BUMPY THE CLOWN, 14min., USA
Directed by Kyle Lindfors
Death in the circus brings a failed, spiraling artist ever so closer to his grave. Fueled by nicotine, corn dogs, and motherly support, Bumpy provides a unique perspective of what it means to be an American.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I thought it an interesting concept to revolve around a character with no redeeming qualities; Bumpy is the bottom of the barrel as far as humanity is concerned.

I also wanted to experiment with creating an original score; I worked with Eric Blomster (who played Bumpy the Clown) as my composer. The score went through many different iterations, but we ultimately settled on a more minimalist score in the end. We also attempted to progress the intensity of the soundtrack throughout the film; early on it consists of distant abstract sounds, and by the end it is meant to be a cacophony of sounds
inspired by scores to films such as Eraserhead (composed by Alan Splet / David Lynch) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (composed by Tobe Hooper / Wayne Bell).

After attending theatrical screenings of Eraserhead / Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I appreciated the scores in that they held the audience in consistent terror and discomfort. Eric and I tried to replicate that with Bumpy; and I would personally love to expand upon it in future projects.
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2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

I started working on the first Bumpy draft in early October; the shooting schedule began in early November. The final cut of Bumpy was released on March 10th. In total, Bumpy took about five months to fully complete, four of which went to post production.

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

A bumpy ride.

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

The shooting schedule was pretty hectic; crew morale can be difficult to maintain when walking along the side of the highway with Bumpy the Clown all day. With all the moving parts that go into a production, the hardest part was to keep tabs on every aspect to make sure everything was going smoothly.

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

My brain filled with a fair amount of dopamine; it feels gratifying to hear folks talk so kindly about a project that I put so much effort and time into.

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

I’ve been making films since I was a young lad; my earliest gems date back to early middle school.

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

As a kid I watched a lot of horror movies (as one does); a lot of John Carpenter films and the like. I sure have watched The Thing (1982) quite a few times. Though I’ve really been racking up the views on films recently such as Nosferatu (1922) and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920).

With these being silent films, I find that having them on in the background
as I write provides a great amount of creative inspiration through visuals alone.

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’ve just recently begun submitting to festivals; I’ve had a great time so far! The goal in the end is to get my film to the biggest audience possible; so what I look for with every festival is how they will work to benefit me in that way.

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

My experience on FilmFreeway has been great thus far!

10. What is your favorite meal?

Pad Thai is pretty good.

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

I’ve just penned a new gothic horror screenplay; I’ve tried to set it apart from Bumpy in that there is minimal dialogue, and it will instead rely mainly on visual storytelling. I’ve great anticipation for this film’s set design; my producer and I have spent a lot of time gathering props
and such for this upcoming film. The hope is for this film to be another take on horror, however completely different from that of ‘Bumpy the Clown’. Filming is slated to begin this summer, so only time shall tell.