Sundance 2020: Jessie Kahnweiler
Jessie’s films have amassed millions of views and been featured everywhere from the New York Times to TMZ. Jessie wrote, directed, and starred in a dark comedy about bulimia, The Skinny, which was produced by Jill Soloway, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and won a Webby for best dramatic series. Jessie has developed series for Hulu, ABC, CW, and wrote on SKAM Austin for Facebook Watch. She lives in LA with her plants. Here she talks to us about how her script was originally found to be too provocative, why investing in yourself is sometimes the best bet and how making a film is just like looking after her nieces….
How did you find your way into film making?
I went to University of Redlands, an amazing DIY liberal arts college where you could design your own classes and create your own major. I began making films, mostly docs, in response to my sociology classes. My senior year I made a documentary about truck drivers, hitch hiking around the country interviewing truck drivers about their lives. I was like 'this is SO much more fun than going to a frat party' I just felt so at home and was like yeah I want to do this forever. I was hooked.
Tell us about your film?
He’s the One walks a fine line of unbearably tragic and deeply funny. In its essence He’s The One is about how healing it can be to forgive someone who hurt you, including yourself, and that there’s really nothing more radical than love.
How did you take the news of being accepted into the festival?
I cried and screamed for joy very loudly...right in the programmers ear.
Funding in this industry can always be a challenge, how did you achieve yours?
After writing the feature script I spent a year pitching the film to financiers. Everyone told me the script was hilarious and heartbreaking and way too provocative to finance. I get it, the tone is very hard to explain --- I knew I just had to shoot something. Thankfully I had just made some money writing for television and so I decided to shoot a short as a proof of concept. Everyone told me to NEVER spend my own money on my work. But I just couldn't live without making this film -- I know that sounds dramatic but that doesn't mean it's not also true. I invested in myself it's the best bet I've ever made. :)
What was the most challenging aspect of making your film and how did you overcome this?
Balancing all the roles of writer, director, actor, producer. I just tried to stay really present to whatever part of the process I was in -- making a movie is similar to babysitting my nieces -- you gotta breathe, just be where you are and enjoy how much fucking fun it is. The only way I was able to make the film was the team I had my producer Tasha Petty, my DP Richard Card, my editor Suzanne Spangler and my Manager/Producing partner Paul Young. They are my rocks.
If you could have gone into any other role in the industry, which would you be interested in?
I would be a teamster 100% They have the best jokes.
The percentage of female directors at Sundance has increased again this year, a great move for the industry, which female film makers do you look up to?
Lauren Greenfield, Alma Har'el, Barbra Koppel, Jill Soloway, Ava, Sharon Horgan, Julie Delpy, Dee Rees, oo this is fun!
What’s the next project for you?
I'm doing a feature version of He's the One and have a couple TV projects in development about tragic funny things.
And finally, what film are you most looking forward to seeing in 2020?
I'm a documentary groupie -- so I'm planning on escaping the festival craziness for a day and sitting alone in the theater and crying.
You can follow Jessie on social media via @Jessie_Kahnweiler on Instagram and see more of her work on her website here. You can follow Luka Jones via on Instagram here too!
He’s The One will be screening in the Shorts 2 Program. For more information on this years line up at Sundance Film Festival 2020 visit their website here.
All promotional stills courtesy of Richard Card and Jessie’s headshot is courtesy of Patrick Gookin.
