ANNOUNCER: TONIGHT ON SHOWCASE WITH BARBARA KELLAR, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE OTR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, TT STERN-ENZI, AND CINCINNATI FILMMAKER DAVID CHIMUSORO.

STAY TUNED.

SHOWCASE STARTS RIGHT NOW.

[MUSIC] KELLAR: HI, I'M BARBARA KELLAR.

WELCOME TO OUR SHOW TODAY, WHICH IS GOING TO BE REALLY FUN BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO HANDSOME YOUNG GENTLEMEN WHO ARE NO STRANGERS TO CET BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE, NOT FOR SHOWCASE, BUT FOR LOTS OF OTHER THINGS.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO TELL US WHAT YOU DO, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING.

LET'S START WITH TEE TEE AND DAVID.

TT, YOU'RE INVOLVED WITH THE OVER-THE-RHINE FILM FESTIVAL?

STERN-ENZI: YES, I'M THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE FESTIVAL.

KELLAR: ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.

TELL US WHAT YOU DO.

STERN-ENZI: I WORK WITH THE PROGRAMING TEAM.

WE SELECT THE FILMS THAT, AGAIN, BASED ON SUBMISSIONS THAT WE GET IN, WE SELECT FILMS, AND THEN ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT TO OTHER FESTIVALS AND KIND OF SCOUT TO FIND CURATED TITLES TO BRING IN TO KIND OF FILL IN SOME OF THE GAPS THAT MAY BE MISSING IN OUR SLATE BASED ON WHAT WE'RE GETTING THROUGH SUBMISSIONS.

AND I'M ALSO KIND OF AN ALL HANDS ON DECK IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HOST EVENTS DURING THE FESTIVAL.

WE DO A BREAKFAST WITH TT WHERE I TALK TO FILMMAKERS WHO COME IN.

AND HONESTLY, I FEEL LIKE NOW I'M ALSO KIND OF A CHEERLEADER FOR FILM PROGRAMING IN THE CITY, WHICH IS ALSO, WHICH IS AN AMAZING HONOR, AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SHOWCASE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY AS A WHOLE.

KELLAR: YEAH.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT, WHEN IS THE FILM FESTIVAL?

HOW LONG IS IT?

WHAT IS IT EXACTLY TO THE PEOPLE WHO COME?

STERN-ENZI: WE'VE KIND OF MOVED AROUND.

WE'VE, AGAIN, JUST COMPLETED OUR FIFTH YEAR.

WE'VE BEEN IN THE SUMMER SINCE 2021.

AND OUR NEXT FESTIVAL WILL BE IN MARCH OF 2025.

SO WE'RE TAKING 2024 OFF, GIVE OURSELVES A CHANCE TO GET READY FOR THIS.

KELLAR: SO YOU'RE NOT EVERY YEAR, RIGHT?

STERN-ENZI: WELL, IT IS, BUT WE'RE AGAIN MAKING THIS SWITCH FROM THE SUMMER TO MOVING TO, YOU KNOW, EARLY SPRING.

THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING AT IT.

WHICH MEANS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO GET READY FOR THAT RUN UP AND TO GET FILMS AND GET EVERYTHING IN PLACE.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CHALLENGE THAT WE'LL HAVE WITH NEXT YEAR, DOING THAT YEAR ROUND PROGRAMING AND FINDING OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEP OUR NAME AND THE BRAND OF THE FESTIVAL, IF YOU WILL, KIND OF OUT AND FORWARD IN PEOPLE'S MINDS AS WE GET READY TO MOVE INTO MARCH OF 2025.

KELLAR: YEAH.

SO, OVER-THE-RHINE, DOES THAT MEAN ALL THE FILMS ARE SHOWN IN SOME PLACE IN OVER-THE-RHINE?

STERN-ENZI: THAT IS GENERALLY OUR PLAN.

ALTHOUGH IN SOME WAYS YOU COULD SAY THAT WE KIND OF EXTEND THE IDEA OF WHAT OVER-THE-RHINE IS BECAUSE WE ALSO, WE HAVE CORE SPACES THAT WE USE IN OVER-THE-RHINE, BUT WE ALSO USE SOME SPACES, WE WORK WITH THE CAC, THE FREEDOM CENTER, THE MUSEUM CENTER, SO AGAIN, IT'S OTR FOCUSED, BUT WE DO EXPAND A LITTLE OUTSIDE OF THAT.

AND IT ALSO MEANS THAT FOR NEXT YEAR, WITH THE YEAR ROUND PROGRAMING, THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE THINK ABOUT GOING OUT INTO OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

WE CAN GO, WE CAN DO AN EVENT, YOU KNOW, IN A SUBURBAN AREA AND KIND OF SAY, "HEY, WE'RE DOING THIS FOR YOU GUYS NOW.

HOPEFULLY IN MARCH OF 2025, WE WANT YOU TO COME DOWN TO OTR TO SEE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND EXPERIENCE WHAT WE DO ON A LARGER SCALE IN THAT TIME."

KELLAR: SO THE SPACES THAT ARE IN OTR USUALLY ARE LIKE BARS OR RESTAURANTS, BECAUSE THAT'S MOSTLY WHAT OTR IS.

STERN-ENZI: LARGELY THAT IS.

WE USE THE WOODWARD THEATER.

