Past Filmmakers

Zach Weddington and Zoe Haley
zzfilm@aol.com

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

The idea actually came from a cop! Dumpster diving late one night, Zach was approached by one of Philly's finest. After the third degree about where he was from, what he was up to, the cop oh-so-cleverly suggested, "Why dontcha make a movie about it instead?"...So we did!

2. How long did the production process take?

From idea's conception to finished product, it took us just over a year to complete. We shot on weekends and edited while juggling day jobs, classes, etc.

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

There were a couple of cult figures among the dumpster diving underground that thought the exposure could potentially be bad for business (more locks on dumpstres, more stores switching to trash compactors, etc.) Despite some initial concerns, we were lucky to find natural subjects who were eager to share the secrets of their smelly yet lucrative past-time on camera.

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

Note to all documentarians: Keep your camera rolling at all times. Our best memories (and some of the best stuff about one of our characters) came during the times when we were just hanging out with our participants, like say, in a bar after shooting. People really loosen up and tell you all about themselves when they drink- one of our guys had some really great UFO and Government Conpiracy theories to tell us. Of course, the camera was back in our hotel room.

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

We hope that TECHIES is informative and fun. We hope that it smashes some of the stereotypes of "trash pickers" as homeless or dirty people. We want to inspire people to be responsible consumers, and find new ways of incorporating their views on the environment into their everyday lives.

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

Everyone who watches TECHIES seems to have a story to tell us about a grandparent or a cousin or a neighbor who would have made the perfect subject for our documentary. Every neighborhood is full of closet divers, pack-rats, and junk collectors.

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

TECHIES was made on an obscenely low budget. Work within your means. Think about possible venues (festivals, public TV) early in the pre-production stage. Volunteer to pre-screen for festivals so you can see what other independents are doing. Finally, don't be afraid of mistakes, you'll make lots of 'em.

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

The next project we plan to work on is a short animation/mixed-media piece with a loose narrative involving themes of body image and feminine ideals.

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

(Zach) I'm a freelance editor by trade. I've been a part of the filmmaking efforts here in NC- been on crew for a couple of short films made here (i.e. "Insipidly So") and the experiences have been great, and I encourage everyone to get access to a camera and Just Do It.