5 Questions with Anna Fredrikke Bjerke
1) What have you been up to since we last spoke in August of last year for "Outline"?
I wrote and directed Other People, which follows a group of adolescents experiencing the growing pains of coming into their own. I was longing to make a film about teenagers whose emotional decisions drive the story forward, and that shows characters who are alienated by this transitional period. It's about the emotions of being that age with its natural awkwardness, clouds of dissatisfaction, and constant restlessness. It was supposed to premiere this spring, but got pushed to later this year due to Covid-19. And I’m in post-production on my sixth short film, Exposed, which is about a young drama student who finds herself in an increasingly uncomfortable situation; as her ensemble and the play’s director discuss whether she should be performing a full-frontal nude scene in their graduation play. It reflects the frustration and struggle that makes us question our artistic integrity. And explores the systems of power which keep women and minorities down. It’s written by Vilde Moberg, who also stars and produces. We pitched it at Screen Talent Europe earlier this summer and continued straight into production. I’m so grateful to all the people who worked on or supported that project.
2) What was the initial idea for this project and how did it evolve from there?
I had been wanting to write a story about two women who are struggling to navigate the messiness of their twenties. By allowing the characters to lead the way, creating the plot as they moved forward, the story naturally progressed into a web series. I knew I wanted to continue exploring my fascination with women and the complexity of our relationships. And the perspectives of characters who were not defined by their sexuality, but rather having it be a part of their experience.
The story sets in motion when Rubi, a failing documentary filmmaker, is caught cheating on her boyfriend with another woman, which consequently propels her sexual awakening. As she grapples with these newfound emotions, her best friend, Samira, who can’t hold onto any relationship, begins to advance in her artistic career, making Rubi feeling left behind. It’s really an unrequited love story between two friends, which I think it brings to mind Noah Baumbach’s Frances Ha.
I wrote the first three episodes with Vilde in mind for the role as Rubi, who joined the series as co-writer and producer. She wrote the next few episodes, and then we wrote the last one together. I think there was a period of three weeks from the time we completed the final script to when we were on set filming. I’m just blown away by how quick the turn around was, how many people it has reached, and doors it has opened.
3) What was the biggest challenge in making this film? And the easiest part?!
One of the biggest challenges was finding the money to do this. We did end up receiving a small grant, but relied heavily on favors from friends and rental places. We could not have done this without their support and dedication. The easier part of making Gemini, was getting musicians excited about licensing their music, which we had a limited budget for. Their music ended up elevating the whole thing, as it makes up the series’ identity in many ways.
4) What’s a film you’ve seen recently, new or old, that you really loved and why?
I have watched some extraordinary films during this time of isolation. Portrait of a Lady on Fire by Céline Sciamma stands out. It is a slow-burning, deeply moving love story between a painter, Marianne, and her subject, Héloïse, set in 18th-century Brittany. It prompts reflections on the subjugation of women, and the subjugation of their art. I think the visuals are stunning, and the minimal dialogue and absence of score very effective. I would really recommend it to anyone who haven’t seen it yet.
5) What’s next for you?
I am writing two new scripts. One is a feature that attempts to decipher how a big industry colonizes a smaller community within the context of climate change, interweaving the stories of two estranged sisters and how change is not always easy for those directly affected by it. The other is a pilot that is more on the comedic side, but still has some dark elements to it that feel very timely with everything that is going on in our world right now. And then I’m co-hosting a podcast for which I am interviewing other filmmakers about their work. I’m so grateful to be keeping busy during this pandemic!
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www.annabjerke.com
IG: @annabjerke