LOVE TRUMPS ALL? 31min,. USA
Directed by Jeff Schubert
From political differences around the 2020 presidential election, to views on the Covid-19 vaccine, fireworks fly in Charlie's relationships when strong opinions collide. Is Charlie destined to be alone? Or with the help of his therapist, will Love Trump All?

https://jeffschubert.wordpress.com/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I had to delay another film I was set to make due to Covid. So I wanted to make something else that had a smaller crew and would be easier to pull off during the pandemic. Seeing too many people on social media gleefully ending relationships with people they disagree with, gave me the idea for chapter 1 of the Love Trumps All?.

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

Originally I was just going to make chapter 1 - but the response to it was so positive it motivated me to make chapters 2 and 3 about a year after chapter 1. So all that together was probably two and a half to three years.

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

Love vs. Polarization!

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

The post process was slower than I hoped, but no major obstacles.

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

For me there are three things I hope for in a film like Love Trumps All? 1- That the audience gets it. 2- That they enjoy it. 3- They take something away from it.
It felt good that that seemed to be the case here! :) Thank you Los Angeles Comedy Festival audience!

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

I moved to Los Angeles to be an actor. Once things went digital and more affordable, as Troma President, Lloyd Kaufman said on my old web show Filmnut, "filmmaking has become more democratized", I was highly motivated to make films.

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

Growing up in New York City, my friends and I would see the same movie, in the theater, 2 or 3 times A DAY in consecutive weeks! Some of those movies, wow I must have seen them tons of times. Maybe the original trilogy of Star Wars. I had the, ahem, VHS tapes of those. And would watch to draw inspiration from the force.

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

Different festivals do different things - Seminars, parties, and networking opportunities. This video audience feedback thing is new to me. I like it. Maybe more festivals can experiment with that. Maybe have programmers talk about why they picked it or why it got an award.

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

I like FilmFreeway better than what it essentially replaced (Withoutabox) but you do have to be careful... Not all festivals are the same. It can get real easy to click away and apply to a lot of festivals that might not be what they say or charge way too much. Filmmakers need to click through to the festival website, see what films they have accepted in past years, how many films and so on. Unless you have an unlimited budget you want to craft a strategy as far as applying.

10. What is your favorite meal?

I'm on a vegan diet these days so it might sound to appetizing to others, but I have a combo of red lentils, quinoa, peas, corn, brussel sprouts, beets, almonds, cherrys, extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, avocado, chia seeds, a little pumpkin protein powder and cinnamon.

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

Yes, I'm in preproduction for a short film called - Speak To It - One man's conspiracy about the pharmaceutical industry is getting a little too much attention for the powers that be.