Q&A With a Louisiana Film Prize Top 20 Film: ‘A Bird's Nest'

Louisiana Film Prize Festival is October 9 through 12. Here's a closer look at one of the Top 20 films, "A Bird's Nest."

"A Bird's Nest" is a drama directed by Christine Chen. We asked Christine a few questions about her short film.

What is your film about?

A lonely and troubled boy finds solace in the secret hideout he has built in the woods. He befriends the girl next door and shares with her his secret place.

What kind of message are you trying to get across in your film?

We all have a void to fill and sometimes we seek solace through misguided means.

Where in Northwest Louisiana did you film?

We filmed in Southeast Shreveport and Springridge. Both are in Caddo.

What were your impressions about Northwest Louisiana, specifically the Shreveport-Bossier area?

We were impressed by the variety of locations that Northwest Louisiana had to offer from natural woodsy spots to nice suburban neighborhoods. Specifically, the landscape in the area is very beautiful. The food is fantastic and the people are friendly.

Would you film in this area again?

Absolutely! We had a blast!

$50,000 is on the line! What do you plan on doing with the money if you win?

Honestly, probably make another film, pay our cast and crew for their hard work, and pay back some of our production costs.

Why should someone vote for your film?

Our film has a very unique story and the subject matter that we cover is a difficult topic. The story has a lot of depth as we explore what goes on in the mind of someone who has suffered trauma. Many of the themes we explore not only deal with the mind of a troubled child but also with grander themes that people should be able to relate to.

The film is very cinematic because we placed a high value on the look and mood of everything that we shot. Every element of the film was carefully thought out. Each detail has meaning from the colors to prop choices to locations. Locations were chosen to reflect the mood of each scene and to convey the dark psyche of our character in a beautiful way.

From top to bottom we had a solid team with many years of experience – a solid team of professionals.

Additional thoughts:

This was an incredible experience and we are so thankful for the opportunity to be included amongst all the other highly qualified films.