MY ROOMMATE, DEATH, 7min,. Canada, Comedy
Directed by Becca Isaias
Over 200 years after making a bet for Margaret’s soul, Death is still losing every game to her, which has resulted in them getting demoted from collecting human souls- they want their old position back, but they have also developed a soft spot for Margaret.

Get to know producer Emma M. Cooke:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

We wanted to make a fun, silly film that had at its heart a story about friendship. We were motivated because we wanted to have fun, and we wanted everyone to laugh and be able to take a break from the real world with a little bit of fun. We thought mockumentaries are a currently popular genre of comedy and we wanted to put a little bit of a different spin on it- taking a character, or figure, so widely known and recognized as Death, and turn it on its head. By making it a comedy centered on a quirky friendship rather than a horror focused on Death reaping souls, we thought it would provide a little extra punch to the finished product.

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

From start to finish, it probably only took 3-4 months. Once we had the concept and the story locked down, it was a very intense pre-production period to get it all done, followed by 2 days of shooting, and then spending a bit more time on post to make sure we had the timing down. That was our biggest focus- making sure the finished product was polished and making sure everything would land with our audience.

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

Heartwarming and silly.

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

The discussions around the production design for this film were pretty extensive right from the beginning. Both of our characters being immortal meant that we had to have a real conversation about what elements from throughout history would be prevalent in their home. We had some fun with this by adding references into the script as well, but settling on costumes, and the general architecture and design of the house took a while. Our Production Designer, Marcos G. Avendaño, basically collected a bunch of props and items that looked quirky or interesting, and tried to find a place for all of it on set. It worked out in our favor that we wanted the set to have a very cluttered and all-over-the-place feel.

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

It’s always awesome to be able to finally see the reactions to something that you’ve worked so hard on. There is always an element to it that is very nerve-wracking, but I try to remind myself that whether it's a good or bad reaction- that’s entirely the point of why we made the art in the first place, so that people can bring their different perspectives to the project. Obviously, especially with a comedy- it’s great to have positive feedback. I find it much harder to make comedies than dramas or thrillers, for example, because you have to make sure that the jokes are funny, the different bits are landing, etc.

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

Growing up, I was always telling stories, making things up, playing pretend, and I find it an extreme privilege to be able to say that I am able to still do that, and that I’ve made it my job. I really enjoy being able to support other people and tell their stories as well, and with film being such a close and collaborative community, the choice to go into filmmaking seemed very natural.

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

I have probably watched Back to the Future more times than I can count. You can’t go wrong with a classic.

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

The best thing is the open communication and transparency. So often when submitting to films you get radio silence, and then if the film is accepted it can sometimes be challenging to get information. I’ve really enjoyed my experience with FEEDBACK because I do know what’s going on and the transparency is great.

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

Filmfreeway is great because it makes things so quick and easy. The festival circuit work is always going on in the background, so being able to submit the film to festivals at the click of a button is great. It’s super user-friendly, and I haven’t had any issues with it at all.

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

I always try to have something going on at all times, some project happening or something to look forward to. Currently I’m working on a short horror called “Devil By My Side” with a few close friends of mine. We’re in the middle of pre-production right now, so we’re just gearing up for the exciting stuff. It centers on a tense mother-daughter relationship and some universal struggles that women face, so it's going to be a very powerful project that will hopefully reach a lot of people.