Kelly Sebastian, producer/editor/actor: FOREVER INTO SPACE

Kelly Sebastian plays Audrey in FOREVER INTO SPACE

1Q: Tell us how you became involved with Forever Into Space and how you prepared for your role.

I worked on Forever Into Space as a producer and a co-editor, but before any of that, I first got involved as an actress. While trolling New York City film acting breakdowns, I spotted a casting notice that read something like, “zero-budget indie feature film seeks actress to play an off-beat, struggling, film blogger millennial, who can also help on set.” I submitted my info and mentioned my years of work behind-the-camera and my time as a clerk at an independent video store. Then I met up with Greg, our writer/director/dp. He talked me through his precise plan to make a feature film shot in NYC with only the actors as a sort of skeleton crew and a sound man. My ears were perked, so he gave me the script to read. I fell in deep with the character of Audrey and her band of anti-heroes. I knew that guerrilla-style filming in NYC would present challenges, but my adrenaline started to bubble over at the opportunity with this script, so I jumped on-board.

Audrey’s story is made up of a series of life events that are pretty universal: money problems, roommate troubles, family conflict, the survival job, that awkward moment when a friend wants to be more than a friend. For scene prep., I would access my personal parallel experiences and influence Audrey from there. Writing out Audrey’s backstory, as well as watching films and reading books that I thought she would be drawn to, gave me tools to create her way of thinking, walking, speaking, and instill a vibration in her soul that I hope shines through her eyes on screen. Also, like Audrey, I’m a NYC transplant. I was raised in Pennsylvania and Audrey was raised in Ohio, but we were both creatives drawn to New York City with only a responsibility to try to make something of ourselves. We both also experienced that internal shift of realizing we actually “grew up” during our time living here.

2Q: Cinequest Film Festival is hosting the World Premiere of Forever Into Space. Explain to us how it feels to bring this film before audiences for the first time, and what do you think their reaction will be to your film?

I’m thrilled that Cinequest is going to be the festival to premiere Forever Into Space, as they are known for exposing emerging filmmakers. Not only are we showing up with seven nominations from the Maverick Movie Awards, but Cinequest has nominated us for their distinctive New Visions Award. Exciting stuff!

The right audience for Forever Into Space will deeply indulge in our story and the experience of the film. They will want to watch it again to dig deeper into the subtext, fall further for the characters, and get lost in the complexity of everyday conversations. I’m really looking forward to being out in San Jose with some of the other cast and Greg to begin connecting with our audiences. As an artist, the best feeling is the bond you forge with a viewer through the work.

3Q: What was your best and/or worst experience while making Forever Into Space.

The best experience for me while making Forever Into Space was the creative kinship I found working with Greg.

There’s no worst – just opportunities to learn from and focus forward.

4Q: Festival audiences often have to make hard decisions about what to see, and the catalog descriptions sometimes run together. In your own words, why should people see your film?

Our goal is to reach audiences interested in the art of film. We are an edgy, non-conventional narrative with idiosyncratic characters. Audrey is a female lead who’s rarely seen on-screen. She’s complicated, sarcastic, heavily submerged in creative culture, and for some – not easily likable. Also, Greg’s direction, cinema-verite inspired cinematography, and patient dialogue makes Forever Into Space look, feel, and sound different.

Remember the first time you saw a Van Sant, Linklater or Reichardt film – whoa, what was that? You knew you were watching a rebel.

5Q: Time to pre-plan: You just won the Oscar for Forever Into Space. Give us your acceptance speech.

Thank you to everyone that has ever said yes to me.

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