Episode Transcript
Jennifer: When we talked to you last, you were in the, in the middle of kind of figuring out the whole festival landscape and distribution stuff. So I guess we want to hear a little bit about that, but just like congrats, your film is now out. It will be available in virtual cinemas and we loved the film. We were so excited to see it and so excited to see certain moments on screen that were just a thrill to witness. And so I guess just our first question is like, what's that, what was this whole process like, now that you're kind of at, you know, the last part of it and just kind of, yeah just wondering what your reflection is like at this point in time.
Jessie: Yeah, it's been a wild, insane journey. I think I'm, yeah, I don't, I think I will probably be processing this for a while. Yeah, having this happen also within like the context like globally and it's just pretty, you know, nuts. So I think the last time we talked, it must've was it in March?
Like, cause we were supposed to premiere at the Portland international film festival. The festival ended up getting canceled, but then. I continued submitting the film and reaching out to people. And we're very honored that we had our world premier at Deauville and I wish we could have gone. It would, it looked incredible.
And yeah, the fact that it was seen in cinemas there, and people went and actually saw the film. And I had a friend who happened to be in France because she has family there and her husband is from there. They actually went. And so she sent me photos and. Of the film in the theater. And she told me that there were these women who were talking about it over wine and bread and cheese like afterwards.
So it felt like, Oh, it's real, you know, people are experiencing it because I think it's felt really strange to have the film feel really dormant for so long. You know, it becomes alive once other people can imprint themselves and, and, you know, project their imaginations and see themselves. And through conversation.
So think now it's out today on VOD and, through select cinemas and through Oscilloscope, which we're so, I'm so grateful to be partnering with them. And that that's a dream come true. I mean, I think in my heart, I always was like, this an Oscilloscope film. Like I know it, I know it in my soul. Like that is where it belongs.
But yeah, they've distributed some, just my favorite films by some of my favorite filmmakers. yeah, summer 1993. And when he Lucy and and they've done such a beautiful job with all the films. So yeah, it's been. It's been kind of wild.
Larkin: Oh yeah. I forgot that it, it played in real cinemas in France. That is so wild to remember and think about now kind of looking back, so exciting. And we haven't really talked with anybody about the process of securing distribution. So we're wondering if you could walk us through that a little bit and what your experience was like, and you know, now working with Oscilloscope, what that's been like.
Jessie: Yeah. It's interesting. I think ordinarily, right? If you have a lot of resources and you have Uh, a sort of strategy from the very beginning, like bigger films will be able to secure distribution because of stars or because of, you know, name talent or you know, certain companies that they work with.
But this film was, is purely an independent film. You know, no money, no labs, no stars. There was no scaffolding. There was no resources. It was building it from literally nothing the ground up. So I think it's kind of a miracle one that it exists. And two that we were able to yes. Secure distribution with Faciliscope and really get it to this place where it can be shared on this larger scale.
So I think it was if there's so many steps, you know, and I'm like, there were so many emails, there were so many conversations. There was so much of me just sort of What is that poem like throwing out filament, filament, filament, just like throwing things out and hoping things catch and, and, you know, getting advice from people.
And, but I definitely you know, talking wit, the filmmakers of, of Clementine and who they shot in Portland and, and had a lot of, you know, local Portland, talent and crew, and they were really inspiring and, and really helpful in terms of helping me ask the right questions and, and find how to sort of navigate the distribution path and seeing that it's possible, you know, for a smaller film, same with St. Frances reaching out to those filmmakers. They're just so incredible and helpful. And the vanishing Angle team, Who, you know, distributed Thunder Road and they have The Beta Test that's coming out. And Jim Cummings and Ben Weisner, Matt Miller Natalie Metzker. I just, I think I just reached out to as many people as I could and asked as much advice as I could.
And then, yeah, it's kind of funny, I think with Oscilloscope specifically, there were, we did work with UTA as a, as a, as a sales rep for North America. But it's again, it's like, and they were wonderful, but it's also, you still always have to keep doing as much as you can. And I, um, yeah, I just felt in my heart that Oscilloscope was the place and kind of like dreamed about it and.
I tweeted, it's kind of silly to think about it, but yeah, I tweeted it them and, Aaron ended up getting in touch with me and seeing something about the film and asking about it. And we struck up a conversation and yeah, I think just their, their mission behind the films that they release and the films they support and the voices they support, it all just felt really aligned.
