Q&A with the filmmakers behind 'Goodbye, Brooklyn'
A conversation with Michelle Uranowitz and Daniel Jaffe, the NYC-based filmmakers behind ‘Goodbye, Brooklyn’.
When you decided to make this short film, where did you start?
Hmm, well. It all started from this story Michelle told me about how when she moved, she went to say goodbye to her local dry cleaner. She brought him a present and gave him a hug under the impression they had a special connection and he had NO idea ultimately who she was. And we both thought, what a perfect metaphor for how we over-romanticize New York and how cold it actually can be. Plus Michelle is a movement teacher so we sort of fused these various ideas into one.
We watched the show Enlightened a bunch as we were writing, as it really kind of perfectly follows this character who tragically tries to remain positive. Michelle wrote the first draft and then we handed it back and forth a bit, ultimately shooting the film over about 3 separate small shoots. It was a tough way of working but ultimately allowed us to really rewrite the film in post. It's a collage heavy movie and sort of required a lot of back and forth, rethinking, etc.
What kind of hurdles do you face as a filmmaker working in short film?
Many! I mean, some of which are the same challenges all filmmakers face a la: time, money, logistics, am I the worst person in history, etc. But specifically with shorts, it's hard to get the work out there and hard to finance it in the first place. Most narrative shorts are an investment in those making it. There is really little industry or return on shorts so it can be hard to figure out the financials. But, in a way, of course, it's liberating, as you can really make whatever you want! So that's cool and all! But hurdles. I think other hurdles are just people seeing the work in the first place and the format being limiting.
I think most filmmakers make shorts as "practice" or as a means to get larger scale work made. Which is true and all but also potentially damaging. A short should can be a totally self-contained idea. You can make it, submit it, and that's that! It doesn't have to be this life or death stepping stone it can just be a great story in and of itself. It's symptomatic of life: looking onwards and upwards. Feeling shitty when you don't get into festivals. But hey, you made the work and that should mean A LOT.
What projects are you working on next, and how can people who are interested best support or share that work?
So Michelle and I have made two more films since Goodbye, Brooklyn. One called "The Ultimate" that is currently being submitted. The other is still in post but done soon! And lastly, I just wrote my first feature and am trying to get that off the ground. I have no idea what I'm doing. But excited! And if people want to keep up with my work they can follow me on le 'gram. Or shoot me an email I am happy to share anything. Thanks for having me!!!