WE'VE USED THEM FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

KELLAR: WHERE'S THE WOODWARD THEATER?

STERN-ENZI: IT'S ON MAIN STREET.

AND WE'VE HAD A LONG STANDING PARTNERSHIP NOW WITH THE ART ACADEMY OF CINCINNATI.

SO WE USE THEIR SPACE AS WELL AS A SCREENING LOCATION, WHICH AGAIN, FOR AN AREA THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE A REALLY WELL ESTABLISHED THEATRICAL KIND OF SPACES, IT'S ALSO A LOT OF FUN TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF GO IN AND FIND A SPACE THAT YOU CAN CREATE AND MAKE YOUR OWN IN SOME WAY.

KELLAR: HOW LONG DOES THE FESTIVAL LAST?

STERN-ENZI: GENERALLY SPEAKING, IT'S A THREE DAY FESTIVAL.

KELLAR: OH, JUST THREE, LIKE ONE WEEKEND?

STERN-ENZI: YEAH, WE'LL DO ONE BIG SCREENING TO KIND OF KICK THINGS OFF ON A THURSDAY AND THEN HAVE SCREENINGS ALL DAY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

KELLAR: OH, SO YOU GO ALL DAY LIKE CANNES?

STERN-ENZI: YES, THAT'S THE IDEA.

KELLAR: HOW MANY FILMS DO YOU HAVE EACH, FOR ONE FESTIVAL.

STERN-ENZI: GENERALLY SPEAKING, FOR THAT, THAT TIME FRAME WE HAVE ABOUT 50 FILMS THAT WILL PLAY.

IT'S A MIX OF SHORTS AND FEATURES.

SO, YEAH, THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT.

AND WE AGAIN, WE ARE SELECTING FILMS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER REALLY INTERESTING ATTRACTION FOR US.

OUR FOCUS IS ON DISABILITY, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO INCORPORATE DISABILITY INTO THE LARGER INDUSTRY CONVERSATION ABOUT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

KELLAR: RIGHT.

AND SO YOU'RE CONNECTED SOMEHOW WITH LADD.

STERN-ENZI: YES.

KELLAR: AND IT'S -- STERN-ENZI: YEAH, LADD IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT FOR, WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY NOW THAT SUPPORTS PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN THE CITY.

SO IT'S GREAT TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE LADD TEAM BEHIND US, MAKING SURE THAT, AGAIN, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS GOING TO FIND WAYS TO GET THOSE STORIES OUT THAT ARE NOT JUST ABOUT THE PEOPLE WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENTAL AND DISABILITY COMMUNITY, BUT AGAIN, THAT ENTIRE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

KELLAR: YEAH, IT'S A REALLY INTERESTING PARTNERSHIP THERE.

AND A LOT OF MAINLINE, HOW WOULD YOU -- PHRASE USED FOR MOVIES THAT ARE SHOWN IN REGULAR THEATERS FROM HOLLYWOOD, WHEREVER, ARE ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IF YOU STOP AND THINK ABOUT IT.

SOME ACADEMY AWARD WINNING, THE ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE DEAF.

STERN-ENZI: YES.

CODA KELLAR: CODA, RIGHT, YES.

YEAH, THAT WAS A FABULOUS FILM.

STERN-ENZI: THAT FILM PLAYED OUR FESTIVAL THE YEAR THAT IT CAME OUT.

IT ACTUALLY ONLY PLAYED TWO FESTIVALS IN THE COUNTRY THAT YEAR.

IT PLAYED AT SUNDANCE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WHICH IS WHERE I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, AND I WORKED WITH THE APPLE REPS THAT -- BECAUSE, AGAIN, I'M ALSO A FILM CRITIC.

SO, REACHED OUT TO MY APPLE REP AND I SAID, "WAIT A MINUTE, THAT'S A FILM THAT WE NEED IN OUR FESTIVAL.

WHATEVER YOU WANT US TO DO, WE'LL DO IT.

WE WANT TO BRING IT IN."

AND IT WAS OUR CLOSING NIGHT FILM THAT YEAR, AND WE PLAYED IT ON WASHINGTON PARK OUT ON THE LAWN.

KELLAR: WOW.

STERN-ENZI: HAD AN AMAZING RESPONSE TO IT.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE ASSUMED THAT IT WAS GOING TO HAVE THAT AWARD SEASON RUN THAT IT HAD, BUT IT MADE US LOOK LIKE WE REALLY KNEW WHAT WE WERE DOING.

KELLAR: I GUESS SO, YEAH.

WHAT A COUP.

I MEAN, THAT IS GREAT.

SO YOU GO FROM THAT TO VERY SMALL INDEPENDENT, INDEPENDENT FILMS.

STERN-ENZI: YES.

KELLAR: AND YOU'RE THE FILMMAKER.

CHIMUSORO: YES, MA'AM.

YES, MA'AM.

KELLAR: DAVID, YOU'RE OUR FILMMAKER, YEAH.

TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.

CHIMUSORO: YEAH.

SO MY NAME IS DAVID.

I AM A CINCINNATI BASED WRITER AND DIRECTOR, AND SOMETIMES I MOONLIGHT AS A STAND UP COMIC.

BUT I HAVE BEEN IN CINCINNATI EVER SINCE I WAS 12 YEARS OLD.

