Filmmaker Statement

The initial idea for "Father Figurine" came from wanting to make something that poked fun at the super wealthy. So, naturally, I thought about the Trumps. I was curious about what they're like when they sit down at the dinner table (if that ever happens). And I was thinking about Melania and Barron, who I feel are more defined by their patriarch than by anything they’ve done themselves. I imagined that people like that might feel a little trapped, so I started writing this idea about a wealthy family who doesn’t like their patriarch, but are forced to be associated with him. I also thought that Donald Trump would definitely request to have his body stuffed and kept on display if it was possible. Once I had the setup, I knew that I wanted to lean into the absurdity and grotesqueness of the situation, but I also wanted it to be emotionally grounded. So, it became about this family getting to tell their patriarch how they really feel about him, and how that ends up being really cathartic.