An Interview with Dream Job Writer/Director

Jim Lasley

Carl F Gauze

Downsized and divorced, Skyler Rhodes commits suicide. God gives him a second chance, if he can convince a stressed out woman to trust him and accept a certificate for her dream job. God dies, and a burnt out Satan comes looking for that certificate and a new career.

That’s the setup for Dream Job , the new film from writer/director Jim Lasley. I caught up with Lasley at the film’s recent premiere.

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Jim, how long have you been working on this film?

About a year, not counting the writing, which took to last summer. We got into pre-production in October. Actual filming took about two weeks.

What was the concept behind Dream Job?

I’ve always been curious about this world of dualities we live in – right and wrong, good and evil, day and night , rich and poor. It’s interesting that there’s this conscious reality and this dream state reality. Just like the main character, I was downsized from a hospital in 1995, and went through that whole corporate restructuring thing. The film’s concept involves the devil getting burned out and going for God’s old job.

Do you regard yourself as a religious person?

Yes. Well, spiritual.

How do you react to that desire in most religions to have it both ways, free will and predestination?

Well, that’s difficult. It shows we’re pulled in different directions – you’re living a normal life, and in the blink of an eye, you go off in another direction. You look around, and people are trying to live a good life, but their lives are really lousy.

What was the hardest decision in making this film?

Sticking to the script as you’ve written it. As you know, what you write at 3 in the morning seems so interesting, but when you reread it, it’s garbage. I gave the actors a lot of leeway, but they had to stick to the script.

What was the fun part of filmmaking?

Being with such creative people. We were so lucky, every thing just clicked. When it rained, we were able to shoot indoors, and when it was clear, we shot outside. I was amazed at how well the whole thing came together.

What are you doing about distribution?

Well, that’s the really big question. I’ve sent Dream Job to seven film festivals. It’s been rejected by Cannes, but I haven’t heard from the others yet. I’ve submitted it to the Florida Film Festival.

If you’re going to be rejected, be rejected by the best. What do you think your next film will be?

I’d like to do a cowboy comedy. I’d call it Corn Festival. I’m working on it. ◼