{Originally published in Loomings as a supplemental piece to the article "Is the Film Festival Dead?"}
- First off, let’s start with congratulations. Super/Heroes and Shadowplay took home most of the awards at the most recent Loomings film awards, including a Best Director win for you, Josh. How’s it feel?
Josh Paige (Director of Super/Heroes): Feels pretty damn good, seeing as directing is my passion.
Jae Kim (Director of Shadowplay): I was quite pleased with the results. It's nice to see that the effort that the wonderful cast, crew, and I put in was met with positive reception from the folks who attended the festival. Again, thanks to those who voted.
- Other than the awards, what’s the reception been like for your films (not including festival acceptances)?
JP: People seem to be emotionally moved by the concept. A lot of people can see all the hard work and dedication that went into making the film so that's obviously a good thing.
JK: Although we haven't had much opportunity to show the film to as many people as we liked, from the small crowds we usually gathered the reception was fairly good.
- It's interesting that you two films would choose such different mediums, what with Super/Heroes choosing to try their luck on the festival circuit, and Shadowplay choosing to forgo festivals and go online. Was it a group decision with regards to the respective mediums?
JP: Yes, it was a group decision. We decided to go the 'festivals route' in hopes that we could spread the film to critics and audiences throughout the country and get our name out there the old fashioned way.
JK: Yes it was a group decision. Unfortunately Shadowplay wasn't met with the desired festival responses I had hoped for, so in turn we looked to internet exposure. Though unintended at first, it seemed like the next right thing to do. It seems today filmmakers are able to popularize their work solely through sites such as Youtube and Vimeo, in some cases more then those on the festival circuit. In the end I was happy with the route we chose.
- With film festivals being the traditional means to showcase one’s work, and the internet being a fresh, new medium to view film and video, there’s obviously merit to both routes. So why did you choose to go the way you did? Any particular advantages?
JP: Like you said, it's traditional. It's more professional and will most likely reach out to more people who have enough passion for film to want to submit or pay admission to go see a film on the big screen.
JK: As I said before, it seemed like the next right thing to do. There will never be an audience as big as the online community. Millions are constantly online 24/7 across the globe. If one person enjoys it, he or she can pass it on to the next person with ease. Before you know it, people can catch on like wildfire. Also it is easily accessible and free of charge to view; I'm sure people wouldn't mind that.
- Are there any major downsides to the routes you chose?
JP: I mean, it's obviously a disappointment when your film gets rejected from festivals but that's why we keep trying and do the best we can to spread the film.
JK: Of course there are downsides. It seems as though once the film goes online, it loses it's "prestige". It won't be able to compete in the festival circuit anymore. And with the online video community growing everyday, it gets harder and harder to fight for those views.
- Jae, obviously releasing the film online means it cannot ever be eligible for most festivals. Any regrets in that regard? Josh, any intention of posting Super/Heroes online for mass consumption?
JK: As I stated before, it wasn't my primary intention to release the film online immediately after finishing it, so there are regrets. I wanted the film to have a successful festival run, but not everything always turns out the way you want it to.
JP: I don't see why we would post it online. We've promoted trailers, websites and other information dedicated to the film online that should be enough to make people want to get up and see the film for themselves.
- How is Shadowplay fairing online, Jae? How many views has it received?
JK: I can say for certain Shadowplay is currently not an internet sensation, but we are slowly getting more views as time goes by. I think it has about 173 views now, but that could be 173 individuals or just one person like myself clicking on it 173 times. Who knows?
-And how long has it been up since?
JK: I think it's been up for about 3 months.
- What type of promotion is the Shadowplay team doing to get the word out about the film?
JK: My producer, Mike Natale, has recently created a trailer/music video for the film to help get the word out. It features music from the Long Island based band Face The King ("Parachutes"). We also have a website up for the film (www.shadowplay-film.com). You can also view the film on the website as well. We're working on coming up with more promotion ideas, so hopefully this thing gets rolling faster.
-Josh, how’s things for Super/Heroes? How many festivals has it been sent to? And how many has it gotten into?
JP: Super/Heroes is going extremely well. It's been sent to quite a few festivals. It was recently screened at the Long Island Fringe Festival and NewFilmmakers NY Film Festival for a 9/11 special program. So that was really exciting.
- Josh, you recently finished editing your senior thesis, Raw Umber. Wanna give us a little synopsis?
JP: Two people fall in love in a mental institution and attempt to break out. It's a compelling love story but also an intense escape story. The trailer is up online.
- And will you be sending out into the festival circuit as well, or taking the online route?
JP: It will also be sent out to festivals.
- Thanks for answering these, guys. Any projects you’ve got coming up?
JP: While producing and helping out upcoming films from filmmakers here at Post, I'll be writing scripts and will continue to send my films out to festivals.
JK: Currently I'm working on another short film which is set to be shooting sometime in the beginning of next year. And I am also working on many side video projects as well.
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