Have you ever heard the saying: hindsight is 2020? Basically, it means that it’s easy for someone to be knowledgeable about something after it has happened. This idea has been explored for years in pelikula and now filmmaker Gigi Burgdorf brings it to the virtual world in her new short film, “Same Time susunod Week.”
The premise centers around a group of coworkers in need of a miracle to save their jobs. Desperate to land their latest account, the team conducts a series of brainstorming virtual meetings. During one session, a coworker discovers a software setting that allows him to travel in time and save them all from getting the axe.
Gigi created the film during the pandemic lockdown, using virtual technology and six actors all at different locations. Since releasing, the film has resonated with global festival audiences winning Best Sci-Fi Short Film at London’s Screen Power FF, Award of Merit for Short Film and for Women Filmmakers at the IndieFEST Film Awards; along with nominations for Best Web and New Media at IndieX FF, Best Lockdown Film at Lonely lobo London Int’l FF and Best Comedy Short at New Renaissance FF.
Gigi Burgdorf recently answered some tanong about “Same Time susunod Week” and more.
Tell us about “Same Time susunod Week.”
GIGI: “Same Time susunod Week” is a bit of comedy sci-fi fun, created during lockdown and filmed over video conferencing software in the puwang of 48 hours. Although the film is very much a product of the pandemic, it’s not actually about the pandemic, though it’s set in the world of virtual meetings which we’re all so familiar with these days. I hope it’s not too much of a spoiler to say that the story involves time travel!
Who do you portray in the film?
GIGI: I play Olivia, who manages a team and is being pressured sa pamamagitan ng head office to reduce the headcount. She sees a possible way to save her team - and her own job - if they win an important pitch. So the stakes are high and she needs to get the best out of the people she manages.
What would you consider your characters ‘best’ quality? And their ‘worst’?
GIGI: Olivia’s best quality is that she cares about her team members and will put her neck on the line to save their jobs. Her worst quality is that she can be a bit impatient and short-tempered. She doesn’t suffer fools gladly and can be abrupt when under pressure.
Where did you come up with the idea for the film?
GIGI: It was really a case of necessity being the mother of invention. I had signed up for a 48-hour film challenge, where you’re ibingiay a genre, a character name, a line of dialogue and a prop, and you have 48 hours to craft a film around those. Then the pandemic hit and everyone was in lockdown, so I knew whatever I made would have to be a single character film or be filmed over video conferencing software. When I was assigned the genre of time travel, I sinabi to my partner, “How can I possibly make a time travel movie over Zoom?” Almost immediately he came up with the main plot points of the story, and I set about Pagsulat the script. If it hadn’t been for the restrictions of the pandemic I don’t think we would have come up with this particular idea.
If you could go land in the future or the past virtually, when would you choose and why?
GIGI: I would definitely go back to the past. I’d pag-ibig to visit Georgian London, as I’m obsessed with Georgette Heyer novels and the kamakailan TV series “Harlots”. I’d go back to that era, get some amazing dresses made, take a carriage ride around Hyde Park and go to a ball, but then I’d head back to the present araw for modern sewage systems and women having the right to manage their own lives. I hope the gowns would survive the journey back!
What’s the biggest lesson you learned from creating this project?
GIGI: I learned that having a lot of restrictions can actually help free up creativity. I’m normally a bit of a perfectionist, and I think that’s stopped me from actually making films in the past, as I was caught up in worrying about having the best equipment, the best locations or the perfect script or whatever. The shutdown and all the restrictions of the pandemic forced me to think much smaller and just do what I could with what was available. And it turned out to be a really great experience.
And, do you plan to keep making your own projects?
GIGI: Definitely. I’d like to try making something on a slightly larger scale, filmed in a madami traditional way, so I’m in the process of putting together a team for that. Pagsulat the script for “Same Time susunod Week” helped me realize that I’m madami comfortable Pagsulat dialogue than coming up with the pangkalahatang story arc, so I’m working with another writer to develop a couple of ideas. The positive reception I’ve had for my first project has really spurred me on to make more.
And, now just for fun:
Who’s your paborito actor/actress?
