IN HOT WATER, 25min,. USA
Directed by Christie Nicholls Nittrouer, Ed Ballart
IN HOT WATER is a sketch comedy short starring Christie Nicholls as an 85-year-old Jane Fonda hosting a talk show in a hot tub. The project has won “Best Sketch Comedy Film” (Culver City Film Festival) and “Best Actress” (Sweden International Film Festival).

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I started doing an impression of Jane Fonda on stage when I was too depressed to perform stand-up as myself. She was like my "Green Goblin" (Spiderman). After I experienced postpartum depression during the pandemic, I wanted to share a bit of what helped me get through that horrible time - which was embodying this Jane Fonda alterego. I fantasized about Jane interviewing the only people I saw during the pandemic (a cop/metermaid and an exterminator). During the quarantine with a newborn, I did all those terrible at-home workouts, and stared at an unused wedding gift -- the meat slicer -- so I created a parody workout video. Finally, the sex slam poetry was just plain fun (there is a bigger point in there, but I let people chew on it themselves).

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
Writing and casting and pre-production research took about 4 months. Our shoot took place over two days, with a 4 hour pickup (we only used about 90 seconds of the footage). Postproduction took about a year -- this included getting a graphic designer and selecting music, score, and painfully cutting some of the even weirder beats and jokes.

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

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Post-production and the accompanying self-doubt. Will people understand Jane and her/our humor?

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I had my three-year-old kid sitting next to me because I was so nervous. She (my three-year-old) is very calm and cool. I found myself wanting to ask the audience more questions, maybe have a cup of tea with them.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
I was seven and my grandfather bought (I hope) a video camera off of an in-law and somehow it ended up in my house. The idea that I could tell a story, or 'bottle' a story, that would live on, and grow, and change -- oooooo eeeee, that blew my mind then and still blows it (my mind). I trust a lens - I grew up feeling more comfortable when I knew a camera was documenting, preserving, serving as a witness.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Growing up my favorite film was DUMBO. I've already psychoanalyzed why/how that is a symbolic choice (FWIW, I also married Timothy Mouse). However, I think I've seen SIDEWAYS more times than any other -- by choice. Not by choice, I'd say I've seen Christmas Vacation the most...my extended family is obsessed with that movie.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
Allow filmmakers to leave questions or prompts for the audience and have them cite a specific beat/moment/scene/quote they found compelling.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
There isn't as much transparency on some of the 'big boy' film festivals. It doesn't seem fair that a festival like Sundance should even accept submissions, when we know the films they program are not so much independent as they are...uh...dependent (big donors, budgets, studio connections, etc.).

10. What is your favorite meal?
Best transition ever. I love seafood. Give me some fresh oysters, some steamed clams, some chowder, halibut, squid, oh even those friendly little octopus -- I'll eat 'em all up. I also ADORE bread. Give me a loaf of hot bread and I'll take the whole thing down.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
I created a YouTube channel for all things 'weird' and 'heart.' If you like Jane Fonda, there are a ton of Jane Fonda prank calls (among other Jane content and different characters). The channel is called "MoosePig Entertainment." It's the name of my production company - based on the nickname for my first love, Magnum (dog/"Moose") and Bart (guinea pig). Magnum = Moose, and Bart = Pig. The channel will host all my content -- no-holds-barred. And yes, I also wrote a new short film called DAD. See MoosePig Entertainment first!