5Q's w/Mandy Fabian "Last Weekend" Director

#1: Can you describe your movie and why somebody should see it in less than 140 characters? My movie is about a dad who loves his children enough to find a shred of hope in an impossible circumstance. And there's a twist at the end.

#2: What do you want the Borrego Springs Film Festival audience to know about your film that isn’t obvious from its title? I usually do comedies. This was really my first foray into drama, and it wrecked me. Drama is SAD!! But these actors trusted me enough to venture out of their houses during Covid and come make art with me that was about grief and it was a sublime experience, maybe my favorite ever. I had just lost my mom right before Covid hit the world, and I was reeling. Also, the two children in the film are mine.

#3: What is your movie making background? Tell us about yourself. Weirdly, I've been making a living as an actress and comedienne since I was 16 years old, and most of my experience has been on stage. I was a film major at Vassar though, and I've always loved movies, I'd go see them repeatedly in the theatres. Later, when I figured out that I could shoot pieces of art that people could see even if they couldn't make it to your improv show on a Friday night, that seemed really valuable to me. So I guess some part of me knew I'd end up as a filmmaker. I was writing more and more, doing it voraciously between acting gigs, and then I was songwriting, and did a few albums, finding my way. But no matter what genre inspired me, I've been driven to make things, so I did. Then a producer friend wanted to produce a short film I wrote, but she said "I'll only produce it if you direct." She was a DIRECTOR, and she said that to me. So I thought, "Okay, I'll give it a shot, but it won't stick." It stuck. I love directing, even though it's also the hardest dang job in the world. It's my job. I'm home.

#4: What was the biggest lesson learned in getting your film made? You never know which movies or moments people are going to respond to, so the most important thing is that you love it, and move bravely and truthfully into the making of things no matter what. I've had near strangers call me weeping after seeing this film, my husband said it's the best thing I've ever done and I've had also people sort of shrug at it. You just never know!

#5: What does the future hold for your film and you? I'm in post on my first feature, an emotional comedy, but squarely a comedy. It's called Jess Plus None and I really hope everyone watches it when it comes out. If you want to know when that will be, follow the film on Instagram or Facebook @jessplusnone