THE SLATE, 8min., USA
Directed by Katherine Connor Duff
A struggling actress attempts to film a self tape.

https://www.katherineconnorduff.com/

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

This film was based on a domestic argument I found recorded on my self tape camera. I lost the argument, I lost the boyfriend, but I won Best Story at TOFFF! After finding said video, I thought it would make for a great short film, where reality is blurred à la cinéma vérité style of the new wave films of the 1960s. I wanted to convey raw authenticity, the unsuccessful balance of career and relationship, and remove the line between fiction and fact. As an actress in LA, I wanted also to explore the audition method where we film so many self tapes using our own homes, our own equipment, and our own readers, in my case, an uncooperative boyfriend.

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

I came upon the idea last year when I found the original recording; I wrote it in about a week and I filmed it in one day.

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

Self Tape.

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

The biggest obstacle was actually in the writing; creating enough distance between what really happened and the story itself was challenging. Once I figured out the characters and how they were different from me and my ex however, it was a breeze.

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

I've had the film screened at several festivals, and it is beginning to strike me how different the reactions from male and female viewers are. The men tend to see the comedy of the film more, whereas female viewers tend to see the dramatic side of it, and often correctly tap into the fact that it is a toxic relationship.

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

I am a lifelong lover of film, and a lifelong writer. I grew up watching classic film from the 1930s-1970s, and this very much inspired me as a budding filmmaker. I often pay homage to this period of film, in an updated modern way. With "The Slate", it is a hybrid of cinéma vérité and new wave inspired by Francois Truffaut, Jules Dassin and Jean-Luc Goddard.

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

There are two movies that I have seen the most in my life that also highlight the two genres I work best in; "Casablanca" of course, which highlights the dramatic work I pursue. In "Casablanca", each twist and turn and dramatic moment is executed perfectly, which I strive to do. The second film is Ernst Lubitsch's "To Be or Not to Be" which has endlessly inspired me with its razor sharp comedic wit.

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 am completely satisfied with the festival so far and am honored to be a part of it. It would be nice to have a statuette, which I have received from other festivals- other than that, nothing!

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

I've been using Film Freeway for years and have enjoyed the usage immensely. They make it very easy to submit your film, create a profile for your projects and for yourself. Highly recommend!

10. What is your favorite meal?

My favorite meal is one that I cook myself- Thai shrimp curry!

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

As an actress, I have a movie that will be coming out later this year. As a writer, I have a 60 minute drama pilot about the Dustbowl which is almost complete, and two more short films in the works, both about the industry. One concerns four theatre actors in Manhattan which is being produced later this spring; and the other is about extras on set in Los Angeles, which will be self produced later in the fall.