AND I DISCOVERED, LIKE, KIND OF MY -- I'D ALWAYS LIKED MOVIES WHEN I WAS A KID, BUT I DISCOVERED, LIKE, MY LOVE FOR IT AND ALSO THE ABILITY TO KIND OF START MAKING SMALL PROJECTS ON MY -- WHEN I WAS HERE, IN MY TIME HERE.

AND THEN OVER JUST THE YEARS, JUST LIKE THROUGH MAKING PROJECTS AND THEN GROWING, MY COLLABORATORS AND MY TEAM HAVE NOW MANAGED TO BE A PART OF THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT, PARTICULARLY WITH LIKE MY MOST -- WITH MY LAST PROJECT THAT I RELEASED IN 2021, OUR BABY KNOWS GOT -- I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE A PART OF THE OVER-THE-RHINE FILM FESTIVAL, AND ALSO JUST GOT TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP AND A FRIENDSHIP WITH TT.

AND NOW JUST HAVE BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF, LIKE, CONTINUING TO MAKE MORE PROJECTS, CONTINUALLY WRITING, AND REALLY NOW IN THE SPACE THAT I'M IN, JUST GETTING TO SEE CINCINNATI ESTABLISHED AS ONE OF THE BRIGHT SPOTS FOR FILMMAKING IN THE COUNTRY, IF NOT THE WORLD, WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY COOL TO KIND OF SEE THOSE, TO SEE THOSE STRUCTURES STARTING TO MOVE ABOVE GROUND AND TO SEE THAT KIND OF HAPPEN HAS BEEN REALLY, REALLY COOL TO SEE KIND OF IN REAL TIME AS I'M ESTABLISHING MY OWN PERSONAL CAREER AS WELL.

KELLAR: YOU MADE A FILM CALLED NOT OUR BABY?

CHIMUSORO: OUR BABY KNOWS.

KELLAR: OH, OUR BABY KNOWS, THAT'S MORE INTERESTING.

WHAT'S -- WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

DID YOU WRITE IT?

CHIMUSORO: YES, I DID WRITE IT.

KELLAR: AND TELL US THE STORY.

CHIMUSORO: YEAH.

SO, THE STORY BEHIND OUR BABY KNOWS IS BASICALLY A YOUNG FATHER HAVING A CONVERSATION, PARTICULARLY AROUND RACE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME WITH HIS SON AND USING TWO MOMENTS OF TRIUMPH TO SOFTEN THE BLOW FOR HIMSELF AND FOR HIS SON.

AND THE TWO MOMENTS OF TRIUMPH, WHICH ARE VERY PERSONAL FOR ME ARE THE ROCK WINNING HIS FIRST WWE CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS COMING BACK FROM 3-1 IN 2016 TO WIN THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP.

AND IT'S A MIXTURE OF LIVE ACTION AND ANIMATION, AND WE KIND OF JUST KIND OF PUT THOSE TWO PIECES TOGETHER TO KIND OF TELL THIS VERY, VERY LARGE STORY IN A WAY THAT FELT INVITING BUT ALSO UPLIFTING.

AND THAT'S BEEN KIND OF LIKE THE STORY OF THAT PROJECT AS IT'S LIVED AND BREATHED SINCE ME AND MY FRIENDS GOT TO MAKE IT IN 2021.

KELLAR: SO YOU SAID, THE FATHER SAID TO THE SON, THERE ARE TWO THINGS?

CHIMUSORO: SO, YEAH, THERE'S TWO MOMENTS OF TRIUMPH, SO TWO ALTERNATE STORIES THAT HE TELLS HIS SON, PARTICULARLY AS THE CONVERSATION THAT THEY'RE HAVING JUST BEGINS TO HAVE MORE OF AN EMOTIONAL WEIGHT, JUST KIND OF LIKE DRAWING FROM MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT MY DAD HAD, JUST KIND OF LIKE HOW MY DAD IS A STORYTELLER AND HOW GENTLE -- HE BASICALLY JUST KIND OF LIKE USING THE IDEA OF STORY AS A WAY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE HARD STORIES AND HARD THINGS JUST KIND OF LIKE UNDERSTANDABLE.

SO, I TOOK A LOT OF INSPIRATION FROM MY PERSONAL LIFE AND JUST KIND OF, LIKE, AGAIN, DIGESTING A VERY, VERY TOUGH CONVERSATION AND MAKING IT INTO SOMETHING THAT FEELS LIKE YOU CAN HAVE YOUR HEAD AROUND WITHOUT IT PUTTING A DAMPER ON YOUR SOUL.

SO THAT'S -- KELLAR: WOW.

THAT'S VERY COMPLICATED.

CHIMUSORO: YEAH, IT IS, SOMEHOW -- KELLAR: SOMEHOW IT WORKS?

AND IT WAS SHOWN AT -- CHIMUSORO: YEAH, YEAH, IT WAS SHOWN.

WE ALSO WON BEST NARRATIVE SHORT AT THE OVER-THE-RHINE FILM FESTIVAL IN THE YEAR THAT WE GOT TO SHOW IT.

WE GOT TO SHOW IT IN A COUPLE OTHER FESTIVALS AS WELL.

SO IT HAS BEEN A PROJECT THAT WE TOOK BIG SWINGS AND BIG RISKS WITH IT, AND IT OPENED UP SOME REALLY, REALLY COOL DOORS IN THE AFTERMATH.

