His film “Get to Eleven,” will be featured at the festival on May 24th. Check out our interview with him below!
1. Tell us about your film, “Get to Eleven”
It is an adaptation of my award-winning solo show. The film blends live performance elements with narrative cinematic storytelling in an intimate conversation about suicide, addiction and the importance of sharing stories in our darkest moments. The film flows between a theatrical performance, intimate conversation with friends around a picnic table, and talking directly to the camera from the streets and subways of New York City.
2. What was the inspiration for the film?
I was a guest artist, directing at a university, and a student died of suicide. It was the typical cliche, ‘no one saw it coming’, ‘you never would have suspected it”, etc. As I watched the faculty have a very difficult time talking about it. I realized I better talk about it because I am familiar with it, and it isn’t easy to talk about. This was right after I had come out of depressant episode. I sat down and wrote the play because I wanted to eliminate shame for people to talk about their suicidal thoughts, mental health issues, or grief.
Shame is such a powerful negative force in our life. It limits our ability to connect with each other. We are all human, everything we experience is human. Nothing should be Tebeau to talk about. Putting limitations on what we are allowed to share about ourselves leads to isolation and depression.
3. Tell us about the journey from idea to finished film.
As I mentioned, I was inspired to write the script to mainly to share my experience. To get it out. I think just to say, “I understand. The student isn’t alone. Let’s talk about it.” It felt good to get it out on paper. I wasn’t going to do anything with it. Then someone I went to high school with posted on social media that their kid had died of suicide and no one talks about it. I emailed a friend who runs a theater festival and said I had a script I wanted to share. It was past the deadline but let me present the play as part of the festival. I was nervous to share my experience with suicide ideation with my theater community. After each performance audience members would share with me their experience or friends and family members experience with suicide. I realized how important it was for people to hear that they were not alone.
I performed the play on and off for about five years – at colleges, mental health organizations, theaters. During the pandemic I had the opportunity to share the film over Zoom. It was just as impactful as the in person performance. I felt confident that the play could translate to film. Scott Illingworth, the director of the theater presentation, introduced me to Dave Quay, the director of the film. In our initial conversations it was clear that Dave had a clear vision for how to translate the play into an equally impactful and intimate experience. The team, director, editor, sound design – everyone brought tremendous care and skill to the project. The film premiered at the Big Apple Film Festival. It has plead ReelMind Fim Festival in Rochester, NY, and at numerous colleges. After each screening it has inspired honest, generous, and vulnerable conversations with the audience.
4. Where/how can people watch the film?
Next up for the film is a screening at the Inwood Film Festival May 24th at 7:00PM. At the conclusion of the Festival, they will have it available for streaming between May 27th and June 16th. http://inwoodartworks.nyc
Get to Eleven will also be airing on WXXI in Rochester, NY this Fall. Date and Times TBD. If organizations or schools are interested in hosting a screening in order to open a dialogue on mental health and suicide ideation they can reach out to me via: padraic@thefarmtheater.org.
5. What do you think makes a good story and why?
A great story is watching someone trying to achieve something. What they want more than anything in the world. Whether they succeed or fail isn’t important – it’s that they tried, learned something about themselves. And the world is forever altered because of their efforts.
6. What are you working on next?
I’m currently in post-production of a short film, “Sizzle” by Adina Taubman, that I directed. I’m directing a play for the Montreal Fringe Festival, And I’m writing a feature film, “You Should’ve Seen Me.” I hope to finish the screenplay by the end of the year and move toward production.
