Tribeca 2019: Interview With Katherine Propper, Writer/Director Of Short Film STREET FLAME

Katherine Propper’s short film Street Flame premiered at Tribeca Film Festival as part of the Narrative Shorts program: Express Yourself. It’s a beautifully shot film that follows a group of teenage friends as they reflect on another who has died. I was able to speak with her about the inspiration for the story and some of her filmmaking choices that made this short film so memorable.

Kristy Strouse for Film Inquiry: You wrote, produced, directed and edited, so you’ve got a lot invested in this project. Where did the idea come from? How long did the process take?

Katherine Propper: The film is my 2nd year narrative film for my MFA program at the University of Texas at Austin, and was made in about 8 months from the idea stage to the final cut. 

The project emerged from an initial idea I had to make a film about a young graffiti artist in Austin (which has some lovely street art). I met Milo, a teen street artist, and started hanging out with him. He introduced me to his friends and from spending time with them, I became interested in making an ensemble film about a community of young people. I was drawn to the way all these seemingly rough-and-tumble kids had so much care for each other, making alternative families and homes with their friends. Based on some true stories I heard, I wrote a script that’s about friendship and the way these kids leave their mark on the places they go. 

I loved the spirit of the characters, any particular inspiration or personal experiences you pulled from?

Katherine Propper: A lot of the actors are playing versions of themselves on screen so I think their real spirits come through. I wanted to capture their restless sense of energy and also their genuine experience of hardship, since the story is about the grieving process. I can personally relate to a lot of the ideas expressed in the film— mostly, the feeling of not having a conventional home. I lived with a friend during the end of my high school experience and really depended on having friends that were akin to family in my life. I think it’s rare to have those sorts of super-close friendships once you “grow up.”

There’s lots of color, which I love, especially with the story initiating from something dark, like loss. Was that intentional?

Katherine Propper: Yes, I actually didn’t want the film to be too dark and gritty, but a bit dreamy. These guys are such colorful personalities in real life — they know how to make otherwise dull and mundane things full of beauty and vitality. And even though the story is about loss, it’s also about the light and love these young guys have in their friendships. 

I love how the camera follows the skaters so closely, any challenges in the filming process?

Katherine Propper: My DP Isaiah Rendon is a great skater himself so we were able incorporate some skate tracking shots. There were definitely challenges while filming with such a large cast in some difficult spots to film in like the tunnel and the ditch, for example. I empathize a teeny-tiny bit with the making of Apocalypse Now. 

Can you talk about the decision to have the narration, these characters talking about their friend who they lost?

Katherine Propper: I always had narration in the script, but the idea to have multiple characters narrating was something decided in post production. My professor actually suggested having multiple characters in the VO, and I loved the idea of capturing the group’s voice as a collective, rather than just one person’s. The narration stayed pretty similar to what I originally wrote, but I had multiple actors come in to read the lines.

What are you hoping audiences will take away?

Katherine Propper: I hope they connect with some aspect of the film. 

How was the experience at Tribeca for you? 

Katherine Propper: Screening at Tribeca was awesome! The festival is super hectic since there are tons of events and films screening simultaneously, but I’m really grateful to have met so many new friends and talented filmmakers while there. New York City is also a special and magical place…

Are there any filmmakers in particular who inspire you?

Katherine Propper: I love film, and this is always a difficult question! I’m especially drawn to films with spiritual concerns like in the works of Tarkovsky, Bergman, Malick, Rossellini, Capra, and Kurosawa. 

Congratulations again on your short!

We want to thank Katherine Propper for taking the time to answer our questions.