cheap, and good. We went for the last two.

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

"Clown Noir" I suppose is the most accurate, but something Marissa and Fee often say after a take that has them both rolling is "So stupid..."

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

We shot everything in one night (which happened to be our DP, Dean's Birthday) with zero time and a zero-dollar budget. On set Marissa had a torn tendon and could not walk or stand so some movie magic was done by Dean with the framing and editing. After we wrapped we ended up having to wait an extra two hours because our crew member, Amy's car had died. I think we all got home around 3am?

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

Elizabeth: I really appreciated how many folks got all the subtle little film noir nods we put in. Sometimes I worry that no one cares about classic noir anymore, always happy to find out I am wrong about that. I'm super gratified several people commented on the final shot, with the camera catching and then drifting off dejected Tickles to the monkey. I really insisted on getting that one right and I'm not sure everyone understood why on the day. But we got it...

Fee: I was delighted and humbled to hear everyone's glowing reception of the film. The fact that they got the reworked film noir quotes layered under all those cheesy clown puns warmed my heart. Receiving such kind praise for our work told us as comedians, we did our job and we did it well.

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

Elizabeth: Since I got a little bored with just being in them. Just kidding. I actually graduated with a degree in directing and then kept making a living as an actor. I've been very lucky, but finally in my 40's I decided it was time to get back to what I really wanted to do.

Fee: Growing up I wasn't allowed to watch the vast majority of comedy from the 1980s onward so I caught my comedy bug from watching I Love Lucy, Bud Abbott & Lou Costello, Laurel & Hardy and other old-school comedies. (Although, whenever I could, I would sneak into the basement, turn the TV down low and watch Mad TV re-runs or SNL but I'd always get caught because I'd be laughing so hard.) For as long as I can remember I've always wanted to make people laugh like that, be it via stage or screen.

Marissa: When I was 7 I saw Annie and learned what an actor was. After that, I learned about film and told my parents that was what I was going to do when I grew up.

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

Elizabeth: Young Frankenstein? Or maybe Double Indemnity... or Star Wars.... or Labryinth...

Fee: Harvey (1950)

Marissa: Before Sunrise by Richard Linklater

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

We have no notes haha!

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

It's been great so far! Very positive experience

10. What is your favorite meal?

Elizabeth: Soup

Fee: Anything with noodles

Marissa: A NYC Italian Deli Sandwich

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

Elizabeth: I'm a strike captain for SAG-AFTRA so I'll be focusing on getting us a fair contract for film and television. I'm also the producer of an increasingly successful narrative science fiction podcast, DERELICT and we are in the middle of making our second season now. And I've been roped into a couple of theatre contracts (as an actor) fall of 2023 and then early 2024.

Fee: Film-wise: Trash Panda Comedy is getting to work on our second episode of sketches. I also have an original dark comedy pilot, I'm Dead, that our team is wanting to produce as well. While we schedule out the shoots for those Marissa and I will continue to write/perform our live sketch shows in Chicago weekly and eventually turn those sketches we create for live audiences into future Trash Panda episodes.