SEDUCTIVE DEVOTION, 7min,. USA
Directed by Destin Gerek
In a society where narratives of male perpetrators and harm inflicted upon women prevail, "Seductive Devotion" emerges as a powerful experimental short film presenting an inspiring alternative. Through captivating imagery and a stirring poetic voiceover, the film portrays a positive model of how a man can profoundly and healingly show up for a woman. It challenges societal norms and redefines love, intimacy, and relationships, highlighting the transformative energy between souls. "Seductive Devotion" celebrates vulnerability, courage, empathy, strength, receptivity, and grace, igniting a yearning for the level of committed desire depicted on screen. In a time marked by mistrust and division, this visually arresting and emotionally resonant film offers a refreshing perspective on the healing power of love and understanding, fostering positive change in our perception and engagement in intimate relationships.

http://seductivedevotion.com/
https://instagram.com/destingerek

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?
It seems that too many people have forgotten how to love. The divide between men and women has become so stark. The constant blame, shame, and negative assumptions about each other seem so prevalent. I am a lover of love. I am a lover of women. I am a lover of the feminine: this mysterious and indescribable energy, that I have trained myself over the years to become very attuned to. A force that seems largely misunderstood by our culture. Yet, just as much, notions of masculinity have become so distorted. I wanted to showcase a dynamic between a man and a woman that exemplifies devotional love - to show what it can mean and look like for a man to show up for, and to uplift, a woman with all that he has. And to do so in a way that not only doesn't weaken him, but through which he finds a deeper power that exists within himself.

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

This is so hard to answer. In one sense, it took about a year and a half. In another, it took fifteen years. I suppose it depends on where we mark the start. It's been a decade and a half since I first envisioned what I wanted to create. But it took me this long to cultivate myself into being the man who could actualize it - both in developing the technical skills, and in aligning myself spiritually to be able to truly see and embody what is possible with love.

This film does not present two actors playing a part. It shows my wife and I tapping into the essence of our connection - an energy and dynamic that we've spent nearly a decade cultivating, now captured on film with a narrative built around it. It was very important to me to capture something real, versus simply performing an idea. In that sense, the line between reality and fantasy is blurred in this short film.

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

Seductive devotion.

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

I produced this film in a very organic, feminine manner. I did not start with a clear idea, script, or storyboard - instead, I simply followed creative impulses and trusted in the unfolding mystery. We shot the waterfall scenes in Thailand without knowing what the end product would be. We simply created the costumes, found locations, and played together tantrically in the ways that we most enjoy doing. Likewise with the indoor scenes shot the next day.

After filming, I was looking at this gorgeous footage trying to figure out the next step. I got the insight that it needed some sort of voiceover to tie it together. We flew to Bali, where tantric poetry started flowing out of me. I spent a couple weeks immersed, writing and rewriting. I realized it needed music too. At a party, I discovered musicians NRYN and Pao Pamaki - we recorded together phenomenally.

The footage and music were incredible, but I struggled to make it all cohere. I spent months reworking it to no avail.

Then documentary filmmaker Barbara Miller contacted me to feature in her upcoming film. A documentary team flying in from Europe was just the inspiration that I needed. I suddenly knew the solution to my project was to shoot more footage. I found cinematographer Thor Wixom, created a shot list, and we filmed in the desert dunes to contrast with the forest waterfall, all while the documentary team shot Behind the Scenes for their own film.

With the new footage, the editing process smoothed out tremendously. As perfectionists, Thor and I still worked slowly, but we are thrilled with the result.

In summary - the biggest obstacle in the creative process was not knowing what it was that I was creating until I was nearly done creating it!

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience feedback video?

It brought me to tears. The film seemed to be received exactly as I had hoped. My wife and I watched it together - it was the most emotional part of this festival experience, even more than the awards.

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

Being cast 15 years ago by avant-garde feminist artist Penny Slinger in a film trailer based on her Sexual Secrets book was formative. Serving as on-screen talent for this artistic genius, who explored divine feminine themes far ahead of her time, made a deep impact on me. Although the full film was never made, glimpsing her creative process firsthand inspired me for years, eventually motivating me to create my own films.

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

Pass. I'm not sure.

8. What other elements could festivals implement to satisfy you and further your filmmaking career?

You provided one of my best festival experiences. Adding a live screening I could attend would be great. I also don't love the word FEEDBACK in the festival title - it doesn't look very professional on Laurels. Otherwise, I'm very pleased!

9. You submitted via FilmFreeway. How's your experience been on that platform?

FilmFreeway makes the submission process much easier than individual applications!

10. What is your favorite meal?

My wife's authentic Japanese cooking - karaage, miso and rice with furikake.

11. What is next for you?

I will likely continue to lean more into the erotic, as I believe this is an area that we desperately need better models to inspire us with what is possible. I have a handful of film project ideas that I am developing, and it will depend on which I can finance. Self-funding was tough! With an award-winning short now, hopefully getting funded will be easier through crowdfunding or investors. If it were up to me, I'd make films nonstop!