I wrote Mad Stork because I wanted to make a film about an objectively awful band. Awful in every sense of the word. The music is unlistenable, the members are despicable, the chemistry is nonexistent. Plenty of films have been made about talented and successful bands, and the typical narrative of those films seems to suggest that if a band is talented enough, success will inevitably follow. Mad Stork is a film that challenges that tired narrative. This is a film about a band that is so awful they can’t help but become successful.

The style of the film was informed by my experiences playing in various bands over the last ten years. I’m a nervous person. Going on stage and playing guitar in front of hundreds of people makes me nervous. The anxiety is always at its worst in the moments leading up to a performance—the thirty minutes or so that the band is sitting around waiting in the green room for the opener to finish their set. I wanted the style of the film to reflect that sense of anxiety. Once the camera enters the green room, the film essentially plays out in real time, as if it were a musical performance or live theater. The intention was to create a sense of dread—of time marching forward as the band struggles to get it together before their big performance.

Making Mad Stork was the most fun I’ve ever had on a film set. The cast and crew were absolutely phenomenal. Each actor brought an incredible amount of energy and nuance to their characters, and the crew struck the perfect balance of efficiency and fun. I’m so thankful that we managed to build such a talented and passionate team of artists to bring this project to life.

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