ROOMMATES, 9min., USA
Directed by J Brooke, Beatrice Alda
After completing lengthy prison terms (for murder and arson, respectively), two women forge a strong bond within a nursing home catering to the formerly incarcerated. Creating a positive present tense in the wake of complicated pasts, these survivors cling to simplicity, routine, and each other.

Get to know the filmmakers:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I (Beatrice) have a strong interest in prison reform. I had read a local CT article about this nursing home that serves the formerly incarcerated - and they are the only ones in the country doing so- filling an enormous whole in the realm of post-incarceration issues.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
It took 7 months.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Post-traumatic, hopeful

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
It was a challenging balance to strike between guarding our subjects' privacy, and letting the audience in on the fact that these women had served time for serious crimes.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
We were so delighted! What we garnered from the feedback was the audience members "getting" the nuances of the film, including a surprise moment of laughter in the film.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
I ( Beatrice) came from the world of acting and wanted to have more control of the storytelling process so I went to film school to learn the craft from behind the camera. J is a writer at their core, so fundamentally a storyteller... they evolved into filmmaking from a prior career in advertising.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
We think your unique aspect of offering audience feedback is exceptional. In the end, it's all about what the audience takes away from seeing the film, so you achieved a lot with that element!

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
Filmfreeway makes it all doable ( we did submissions before Filmfreeway existed and wow, what a drag that was!)

10. What is your favorite meal?
We like pasta for breakfast, pancakes for dinner, and Neapolitan pizza pretty much any time.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
We are researching other aspects of post-incarceration that women face and hope to have this short film be a part of a larger film on that topic. We also have a couple of narrative scripts that are being shopped around.
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