SELF-CARE IN SECONDS, 15 seconds
Directed by Curtis Johnson
The film tells the story of a character's surprise visit from their future self, bringing a message of hope and redemption.

https://createsourcemedia.com/
https://www.instagram.com/createsourcemedia/

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film? Self-Care in Seconds was inspired by the growing need for people to prioritize self-love and mental health. I wanted to create a story that offers hope and redemption, with a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there's always a path forward. The message of self-care, especially in today's fast-paced world, is more relevant than ever.

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? The process took about 30 days from conception to completion. The initial idea was pretty clear to me early on, but refining the narrative, casting, production, and post-production took time to ensure the message was as impactful as I envisioned.

How would you describe your film in two words? Hopeful and Redemption.

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? The biggest obstacle was staying true to the core message while keeping the runtime brief. Self-Care in Seconds had to pack a powerful message into a very short duration, and balancing that emotional depth with time constraints was a challenge.

What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video? Watching the feedback video was incredibly rewarding. Seeing the impact it had on the audience and how they connected with the message of self-love and hope was humbling. It reaffirmed why I wanted to tell this story in the first place.

When did you realize that you wanted to make films? I realized I wanted to make films when I noticed that the stories told did not resonate with my experiences.

What film have you seen the most in your life? Probably The Pursuit of Happyness. Its themes of perseverance and hope resonate deeply with me, and I've always admired how it balances emotional depth with an uplifting message.

What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career? More interactive Q&A sessions with filmmakers would be great. Hearing directly from the audience and having deeper discussions about the creative process is always insightful. Networking events designed to foster connections between filmmakers, producers, and distributors could also be invaluable.

You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experience been working on the festival platform site? FilmFreeway has been an excellent platform. The submission process is smooth, and it provides filmmakers with a lot of opportunities to discover and enter festivals that are well-suited to their films. It's helped streamline the process.

What is your favorite meal? I love good homemade spaghetti.

What is next for you? A new film? Yes! I just released a new movie titled Lot 24 The Rental with International distributor Stadium Media, which explores themes of reality and fiction through the lens of a mentally anguished man. It's a much different genre than Self-Care in Seconds, but I'm excited for others to see it.