Here is a funny dark comedy short film to watch titled Body of the work. The story is set ten years after their uncle’s murder and follows twins Teddy and Izzy who become trapped in a web of lies and murder when a detective knocks on their door.
The short film is written and directed by Andrea and Sophie Téllez and is shared in collaboration with the FilmQuest Film Festival, where we are looking to showcase some of the radical indie genre films and shorts that filmmakers are creating.
I’ve also included an interview with the directors below. Enjoy the short film!
What was the inspiration for your film? How did the idea come to you?
The idea is based on a concept that Andrea had about 10 years ago. Over that time it developed into what it is now, which is essentially a bloody comedy of errors.
Tell us about yourself. What is your background? How long have you been a director?
We are sisters from Utah just starting our journey as directors. We’ve both spent time on small sets in various roles over the last 7 years, and Body of Work is our directorial debut.
What inspires you to work in genre cinema and tell these types of stories?
We love mixing genres and the idea of complex relationships taking place in intense environments.
What was your favorite part of the filmmaking process for this project?
Being on set and playing with blood. Followed closely by sound mixing.
What are you most proud of about this film?
We are very proud of the fact that we were able to successfully realize our original vision, especially since it was our first time.
What is a favorite story or moment from the making of the film that you would like to share?
The last shot of our first day is Izzy arriving here “wings of blood”. It was one of our first ideas for the shot and it was executed so well in one take that we both almost burst into tears.
What was the most challenging moment or experience you had while making your film?
We didn’t have a lot of direction regarding the production and how to talk to our actors. A lot of it was very instinctive and a baptism of fire. In the end we are very happy with how everything went and the relationships we managed to establish.
If so, how did your film change or differ from the original concept during pre-production, production, and/or post-production? How has it changed the way you approach future projects?
The overall feel of the soap opera wasn’t something we planned or considered until we started working on the music. When the composer suggested the mariachi sound, we recorded the opening of the telenovela (dubbed by our parents) and then dove deeper into the aesthetic with the title design.
With our next project we will pay more attention to considering every aspect of the film so that we can, from the beginning, better implement how we want them to manifest themselves in the final product.
Who were some of your collaborators and actors in the film? How did you start working together?
One of us met Beth May (the detective) briefly on set. She’s a fan favorite in the D&D podcast sphere. We’ve both been fans for a while and when the opportunity arose, we approached her with the idea of the role.
She loved it and is now ready to work with us again on our next project. We also had the pleasure of working with Jess Parks as sound designer. We connected with her through our postal supervisor and hit it off right away.
He has done incredible work on the new Jumaji films, Spiderman No Way Home and more. We will also collaborate with her again on the sound design and involve her as a producer.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received as a filmmaker and what would you like to say to new filmmakers?
In our first meeting with our DP we apologized profusely for not being experts on exactly how to communicate and plan with her. The best thing he told us was that he knew we would be good directors because we had a very clear vision and we communicated it to him directly. So the best advice we can give you right now is to trust your instincts and vision and do what it takes to get exactly what you want.
What are your plans for your career and what do you hope this film does for that? What kinds of stories would you like to tell moving forward?
Our ultimate goal, like many others, is to make feature films and be able to survive off of them. We want to continue to tell stories that highlight different people and backgrounds, and explore complex relationships in as many genres as possible.
What’s your next project and when can we expect to see it?
Our next project is a short bureaucratic thriller film set in a 1990s call center. We should shoot in early to mid 2025 and hope to have it ready later that year.
Where can we find more of your work and where can interested people contact you? Do you have a website or YouTube/Vimeo channel? Social media handles?
Our official YouTube and Instagram channels are both @Puchicaproductions Sophie can be found @sooo_sophie and Andrea @andretortelleze on Instagram
Bonus question no. 1: What is your favorite movie of all time?
Sophie is Dan in real life and Andrea is Moonstruck. But if we had to choose one together, it would be Mad Max: Fury Road.
Bonus question no. 2: What is the film that most inspired you to become a director and/or had the greatest influence on your work?
Sophie wanted to make films after seeing The Iron Giant. Andrea’s was Inglourious Basterds.
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