And I just feel really, yeah, lucky that it worked out. Cause it is a crazy time to, you know, releasing during a pandemic and independent film specifically. It can be very challenging. So it was great to find partners that were down to be really collaborative and like take the risk and, and, you know, kind of DIY/ MacGyver it and figure it out which is also so the indie film spirit.
Jennifer: Yeah. Wow. That sounds like a full circle moment. Cause that seems like to be the process of actually shooting and creating the film. So that's cool to hear. Yeah, again, we love the film and, and what really stuck out to us when we were discussing, it was just like the specificities of being a teenager that were on screen. And I feel like you know, those moments of kind of discovering your sexuality coming of age. And they just felt so real, which was really exciting. And we were curious, like, how did you you know, foster that on set? I know that the, the lead actress is your cousin, Jessica Barr, who was fantastic, but how did that all work now, now that we got to see the film.
Jessie: Yeah. It's it's, it's like, it all happened so quickly and all at once, I'm like, how did that work? I think it was a lot about the energy behind the making of the film becomes the film. So because this was so personal, but it was also a story, you know, that, that we were telling, there needed to be spaced and permission to play and explore, but it also is coming from a very grounded, authentic place.
And so it's important to me, me to invite, uh, An environment that fostered trust to really make sure everyone felt safe, everyone felt heard, and that people feel ownership and agency so that they are open to collaborating. So it's sort of like a delicate balance because I was always steering the ship and knew what I needed and what I wanted and, and and feeling like there's a design.
And yet also, because of the nature of. Indie filmmaking. And this story specifically, it was also being very alive and awake to what is happening and seeing what people's strengths are and playing to those strengths and seeing how I can set people up for, you know, as much success as possible. Like, you know, the handheld nature was something immediately that I knew I wanted.
I wanted to be evocative and visceral and immersive. But it also lends itself really well to when you have, you're getting into a location for the first time that day, and you haven't seen, and you need to be able to give the actors room to play and move so that they feel free and performance. So they, they don't have to like hit a Mark because the light is hitting, adjust this way.
And I need you to show this emotion on this line, you know, especially when you're working with younger actors, the first time. It was just really trying to find a way to integrate organically and naturally what they're already really doing beautifully and play to those strengths. But yeah, the, I mean, it kind of was like, everyone just needed to really be bold and be vulnerable and dive in.
And I think you just kind of have to foster that energy on set. And I think the people that were drawn to the film, all the collaborators came and with that same energy, you know, I think it's like, you kind of have to for a film like this, it just was like, it demanded it, you know? So it, it wasn't a question.
There had to be respect. There had to be vulnerability and we really just had to go for it.
Larkin: Wow. Well, it really was fun to watch all of that. So thank you. could you tell our listeners how, where they can watch your film, Sophie Jones?
Jessie: Yes. It's in select theaters and VOD, so iTunes, Amazon, all of that. But if you go to Oscilloscope's website, there's yeah, there's a link to. Sophie Jones movie, and it has all the theaters where you can buy a ticket to support the virtual theater. So we're also supporting independent film and independent cinemas. There's also a link through Oscilloscope that you can just, you know, watch it immediately.
Larkin: Great. Okay. Lightning round bonus questions. What is the last thing you watched?
Jessie: Bridgerton musical on Tik TOK.
Jennifer: And what was your favorite film of 2020?
Jessie: I really, I was so moved by Nomadland. I love Chloe Zhao's influences and also so inspired by Terrence Malick and the quality of that film really stuck with me really reminded me of my mom and a lot of ways that Francis McDormand character Something about like a woman's striking out on her own, you know, forging her own identity after feeling so tied to a person or a family or a story. Yeah. That it felt really soulful and really liked the movie, I think I needed to see. And I think a lot of us maybe you need to see and the natural worlds, the natural settings that she captured. I really yeah, loved that.
Larkin: Amazing.
Jennifer: And what are you looking forward to creatively in 2021?
Jessie: I'm looking forward to having some space to dream again. I think it's been so relentless and so like every fiber of my, of my being and soul has been needed to, to see this through. And so I'm looking forward to spending some time with family and loved ones and like remembering what it's like to be a partner again, and a human again, and having space to dream and, and space to, yeah, daydream a little bit.
Jennifer: Yeah, that feels very poetic and also very real. So I love that.
Larkin: Thanks so much for joining us again, Jesse.
Jessie: Thank you both. It was lovely to see you both again, chat again. Yeah.
