Legend has it that on this very day, at this very time… an episode of Indie Beat would be released. This story was passed on from generation to generation and finally that fateful day is here. Was the tale truthful? Was there to be a new episode of the podcast?
Yes. They were right. And it was good.
(That they were right).
On this episode I spoke to filmmaker (sometimes film journalist and festival programmer) Sarah Salovaara!
Salovaara began doing short films in college under the guidance of director Matt Porterfield (“I Used To Be Darker”). After graduating she conducted numerous interviews for outlets such as Filmmaker Magazine while also programming for First Time Fest and the Nantucket Film Festival.
All the while Sarah was toiling away on her own films. 2015 saw the release of “Nugget,” a comical ditty featuring a calorie-counting hermit and a nuisance of a neighbor. It starred Carlen Altman (“The Color Wheel”) and Carl Kranz (“Soft in the Head”) and went on to play at the Sarasota Film Festival among others. The best part? You can watch it right now, right here!
Afterwards, Salovaara began building what would eventually become her most personal and expansive project — the web series “Let Me Die A Nun.” The serial primarily follows a nun-in-training (rising comedian Ana Fabrega) as she discovers her newfound interest in women, exploring burgeoning sexuality and the affects of that on one’s livelihood and vocation. Also centered on is her love interest (Hari Nef, “Transparent”) and her incessant Jewish suitor (a game Carl Kranz).
The show’s insight into the church and, specifically, a nunnery, is illuminating. It feels like there’s forever been a dearth of funny things about religious people that isn’t cartoonish or facile — “Let Me Die A Nun” allows the characters to be goofy, sarcastic, and/or clumsy while still maintaining their humanity. The romantic side of the story is both deeply felt (Fabrega and Nef’s developing relationship) and sardonic (Kranz’s pining, instead of cute like in most romantic comedies, is treated as weird and stalker-ish).
Sold, right? Watch the first episode below and check out the full series, available now!
Tune in to the podcast to hear Salovaara and I speak about the series and why it’s personal to her, plus tips ’n tricks for film festivals and the wild wild web series west.
