Six shorts set to shine in latest edition of Crazy 8's film challenge
Credit to Author: Dana Gee| Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2020 19:00:18 +0000
Crazy8s Gala
When: Feb. 22, 6 p.m.
Where: The Centre in Vancouver
Tickets and info:crazy8s.film
Longtime actor Ali Liebert has directed two feature-length TV films but it’s her short film debut at this year’s Crazy8s Gala that has the Duncan native excited.
“The thing that’s really cool is I’ve never seen a film of mine on a big screen. They’ve just been for TV,” said Liebert referring to the films Amish Abduction and a yet to be released Christmas feature she shot. “So this is really special for me and, you know, my family’s coming over from Vancouver Island and they’ve never seen anything I’ve done on a big screen either.”
Liebert ‘s 13 minute film The Quieting is one of six selected for this the 21st edition of the Crazy8s eight-day filmmaking event. The six films, chosen from 196 applicants, will be screened on Feb. 22 at The Centre in Vancouver.
The other five films are: Itsy Bitsy Spider from director Brodi-Jo Scalise; Mr. James is Dead directed by Daniel Irving and Josh Aries; Sol directed by Andy Alvarez; The Substitute from Malibu Taetz and This is a Period Piece from Bruna Arbex.
Of the close to 200 teams that submitted a short video pitch 40 were then chosen to pitch in person to a jury of film industry professionals. After that 12 teams advanced to the script stage where they went through story editing sessions with professional story editors. From there the scripts were debated and championed by the final jury before the six finalists were announced at an event in early January.
“There is really nothing like Crazy8s. Our entire local film and television industry rallies around the final six films and elevates the production possibilities,” said Erin Mussolum co-executive director/executive producer of the Crazy8s Film Society. “Crazy8s Film Society is a talent incubator. We want to give filmmakers as much experience as possible working with great gear houses, having them align with industry professionals, providing them union actors, and introducing them to the guilds and industry that are the backbone of our local industry. What can be done in just eight days is really astounding!”
The result are films that lean heavily into the themes of “climate change, self identity, psychological stresses and family dynamics,” according to Mussolum.
Writer/director Ali Liebert and Sara Canning at work on the new film The Quieting.
Liebert’s The Quieting, which she also wrote, fits firmly into the self-identify column as it is based on her own story of coming out in her thirties.
In what Liebert calls a “little time capsule of one night,” the film has the 33-year-old newly queer Maggie (Sara Canning) go down a memory lane on the eve of an important date and confront her teenage self (Julia Stone).
“I haven’t seen a lot of stories about people coming out sort of quote unquote later and actually it still feels like a turning point in my life,” said Liebert, 39, who came out five years ago.
She hopes that her efforts will resonate with others who are coming out or thinking about doing so.
“I hope that it does inspire people to be who they are and come out at any age. It’s not saying that you are not going to have to quiet those voices whether it is the fear of what other people are going to think or just your own internalized homophobia, or fear of judgment, but I think the movie ultimately, I hope, will be really uplifting,” said Liebert, just hours after putting the final lock on the film.
Liebert, a Canadian Screen Award winning actor for her role in the Global series Bomb Girls, has plans on adding a regular directing career to her already busy acting life.
“Yeah, eventually I’d like to be a good enough director that I could direct or co direct myself in something, but I’m not there yet. “Yeah, I’m just trying to figure out how to like, Bradley Cooper it,” said Liebert with a laugh referring to the Star is Born star and director.
It’s worth noting that Liebert is in talks about a project that fits the above “Bradley Cooper,” bill.
In the meantime Liebert is recovering from the crazy Crazy8s schedule and looking forward to a night with colleagues and family at the gala.
“I think even though the schedule is really crazy, I think it’s pretty incredible that I will have like a completed short film in such a short amount of time. I think that this has helped me, not spend the next six months sort of like meandering,” said Liebert, referring to being left to her own timeline. “I’m a person that does better with deadlines, definitely.”