Animals
Format
Student Film Festival
Faculty Mentor Name
Patti McCarthy
Faculty Mentor Department
Media X
Abstract/Artist Statement
Animals is a short, werewolf horror film centered around queer women. When Beth's grandmother passes, Beth returns to her childhood home with her girlfriend only to discover that family secrets can be deadly. When writing the script, I had an interest in exploring the way new couples handle death and the difficult space that’s navigated when someone you love is going through a pain that you don’t feel as acutely. Horror had always been the genre I’ve found myself drawn to, however, it is a problematic genre— one that actively destroys minorities and demonizes cultures. As an artist, I desired to create a film that went against the standard formulaic conventions of heteronormative, white, mainstream horror. I did not succeed fully, but I gained an understanding of the challenges that are embedded within the genre and the film industry as a whole. How many films can you think of that feature a queer female lead? How many feature a queer female that isn’t killed off? How about a queer person of color? Animals isn’t perfect. Animals is, however, something new. It’s an example of the difficulties that arise when you try to break away from tradition.
Location
Janet Leigh Theatre
Start Date
9-5-2017 7:00 PM
End Date
9-5-2017 10:00 PM
Animals
Janet Leigh Theatre
Animals is a short, werewolf horror film centered around queer women. When Beth's grandmother passes, Beth returns to her childhood home with her girlfriend only to discover that family secrets can be deadly. When writing the script, I had an interest in exploring the way new couples handle death and the difficult space that’s navigated when someone you love is going through a pain that you don’t feel as acutely. Horror had always been the genre I’ve found myself drawn to, however, it is a problematic genre— one that actively destroys minorities and demonizes cultures. As an artist, I desired to create a film that went against the standard formulaic conventions of heteronormative, white, mainstream horror. I did not succeed fully, but I gained an understanding of the challenges that are embedded within the genre and the film industry as a whole. How many films can you think of that feature a queer female lead? How many feature a queer female that isn’t killed off? How about a queer person of color? Animals isn’t perfect. Animals is, however, something new. It’s an example of the difficulties that arise when you try to break away from tradition.