ENTER YOUR NAME, 3min., USA
Directed by Aubrey Scott
Enter Your Name is a surreal fantasy film that serves as an allegory to the experiences of a pre-transition trans person, with horror elements to allude to the complex emotions and inner turmoil that one can go through.

https://enteryournamenull.wixsite.com/enteryourname
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Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

"Enter Your Name" is my attempt at using subtle environmental storytelling and surreal fantasy elements to explain the complex feelings a pre-transition trans person goes through. As a trans woman, I wanted to show a story that explains more to do with those feelings, pre-transition rather than post. What little media there is that portrays trans people shows it as this watered down element of the character, just an attribute. I wanted to tell a trans story, that is to say, about the people who struggle to understand and accept it about themself. Being a trans woman from a conservative family in Mississippi, this is something that I am deeply passionate in and need to tell and share. The title "Enter Your Name" is in reference to the character naming screen at the beginning of most role-playing games, as that is a lot of young trans peoples first experience with confronting the complex feelings of misunderstood gender dysphoria.

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

This was my capstone film for SCAD, and the way that scad handles the process is that for the last year of your major, you work with a small team of people on one project that is selected by a voting system, so I actually started doing pitch art for my film a year prior- so all in all ENTER YOUR NAME was about a year of just me drawing concept art In my spare time, and then a year in production during my final year at SCAD alongside my wonderful team.

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

Trans Awakening

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

The biggest obstacle I would say would be the initial pitching phase I had to do, for me to pitch this film to SCAD I had to out myself as a trans woman, and had to be known as "the trans student film" by my peers- this has its pros and cons, it really shows the people who care. However, I still haven't shown my family this film. I don't know if they would get it, but my safety being at risk makes it difficult to want to show them.

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

All of you said such kind kind words- it made me so happy to see even with the more subtle storytelling I did, a lot of you immediately got what it was about- but regardless I left it up for interpretation for a reason, and I loved seeing what peoples interpretations were. So my initial reaction I would say is just a surreal joy that someone I've never met could digest and appreciate something I put so much effort into.

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

This is a really difficult question! I would say that there's multiple "hardening of the steel" moments in my life that made me want to make films more and more during different moments in my life- but if I had to pick the "first" moment It might be when I was 6 years old and I watched the Digimon movie on VHS, and for those that haven't seen it, it's from the same people as Summer Wars. That movie changed my brain chemistry forever, haha. It's certainly memorable enough for me to remember being 6 and wanting to be an animator.

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

I would Probably say "Mind Game" from Masaaki Yuasa. The reason being that it was my first experience with a really loose, experimental and fun way of animating and pull off a really compelling story- and that not enough people have seen it, I've shown so many friends that movie because I just want to see more animated movies like that.

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 more of exactly this kind of thing. I want to talk with people, I want to have long- extended conversations- at the core of why I wanna do this is to communicate, and build relationships with more people like me, (and people who don't know they are like me). Also unfortunately, being from a trans woman from Mississippi, I need all the networking I can get. Survival is my priority right now.

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

Well honestly, this is my first time submitting to film festivals, so I don't exactly have a frame of reference, but I appreciate you guys so much for taking the time to see my film and acknowledge it the way you have.

10. What is your favorite meal?

If I had to pick my favorite, it would be stew and cornbread. Probably a good cream of mushroom stew, and some nice, buttery, cast iron skillet browned cornbread- it's cozy and reminds me of my childhood in Mississippi.

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

What's next for me as a just graduating student is applying for jobs and trying my best to just keep my head above water, but I will always be making more films, I can't help myself. I currently really want to make a short film about the nature of eating and cooking, and how it's such a simple, therapeutic activity. But I got a bunch more ideas that keep me distracted too, haha.