FAQ + Important Dates
FAQ
Where does the film take place?
The film was shot on location in Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington. Highly featured areas include Mendocino County (CA) and the San Juan Islands (WA).
How does the film balance fiction with documentary?
While the film’s title character is fictional, many of the supporting characters are brought to life by non-actors playing true versions of themselves. This includes individuals that we met along the road who agreed to be in the film without prior knowledge of our project. Stylistically, the film is seen through the lens of a documentary camera person whose presence, while silent and anonymous, is regularly acknowledged by the film’s subjects.
Does this film have any institutional backing?
This film was supported by the SFFILM FilmHouse residency program, where director Daniel Freeman was a fellow in 2019. He has been invited back as a return resident in 2020 and will continue to receive support from SFFILM throughout the festival and distribution phase of the project.
What was the film’s production budget?
The film was produced with a modest $10,000 production budget, which was made possible due to many generous in-kind donations for equipment, locations, and post-production services.
When was the film completed?
The film was shot in July and August of 2019. Post Production and editing was completed in June 2020.
TIMELINE
2021
Teddy wins the Grand Jury Prize for Narrative Features at Gasaparilla International Film Festival
2020
Teddy, Out of Tune is selected to World Premiere at the 2020 Maryland Film Festival (June)
Teddy is selected to the Mill Valley Film Festival in California.
Teddy wins the Programmers’ Choice Award at Bushwick Film Festival.
2019
Teddy, Out of Tune wraps production after a 3-week shooting schedule. (August)
The film raises more than $8k through Kickstarter to secure final funds for production. (July)
Teddy, Out of Tune is selected as a finalist for the prestigious Rainin Foundation Screenwriting grant. (May)
Daniel and Drew begin writing, conducting camera tests, and scouting for locations throughout the state of California (January)
2018
Director Daniel Freeman is accepted to the SFFILM FilmHouse residency program as part of the 2019 cohort.
Freeman and Connick produce their first collaboration with the short film Still Moves, which went on to win awards at the Portland Unknown and Austin Arthouse Film Festivals.
Freeman and Connick meet while working as production assistants at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. They later worked as truck drivers for the 2018 Telluride Film Festival, which is where they first conceived the idea for Teddy, Out of Tune.
