HELLO, MY NAME IS HERMAN Directed By Karine Silverwoman
Indie Express: Tell us about your film?
Karine: Hello , My Name Is Herman is a ten minute documentary that explores the relationship between a 91 year old Jewish man, his lesbian granddaughter and her girlfriend.
IE: How did you come up with the idea for the film?
K: I was filming my grandfather everyday for many months. During this time I found out about a program put on by the Insideout Film Festival in Toronto in which queer youth can learn how to make a movie in a short period of time. I applied and pitched the idea that I work with the footage that I had of my grandfather.
IE: How did you assemble your production team?
K: I didn’t have a production team but I did have an editor as well as the incredible facilitators of the program I was in. I also had friends who are film makers giving me support.
IE: How did you find your cast?
K: Through living.
IE: How long did the film take? (From conception to final edit)
K: The program I was in was a very intensive 4months in which we had to finish our first short video.
IE: Tell us a little about your process of directing (writing) this film.
K: I had to edit down 17hours of footage into 10minutes. The program I was in gave us one day with the editor (Aleesa Cohene- who is brilliant). Sifting through all my footage was very emotional and a painful experience… but worth it.
IE: What was the most difficult part of the shoot for you?
K: Because my grandfather was so frank in front of the camera and ignored that it was there, there is a lot of extremely personal and painful footage that I had to sort through.
IE: Any particular moments from filming that stand out for you?
K: When I first started shooting, my grandfather thought my video camera was a still camera and he would stare and smile at the video camera as if I was taking a picture- it was really funny.
IE: Tell us about the film’s festival experience so far?
K: It has been so surreal. I genuinely never thought I would make this movie and I made it with the intention that my family could see it . So it has been incredible to travel and have other people see my grandfather.
IE: What are you most looking forward to at the festival?
K: Women and burritos. Just kidding.. I’m looking forward to seeing lots of movies and to exploring San Francisco. I’ve heard amazing things about the massiveness and excitement of Frameline. I am also excited to see some friends in town.
IE: What has been your most interesting Q&A so far? What was your favorite question? How was the dialogue afterwards?
K: My favorite screening Qand A so far has been when a lot of really young people who were mainly straight saw my video. I had pegged them to have a homophobic response and they proved me wrong by having the warmest feedback in the Q and A.
IE: What films or filmmakers inspire you?
K: My favorite movie is Antonia’s Line by Marleen Gorris
IE: What made you decide to become a filmmaker?
K: I consider myself as an artist rather then a filmmaker but I do want to make more video’s.
IE: What is next for you?
K: Social work degree and another movie.
IE: What is next for the film?
IE: If asked to give one piece of advice to a new filmmaker making their first short film… What would it be?
K: Don’t make it about your girlfriend.
IE: What question would you like to be asked about your film?
IE: What is the Answer to that question?