STRING HEAD, 7min., USA
Directed by Matthew Vargas
A man in bed, after failing to fall asleep, is forcefully kept awake by String Head - an entity made of string that psychologically tortures him by wrapping him in a cocoon made from the deepest, darkest thoughts of his mind.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
One night at 3:00 AM I had a vision of String Head walking into my room. A thread of red string was on top of me. Thinking of String Head at the end of my bed was a creepy fascinating image - I had to make it and explore it. I also wanted to push the boundaries with Production Design as I never have before and use it to really convey symbolism and tell a story.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
I wrote the script entirely in December of 2023. I started pre-production and crewing up & casting the film between January and February of 2024. We shot for 3 days in February of 2024. It was a very accelerated process - from script to shooting in a month and a half basically. Post-Production took the longest, lasting from February to August of 2024. Sound Design alone took 4 months after picture lock because we wanted to get the tone just right.

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

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
The costume was the biggest hurdle. I purchased 4000 yards of red yarn for this film and the costume used more than half of it - both String Head and the cocoon. My friend Eunbi and I had never set out on something this difficult to create but we loved the challenge. In the end we found a solution to create a sectional costume that was easy to remove but still made the wearer look like they were wrapped in thousands of yards of yarn. The trial was worth it in the end.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I love the reactions and I feel so giddy about the different analyses. The positive reaction to the final song made my sound designer, Rochelle, very happy as they wrote + sang the song themselves under their artist name La Roche. The comparison of the film to night terrors that occur in real life was so on point that I felt a great sigh of relief. Many ideas had to be conveyed in this film and I feel as though they all landed. I was worried because there is no dialogue, but that is intentionally so in the film because these terribly anxious moments usually occur wordless and in the brain.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
In High School. I made gaming videos for myself and other video content for my school. I really enjoyed the creative expression it gave me and I decided to pursue filmmaking as a career option. I now work professionally as a 1st AC in the Washington DC area and create/write/direct films when I am able to for self expression!

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Bit of a boring answer but unfortunately I don't watch many films twice. Some films are fun to revisit like Fight Club but otherwise there aren't many.

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 like the options you've provided in your last email! Honestly I just like meeting other filmmakers in person. I'm looking forward to an in-person festival if you all are hosting one. If you're looking for a real suggestion though, there is one festival I've been to where award winning films got a chance to meet with established industry professionals (tv show writers, directors, etc.) to give advice on their career.

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

10. What is your favorite meal?
Spaghetti

11. What is next for you? A new film?
I'm focused on writing now - want to figure out my vision as a director and filmmaker.