Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- At the core of all my work is a desire to reveal the shadow side of the human condition. Kaz PS dives deep into themes of grief and vulnerability in their latest film.
- Take the damn risk, people. There is never a perfect time. Kaz encourages filmmakers to embrace fear and seize opportunities without waiting for permission.
- Horror's capacity for powerful allegory is something I've always loved. Kaz's debut in horror direction explores the genre's strength in conveying deeper meanings.
Director and writer Kaz PS, alongside a stellar team including producer Philip Berger and actors Tracie Thoms, Stefanie Estes, and Jenny O'Hara, brings A Good Death to life.
With an intriguing narrative centered around a death doula, the film promises a unique blend of vulnerability and Gothic horror.
Kaz shares insights into the making of the film, their filmmaking journey, and what it means to be part of this year’s HollyShorts Film Festival.
Q&A Interview
What drew you to make this film?
I met a real-life death doula at a friend's birthday party and was fascinated by the radical compassion of the work she did. I couldn't help but think what an exquisitely vulnerable position these (mostly) women put themselves in when they go into a stranger's home, heart wide open. My protagonist, Amalia, is trying to use her death doula work as a means of deflecting her grief around her own mother's death, and ends up going through something vastly worse than grieving.
What surprised you most about the filmmaking process this time?
I had what I thought was a really simple and powerful in-camera idea for the "nightmare space" sequences. It's how we shot it on set, but boy was I wrong! We ended up having to reimagine the whole thing in post, which, thanks to our incredible VFX artist Efrain Perez, worked out beautifully.
Is there a moment in the film that feels the most you?
My first thought is the hallway chase scene. We coined a term in the process of making this film, a new genre, High Femme Gothic Horror. I feel like the chase scene is that in a nutshell.
What do you hope audiences take away from your film?
I hope the ending catches them off guard! And I hope they ponder the notion that trying to run from grief usually has you running headlong into something worse.
What does it mean to you to have your film selected for HollyShorts?
This is my third outing at HollyShorts, though my first with a horror film and a project that I wrote as well as directed. It was an incredible surprise and joy to find out I got in! Having taken the risks I did to make this film, it was so validating to have a festival like HollyShorts recognize my work.
"Take the damn risk, people. There is never a perfect time."
Main Cast and Crew
- Adrian Peng Correia - Director of Photography
- Adri Siriwatt - Production Designer
- Sasha Tomasky - Editor
- Torrel Alexis - Sound Design
- Vaaal - Score
- Efrain Perez - VFX
Discover more about A GOOD DEATH on Instagram @agooddeathshortfilm and view the trailer below.
