TAKEAWAY, 2min., USA
Directed by Joe McGowan
A couple can't decide what takeaway they want for dinner.

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I wrote this sketch as part of an assignment for a comedy writing course I was doing in my spare time. We were learning about list sketches and creating a fast paced back and fourth conversation between two characters. I chose the theme of a couple struggling to decide what food to order because I’ve been there so many times with friends, family and partners.

I felt it could be a really fun sketch that could resonate with a lot of people. It served as a brilliant filmmaking exercise to create that snappy situation between two characters and definitely fills a hole that my portfolio once had.

I’m always looking to hone my craft and this sketch was a fantastic opportunity to do just that alongside an incredibly talented cast and crew.

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

A little over a year. I wrote the original script in January 2022 for my writing course and continued to tinker with it over the next year. It was filmed at the end of January 2023 and I finished the edit in mid February.

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

Scarily relatable.

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

Finding the flow in post production. This was made on a very tight budget so I had Max the DOP with one camera for the whole sketch. It would have been an absolute dream to have two cameras cross shooting, but I simply didn’t have the money to do so. We shot Chloe and Julian’s coverage separately and I stitched the conversation together. They had great chemistry on the day so having them say their lines off camera during the others coverage really helped bring that conversation to life in editing.

I went through a few edits trimming one of two frames across the whole back and forth to make sure it was as natural as possible whilst also keeping the film snappy and engaging.

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

I was over the moon that the film hit home with everyone that gave feedback. Hearing how the script was a big highlight really meant alot to me as I did go through five iterations of the script. My little nod towards Edgar Wright films with the food prepping sequence is a style I have always loved experimenting with and had a smile on my face when that was referenced at the end.

Overall the feedback has really motivated me to crack on with my next comedy project.

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

When I was studying for my A Levels (between high school and University in the UK) I enrolled in a Media Production course. It was my first time ever stepping into this world and it sounded much more fun that the traditional subjects I wasn’t a fan of in high school. Through that course I fell in love with making films pretty instantly and haven’t looked back since.

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

Me and my brother would watch Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and South Park The Movie every weekend for almost two years whilst playing Monopoly and other board games. Outside of those two I’d probably say Back to the Future.

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

I think this festival has gone above and beyond with providing film feedback and all the avenues of getting my work out there so I don’t have any comments on improvements. Well done for putting on an amazing experience for filmmakers.

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

Was a very easy and hassle free experience.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Ramen.

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

I actually directed another sketch on the same day with the same cast called ‘Couple Noises’ which I’ve finished post production on and getting it out on the festival circuit. You can watch that sketch here:

https://vimeo.com/804048659/a934377e5c

Recently I directed a comedy show for a growing Youtube channel and worked on a comedy commercial that’s set to go live in the next week or so. I’ve been writing a few more comedy sketches and have another short I’m slowly developing. I’ve also had an outline for a sitcom that I want to flesh out so there’s lots in the pipeline.