WELCOME BACK! TODAY WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING EMMA BROCKELBANK AND JONATHAN “JJ” KATZ-RIGOUDI AS WE APPROACH THE CSIF FALL 2021 MEMBERS’ SCREENING + DIRECTORS TALK.
TUNE IN ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH AT 7:00PM (MDT), TO WATCH THEIR FILM COOKING WITH MARIO – ITALIAN SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS, AND INTERVIEW, LIVE FROM THE CSIF OFFICE. YOU CAN WATCH THE EVENT VIA OUR FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE PAGES. RSVP HERE.

CSIF: Tell us about yourself. What do you do in the film industry?

EMMA BROCKELBANK: I studied film in school and barely use my education for anything other than stupid videos I make with plebs like JJ.

JJ KATZ-RIGOUDI: N/A. What do you want me to say, I’m not in the film industry!

CSIF: How did you get started in filmmaking? Why did you decide to become a filmmaker?

EB: I got inspired to make films by watching Jia Zhangke. He would be disgusted to know that, given the kind of material I make now.

JJKR: Like, what am I supposed to say?! We saw a video competition one time and decided to make one. It turned out surprisingly adequate so that’s what we do now, I guess.

CSIF: What movie(s) inspired you to become a filmmaker?

EB: The World, Still Life – Jia Zhangke, Yellow Earth – Chen Kaige, Rush Hour 2 – director not worth mentioning.

JJKR: Sharknado 3 – That guy who keeps making Sharknado movies

CSIF: What kinds of stories are you interested in telling?

EB: Being honest, what JJ and I enjoy making usually revolves around dark humour that points to our f****d-up upbringings. It was the better option, between that and hardcore porn. Hardcore porn was JJ’s contribution to this question. Like, instead of becoming David Fincher, we became Robin Williams… as dark as that is to say.

CSIF: What is the most important thing you’ve learned in your practice as a filmmaker so far?

EB: Don’t take yourself or your work too seriously. A lot of the time you’re gonna make stuff that’s bad. It’s a learning process toward making things that are less bad, and that people can actually relate to. And don’t let being bad stop you. Look at JJ and I, we’ve obviously not let making bad things stop us.

JJKR: In a pinch, you can make a fake mustache out of tape.

CSIF: What advice do you have for other filmmakers?

EB: Make stuff, don’t stop making stuff, force your friends to help you make stuff, then find new friends.

JJKR: Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t be Italian.

CSIF: What is the most embarrassing or funniest thing that has happened to you on set?

EB: I covered my stomach in fake blood and ground beef in a public wildlife park spouting random Italian food words. It’s probably not the most embarrassing things I’ve done on set… honestly, I don’t get embarrassed anymore.

JJKR: Butchering the cat in between shots was a bit embarrassing… having all the crew watch me to make sure we stayed on schedule…

CSIF: Tell us about your most recent project.

EB: Most of what we come up with is just a fever dream we write and complete in less than a week’s time, so probably a complete remake of Rush Hour 2.

JJKR: I made soup the other day.

CSIF: Any final thoughts/words regarding filmmaking/being a filmmaker in Calgary?

EB: Listen, this is a small city and a small community. Don’t be pretentious about your s***t. Feeling high and mighty is a pretty short high in comparison to feeling a genuine connection with like minded people.

JJKR: Good artists copy, great artists steal, so commit felonies… the secret ingredient, is crime!

CSIF: What is a film that you wish you made and why?

EB: F*****g Rush Hour 2 dude, I could have done a way better job than [director not worth mentioning].

JJKR: Avengers: Endgame. I would have just made it Back to the Future.

Favourite movie(s): You’re really not seeing the pattern here… there’s a pretty obvious through line (EB). Synecdoche, New York (JJKR).

Favourite movie snack(s): Rush Hour 2 (EB). Plain cottage cheese (JJKR).

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