SO YEAH.

KELLAR: THAT SOUNDS LIKE A TOUGH ONE TO REVIEW.

YOU'RE THE REVIEW.

YOU'RE THE REVIEWER.

STERN-ENZI: IT WAS AN INTERESTING PROCESS.

I GOT TO MEET DAVID DURING THE SUBMISSION PHASE.

AND YOU KNOW, WE WENT OUT, WE HAD A DRINK.

WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES AS A FILMMAKER AND WHAT HE WANTED TO DO.

HE SENT ME THE LINK FOR THE STORY UP FRONT AND HE'S LIKE, "HEY, TAKE A LOOK AT IT, SEE WHAT YOU THINK."

AND I WAS LIKE, "OKAY, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT IN OUR FESTIVAL."

SO I GAVE HIM A CODE, SAID, "HEY, GO AHEAD AND SUBMIT IT."

AND SINCE I HAD ALREADY GOTTEN TO KNOW HIM A LITTLE BIT, I WAS LIKE, ONCE IT CAME TIME FOR US TO MAKE THAT DECISION, I LET THE OTHER PROGRAMMERS TAKE THE LEAD ON THE VOTING AND THAT PIECE OF THE PROCESS, BECAUSE I HAD KIND OF ESTABLISHED A PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH DAVID.

BUT IT'S A POWERFUL STORY THAT FELT LIKE IT WAS A UNIQUELY, EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T, IT FELT LIKE A UNIQUELY CINCINNATI STORY.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR WITH THE FESTIVAL, IT'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, WE WANT STORIES THAT ARE GOING TO REALLY TACKLE THESE CHALLENGING ISSUES, BUT DO IT IN A WAY THAT THE AUDIENCE IS GOING TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH, THEY'LL FEEL ENGAGED BY, AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL SEE SOME REFLECTION OF THEIR OWN LIFE AND EXPERIENCES IN IT AS WELL.

KELLAR: OKAY, SO YOU WANT TO BE -- YOU SAY TO YOURSELF, "I WANT TO BE A FILM PRODUCER."

WELL, THAT'S DIFFERENT, VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE WRITER OR THE DIRECTOR.

SO, WHERE DO YOU START IF YOU ARE NOT THE WRITER, IF IT'S NOT YOUR SCRIPT, IT'S EASY.

"OKAY, HERE'S MY SCRIPT.

LET'S TRY TO SELL IT TO HOLLYWOOD OR WHOEVER, TV."

BUT IF YOU'RE NOT THE WRITER AND YOU JUST WANT TO PRODUCE MOVIES, HOW DO YOU -- WHERE DO YOU START?

CHIMUSORO: WHERE DO YOU START?

SO MY PATH, PARTICULARLY BEING MADE BY THE INDEPENDENT ROLE AND ALSO WITH LIKE THE TRAINING, THE VERY LIKE SHORT TRAINING THAT I GOT IN THIS, LIKE, I WENT TO A FILM CAMP IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY KIND OF TAUGHT US A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

AS A PRODUCER, BECAUSE YOU KIND OF HAVE TO END UP WEARING MANY HATS, PARTICULARLY WITH THE LAST PROJECT AND PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO MAKE, I HAVE WORKED AS PRODUCER.

IT'S REALLY JUST A MATTER OF, LIKE, DO YOU HAVE AN ANALYTICAL MIND AND ALSO THE ABILITY TO KIND OF JUST LIKE FOLLOW THROUGH AND BE ABLE TO PUT TO PUT PEOPLE TOGETHER AND SAY, "HEY, WE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TOGETHER BY THIS CENTRAL THING THAT WE ARE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH."

AND YOU REALLY JUST HAVE TO BE CONNECTIVE TISSUE.

YOU HAVE TO BE THE GUY AND THE PERSON THAT'S WILLING TO JUST LIKE, ALL RIGHT, MAKE THE EMAILS AT 2 A.M.

IF YOU NEED TO, BE ABLE TO ALWAYS BE ONLINE, BUT ALSO HAVE THE DRIVE TO BE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT A PROJECT AND BE ABLE TO RUN WITH IT.

SO, A LOT OF WHAT I'VE FOUND IS A LOT OF SUCCESS ON THE PRODUCER SIDE OF THINGS IS GOOGLE DOCS AND GOOGLE SHEETS AND EXCEL SHEETS AND LATE NIGHT PHONE CALLS, BUT ALSO JUST THE ABILITY OF BEING ABLE TO SAY, "ALL RIGHT, THESE ARE THE PIECES THAT NEED TO GET PUT IN PLACE."

AND THEY CAN START, AND YOU CAN START VERY, VERY SMALL, VERY, VERY SMALL.

AND THEN JUST START TO BUILD YOUR SKILL SET FROM THERE.

BUT WHAT I FOUND ABOUT BEING A PRODUCER IS REALLY JUST BEING ABLE TO SAY, "HEY, DO YOU HAVE--" LIKE, IF YOU HAVE A SCRIPT IN FRONT OF YOU OR IF SOMEBODY HANDS YOU A SCRIPT, WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL, OUTSIDE OF MONEY AND OUTSIDE OF GETTING PAID, WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL STAKE IN IT?

