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15th BFI FUTURE FILM FESTIVAL 2022 
17-20 February 
Interview

Evan Kerbage 
Mirrored Family 
Section: A Family Affair Section

Based on filmmaker Evan Kerbage's personal experience when the first wave of Covid-19 hit having just arrived in Germany to visit his family they went into the lockdown together. 

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Hey Evan, thank you for talking to The New Current, how have you been holding up during these very strange times?

 

Hey, happy to talk with you! I’ve been holding up surprisingly good actually, I’m somewhat of an introverted person which helped me cope with these times. 

 

Has this time offered you any new creative inspiration or opportunities?

 

Funnily enough, the current situation is what pushed me to tap into my creative side, leading to a lot of reflections and ideas that I’m eager to pursue.

 

What does it mean to be screening Mirrored Family at the 15th BFI Future Film Festival?

 

It’s a huge privilege to have my movie screened at the BFI Future Film Festival, I was ecstatic when I received the news.

 

Mirrored Family is going to be in the A Family Affair Section of the festival, are there any nerves ahead of the festival?

 

Of course, I’m little nervous but overall, I’m super excited to see how it will pan out. 

 

Can you tell me a little bit how Mirrored Family came about, what inspired this short film?

 

The movie is based on my personal experience, when the first wave of Covid-19 hit, I’d just arrived in Germany to visit my family and we went into the lockdown together. I could notice our relationships be affected as if we were trapped in another world. This experience has been the main catalyst to how I structured Mirrored Family. I had to make a short as a submission to be enrolled in a university program and was struck by this idea when I saw the hallway of my parents’ house and how it could be used to tell a story. 

 

How close do you like to keep to the screenplay once you start shooting, do you allow yourself much flexibility?

 

I usually try to follow my screenplays as closely as I can, but I’m always happy to readjust if new ideas come up during the shoot. 

 

What has been the biggest challenge you've faced bringing Mirrored Family to life?

 

Luckily, the shoot was a breeze, my actors were great. The main struggle was setting up the shot and keeping it steady for the whole shoot to avoid inconsistencies between the cuts, it took me a while to find the right framing and aspect ratio.

 

Since making Mirrored Family what has been the most valuable lesson you have taken from this experience?

 

That you don’t need expensive and fancy equipment to make a film. There is always a way to bring your idea to life without busting your piggybank.

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"Collaboration is a wonderful thing for me, working with other persons, see how they think and have their inputs. I always want to share my ideas and create reactions from others."

Where did you passion for filmmaking come from?

 

I always loved cinema and thought my place was in this world, and when I was with my family during the lockdown, I decided to try my hand at making short skits that I uploaded to YouTube. I realized that I loved the whole process of writing, acting, and editing, which pushed me to strive for a career as a filmmaker. 

 

How important to you is the collaborative process of filmmaking to you?

 

Collaboration is a wonderful thing for me, working with other persons, see how they think and have their inputs. I always want to share my ideas and create reactions from others. Plus, it’s amazing to meet talented and like-minded people and have the opportunity to offer them or receive their help.

 

Do you think filmmakers should continue to push the boundaries of the stories they want to tell?

 

Of course! Else we would just stagnate and retell the same stories over and over. 

 

For anyone out there thinking about making their first film do you have any tips or advice you would offer them? 

 

You can always fix it in post. On a more serious note, I find that being organized and having a clear schedule really helps a lot.

 

And finally, what do you hope people will take away from Mirrored Family?

 

I just hope they will be able to relate to and see part of themselves in it.

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