COOP, 19min., USA
Directed by Moriah Doepken
After sustaining a bad injury, a stubborn retired sheriff must learn to talk with his estranged son as they build a fence together, or risk losing the relationship.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I love Western films and one day had the idea of "What happens to the sheriff of the town after he's retired and the town no longer needs him?" And working with the brilliant writer Jeffrey Hein, we expanded this idea into what you see now. We both loved the idea of a man stuck in the past and whose toxic masculinity could be the basis of a lot of problems for him in a more modern world.

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

It took a year and a few months from absolute start to finish. There was a lot of brainstorming and drafts with the writer, Jeffrey Hein, before we got to set. Since it was my graduate thesis, there was a timeline given to us by our school that we followed for it.

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

Sad Cowboy.

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

I think it's a tie between trying to "direct" chickens and finding the ideal location in California that could be convincing enough to be Texas that ALSO has a chicken coop we could use.

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

I loved seeing people take all sorts of interpretations away with them after watching it, because what x, y, and z may represent to me comes across totally differently for each viewer, which is so cool. And I want there to be discourse on if the characters made the right choice or what the coop itself represents!

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

I realized in high school, when one of my friends and I would find every excuse to make a video for class assignments. That led to us starting to make short films on our own, and that's when it really kicked off and I started pursuing it.

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

Judging by how much of the film I can quote as I watch it, I'd have to say The Princess Bride.

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 really focusing on the networking aspect to meet other directors, producers, directors of photography, writers, etc. that might just be your next partner in a project.

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

It's been a great way to see all the festivals out there, so I'd say pretty good!

10. What is your favorite meal?

Pad Thai!

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

I'm currently working on a short film that I'd like to shoot sometime this year, as well as a full length feature in the works that I'll hopefully get to sometime soon!