AND THEN BEING ABLE TO CREATE THAT KIND OF A PERSONAL STAKE FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT GETS INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT, BECAUSE PARTICULARLY ON THE INDEPENDENT SIDE OF THINGS, AND I THINK POST THE WRITER SHUT DOWN AND THE INDUSTRY SHUT DOWN, I THINK A LOT -- WE'RE GOING TO SEE A REEMERGENCE IN JUST, LIKE, PROJECTS THAT PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT AREN'T JUST -- THAT CAN STILL MAKE MONEY AND HOPE TO MAKE MONEY.

BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS THE FILM BUSINESS, NOT THE FILM HOBBY, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT ABOUT -- IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE ABOUT HOW MUCH DOES THIS STORY MATTER TO YOU?

AND AS SOMEONE THAT KNOWS HOW TO PUT PIECES AND PEOPLE TOGETHER, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO USE YOUR PERSONAL CONVICTION OR PERSONAL STAKE WITHIN THE STORY TO BE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE WITHIN THE PLACES THAT THEY NEED TO BE, SO THAT WHEN IT'S TIME TO HIT RECORD THAT THE LIGHTS ARE ON, WE'VE GOT ENOUGH CAMERAS AND EVERYBODY KNOWS TO BE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH JUST KIND OF THE ROLE AS A PRODUCER.

IT'S NOT THE MOST FUN.

IT'S NOT THE SEXIEST, BUT IT IS VERY, VERY REWARDING BECAUSE IT IS A THING OF JUST BEING ABLE TO, AGAIN, PUT ALL THE PIECES TOGETHER SO THAT SOMEBODY CAN HAVE AN EMOTIONAL REACTION TO WATCHING SOMETHING.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIKE, WHEN WE WERE -- AND WHEN EVERYTHING THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO MAKE IS, LIKE, WE'RE PUTTING ALL THESE PEOPLE, ALL THESE PIECES AND TAKING ALL THESE RISKS SO THAT SOMEBODY CAN SIT IN FRONT OF A SCREEN, WATCH SOMETHING, AND THEN HOPE THAT THEY -- SOMETHING CLICKS IN THEIR MIND THAT LIFE IS DIFFERENT FOR THEM AFTER.

THAT'S REALLY KIND OF THE, TO ME, THE END GOAL OF AND THE POWER OF FILM IS FOR SOMEBODY'S ENTIRE PERSPECTIVE TO BE CHANGED, EITHER WITHIN 12 MINUTES, 20 MINUTES, 30 MINUTES, AN HOUR, WHATEVER.

AND, YEAH.

KELLAR: I ALWAYS THINK THAT A MOVIE OR A PLAY, THE TEST IS DO PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT AFTERWARDS?

DID YOU HATE IT?

DID YOU LOVE IT?

IF YOU DON'T REACT TO IT, IT WASN'T GOOD.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF REACTION.

YOU KNOW, YOU GO TO A MOVIE WITH FRIENDS AND YOU TALK ABOUT IT AFTERWARDS IN THE CAR OR WHEREVER YOU GO TO EAT, OR YOU SAY -- TALK ABOUT IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

AND HATING IT IS A REACTION.

CHIMUSORO: IT'S A REACTION.

KELLAR: AND SO IT MEANT SOMETHING TO YOU.

IT'S THE THINGS THAT YOUR MIND WANDERS AND YOU DON'T REALLY CARE, THAT'S WHEN IT'S NOT GOOD.

AND YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT CINCINNATI, DID YOU -- YOU FILM ALL OVER THE CITY?

AND CAN PEOPLE RECOGNIZE?

CHIMUSORO: OH YEAH, LIKE, THAT'S BEEN WHAT'S REALLY COOL ABOUT HAVING MY CAREER BE BASED IN CINCINNATI AND ALSO LIKE, YEAH, MY CAREER WOULD BE BASED IN CINCINNATI AND PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO SEE MY PROJECTS.

AND ALSO AS SOMEONE THAT CARES A LOT ABOUT THE PRODUCTION VALUE AND SCALE, I THINK THE PRESENTATION OF CINCINNATI IS SOMETHING THAT I'M EXCITED TO SEE CONTINUALLY ELEVATED.

AND WHEN PEOPLE, LIKE, GET TO WATCH A PROJECT, LIKE, "OH YEAH, THAT'S ZIEGLER PARK.

OH MY GOSH, THAT'S -- I KNOW THAT COFFEE SHOP.

THAT'S THE UPSIDE IN CLIFTON," OR BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

PEOPLE JUST GET TO KNOW SOME OF THEIR FAVORITE LITTLE MARKERS.

AND I THINK EVEN JUST KIND OF LIKE WHAT MY HOPE FOR MY CAREER IS, IS PART OF IT IS LIKE I WANT TO HELP SEE CINCINNATI PRESENTED WITH THE FULL BEAUTY AND THE COMPLEXITY THAT SHE HAS.

BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A VERY, VERY FASCINATING PLACE WITH A VERY, VERY RICH HISTORY, EVEN JUST DOWN TO, LIKE, AGAIN, THE ARCHITECTURE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT THERE ARE PRESENTATION THINGS WHERE IT'S, LIKE, I THINK FOR A LONG TIME PEOPLE HAVE CHOSEN TO FORGET ABOUT CINCINNATI OR, LIKE, EVEN LIKE I LOVED THE SHOW THE GOOD PLACE.

