Karen Price

1. How did you come up with the idea for the film?

I've always loved animals, and living in LA, I was constantly aware of the many stray dogs and cats roaming the streets. I thought a character-based (as opposed to outright propoganda) film might, in the process of entertaining people, help bring more attention to the problem of animal suffering.

2. How long did the production process take?

I prepared my pitch for one semester and spent the following summer on pre-production (lining up subjects, etc.) Then we shot, edited, and finished the film over the course of the next semester.

3. What challenges did you experience in the creation of the film?

Making a half-hour film in one semester was the greatest challenge. There simply weren't enough hours in the day to do everything, so the crew and I got very little sleep and basically lived and breathed the documentary. It's difficult to gain perspective on material that you're so close to; fortunately I had good editors and lots of knowledgable people giving feedback throughout.

4. What is your favorite memory from creating the film?

There are so many. . . but the most magical moment was when, at the end of a shooting day, Sadie (who did sound on the film) suggested we shoot some b-roll of Liz (the cat rescuer) playing the piano. So Aymae picked up the camera, Liz started playing, and suddenly, out of nowhere, Liz's cat Leon appeared and stared banging on the keys with his paws, like he was joining her in a duet. It was one of those things we could never have planned, but that ended up being a sweet moment in the film.

5. When someone has finished watching the film, what do you hope they take away from the experience?

For one thing, that they should spay and neuter their pets. Pet overpopulation is responsible for so much suffering and death, and is so easily preventable. I hope that the film will encourage people to look more closely at what's really going on: to the stray dogs and cats abandoned to the streets and to our city shelters, to the horses after they're retired from the racetrack, to the turtles being sold in pet stores. Animal suffering is quite often hidden from our view -- swept under the rug. Also, I hope that people find the subjects inspiring in that they have found a calling in their lives and perservere in answering that call in spite of the emotional pain involved.

6. What type of reaction has your film received from viewers?

People tend to respond pretty emotionally, especially when Liz tells her story near the end. It gets some laughs, which I'm happy about because the subject matter is so "heavy." Animal rescuers tend to have highly developed senses of humor -- otherwise they'd probably go crazy -- which made my job alot easier. . . their personalities were so vibrant and the camera loved them.

7. What advice would you give to aspiring young filmmakers?

Be original--make a film only you can make.

8. Please tell us about the next film you plan to work on?

I'm in post production on a short narrative that I wrote and directed entitled "Gone." It's the story of a young girl whose mentally ill mother disappears.

9. What are your thoughts on the film industry in NC?

NC is a great place to make films--a great alternative to expensive and jaded LA and New York.