WOW! I have no words but here I go.
When I got accepted into Tribeca I made every excuse in my head why I didnât belong there. The forever plague of Iâm not good enough.
Itâs hard to make a film, itâs even harder to believe in yourself. Thank you @tribeca for believing in me and giving me this opportunity of a lifetime.
As a writer you work in a vacuum, most things never see the light of day. And you dream and you hope and you fantasize of the day, the year, that something comes to life. That alone, I think, is an achievement of epic proportions.
To have that thing, the thing that has lived in your head for so many years,
then resonate profoundly with others is a wonder. A north star I want to keep chasing.
Thank you to Sam Rockwell for being a friend, a mentor and for championing me as a filmmaker.
Thank you to Zach Spicer for making this whole thing happen and teaching me that dreams arenât dumb.
Thank you to Mark Berger, my husband, my producer, for keeping me hydrated when I was pregnant and sick on set and telling me to go kick ass. For being the greatest support, collaborator and mega phone. I love you.
On the last day of shooting I turned to cinematographer extraordinaire Zach Kuperstein and said âThis was the best week of my life, can we do another short?â And he said âshort??⌠next weâre making the feature.â So letâs party, and then letâs get to work :)
We did it team!!!!!
Written and Directed by: @jesskom
Starring: @thelucia  @kitanaturnbull  #joeswanberg
DP:Â @zachkuperstein
Editor:Â @jjos387
Casting by:Â @ashleyl422 Â @mike.damato25
Costumes:Â @alianagalan
Choreographer:Â @kpennylane
Production designers: @alymwiggs  @gordonstrainart
AD:Â @edenbliss
Color: @sam_daley
Producers: @spicerz  @pigasuspictures  @markbergernyc  #samrockwell
Co producers: @miasiffin  @josephermey
Dancers: @hey.lita  @kylietollefsonn  @grace.reidenauer  @lane.franck  @sarahcoburnn  @reid_kostroun  @rachel.ann.thomas  @madison.sheward  @loganmikelbecker  @clairelmcf  @splishpalash  @ricovelazquez
#ChasingthePartyShort #Tribeca2025
So honored to have Sam Rockwell as a producer and collaborator.
FYC: Chasing the Party - Best Live Action Short Film
I made him blush enough but since Sam doesnât have instagram I can embarrass him again. Sam - you are an inspiration. You never settle for the easy choice, you dive deep and think critically while maintaining a wondrous sense of play and above all else honesty which is why I think so many of us connect so deeply to every character you play. I promise to strive for this as I continue to create work.
Thank you for being such an incredible support all of these years. Immensely grateful.
And thank you to everyone who has supported us in this process and helped bring this little film to life.
#fyc #bestliveactionshortfilm #foryourconsideration #ChasingthePartyShort
Okay friends⌠you have to hear this one.
Jessie Komitor @jesskom came on the pod and lit up my whole brain.
And the headline: her OscarÂŽ Qualified Live Action Short Chasing the Party @chasingthepartyfilm â which premiered at Tribeca and screened at HollyShorts and CIFF. Jessie breaks down how she built one of the most inventive dance sequences youâll ever see: choreographing with Penny, casting dancers via video submissions, adjusting blocking inside the Empty Bottle, and making French-singing teens stack like dominos against a wall.
We cover:
đ Bob Fosse inspo, Wes Anderson frames, upside-down heads they almost rigged
đ teaching herself directing with books + film analysis
đ People of New York â pitching TV straight out of college
đĽ Zach Spicer taking a chance on first-time directors
đ§ belief, saying things out loud, collaborators who âavatarâ with you
đ˝ aliens, Michael Crichtonâs Sphere, the real-life rolling orb rabbit hole
đ noodley soups, pho, banh mi, Hanoi House dreams
If youâve ever tried to find your way back to your imaginative, under-the-table, pillow-fort self⌠this episode is your sign.
đ§ Link in bio. New eps every Tuesday.
#IlseWillSay #WomenInFilm #OscarQualified #Tribeca #ShortFilmCommunity #ChicagoFilm #PodcastEnergy
Chicago you have my heart.
Thank you to @christylemaster for having me at your Super Bowl and thank you to @chifilmfest for an unforgettable screening with so many that helped bring this thing to life. Honored and grateful to be a part of this community. Quite literally couldnât have done it without Chicago.
<3
