Tinsel & Tine's

5 QUESTION INTERVIEWS with

BLACKSTAR FILM FESTIVAL FILMMAKERS

The 7th Annual BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia gets underway shortly (August 2-4, 2018) for a fun highlight of the festival, I asked several of the filmmakers screening in the shorts programs to answer the same 5 Questions.  Please see their answers below:


CAL & V
Director Timothy Offor 
Possibly, Maybe Shorts ProgramSaturday, Aug. 4, 12:00 noon 
United States, 2017, 13 min.

(Philadelphia Premiere) Shot primarily in one take, this film depicts a moment in the lives of two former lovers. Cal Reese, a movie star, fresh off a career comeback, returns to the old neighborhood in order to reclaim his one true love, Vanessa. To his surprise, Vanessa resists his advances, protecting her heart from another abandonment. Cal persists as they stroll down memory lane, deflecting the dissenting opinions of old friends and concerned neighbors. When they can go no further, Vanessa must decide whether the depths of old wounds run deeper than the waters of forgiveness.
Click for Trailer

1. T&T: In a nutshell what was the main inspiration for your film?

Timothy Offor: The main inspiration for my film was watching my friends and even in my own experience as I transitioned from my late 20s into my early 30s navigate love and our relationships, specifically the ones that never seem to end.

2. T&T: Where do you really shine as a filmmaker? Please expand upon directing to include the aspect of the directing process where you know you are most on point?

Timothy Offor: I think I shine most at being able to deliver extraordinary emotions out of relatively ordinary circumstances. I was once told by a professor in undergrad that everyone is interesting. Therefore, when I see the ordinary things we go through in life, I look at it throw a cinematic lens and I am able to dramatize them and make them captivate you as you view. I believe this works because I relate to my work so much and I feel if I make it as it is relatable to me as I do to my cast and crew then that will translate to the viewers.

3. T&T: Give a quick shout out to your creative team and anyone who helped get your film from an idea to screening at BlackStar.

Timothy Offor: Big shout out to my entire cast and crew. Especially our lead producers Ian McClellan and Jheanelle Brown who were on the project long before and way after anyone else. I also want to thank professor USC Jed Dannenbaum who pulled me into his office and encouraged me to make this film with this style when I was at one of my lowest moments. USC Professor Richard Burton for mentoring me throughout the process. Also my aunts Mel, Jenny and Wendy who donated to us in order to make this film happen.

4. T&T: Does food play a part in your film? It can be something you like to eat on set, while editing, some great Craft Services, a scene involving food or a restaurant/bar/coffee shop.

Timothy Offor: Although no food was eaten on screen, the entire cast and crew enjoyed a Trinidadian inspired spread for lunch, catered by my Aunt Debbie. Over a year later I'm still getting requests from crew members for her food.

5. T&T: What does it mean to you to screen your film at the 7th Annual BlackStar Film Festival?

Timothy Offor: It's an honor and truly appreciated to be a part of the 7th annual Blackstar film festival. This film has played at many festivals and obviously I haven't been able to attend all but I knew I would make this one work. I have a black & brown love story, I don't think that is often seen on screen, at least not with the approach we took. Blackstar is the place that is giving filmmakers like myself the opportunity to showcase our work without bias and for that I am grateful.

RECURRENCE PLOT: THE FAMILY CIRCLE
Director Bryan Oliver Green
Future Frontier Shorts ProgramFriday, Aug. 3, 12:00 noon
United States, 2018, 14 min.

A crystal, memory-storing bracelet transports a young mother back to the day of her own mother’s traumatic death and challenges the notion that time flows in only one direction.
World Premiere.

1. T&T: In a nutshell what was the main inspiration for your film?

Bryan Oliver Green: "Recurrence Plot: The Family Circle" is a film adaptation of the first chapter of Rasheedah Phillip's self-published novel "Recurrence Plot And Other Time Travel Tales". So clearly, the main inspiration for my film would be Rasheedah Phillips and her work. It was an amazing experience to finally collaborate artistically with such a good friend. Essentially, "The Family Circle" is a story about trauma, breaking cycles of destruction, and the struggle of modern black womanhood. It acts as a prologue and sets up the personal history/background story of Khepri, who becomes the main character for the rest of the novel "Recurrence Plot".

2.T&T: Where do you really shine as a filmmaker? Please expand upon directing to include the aspect of the directing process where you know you are most on point?

Bryan Oliver Green: As a filmmaker I shine most as a writer, director & editor. I adapted Rasheedah's work directly from the page in a way that best-served her story and her vision. As a director, I am very adept at pulling stellar performances from child actors and even individuals with little-to-no acting experience. One of my golden rules about directing is that it's typically better to tell an actor what their character feels and why, rather than simply telling an actor what to say or do.

3. T&T: Give a quick shout out to your creative team and anyone who helped get your film from an idea to screening at BlackStar.

Bryan Oliver Green: I had the absolute best team assembled for this project! Kevin Martin, another long-term collaborator, was my Director of Photography [he also DPed on my comedy "The Philadelphia Bicycle Vignette Story" nominated for best narrative short in BlackStar last year] he shot everything beautifully and really brought our vision to life! Sara Zia Ebrahimi was indispensable as a producer and AD, assisting me with the fundraising process. Derrick Woodyard wore so many hats and came with so much of his personal equipment on this production! He assisted Kevin as AC and gripped/gaffed for us as well.

4. T&T: Does food play a part in your film? It can be something you like to eat on set, while editing, some great Craft Services, a scene involving food or a restaurant/bar/coffee shop.

Bryan Oliver Green: I also had a very dear friend of mine, Nia D. Minard [Imbitecurious Catering] provide meals for us for all three days. We graduated from Drexel together, and I've been a devoted fan of her cooking for nearly 15 years now haha It's great to be able to hire her professionally as the two of us progress in our respective careers over the years.

5. T&T: What does it mean to you to screen your film at the 7th Annual BlackStar Film Festival?

Bryan Oliver Green: Screening "Recurrence Plot" at BlackStar this year means more to me than I could possibly verbalize! I love the fact that I've been given the opportunity to screen at BlackStar two years in a row with two very dynamically different films [a comedy and a sci-fi drama] showcasing my range as a filmmaker & storyteller. I also love the fact that I announced my intention to put "Recurrence Plot" together last year at BlackStar in the Q&A following my screening of The Bicycle Vignettes, and exactly a year later it has become a reality!

Stay Tuned for More Filmmaker Q&A's...