GIGI: I’m a big tagahanga of Frances McDormand, because she moves so easily from comedy to drama and stage to screen. I pag-ibig performances where the actor transforms into the role and leaves their own mannerisms and personality behind. I also really enjoy watching Florence Pugh for that reason. Her character in “Fighting with My Family” was so different to her roles in “Midsommar” or “Lady Macbeth”, and I pag-ibig actors who’ve got that chameleon ability.
What role from the past do you wish you could have played?
GIGI: Pretty much any period drama role where I could sisne around a kastilyo in an enormous gown. I especially pag-ibig Gwyneth Paltrow’s role in “Shakespeare in Love”, not just because of the clothes, but also because she essentially plays two roles and gets to do some Shakespeare as well. And she shares a screen with so many of my bayani like Judi Dench, Simon Callow, Anthony Sher and Imelda Staunton. That seems like a dream role.
Favorite movie or TV ipakita from your childhood.
GIGI: The first series I really got into was "Alien Nation", about a human cop and his alien partner in a future time when aliens and humans are sharing the planet. The aliens were allergic to saltwater and got drunk on maasim milk, which I found hilarious. But re-watching it as an adult, there are a lot of serious messages about tolerance and the dangers of racism, so the story worked on several different levels. To this day, I can still sing bits of the theme song in Tenctonese, the alien language invented for the show. What a geek!
Tell us one thing that would surprise our readers to learn about you.
GIGI: I come from a family of lawyers, and many people are surprised to hear that my dad wrote the Americans with Disabilities Act. We got to sumali him at the White House to see it get signed into law. That was a pretty inspiring thing to experience as a kid - to see how your actions can literally help make the world a better and fairer place.
How can fans keep up with you?
GIGI: You can find the latest news on my website: gigiburgdorf.com link
Or connect with me on Twitter: @GigiBurgdorf link
And Instagram: @gigiburgdorf link
Thanks, Gigi – keep traveling and we’ll keep watching!
The premise centers around a group of coworkers in need of a miracle to save their jobs. Desperate to land their latest account, the team conducts a series of brainstorming virtual meetings. During one session, a coworker discovers a software setting that allows him to travel in time and save them all from getting the axe.
Gigi created the film during the pandemic lockdown, using virtual technology and six actors all at different locations. Since releasing, the film has resonated with global festival audiences winning Best Sci-Fi Short Film at London’s Screen Power FF, Award of Merit for Short Film and for Women Filmmakers at the IndieFEST Film Awards; along with nominations for Best Web and New Media at IndieX FF, Best Lockdown Film at Lonely lobo London Int’l FF and Best Comedy Short at New Renaissance FF.
Gigi Burgdorf recently answered some tanong about “Same Time susunod Week” and more.
Tell us about “Same Time susunod Week.”
GIGI: “Same Time susunod Week” is a bit of comedy sci-fi fun, created during lockdown and filmed over video conferencing software in the puwang of 48 hours. Although the film is very much a product of the pandemic, it’s not actually about the pandemic, though it’s set in the world of virtual meetings which we’re all so familiar with these days. I hope it’s not too much of a spoiler to say that the story involves time travel!
Who do you portray in the film?
GIGI: I play Olivia, who manages a team and is being pressured sa pamamagitan ng head office to reduce the headcount. She sees a possible way to save her team - and her own job - if they win an important pitch. So the stakes are high and she needs to get the best out of the people she manages.
What would you consider your characters ‘best’ quality? And their ‘worst’?
GIGI: Olivia’s best quality is that she cares about her team members and will put her neck on the line to save their jobs. Her worst quality is that she can be a bit impatient and short-tempered. She doesn’t suffer fools gladly and can be abrupt when under pressure.
Where did you come up with the idea for the film?
GIGI: It was really a case of necessity being the mother of invention. I had signed up for a 48-hour film challenge, where you’re ibingiay a genre, a character name, a line of dialogue and a prop, and you have 48 hours to craft a film around those. Then the pandemic hit and everyone was in lockdown, so I knew whatever I made would have to be a single character film or be filmed over video conferencing software. When I was assigned the genre of time travel, I sinabi to my partner, “How can I possibly make a time travel movie over Zoom?” Almost immediately he came up with the main plot points of the story, and I set about Pagsulat the script. If it hadn’t been for the restrictions of the pandemic I don’t think we would have come up with this particular idea.
