SETTLE THE SCORE, 7min,. USA
Directed by Jesse Womack
Roommates Sam and Jack play a risky game to settle a score.

https://www.facebook.com/jesse.womack.10
https://www.instagram.com/jessewoooooomack/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I always thought it would be a funny idea to make a short out of two people playing Risk, but instead of using the board, they use the parts of their house/apartment. It ended up turning more into WHY they were playing the game, which I think was the better choice.

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

I originally made this as a 3 minute sketch on Youtube back in 2018 and then I rewrote it to be a bit darker and longer to this current 7 minute short.

We shot this in one 6-hour shoot with a minimal crew. With post-production and the composer making the original score this was done within a few weeks.

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

Apartment Risk

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

Certain sequences my DP had to get in rather tight locations to physically shoot the shots.

Lighting in some of the darker locations was also the most time consuming and we had to fiddle with it a lot.

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

I was very pleased with just about everything the audience said. They seemed to mainly praise the writing/overall concept of the film, and most important, most of them said it was funny and/or made them laugh. That is the most important part of a comedy after all, the audience laughing at it.

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

I used to watch comedy sketches on YouTube growing up in the late 2000s/early 2010s, and many of those sketch groups are what inspired me to start my own stuff. I've collected my own equipment slowly throughout the years to the point where I've been able to make my own films without much dependence on others for their equipment now.

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

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and it's not even close.

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

Honestly, I've enjoyed this current format you all have. The feedback was positive, but also constructive in places, and the fact you interview the directors on a podcast that actually has a following is something I don't really see many places.

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

Generally favorable. There's a lot of sketchy looking fests on there, but you just have to weed through them.

10. What is your favorite meal?

I'm a big fan of breakfast food in general. Gimme the sausage, egg and cheese hashbrown bowl with gravy on top from Waffle House any day of the week.

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

Currently working on a few different things. The idea I'm probably going with next is a short film that's a mix of Horror comedy/creature feature with a superhero protagonist.