The Road to Sundance: Una Hora Por Favora, directed by Jill Soloway

Tell us about your film. What inspired you to make it? UNA HORA POR FAVORA is in Shorts Program 1. I was inspired to make it because my best friend and muse and actress in my film wanted to add to the current canon of "Hey, Girls Are Funny Too!" TV and movie stuff. Beyond that it was great to make a comment about objectification and using people. Much like the rose ceremonies of The Bachelor and the line-up of the hookers on HBO's Cathouse, the male immigrant workers of LA are available daily to choose from, like a buffet. This film pushes that idea to an extreme when Michaela's character chooses someone who not only refuses to be used but also insists on showing her a part of herself she never wanted to see.

How long did it take you to make your film? About three months.

How did you finance your film? With my own money!

What was the most challenging part of the filmmaking process and how did you overcome it? Being willing to ask for feedback, listen to it, and let enough time pass so that I could synthesize peoples' reactions into my own meaningful creative solutions.

Tell us about your experience getting into Sundance. Are there any pointers for filmmakers for getting accepted?
Working with Michaela was great because we're so relaxed and comfortable collaborating. So having close friends nearby is one trick. I think it makes you do your best work. Yet I am sure that asking Wilmer Valderrama to be in the film helped. He is not only famous but also incredibly talented. So maybe the pointer is, don't ignore going after names or established talent; they are often game to participate-- but don't forget to keep your creative besties close at hand.

If you had to make the film all over again, would you do anything different?  Not really, I couldn't have asked for a better result!

What’s next for your film? Do you have distribution? If so, when and how can people see it and if not, what are your hopes for the film?
As my film is a short, distribution isn't really an option. It will be part of Yahoo Shorts, an online contest where it will be available to see for the length of the fest. You can't vote until Jan. 19, but the link to participate is www.sundance.yahoo.com.

Can you provide any advice to other filmmakers who dream of getting their films made and into Sundance? I guess just DO IT. You have to be headstrong enough to get it made but not so bull-headed that you're unwilling to collaborate or listen to constructive feedback, which is absolutely necessary.