If you could go land in the future or the past virtually, when would you choose and why?
GIGI: I would definitely go back to the past. I’d pag-ibig to visit Georgian London, as I’m obsessed with Georgette Heyer novels and the kamakailan TV series “Harlots”. I’d go back to that era, get some amazing dresses made, take a carriage ride around Hyde Park and go to a ball, but then I’d head back to the present araw for modern sewage systems and women having the right to manage their own lives. I hope the gowns would survive the journey back!
What’s the biggest lesson you learned from creating this project?
GIGI: I learned that having a lot of restrictions can actually help free up creativity. I’m normally a bit of a perfectionist, and I think that’s stopped me from actually making films in the past, as I was caught up in worrying about having the best equipment, the best locations or the perfect script or whatever. The shutdown and all the restrictions of the pandemic forced me to think much smaller and just do what I could with what was available. And it turned out to be a really great experience.
And, do you plan to keep making your own projects?
GIGI: Definitely. I’d like to try making something on a slightly larger scale, filmed in a madami traditional way, so I’m in the process of putting together a team for that. Pagsulat the script for “Same Time susunod Week” helped me realize that I’m madami comfortable Pagsulat dialogue than coming up with the pangkalahatang story arc, so I’m working with another writer to develop a couple of ideas. The positive reception I’ve had for my first project has really spurred me on to make more.
And, now just for fun:
Who’s your paborito actor/actress?
GIGI: I’m a big tagahanga of Frances McDormand, because she moves so easily from comedy to drama and stage to screen. I pag-ibig performances where the actor transforms into the role and leaves their own mannerisms and personality behind. I also really enjoy watching Florence Pugh for that reason. Her character in “Fighting with My Family” was so different to her roles in “Midsommar” or “Lady Macbeth”, and I pag-ibig actors who’ve got that chameleon ability.
What role from the past do you wish you could have played?
GIGI: Pretty much any period drama role where I could sisne around a kastilyo in an enormous gown. I especially pag-ibig Gwyneth Paltrow’s role in “Shakespeare in Love”, not just because of the clothes, but also because she essentially plays two roles and gets to do some Shakespeare as well. And she shares a screen with so many of my bayani like Judi Dench, Simon Callow, Anthony Sher and Imelda Staunton. That seems like a dream role.
Favorite movie or TV ipakita from your childhood.
GIGI: The first series I really got into was "Alien Nation", about a human cop and his alien partner in a future time when aliens and humans are sharing the planet. The aliens were allergic to saltwater and got drunk on maasim milk, which I found hilarious. But re-watching it as an adult, there are a lot of serious messages about tolerance and the dangers of racism, so the story worked on several different levels. To this day, I can still sing bits of the theme song in Tenctonese, the alien language invented for the show. What a geek!
Tell us one thing that would surprise our readers to learn about you.
GIGI: I come from a family of lawyers, and many people are surprised to hear that my dad wrote the Americans with Disabilities Act. We got to sumali him at the White House to see it get signed into law. That was a pretty inspiring thing to experience as a kid - to see how your actions can literally help make the world a better and fairer place.
How can fans keep up with you?
GIGI: You can find the latest news on my website: gigiburgdorf.com link
Or connect with me on Twitter: @GigiBurgdorf link
And Instagram: @gigiburgdorf link
Thanks, Gigi – keep traveling and we’ll keep watching!
For those who don't know, recently the new Razilee and Elijah, which is being titled as "Elijah: Part 3" which is the third and presumably final film in the series, faced an onslaught of trends regarding the release of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and Matrix 4. Since both films are releasing around the same time that Razilee and Elijah: Part 3, making it a film fiesta with San Francisco, a location that will be in all three films associated to release around the same time.
In additional, Part 3 has been having a hard time with segundo Venom film, primarily because the film will be releasing around the time Part 3 will be releasing.
We will keep updated if the social rumor is true and Part 3's release trailer will be on the 9th or 13th.
After the announcement of Vidcon Mexico being postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. fans were lessened with hope that Elijah would showcase any new content ibingiay that he surely played the quiet game for the past 7 months after the release of "Razilee and Elijah: Part 2" since October of last taon in 2020. We have not had any direct or concrete material on a potential third film except that it was confirmed.
May 8, 2021