The writer and director of Parabola Lee Shorten, and its producer Phil Planta discuss making the short film as part of this Saturday’s (23 February 2019) Crazy 8’s Gala Screening, the short film competition, film, television, diversity and inclusion, and more, with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

This Saturday is the gala screening for this year’s Crazy 8’s film competition. Over eight recent days, six crews made six short films. They were chosen from many applicants, with semi-finalists chose by a jury of industry professionals. I’m joined now by two members of a team, Lee Shorten, the writer and director of the film Parabola. With him is a producer on the project, Phil Planta. He was on last year, when another film he produced, Gemini, was in last year’s competition. I’ll ask Mr. Shorten and Mr. Planta about this film, about the themes explored therein, guilt, forgiveness and family. In the short, Makoto, a Japanese-American single mother struggles to reconcile with her dying, estranged father. Makoto is played by Mayumi Yoshida, Mr. Shorten’s fellow cast member from The Man in the High Castle, a show, where Musashi, the estranged father played by Hiro Kanagawa also appears. Lee Shorten is a writer, director and actor who grew up in Australia. He gave up a career in law to pursue work in the film industry. Other than the Man in the High Castle, he has appeared in Supernatural, and Van Helsing, among many other credits. His Twitter handle is @lcshorten. Phil Planta is a producer, filmmaker and VFX artist. Some of his credits include Once Upon a Time, Revolution, Twilight—Breaking Dawn part 2, Big Eyes, and Red 2. Other short films he’s produced include Final Wishes, which won first place at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival. His Twitter handle is @philplanta. And if the surnames didn’t give it away, we’re related; we’re cousins. You can see Parabola, and the other five films, this Saturday night, 23 February 2019 at The Centre here in Vancouver. Visit www.crazy8s.film for tickets and information. For the $35 dollar admission, you’ll get to see the films, and gain admission to the after party at Science World later that night. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Lee Shorten; Mr. Shorten, good morning. And please welcome back, Phil Planta; Mr. Planta, good morning.

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