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2020 Festival Interview: BOY EATS GIRL: A Zombie Love Story
Sarah Gurfield's film BOY EATS GIRL: A Zombie Love Story screens at the Online New England Film Festival
NewEnglandFilm.com talks with Sarah Gurfield about her film BOY EATS GIRL: A Zombie Love Story, which screens in the 2020 Online New England Film Festival.
NewEnglandFilm.com caught up with filmmaker Sarah Gurfield, who explores the humor in death in her latest film BOY EATS GIRL: A Zombie Love Story. The film has screened at 17 festivals and won three comedy awards, and you can now watch it online as part of the 2020 Online New England Film Festival.
NewEnglandFilm.com: When did you know you wanted to become a filmmaker?
Sarah Gurfield: I started out directing theatre, and have transitioned to directing both theatre and filmed content. No formal film school, but lots of learning by doing, reading, and observing. Also, lots of helping out on friends’ sets in whatever capacity I could—very educational, plus it’s a great way to meet future collaborators and rack up favors owed.
NewEnglandFilm.com: What inspired you to make your film?
Gurfield: I wanted to work with as many talented, energetic, driven women as possible. And, of course, we wanted to make people laugh.
NewEnglandFilm.com: How did you find your cast and crew for this film?
Gurfield: Cast was a combination of auditions and direct offers; crew was culled from previous collaborations and recommendations.
NewEnglandFilm.com: Any advice on making films you want to share?
Gurfield: Just do it! Write, direct, act, edit—whatever you’re wishing to do, just give yourself permission to suck and then give it a try. No matter what happens, you’ll learn something that will help you on the next project.
NewEnglandFilm.com: How does your film fit into today’s current social and political moment?
Gurfield: Our culture frequently asks women to suppress—or deaden ourselves to—our desires, to sublimate our voracious appetites. In this way, the film comments on the importance of pushing past collective deadness to connect with others (living or undead)…but in a funny way.
NewEnglandFilm.com: What do you hope people take away from watching your film?
Gurfield: Female empowerment wrapped up in laughter.
NewEnglandFilm.com: Anything else you want to share that might be of interest to our readers?
Gurfield: Putting a woman at the center of this type of comedic work is a great reminder that women’s stories are everywhere: we cannot just be relegated to the “women’s stories” area of our culture.
Boy Eats Girl: A Zombie Love Story screens at the 2020 Online New England Film Festival at NewEnglandFilm.com.
