A Case Study
Narrative | Dramatic Features
Film Name: SHE
Genre: Drama
Length of Film: 10:34
Date: 2021
Director: Josh Hodgins
Producer: David Thomas Jenkins, Layla Steinwald, Josh Hodgins
Writer: David Thomas Jenkins
Editor: Andres Ramirez
Composer: Andres Ramirez
Cinematographer: Chris Bond
Production Company: DJENX Productions
Budget: $5000 USD
Shooting Format: Shot Digitally on Red
Screening Format: 4:3
Awards:
– Independent Shorts Awards – Best Drama Short, Best Original Story, Best Acting Duo
– Venice Shorts – Semi-Finalist, INDIE SHORT FEST – Nominee
– Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival – Honorable Mention
Website: www.facebook.com/SheShortFilmShe
indieactivity: What is your film about?
David Jenkins (DTJ): SHE is about how individuals handle grief and love differently. The story was crafted after some personal events and a lot of back and forth between the two of us.
Watch the trailer for SHE written and produced by David Thomas Jenkins
Tell us about the festival run, marketing, and sales?
David Jenkins (DTJ): Since this was our first project together we decided to do the social marketing and PR on our own. We had a mentor, Paul Kampf, who has gone through the festival process many times who gave us plenty of guidance. We did our festival run during the pandemic which was a little disappointing as everything was online and we were looking forward to attending festivals and seeing lots of other great work in person. That said, we were finalists in several different festivals, honorable mention in another, and won three awards at the Independent Shorts Awards Festival – Best Drama Short, Best Original Story, and Best Acting Duo.
Give the full Official Synopsis for your film?
David Jenkins (DTJ): At its core, SHE is about loss and love. The deep kind of loss that forever changes you to the point you question if you can love again. The kind of loss that sends one on the impossible journey of trying to get back to who you used to be. It doesn’t matter how much you try or wish for it to be what it was – it never will. Do you take your path of grief and healing even if it means leaving behind who you used to be and who you used to love?
Development & Financing?
David Jenkins (DTJ): As I wrote the story and then as I revised the story with Layla we really tried to grind it down to its basest elements. I was going through a hard time personally as were some other friends of mine and I took all of those emotions and tried to find the root of grief and loss and ultimately trying to craft it around what I knew to be mine and Layla’s strong points as performers. We ultimately decided to self-finance the project as we wanted to learn the process on our own from start to finish.
Production?
David Jenkins (DTJ): During the writing process we really tried to keep what we had available to us in mind so that we could use the budget we had to really increase the production value. When we got into pre-production we luckily had a great group of people we knew that had cameras, lights, and grip equipment and were looking to dig into some new material. We got a lot of equipment for free and got to use a friend’s house to film everything in one location. We did get a lot of favors on film equipment but we knew from the beginning we had to pay everyone at least their minimum day rates and it was super important to us in terms of the budget that while we couldn’t pay anyone what they were worth, that they at least got their base rate. No one with a resume should be working for free. When we got into the post I put together a solid string through and then passed it on to our editor Andres Ramirez for the final edit. This was another element we had saved some money for. We knew how important it was going to be to have someone really talented onboard able to dial up the tension and pacing of the film. Luckily we had a great sound guy as well and didn’t have much to cover with ADR.
Festival Preparation & Strategy?
DTJ: This was our first experience navigating the festival circuit on our own and our strategy was to target festivals we thought we had a shot of getting into and winning and to pick a handful we really wanted to get into but were probably a long shot. As newcomers to the festival circuit, we did not realize how quickly submissions add up. PLAN AND BUDGET FOR THIS!!!
The Release?
DTJ: We decided to release the project on our own so as many people can see it as possible. This is our “calling card”, our first project to showcase as we prepare for more in the future.
Advice from the Filmmaker?
DTJ: Do all of your prep. Over prep. Then do more prep. It matters less about your budget and more about your time. You will run out of time. Have a plan for when things go wrong, or you can’t get the shot you want. Chasing the sunset light? Does the actor have another engagement? The drone can’t launch because you’re in restricted airspace? All of these things will happen. Pay your cast and crew. Have good coffee. SAVE MONEY FOR A GOOD EDITOR! As much as you think you know how your project should look – It was invaluable to step away and let someone who is outside making the cuts. Lastly, stop trying to make it perfect. Let the project just find the point where it is done and let it out into the world. Nothing will ever be perfect.
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