FIELD DAY, 22min., USA
Directed by Kevin Hart
Tom is a lonely widower who awakens one day...

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
Several things motivated me. First, while driving across the country and loving the fields and pastures on either side of me. I was constantly wishing I could stop and walk in them – but I couldn’t because I had to get to Michigan to see my family. I was struck with the idea of how we live in lines and spaces. So, I wanted my character to finally get off the line and walk in the spaces he had always day-dreamed about. Also, I liked the idea of a loop-structure, which wound up taking the shape of a purgatorial cycle.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you
to make this film?
We made Filed Day in 10 shooting dates over the course of three months.

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

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Writing a workable draft! It started with a lot of characters and locations. I worked hard to simplify it – maybe too simple! I liked paring the dialogue down to almost nothing. In a way, the short film is the first act of a longer film.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking
about your film in the feedback video?
We sooooo appreciated the thoughts and understanding the folks had of the movie. It’s a bit of a vibe- piece, meaning that it doesn’t necessarily follow a traditional format.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
I realized I wanted to make films back in the 80’s when I saw Jim Jarmusch’s Down by Law and David Lynch’s Blue Velvet.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Hard to tell! If I love a film, I will watch it many (many times! Just ask my girlfriend. But I would have to say Being John Malkovich & The Wizard of Oz.

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 mean this: you guys are the best because you have a website dedicated to our little movies. I wish other festivals would do that!

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your
experiences been working on the festival platform site?
FIlmFreeway is great. Folks like us need FilmFreeway or our efforts got to waste.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Anything Italian or seafood – Shrimp Linguine, I guess!

11. What is next for you? A new film?
I just completed a draft of a short called The Traveling Salesman Problem – it’s a black and white silent film – Buster Keaton meets Franz Kafka.