Victoria Rose, screenwriter: SEA HORSE

Victoria Rose co-wrote SEA HORSE

1Q: Tell us a little about the origins of Sea Horse, from concept to financing.

Kamell and I had a short script writing class together during our time at USC Grad school, where we were earning our MFA’s in film production. Our teacher took us aside after class and told us that we should write together because we had similar sensibilities and themes in our work and to use his exact words… we were both “weird”. Kamell and I began collaborating together and he presented me with an idea he had for a short film. He wanted to shoot in Alaska and he had an idea for a mythical type creature that was part shark part human and he also wanted to explore the theme of having or not having a home and what that means to people and characters. He had actors in mind, so we already had a sense of what the characters would look and sound like. We started sharing songs and visuals that inspired us. We got together several times, watched inspirational movies, brain stormed, and then we took turns writing pages. The short became really long, and we realized that it could easily be made into a feature, so we went with it.

2Q: Cinequest Film Festival is hosting the World Premiere of Sea Horse. 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?

We are really excited and honored to be showcasing Sea Horse at Cinequest. As filmmakers, it’s our greatest hope to share our work with as many people as possible. I think Sea Horse is unique in that it doesn’t necessarily follow a traditional narrative, but instead focuses on symbolism and how certain elements and symbols can share a universal yet specific story. It’s also atypical because it’s a slice of life story about three women who exist in a fantastical world. Usually when we watch slice of life stories, the setting and the characters take place in reality. I am curious to see how people react, since it isn’t what one might expect from a feature film.

3Q: What was your best and/or worst experience while making Sea Horse?

I have several “best experiences” during the making of Sea Horse. Filming with an intimate crew in this wondrous place was a really cherished time for me. Alaska has an extremely special, magical quality, so just being there was an unforgettable experience in itself. But specifically, the first “best experience” was seeing a character I had created come to life on set. The character was mostly cut from the final version of the film, but she was a soothsayer. I had conjured up a very specific image of the woman in my head, and seeing the actress with full make up and hair and in costume on the set was really exciting for me. It’s always an amazing feeling to see something that was once a fleeting idea that only you had and only you knew about, become something, through collaboration, that’s real and tangible and everyone can see. Another best experience came later in the process. Kamell gave me the final DVD and I sat on the couch in my living room and watched the whole thing and when the film finished and I saw my name flash onto my computer screen, I started to cry. This is our first feature film. We made it while we were still in graduate school. I think Kamell is such a talented, wonderful individual and I felt so honored that he wanted to write something with me and that he entrusted me with the responsibility of helping him craft this story. Holding the DVD felt like such a sense of accomplishment knowing that this film will be the first of many in our careers. The worst experience was probably getting 37 mosquito bites over the span of three weeks while filming in the woods of Alaska. Yes… 37… I counted.

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?

I think people should see our film if they love beauty (the look of this film really transports you somewhere else), genuine, grounded performances, and stories about a protagonist who embarks on a mythic journey. I think if the viewer has a curiosity about or interest in poetic cinema, our film might be especially enjoyable.

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

If we won an oscar for Sea Horse, I’d probably let Kamell do all the talking. He put so much of himself into this film. I’m just honored to be a part of it.

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