Everyone has an ambition if they are cinematically minded or creative to make a film that is going to get that Academy Award vote or win – and in the new short FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, it is reflected in the ambitions of a core group of women brainstorming to create such a short film for that exact purpose.
Film And TV Now spoke with director Poppy Gordon on the film and some of the issues and themes it reflects on.
FILM AND TV NOW: The short is quite surreal in that it tries to tap into everything and nothing when these three women are looking for the right blend to get that worthy film. Does it reflect your own determination to tell not just the best, but the right kind of story in a film?
POPPY GORDON: I certainly don’t seek out to make the wrong story in a film. For me the film is a bit more of a candy-coated Trojan Horse of sorts, or a time capsule of the motivations and moral dilemmas at play during our current seismic shift of consciousness.
FTVN: Some key words and relevant topics can be heard here – inclusivity, MeToo moments, references to certain key figures. How has the climate of creativity and revelation changed how you want to make films?
PG: It hasn’t really as I’m truly just starting out. I’ve always strived to create complex characters in dimensional situations. I would like to make work that comes from a place of sincere questioning and is vulnerable in the risks that it takes.
FTVN: Tell us about your cast.
PG: I was very lucky with my cast. I was very pleased that Samantha Robinson came on board and loved the material straight away. She owned her role as Heather and didn’t hold back quite in Heather fashion. Each character represented an archetype of sorts, and the casting reflected that.
Juliette Goglia played Stacia and I couldn’t imagine anyone else in that role. Her comedic timing and unexpected delivery had us laughing the entire time – and Ava Capri is so genuine and sincere as Christa. She has an amazing screen presence. So magnetic.
Tess Trotter played Siobhan and she just got the material right away. She has quick beat changes and she nailed it each take. And Jasmin Carina played Gaby. Jasmin is very expressive and says a lot with very little which was perfect for Gaby.
She never tried to be funny and just let the character be who she was. And then we were lucky to get Skyler Maxon to play “Skyler Maxon” and ride a horse for us. And Amanda Steele and Page Ruth are so witty and smart in their parts of Anna Silver and Peyton Rank. We did some rounds of improv and they really blew me away. I would work with all of them again and more.
FTVN: Tell us about your production team.
PG: My production team is amazing. We’ve all been working together for a very long time which is such a benefit.
Matthew Schroeder was my DP. I love working with Matt. He is an excellent DP and a visionary. He brings great ideas to the table when we work together. Gabe Imlay was the 2nd camera for me and he is actually a DP in his own right, so I was happy he came on board as a friend to help.
My editor Tyler Peck is both technical and a creative force to be reckoned with. He has strong opinions when we work together, and a master of pacing. His sense of humor is dark like mine, so working with him is pure joy. Lysette Urus, my producer, always pushes to find a way to make things possible and isn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves. She is a bright light with lots of kinetic energy and very thoughtful in her approaches to things.
Marisa McKay was our production designer and wow did she bring it. She is a long-time friend and the queen of feng shui. And then I was very grateful to Kelly Peach and Laura Raczka who came on board to lead hair and make-up.
They both come from the fashion world, and I was fortunate to have them on the team, especially with our looks we were sporting by stylist Selenia Rios. Everyone worked their tails off for this film and I will forever be grateful.
FTVN: Where did you shoot and for how long?
PG: We shot in LA over the course of 3.5 days.
FTVN: What is interesting is the blend of naivety and knowledge that seems to hinder the women as they try and find that ideal tale. How naïve were you about certain subjects and topics that seem to be ideal for film narratives when you became a film-maker and which ones have turned out to be exactly as you’d expect them to be?
PG: I’ll always continue to learn and grow in the regard. That is part of the joy of film making is getting to immerse oneself in new material and topics. It’s a constant investigation and struggle.
FTVN: Your film shares the same title as the Christopher Guest spoof FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION from 2006. Was that film an influence on what you did here and did you have any favourite moments from that film?
PG: It actually wasn’t an influence at all. I haven’t seen it yet. But I love Christopher Guest so I definitely will be checking it out.
FTVN: You have directed content for a number of well-known commercial brands like Nike and PayPal. How does commercial-driven film-making shape your own style of work?
PG: Commercials are very short, so every moment on screen is meticulously scrutinized and I probably bring that perfectionism into my narrative work.
FTVN: How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your development as a film-maker?
PG: I’m not sure yet really. That is still to be determined, I think. Currently I’ve been using the time to develop my feature with my screenwriting partner Aldo Arias. And that’s been very exciting.
FTVN: Do you think it would be possible in the future to knowingly do an un-PC, pre-MeToo film about women that taps into the challenges and resentment that has been contained for so long?
PG: Sure, I think it would be for a female film maker to make that film though. I think it’s a very exciting time to be a female film maker. Characters can finally be told in greater regard from our points of views, and I look forward to discovering more of that.
FTVN: Would you ever consider expanding this short into a feature version?
PG: I think it could be good in an episodic form perhaps. We have some ideas in that regard. We didn’t make it with that as the sole purpose, but it’s been brought up numerous times so with the right support behind us, we would definitely be excited to develop it further.
FTVN: Finally, what are you most proud of about FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION?
PG: I think it was a risky film to make as a debut piece, and I’m most proud of the fact that I dared to make it and I loved the process as well as the way it turned out.
RELEASE UPDATE (MAY 25TH, 2021): FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION is going to be released nationally with an Omeleto premiere as well as on Vimeo June 28th,
