Halloween was yesterday, and whenever I think of Halloween, I think of horror movies. But I will be honest, I don’t particularly like to be terrified. I much prefer to laugh. So a horror-comedy, like the short film What’s Eating Dad? is right up my alley. In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that my husband, Joel Haberli, plays the title dad in the film. But seriously, it is a really funny film, which is why I am excited to welcome the director of What’s Eating Dad?, Michael Goldburg to Not Even Joking today.
Photo courtesy of Michael Goldburg.
Michael Goldburg, an MFA graduate from NYU’s Graduate Film Program, is an award winning film maker. In addition to being the creative mind behind the horror-comedy, What’s Eating Dad?, which has screened, and continues to screen at numerous film festivals and was named one of the Top Ten Horror Shorts of 2014, he directed the prizewinning short film Happy Trails, co-directed the grand-prize winning web series Café Conversations, and directed the bleakly funny web series, Tragic Relief, which was recently featured on Funny or Die. You can learn more about Michael at www.michaelgoldburg.com and www.whatseatingdad.com/.
Poster image design by Cyndi Conklin. Photograph by Wei Li Liang.
Production still from WHAT'S EATING DAD? Photo by Peter Olsen.
Thank you for joining me here today. Congratulations on the success of What’s Eating Dad? I have seen the film a number of times now, and I feel it gets funnier and funnier each time I see it. What do you think accounts for the film’s success?
Thanks Nina! That’s great to hear. I hope What’s Eating Dad? is connecting with audiences on several levels. First off, it’s about the anxiety of meeting your significant other’s family for the first time – which is a pretty universal feeling – and also coming to terms with their shortcomings and “differences.” On another level, the film deals with family dynamics and dysfunction, particularly denial within families, that I think most of us can also relate to. And hopefully the film succeeds as a piece of zombie fiction – spoiler alert! – where it uses the genre as a backdrop for exploring some of the stronger themes mentioned above. Tonally, I think the movie works as well as it does because it’s dealing with all of these issues in a comic way in the midst of a horrifying situation. The actors are all playing everything very wonderfully straight which only makes the situation more absurd and ridiculous—and makes the audience feel for Chloe’s, the protagonist’s, bewilderment and horror even more.
Production still from WHAT'S EATING DAD? Photo by Peter Olsen. Pictured: Morgan Wright, Joel Haberli, Barbara
You have been attending quite a few film festival lately. Could you share a favorite experience?
There have been so many great experiences on the festival circuit that it’s hard to boil down to one. So I’ll quickly share three! We had the honor of screening in Paris at the Champs-Élysées Film Festival, where I got to rub shoulders with legendary filmmakers and actors like Jeremy Irons, Alan Parker, Anna Karina, Vilmos Zsigmond and others. A highlight of the year for sure! And we’ve been fortunate to screen in up and coming regional festivals, like the Chattanooga Film Festival, where the level of programming and care for the films and filmmakers was off the charts. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Indy Film Fest in Indianapolis, Indiana, which was a homecoming for me as it’s my home state, but also a stellar film festival in its own right. And the best part of all: meeting so many great people and amazing filmmakers and making a lot of new friendships and potential collaborations.
Production still from WHAT'S EATING DAD? Photo by Peter Olsen. Pictured: Morgan Wright.
Production still from WHAT'S EATING DAD? Photo by Peter Olsen. Pictured: Brennan Taylor.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently making my first feature film, Sure-Fire, a fast-paced crime comedy about a NYC con man having a mid-life crisis. In the vein of classic NY comedies from Woody Allen and Mel Brooks, Sure-Fire is a universal story about how it’s never too late – even for a con man – to “rewrite your life’s script.” We’re in pre-production for a spring 2016 shoot. Stay tuned for more updates at http://www.michaelgoldburg.com/.
What else gets you up in the morning? What are you passionate about? And how does this influence your creative life? (or does it?)
I’m passionate about making films; from script to production to post-production to release. That’s definitely what gets me up in the morning and keeps me busy. Right now, I’m busy promoting What’s Eating Dad?, editing another comedy short film, Rye Manhattan, I shot this summer, moving Sure-Fire into production, and developing several other feature-length screenplays as well. I’m also passionate about movies in general and try to see as many films, old and new, as I can. I also love theater, music, art and photography. When I’m not making or watching films, you’ll often find me at a museum, catching some live music, or snapping photos in Brooklyn; all of which inspires and influences me.
And my standard teacher question: What advice would you give to an aspiring filmmaker?
See as many films as you can – both good and bad – because you can learn a lot from both. And immerse yourself fully in your life and in other fields and pursuits, even those far flung from film, so you have a lot to draw upon in your work. And if you want to learn how to make films, you don’t necessarily have to go to film school. You can learn just by making films.
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you were able to join me here today.
Connect with Michael and learn more about What’s Eating Dad? at:
- http://www.michaelgoldburg.com/
- http://www.whatseatingdad.com/
- https://twitter.com/michaelgoldburg
- https://www.facebook.com/michaelgoldburg
- @michaelgoldburg – Instagram
