THREE AM, 22min., Canada
Directed by Jeff Wolverton
Sometimes when you pray, it isn't God who answers.

http://threeamfilm.com/
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Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I'm always fascinated with the motivations of the bad guys, as their actions usually set things in motion. Nobody really "wants to be evil" or "wants to take over the world" and in real life? All of history's REALLY bad bad guys thought they were the hero of the story.

So I wanted to find a way to investigate the motivations of the ultimate bad guy. In reading the various mythologies of the devil, was struck by how they all agreed on some basics: that the Devil was God's son, he was born in Heaven as one of the first archangels God created and was for a while the best of all the archangels. Originally named "Samael" he became so good at bringing God's light out into the universe that he was renamed the "light bringer", or 'Lucifer' in ancient latin. He then gets cast out for the sin of Pride, for thinking he should be more than just God's right hand man, but should be God's equal, maybe even take over when the old man retires (the mythologies differ here a bit; in some he leads a war in Heaven against God, in other he's just cast out.)

So I had this idea that if archangels bask in the love of God, for an archangel to suddenly lose that and not be able to feel God's lover anymore must have driven Lucifer nuts. Then you've got this character that just wants the love of his Father and to go back home where he grew up, something we can all identify with. (Then we can literally have "Sympathy for the Devil", which I kind of reference in the short; The Man in the Hat says "how about some sympathy, like the song? You know nobody's rooting for ME to win." Wanted to use the song over the credits but I can't afford to pay the Rolling Stones.)

And for Lucifer to later God create humankind hear things like "For God so loved mankind that He gave his one and only Son"? I figure that must have REALLY driven him nuts ("...They break His commandments on a daily basis yet still get His love? And "one and only" son? WTF? My & my fellow archangels don't even count?")

But then I figure Lucifer hatches a plan: if he can show God that his beloved humanity is actually WORSE than Lucifer? That they will - by their own choices - make the truly unholy choice? In Lucifer's twisted logic that means if God still loves humanity (once proved worse than Lucifer) then God have to admit He was wrong and love Lucifer again, invite him back home. Every time that doesn't happen Lucifer gets angry but figures if he keeps upping the game, next time it'll work.

So In "Three AM" we see the end of a long series of events where the real goal is revealed: to turn a pious servant of God into a serial killer. To show God that even the best, a lifelong followers of His commandments will break the biggest one of all. And all by humanity's own choices. (Note that Lucifer himself never breaks any commandments, he doesn't lie/cheat/steal/kill. Nor does he force anyone; they always have the choice to simply do nothing.) In Lucifer's mind, this will eventually pay off and God will change his mind.

And to keep with the mythologies, the only sin Lucifer is ever guilty of is still Pride; he's very proud of his manipulations and keeps trying to talk about them. ("Wanna hear how I got it? You see, there was this..." -- then gets cut off or punched.)

Then I wanted to reveal this all in a fun way without ever needing to explicitly say it. (We never actually say ''satan", "devil", "lucifer", "heaven", or even "god" or "hell" except in off hand ways.) As a writer I liked the restriction of that.

I also imagined that Lucifer is still an angel, despite being a fallen one, that he's still bound by all of God's law and commandments. It's just who he is, how he was created. (Kind of like how we are all bound by the laws of physics, we don't get to choose which one's we follow. But we DO get to chose which of God's laws we follow, or we can follow none at all. I figure for angels that is flipped; they aren't bound by physical laws but are by God's laws.)

Would love to make a feature film follow up to this where the stakes are raised even higher.

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

About 3 months.

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

"Bad guy".

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

Locations. We got rousted twice from the initial spot of the first scene (fortunately, this led us to a much better spot for the Man in the Hat scenes!)

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

Fantastic! First time I've seen an in person audience reaction! Also they were quite complimentary! (Ego-wise, I couldn't help but get a happy jolt when one of them singled out the acting work on my character in particular. I loved playing the Man in the Hat.)

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

About age 10.

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

"Jaws". Maybe 12 times.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

A local viewing in Toronto!

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

It's been great. Easy to keep track of what festivals you got into and how it went!

10. What is your favorite meal?

Sushi.

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

Making another short with my girlfriend (Willow Edwards, co-producer and actor playing Katie in "Three AM") that we will shoot soon. A completely different story and a smaller, more contained location set.