60 Watt Film Spotlight
Today’s film spotlight focuses on the short film 60 Watt directed by David Carey.
What is the title of your film and what inspired said title?
60-Watt is a 25-minute film about a task that should have taken 30 seconds. The story is about one man’s quest to speak with the right person and obtain the correct form in order to request a new light bulb so he can finish an Efficiency Report that’s due in five minutes 3½ hours ago.
Tell us a little bit about the story and origins of your film.
60-Watt started out as a 10-minute sketch written back in 1997 which never saw stage time. However, after an incident where the screenwriter (Joshua Will), who was working for a Minneapolis-based retail company, was unable borrow/beg/steal a pencil from any his co-workers.
Because of this, the sketch was resurrected, re-written and performed for many years with The Recovery Party, a satirical sketch comedy troupe from Minnesota.
A few years ago, the director (David Carey with Show and Tell Group) put out a post stating he wanted to make a short film and wondering if anyone had a script to submit. Joshua jumped at the chance and the two re-wrote the script from stage to screenplay.
Any films or filmmakers that inspired this film?
There are many direct and indirect allusions to the Film Brazil by Terry Gilliam.
There’s also a few nods to Joe vs. the Volcano by John Patrick Shanley and David Lynch’s Twin Peaks.
What is the goal of the film for you?
Great question – the goal was to make a film. Which we did.
Right now, getting the film out to the public would be great. But despite all our success, everything has been done remotely because of the pandemic. We have yet to actually see a screening with an audience.
Would we like to make it into a feature or an 8-part series? Absolutely.
As we re-wrote the script for film, we kept adding new scenes and had to tell ourselves to stop before it got too big or too convoluted for what we originally set out to do – which was make a short film. However, there’s a lot more we could easily add with a bigger (read: any) budget.
What has the journey been like getting the film into production?
As mentioned before, there was very little budget. Locations and talent were volunteered, which meant we had to work around those schedules. Sometime many weeks or months would go by between filming, which made for interesting continuity.
A majority of the cast had worked together onstage and in the original sketch, so it was a joy to bring all of them together for the film.
One thing you learned from this project?
The longer the editing process goes, the less funny some jokes tend to be to those involved– there is a desire to keep adding/make changes. Remember the initial reactions. If it was funny to begin with, quit tinkering. Leave it alone.
How can folks find you and your film online?
It’s not viewable to the public yet so the project can still be eligible for festivals. However, if you’re interested in learning more you can see the project file at FilmFreeway, our Website, Twitter and Instagram.
Any last pieces of advice for fellow filmmakers?
Sometimes a story takes 90-minutes to tell. Sometimes it takes just two. Tell your story.
Also, #supportindependentfilms!
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