Table of Contents
Three Key Takeaways
- Embrace the Humor: Mischa Webley’s approach to tackling a satirical comedy about racial dynamics shows that humor can illuminate underlying societal hypocrisies.
- Start Before You’re Ready: Webley advises aspiring filmmakers to begin their projects even without a full budget, as momentum can attract additional support and opportunities.
- Keep It Small: By maintaining a lean production, Webley found freedom to improvise and creatively explore scenes, enhancing the final product.
Mischa Webley, the creator, writer, and director of Hasaan Hates Portland, brings a unique narrative to this year’s HollyShorts Film Festival.
This dark, satirical comedy series captures the experiences of Hasaan Thomas, portrayed by the lead actor of the same name, as he navigates life in Portland.
With Chelsea Unsbee producing, Ben Olsen as the director of photography, James Westby editing, Zak Nelson composing, and Jason Wells handling sound mix and design, this project is rooted in personal experience and humor.
Hasaan Hates Portland is a reflective piece on identity and societal norms, making it a must-see at the festival.
On the inspiration behind Hasaan Hates Portland
There’s a Portland-like neighborhood in every city—very white, very progressive, very Whole Foods and bumper sticker friendly—but my hometown Portland is like the final boss level of all that. I had never seen an accurate depiction of what it’s like to be Black in a place like that, and I wanted to use humor to shine a light on some underlying hypocrisies.
Was there a surprising moment during production?
Early on, I embraced our low-budget approach, letting the material do the work. Humor will either work or it won't, so we focused on characters, material, and timing. That mindset allowed us to create great, organic content that we couldn’t have planned for.
"Try to make something only you could make, and start before you’re ready."
Is there a moment in the film that feels uniquely yours?
We joked that this was pretty much a documentary about our experiences, so the whole thing was very personal and close to home. Sometimes too much so.
What was the hardest creative decision you made?
Casting my friend Hasaan in the title role was both the best and hardest decision. He had never acted before and didn’t want to do it, but I insisted. It couldn’t have been anyone else.
What do you hope audiences take away from your film?
I hope they laugh, relate to it, and recognize “Portland” in their own cities. Also, I hope they visit Portland to see that I'm not making this stuff up.
"At the core of all my work is a desire to push boundaries - my own or the audience's."
How has this film influenced your future storytelling?
Having never made comedy before, seeing people laugh has made me want to dive deeper into comedic storytelling. It’s a lot more fun than making people cry.
What does being selected for HollyShorts mean to you?
This show initially launched online and got some attention, but it's great to reach a wider audience and be among other great films and shows at the festival.
Main Cast and Crew
- Hasaan Thomas - Lead Actor
- Ben Olsen - Director of Photography
- Zak Nelson - Composer
- Jason Wells - Sound Mix and Design
Watch the trailer of Hasaan Hates Portland below.
