SAM: Aaron, thank you for allowing me to interview you about your film, ELECTRIC LOVE. I thought this was a fantastic movie about dating in the world of meeting apps.
AARON: No problem. I'm am glad you enjoyed watching ELECTRIC LOVE.
SAM: No doubt about my personal enjoyment of the film. I think anyone who has dated or is currently dating via an app. would enjoy this film. I think it also is a great opportunity to explain to people of an older generation who don't engage in technology, what it can be like out there just trying to find someone special. What inspired you to write this story?
AARON: Years of frustration using dating apps in Los Angeles. In retrospect, dating adventures, rejections, and mishaps can be fun and comedic but while it's actually happening to you, it's painful and soul-crushing. I wanted to realistically portray the frustrations I personally experienced as well as show how easily intentions can be misconstrued and misinterpreted during new relationships.
SAM: Talk briefly about the lamp analogy for love and how you came up with that concept.
AARON: I had this idea for a music video but never got around to shooting it. The main character in the film is a music video director, so when I had to come up with a concept for one of his videos, I sort of stole my own idea and incorporated it into the story. Once the metaphor was fully realized, I tweaked a few things to make it even more powerful. I personally love seeing how such a small, seemingly insignificant event can have such profound effects on the characters and story.
SAM: The Love Zaltar! I thought he was a very interesting and unique element of the film. How and why did you come up with this concept to add to the story?
AARON: Thank you! One of the most important things I ask myself when writing, is why? Why am I telling this story? The Love Zoltar, played by super crazy talented comedian Fahim Anwar, was originally only meant to appear in the middle and end of the film as a way to hammer home the theme: the importance of open communication. Only later did we decide to add an opening sequence. We felt like having a strong opening would tie everything together and make the story and theme far more cohesive.
SAM: If you were asked to re-write your script and personify one of the other relationships in the film as the lead, which couple would it be and why? (hee hee, I totally dug the podcast pair Charlotte and Abraham).
AARON: I would love to see the stories of Greg (the Grindr user) and Charlotte (the polyamorous podcaster) continued. I've seen so few films or TV shows explore the world of Grindr and other gay dating apps in such a realistic way. I think there's a lot of room to explore and endless possibilities as to where these characters could go. Charlotte is hilarious and intelligent and makes surprisingly valid points for a type of lifestyle that many of us are unfamiliar with. We all know about polyamory but not many of us take the time to think about why it works for so many people. I thoroughly enjoy exploring alternative ways of viewing the world and really challenging the norms of our views on love.
SAM: Is there a script developing for Electric Love II?
AARON: There is not! You're not the first person to ask this though. We have been talking about the idea for a TV series, but it would likely be exploring different characters in a much larger world.
SAM: I show that you attended Boston University and majored in film. What developed your interest in film and how did you come to select it as your major.
AARON: When I was 12, I visited some family friends in California with my parents. Our friends had a camcorder which I was able to carry around for the entirety of the trip. When I returned home, I excitedly asked my parents if they could buy me a camera for my birthday, and they did. From then on, I couldn't put it down. I don't know what drew me to it, it's one of those unexplainable things. When I learned that you could go to school for filmmaking and potentially earn a living making films, it seemed like a no-brainer.
SAM: What is one of your favorite movies of all time and why?
AARON: The Social Network is up there as one of my favorites. Perhaps it's because I went to school in Boston and felt nostalgic. I thought it was a beautifully written script and an incredibly well-directed film with such a unique tone. I'm also a big fan of Martin McDonagh films, Coen brothers of course, and Judd Apatow.
SAM: Do you have a dream project that you aspire to achieve? Possibly a film remake or a book that you want to adapt to a film?
AARON: The movies I choose to make just so happen to speak to me depending on where I'm at in life. And life is always changing. What inspires me today might change next year. When I was in high school, I read Beowulf and thought I would adapt that one day. Then 40-Year-Old Virgin came out and I thought, these are the kind of movies I want to make.
SAM: As a director and filmmaker have do you find it difficult now to simply immerse yourself in a film without critiquing it?
AARON: Absolutely. I'm critical of myself every step of the way. At a certain point, you just have to stop and listen. I will always notice mistakes or things I felt like I could've done better, but I think that feeling is what pushes me in the first place. I'm always learning from the previous project and using those lessons to be better.
SAM: What's next for Aaron Fradkin?
AARON: I'm currently working on our next feature. We're in the writing stages at the moment, but we hope to go into production by the end of summer 2019!
SAM: Aaron, thank you for taking the time to speak with me. Congratulations on ELECTRIC LOVE winning awards at the San Diego International Film Festival and Studio City Film Festival. I thought the film was fantastic and I am excited to see your next project with your co-writer Victoria Fratz.
AARON: Thanks, Sam.
If you haven’t seen ELECTRIC LOVE, the movie is available on Amazon, iTunes, and VOD. If you like comedies definitely check this one out! You will not be disappointed, especially if you have experienced online dating.
PEACE OUT - SAM