BUT THEY SAY CINCINNATI IS A MEDIUM PLACE.

AS SOMEONE THAT LIVED HERE, I WAS LIKE, I TOOK THAT VERY PERSONALLY.

KELLAR: YEAH.

CHIMUSORO: AND I'M JUST LIKE, OKAY, THERE IS -- WE'RE NOT.

WE'RE NOT A MEDIUM PLACE.

WE'RE A VERY 00 WE HAVE ACTUALLY, I MEAN, HISTORIANS WOULD ARGUE THAT CINCINNATI IS THE FIRST AMERICAN CITY.

SO IF THAT BEING THE CASE, THERE IS SO MUCH TO UNPACK ABOUT AMERICA'S STORY RIGHT HERE WITHIN OUR LOCATION AND WITHIN OUR CITY.

SO THAT'S BEEN THE REALLY, REALLY FUN PART IS JUST LIKE PEOPLE GETTING TO SEE CINCINNATI PRESENTED IN A WAY THAT THEY QUITE HAVEN'T BEFORE, AND GETTING TO BE A PART OF THAT'S BEEN REALLY COOL.

KELLAR: THAT'S A GOOD REASON, THERE'S A GOOD REASON THE FILM FEST, THE REGULAR FILM FESTIVAL IS, AND SO MANY MOVIES ARE PRODUCED HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE OLD, WE HAVE NEW, WE HAVE IN BETWEEN.

WE HAVE ANYTHING PEOPLE, FILM PRODUCERS ARE LOOKING FOR.

SO, WE'VE COME -- WE'RE REALLY ON THE MAP AS FAR AS FILM.

AND YOU TWO GUYS ARE REALLY A BIG, A BIG PART OF IT.

HAVE YOU DONE JUST ONE MOVIE OR OTHERS?

CHIMUSORO: NO, I'VE DONE FIVE SHORT FILMS.

YEAH, I'VE MADE FIVE SHORT FILMS NOW AND WRITTEN MY FIRST FEATURE LENGTH.

ME AND MY FRIENDS GOT TO, LIKE, I ALSO USE MUSIC VIDEOS AS A WAY TO KIND OF PLAY WITH MY STYLE, BECAUSE I LOVE TO CONSTANTLY REFINE AND CONSTANTLY TRY NEW THINGS.

SO, I'VE GOT FIVE SHORT FILMS, SEVEN MUSIC VIDEOS, ONE FEATURE WRITTEN, AND TOO MANY DOCUMENTARIES.

KELLAR: WOW, YOU GOT QUITE A RESUME.

CHIMUSORO: YEAH.

I'M HAPPY, I'M HAPPY THAT'S THE CASE.

I REALLY LOVE THIS THING, AND I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO KIND OF CARVE A PATH WHERE I'VE GOTTEN TO BUILD AN EXTENSIVE RESUME SO FAR IN MY TIME.

KELLAR: WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL?

CHIMUSORO: I WENT TO UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI.

I'M A BEARCAT.

KELLAR: HELLO, BEARCAT.

YES, YES, YES.

AND ARE YOU SORT OF THE MENTOR?

STERN-ENZI: UH.

CHIMUSORO: YEAH, I WOULD CONSIDER THAT.

YEAH.

STERN-ENZI: HE'S GOING TO CONSIDER THAT.

I FEEL LIKE IN A LOT OF WAYS, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AGAIN.

I AM NOT A FILMMAKER AT ALL.

LIKE I SAID, I'M THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF A FESTIVAL AND I'M A FILM CRITIC, SO I'VE SEEN A LOT OF FILMS OVER THE YEARS.

I'VE COVERED THEM, I'VE TALKED TO FILMMAKERS, BUT I HAVEN'T REALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO REALLY BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH FILMMAKERS ON A MUCH MORE PERSONAL LEVEL, TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN SEE PEOPLE, YOU CAN TALK TO THEM, HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT THEIR PROJECTS, AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE CAN GO OUT AND GRAB A DRINK AND I CAN HAVE THAT KIND OF CONVERSATION WITH HIM AND KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY IN TERMS OF THE STORIES THAT ARE BEING TOLD, HOW THEY'RE BEING TOLD, AND HOPEFULLY THE IMPACT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE.

BECAUSE WHAT THAT DOES FOR ME IS, AGAIN, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN I GO TO TORONTO, WHICH I'VE GONE TO THE TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL PROBABLY FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS.

I LOVE GOING TO A FESTIVAL LIKE THAT, WHICH IS A LARGER FESTIVAL.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GETTING FILMS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND THERE HAVE BEEN YEARS WHERE WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE FILMS THAT WERE SHOT IN CINCINNATI THERE.

AND I GET TO SIT, YOU KNOW, IN THOSE BIG THEATERS, YOU KNOW, WITH THE P&I SCREENINGS OR A GENERAL PUBLIC AUDIENCE WHO'S TAKING THOSE STORIES IN AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT OUR CITY.

AND IT'S GREAT TO BE ABLE TO SAY, "OKAY, WELL, WAIT A MINUTE.

I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S REVEL IN OTR OR THAT'S ZIEGLER PARK."

AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT AND SHARE AND AGAIN, PEOPLE GET TO KNOW THE CITY BETTER.

