Meet Snowbird | A crowdfunded, indie short film about the pitfalls of how we communicate unpopular ideas with each other in an ever-polarizing world.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Snowbird and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Snowbird, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Indie filmmaking is a collaborative, all-hands-on-deck process that usually involves some combination of timing, skills and luck. Making a movie is a marathon, no matter the size and scope, and asking favors is important currency in our world. We’ve gotten really good at hearing ‘no’, the universal language of any artist, and the difference between a successful project and an unsuccessful one often boils down to how many ‘yes’s’ we can secure amidst all of the ‘no’s’. You’ll be surprised how many people want to help, that want to be involved, and they’re just waiting for an invitation to do so. Be brave, ask for help, and invite others to collaborate with you. It takes a village to make a movie, so break the habit of being afraid to ask for what you need.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The collective Snowbird team is an eclectic mix of artists from all walks of life. Lawrence Pressman plays Lyle, our rocketman, whose film, TV and stage credits still leave us in awe. Our production designer, NiNo Alicea, is a four-time Burning Man Honoraria Art Grant recipient who won a CODAward in 2021 as an artist on one of the Top 100 commissioned art installations in the world. Our cinematographer, Shaun Dixon, is a leading voice in the evolution of storytelling in the immersive space.

Our team is an amalgamation of artists from so many different disciplines, and each plays a vital role in telling our story in our own way. Film is a medium that can bring these voices together in a cohesive way, and we have over 100 years of on-set TV, film and commercial experience between us, all of which we’ll pour into every frame. It takes a village, as they say, and we’re proud of ours.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If you’re visiting Los Angeles (or you live here), and you haven’t made your way to The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, you’re probably doing it wrong. They serve the finest products, carefully curated by some experts behind the counter, imported from all over the world, and they act as suppliers to some of the best restaurants in town. Their new sandwich program is already legendary, the best in the city. If you find yourself in the area, ask for Jay. He’s everyone’s favorite and for good reason.

Also, we’ve heard Goal Sports Cafe is a real laugh, just not sure if it’s around anymore?

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Snowbird is, at face value, about Lyle, a self-taught rocket scientist, who invites a big city journalist out into the desert to cover a launch that will prove, once and for all, that the Earth is flat. The Earth isn’t flat, of course, but our story tries to investigate what it’s like to share ideas with people who don’t like our ideas. It’s a contained social commentary on what living in our world often feels like today, in a socio-political climate that is trying it’s best to pull us apart. Ultimately, the short tries to ask: is it good to have something – anything – to believe in, no matter how absurd those beliefs might be?

We like to think the answer to that question is yes.

Underneath all of that, the twist reveal at the end of the short is that Lyle, our rocketman, isn’t altogether well, and is in the throws of some early on-set dementia. It’s a story element that’s very near and dear to our writer/director Patrick Curran, who lost his grandmother Dorothy to Alzheimer’s in 2019. The story is a love letter to folks who’ve experienced dementia in their own lives, and to their caregivers who often put their own lives on hold to navigate these challenging times.

Our project means to highlight the important work of organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association and Hilarity for Charity, to name only a few, who tirelessly pour their own resources into making life easier for people dealing with dementia and their loved ones.

Website: https://seedandspark.com/fund/snowbird#story

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snowbirdmovie/