"I just wanted to show that we need to think first before doing something"

My Name is Edgar and I have a Cow

Filip Diviak

Filip, can you tell us more about yourself and your short film "My Name is Edgar and I have a Cow"?

I'm just a guy who likes animation..or maybe I could say storytelling in any media. But animation suits my stories the best so far. Been studying it and then, somehow ended up doying it even after school.
Edgar and his cow was my first "pro" movie. It was just a little funny idea which grew to something bigger (but still small tho, hehe).

What was your inspiration for sparking discussion around this topic? How would you say your short film explores or suggests a change?

Well..about the story. The idea was sparked by my friend who's mom is working on a farm. A little bull was born there and since they couldn't use it for milk, they decided to sell it for meat. My friend was sad so I told her to steal the bull and hide it in her one room apartment. It was just a joke but it gave me the image of a big cow standing in an aparment...funny idea tho.
About the message - it was never my point to talk about vegetarianism in a first place. Just wanted to show that we need to think first before we do something (even if it's a good deed), and also that sometimes you need to sacrifice your comfort for a greater good - helping each other should be more prioritized. But never felt like I´m in a position to teach about what to eat and what not to.
If the audience decided to do some change after watching this movie, that´s just a plus! :) 

What was the biggest challenge you faced on the production of "My Name is Edgar and I have a Cow"? How did you overcome it?

Probably the thing I mentioned in the previous question - to not make the question of vegetarianism too pushy. Also the dialogue was quite a challenge for me. It was the first time I worked with the spoken word, and even tho there are no difficult dialogues used in the movie, it took me a lot to decide what to say. I wanted to keep Edgar pure, childish, spontainious, not much about words but rather actions.  

Could you share to us a moment during your short film’s release / distribution where you felt that your short film truly had an impact on the audience? How did that feel for you, as the director?

I remember beying at Anifilm festival, in the cinema full of people. It was the first time a bigger audience saw the movie. I was quite nervous if the humor and the little twist at the end of the movie will even work. But then the reactions exceeded my expectations by far. Hearing people laugh so much they cried, just before it turns to fear, whispers and nervosity and then suddenly a big burst of happines in the end..I have to tell, compliments, networkings, awards, money and blah blah blah, it´s all nice, but 
the pure emotions of audience (especially children) while they are watching your work, that´s totally another level for me. And if it even make people think or make a change...I love my work for this particular thing.

Tricky question, but one that sparks discussion among us artists: why do you create? What is your motive, and what pushes you to explore topics such as social change?

Probably the thing I´m mentioning above. That´s gonna be it! 

A lot of people on indie-clips.com are independent and/or beginning filmmakers. Can you share one piece of advice to our audience of independent filmmakers making their first short film?

BE KIND! It helped me a lot. Listen to people you trust, be openminded and surround yourself with creative folks. Don´t hold back. At this point, everything was done, but the same movie made by 1000 different people, is 1000 different movies (I think Tarkovsky said it or what)...anyways, tell your story the best way you can!
...also, don´t care about calculations, likes, what´s popular and whatever. Do what you like and feel it, there is 8 billion people in this world...somebody will definitely like your art. 

Any future plans? Tell us more about your upcoming projects!

I´m already working on my debut feature now (we finished the animatic!), it takes a long time but don´t know what else I would do anyways. Also have some ideas for a shorts, but who knows If I will ever got to do at least some of them. It would be nice!  

Where can we see your work? Any way our fellow filmmakers can get in contact with you?

Just put my name somewhere (I´m Filip Diviak). You will probably find me on instagram or youtube!