AND THE LAST FEW YEARS AS I'VE GONE TO TORONTO, NOT ONLY HAVE THE FILMS BEEN A PART OF THAT, BUT BECAUSE, FOR INSTANCE, WE'VE BEEN WRITTEN UP IN MOVIEMAKER MAGAZINE, OUR FESTIVAL WAS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE 25 COOLEST IN THE WORLD A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

KELLAR: OH, WOW.

OKAY.

STERN-ENZI: THIS PAST YEAR, THE CITY OF CINCINNATI AS A WHOLE WAS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE 25 CITIES TO LIVE IN AS A, YOU KNOW, BIG CITIES TO LIVE IN AS A FILMMAKER.

WE WERE WE WERE NUMBER 11, WHICH IS PRETTY COOL.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THAT KIND OF CONVERSATION AND TO KNOW, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I GO TO TORONTO AND THOSE MOVIEMAKER MAGAZINES ARE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO PICK UP AND THEY'RE READING THROUGH THEM.

AND IF I INTRODUCE MYSELF AND SAY, "HEY, I'M THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR FOR THE OVER-THE-RHINE FILM FESTIVAL IN CINCINNATI," THEY'RE LIKE, "OH, I JUST READ ABOUT YOU, OR I JUST READ ABOUT YOUR CITY.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT IT?"

SO IT MAKES MY JOB, AGAIN, IF I'M TALKING ABOUT BEING A CHEERLEADER, WHICH I MENTIONED EARLIER.

IT'S EASY TO BE A CHEERLEADER WHEN OTHER PEOPLE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOU.

KELLAR: EXACTLY.

STERN-ENZI: AND THAT HELPS BECAUSE AGAIN, GETTING TO KNOW FILMMAKERS THAT ARE WORKING HERE, I CAN THEN TALK ABOUT DAVID'S FILMS WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE AND THEY KNOW THAT, YES, THERE'S -- I CAN LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE'S A LARGER COMMUNITY OF FOLKS WHO ARE REALLY EXCITED, REALLY CREATIVE, AND THEY'RE DOING GREAT THINGS HERE.

KELLAR: ARE YOU INVOLVED?

DO YOU HAVE TO FUND RAISE?

DO YOU NEED FUNDS?

STERN-ENZI: THE FESTIVAL DOES.

I AM NOT NECESSARILY PART OF THAT ROLE.

KELLAR: WE'RE ALL A PART OF FUNDRAISING.

WE REMEMBER THAT.

STERN-ENZI: WE ARE, BUT I LOVE THE IDEA THAT, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM AT THE FESTIVAL.

YOU KNOW, OUR MANAGING DIRECTOR AND YOU KNOW, THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM, THEY ARE REALLY KIND OF OUT THERE DOING THEIR JOB.

AND WE DO IT KIND OF IN SYNC TOGETHER.

BUT THERE'S A PART OF THAT THAT AGAIN, THAT IS -- THAT'S AS PERPLEXING TO ME AS I'M SURE THE CREATIVE SIDE IS PERPLEXING TO THEM.

KELLAR: YEAH, RIGHT.

STERN-ENZI: AND WE HAVE FOUND WAYS TO AGAIN BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT EACH SIDE IS DOING AND WE CAN WE CAN PULL EACH OTHER IN.

KELLAR: SO IT'S MORE THE OTHER SIDE OF DOING THE FUNDRAISING.

STERN-ENZI: YES.

YES, AND I AND I LOVE THAT.

THAT'S SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS TO DO THAT.

KELLAR: I DON'T BLAME YOU, I WOULD TOO.

STERN-ENZI: I JUST WANT TO FOCUS ON THE FILM AND TELLING THESE GREAT STORY STORIES AND SHARING THEM WITH THE COMMUNITY.

KELLAR: ACTUALLY, YOU'RE A FUNDRAISER, BECAUSE YOU PRODUCE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WANT TO WATCH AND SUPPORT, SO THAT'S YOUR ROLE.

YEAH.

STERN-ENZI: IDEALLY, THAT'S WHAT I HOPE.

BUT YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING EARLIER WHEN YOU WERE TALKING TO DAVID JUST ABOUT THE IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE AFTER SCREENINGS.

AND I FEEL LIKE FOR ME, THE ROLE OF A FESTIVAL IS ABOUT THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO TO SEE A MOVIE AT THE MULTIPLEX ON AN OPENING WEEKEND OR WHATEVER, YOU GO IN, YOU MAY BE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY OR WHATEVER.

YOU HAVE THE CONVERSATION AFTER YOU LEAVE, AND IT'S KIND OF DONE.

KELLAR: YEAH.

STERN-ENZI: AND THAT'S IT'S A VITAL AND IMPORTANT PIECE.

BUT FOR A FESTIVAL, THE FESTIVAL IS BUILT AROUND THE IDEA THAT WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO JUST COME AND TO WATCH AND TO THEN HAVE THOSE ISOLATED CONVERSATIONS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER, TO SIT WITH IT, TO LEARN AND TO HEAR FROM OTHER PEOPLE ALL AT ONCE.

AND THAT'S WHERE YOU GET SOME AWARENESS AND SOME KNOWLEDGE, AND HOPEFULLY THAT IDEA THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOWER THEIR BARRIERS, TO OPEN THEMSELVES UP, TO HEAR WHAT OTHER EXPERIENCES AND OTHER PERSPECTIVES.

