AFI Dallas audio interview: filmmaker Daniel Laabs for Sleet/Snow

by John P. Meyer

University of Texas at Arlington student Daniel Laabs was waiting anxiously for a contact from the AFI Dallas film folks when he got word that there might be some good news coming about his submission.

Finally, after too much nail-biting, he heard from Sarah Harris (Senior Programmer for the festival) and discovered that emails from the AFI crew had been going into his spam folder. D'OH! But the news was good (his short film, Sleet/Snow, had been accepted as an official selection in the Student Competition), so it all ended well.

Sleet/Snow, at 15 minutes in length, is a quiet, thoughtful films that depends on character interaction rather than exposition to carry the narrative day. It involves a young man recently moved into his own apartment who (for whatever reason) purchases a painting from a guy who lives way out in West Texas; he induces a female friend to join him for the ride. Along the way, they become close in ways they'd never expected. (And in ways they're not exactly clear on.) When they end up sharing a motel room for the night, the door seems wide open for some - ah - clarification.

Daniel's film made a positive impression on me, in part because it leaves issues unresolved and outcomes unexplained, yet manages to satisfy emotionally. (Plus, there's that whole diptych theme.)

Here are highlights of our audio interview:

* Daniel has always yearned to tell stories; before going into film he went through the English major stage and "that wasn't working out."

* To pull together a filmmaking crew, he called on close friends and held an open casting call

* In reference to the importance of attending film school: "If you want to move a little bit quicker and have unlimited resources, then film school is a vital element." - but, he says, it's not the only way to become a filmmaker...

* THRILL as Daniel quotes Ringo Starr on the importance of working with the best people!

* GASP as you hear Daniel reveal what movie you should definitely see - other than his! - at the festival!

* GRIND YOUR TEETH when Daniel explains that he didn't really mean all those bad things he said to that other newspaper about Watchmen!