5Q's w/Josh Funk "The Fuzzies" Director

#1: Can you describe your movie and why somebody should see it in less than 140 characters?

The Fuzzies is a horror comedy that mixes stop-motion animation and puppetry with a live actor. Imagine if Evil Dead were created with Muppets.

#2: What do you want the Borrego Springs Film Festival audience to know about your film that isn’t obvious from its title?

The Fuzzies was inspired by my experiences during quarantine with my five-year-old son. We watched a lot of children’s television during the day and I’d watch horror films at night. After a while I started to look at my home differently and think about how I interacted with small spaces every day on a loop.

#3: What is your movie making background? Tell us about yourself.

My way into filmmaking was through stop-motion animation because I could do everything on a small scale and in my own time. After creating some short animations, music videos, and commercials I started incorporating live actors with my animations. I often work with visual effects and set design in mind even though I’m now working on a much larger scale.

#4: What was the biggest lesson learned in getting your film made?

The biggest lesson I learned while directing The Fuzzies is how to play with the tone of a film. Every choice I made, whether it be the pacing, lighting, camera movement or music needed to be consistent with the arc of the story. This was tricky with such a surreal and outlandish concept that mixed horror and comedy. I was constantly in search of this feeling I had for the film that was indescribable. At times it felt like sculpting from digital materials.

#5: What does the future hold for your film and you?

Dustin Vaught and I just finished a feature film script based on The Fuzzies. This story will be a small part of a much larger world that I can’t wait to play in again.