KELLAR: OPEN MINDS ARE VERY, VERY GOOD THING TO PRODUCE.

STERN-ENZI: YES.

CHIMUSORO: AND TO SPEAK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT AS A FILMMAKER, EVEN THOUGH LIKE TT ISN'T LIKE SUPER DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN LIKE THE FUND RAISING OR WHATEVER, BUT LIKE JUST -- AND LIKE THINKING ABOUT A FILM FESTIVAL AS, LIKE, A TABLE, LIKE YOU GUYS ARE LIKE SETTING A TABLE FOR GUYS LIKE ME TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMETHING WHERE, LIKE, OUR CONSTANT HOPE IS TO ALWAYS, LIKE, YOU MAKE SOMETHING SO THAT, LIKE, PEOPLE CAN FEEL THE THING, LIKE, NOT ALL OF THE THINGS, BUT SOMETIMES ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE FEELING AND THE GIVING AN END RESULT TO THIS PROCESS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN, SO THAT YOU CAN GET TO A POINT WHERE IT'S LIKE, "OH MY GOSH, PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THIS THING THAT I GOT TO MAKE, PEOPLE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS."

LIKE, WE'RE ESSENTIALLY LIKE WE'RE GETTING TO PROVIDE THE MEALS OR WHATEVER, BUT WE STILL NEED A TABLE FOR THEM TO GET SET.

AND THE FACT THAT -- KELLAR: THAT'S A GOOD ANALOGY.

STERN-ENZI: THAT IS.

CHIMUSORO: THANK YOU.

WE STILL NEED THAT TABLE TO GET SET, BECAUSE -- AND THE FACT THAT THE TABLE KIND OF EXISTS AND IT'S A GROWING TABLE BECAUSE WE DO NEED IT TO GROW.

BECAUSE BEING A FILMMAKER IS, LIKE, FOR A LONG TIME UNTIL YOU GET TO THAT POINT, IT'S JUST, NOT NECESSARILY A LOT OF GUESSWORK, BUT IT'S A LOT OF, LIKE, "I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW."

AND THEN SOMETHING KIND OF CHANGES WHEN A FESTIVAL SAYS, "YEAH, WE SAW.

WE SAW WHAT YOU MADE AND WE WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF THIS THING."

AND THERE'S ALL THIS WORK AND ALL THIS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE DEDICATED THEIR TIME TO, SO THAT YOU CAN BE A PART OF THIS THING.

IT'S AN INSANELY IMPORTANT THING.

SO IT'S, LIKE, THERE IS SUCH VALUE IN THE PEOPLE THAT BUILD THE TABLE AND MAKE SURE THAT THE TABLE CONTINUALLY GROWS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUALLY HAVE SOMETHING TO PROVIDE TO IT.

AND ALSO EVEN JUST LIKE THE QUALITY OF WHAT WE GET TOO.

LIKE, I'M NOT I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU A HOT POCKET ON A TABLE THAT YOU SPENT THREE YEARS MAKING.

I'M GOING TO, LIKE, I'M GOING TO COOK SOMETHING UP THAT FEELS WORTHY OF THE TABLE THAT I GET TO BE ON.

SO I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF IT ALL.

KELLAR: YOU GUYS ARE WONDERFUL.

I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

I WANT TO -- WHAT TIME OF YEAR DOES THE FILM?

ARE YOU GOING TO COME?

STERN-ENZI: LIKE I SAID, OUR NEXT FESTIVAL WILL BE IN MARCH OF 2025, BUT BE ON THE LOOKOUT IN 2024.

WE HAVE A SERIES OF EVENTS THAT WE'RE STARTING TO PUT TOGETHER NOW, PROBABLY ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.

WE'LL BE IN SOME REALLY FUN AND EXCITING SPACES IN OTR AND DOWNTOWN.

KELLAR: SO IF PEOPLE WANT TO FIND OUT, YOU HAVE A WEBSITE.

STERN-ENZI: OTRFILMFEST.ORG.

KELLAR: OKAY, OTRFILMFEST.ORG.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING FOR YOU.

AND WHAT YOU DO IS REALLY INTERESTING.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.

GO AHEAD.

CHIMUSORO: I'LL PLUG MY NEXT PROJECT FROM CINCINNATI WITH LOVE.

JUST GO TO FROMCINCINNATIWITHLOVE.COM.

YOU'LL SEE ALL OF IT.

AND IT'S MY AGAIN MY HOPEFUL FIRST FEATURE.

I'VE BASED IN THIS PLACE THAT I LOVE SO MUCH AND A STORY THAT FEELS PERSONAL THAT, AGAIN, I WANT TO SEE CINCINNATI SEE ITS WAY AND HOPEFULLY GET TO FIND A WAY TO THE NATIONAL SCALE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY GET TO SEE WHAT CINCINNATI IS ALL ABOUT.

SO, YEAH.

KELLAR: AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU GUYS HAVE A STORY TO TELL.

BOTH: THANK YOU.

KELLAR: THANKS FOR COMING.

CHIMUSORO: THANKS FOR HAVING US.

ANNOUNCER: JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF SHOWCASE WITH BARBARA KELLAR RIGHT HERE ON CET.

CAPTIONS: MAVERICK CAPTIONING CIN OH MAVERICKCAPTIONING.COM