- Jared Huizenga
TCFF Spotlight: The Shingle Life
Over the course of the 2018 Twin Cities Film Fest, we'll chat with some of the filmmakers behind the 125+ films that will showing during this year's festival.
Film:
The Shingle Life
Showtime:
Friday, Oct. 19 - 5 p.m.
Q: Tell us about ‘The Shingle Life.'
It’s a story about two brothers and their friend, all three of them roofers, and their relationship struggles. One has just been dumped; one has yet to find love at all; and one has hardened against relationships and tries to control the romantic fates of the other two.
It’s a romantic comedy, but it focuses mainly on the friendship between these guys. There’s a bit of me in each character, but I mostly modeled them after people I knew in my post-college, pre-marriage years. A lot of guys tend to exude a macho exterior in an effort to hide a scared, sensitive person. I wanted to show how insecure men can be when facing the battlefield of relationships. The characters are often flawed, immature, and stupid, but that doesn’t mean they can’t learn and grow. That growth is what The Shingle Life is about.
Q: The film is part of the Minnesota Connected programming at TCFF. What is the Minnesota connection(s)?
I was born and raised in Minnesota, as were most of the other cast and crew. We shot the movie in and around the Twin Cities, and all post-production was completed here. So I guess every aspect of this movie is 100% Minnesotan.
Q: Where has the film played already, and what drew you to TCFF?
The Shingle Life had its world premiere at the 2018 Golden Door International Film Festival in New Jersey. This will be its Midwest premiere.
My previous feature, Attack of the Tattie-Bogle, played at the 2017 Twin Cities Film Fest and I found it to be one of the best-run festivals I’ve attended. I love the variety of films they screen and I like the focus on American Independent Cinema. It was a no-brainer to submit to the Twin Cities Film Fest again, and I’m excited to be back.
Peter Marcy
Director
Q: Who from the film will be attending the screening? I will be there with most of the main cast and crew, including actor/producer Adam Anderson, actor/producer Lindsay Marcy, and actor Christopher Marcy.
Q: If someone is only going to see one film at the Twin Cities Film Fest, why should it be 'The Shingle Life?'
It’s a low-key romantic comedy with outstanding performances and relatable characters. If you’ve been through a breakup and appreciate the painful, often silly coping strategies that we can resort to, I think you’ll enjoy The Shingle Life.