Producer Artisha Mann-Cooper chatted about her directorial debut with the short film “Functioning,” and she discussed the new film “The Way Out.”
‘Functioning’
“Functioning” was written and directed by Artisha Mann-Cooper. It was produced by Carl Rumbaugh, Emilio Mazariegos, Jonathan J. Cooper, and Andy Cornett. The short stars Kathleen Kenny, Ava Kolker, Dana Sparks and d’Arquoia Connor. “This is the first short that I directed,” she said.
“It is really crazy, I have been doing this for 11 years, and I am always helping everyone else, but I have always had a desire to direct my own project. Last year, it was the perfect time for me because I wanted to tell a story that was very personal to me, and it was great to have the people around me jump on board. I am really excited that it is being received by festivals,” she elaborated.
She noted that working with soap opera star Dana Sparks was an incredible experience. “Dana is amazing, and she is very sweet,” Mann-Cooper said. “Everybody in the cast was great. I based it on a 1998 article and I merged it with some of my experiences that were happening in the industry.”
The synopsis is as follows: it is set in the late ’90s, where talent agent Asia (Kathleen Kenny) is desperate to prove that she belongs as a Hollywood talent agent. In a desperate attempt she has to make a decision that could ultimately change her and her 15-year-old client’s life.
It is based on Mann-Cooper’s personal experience. What she experienced was a common theme of the oversexualization of young girls that tends to run rife worldwide. “This is calling out the culture that encourages and allows it to continue. It’s a conversation that we should be having all the time,” she said.
“I am super excited that my brainchild and the first short I directed over a year ago is an official selection of the Poppy Jasper IFF,” she said. “It has been my dream to tell stories about the interpersonal circumstances that women find themselves in that are relevant across all industries.”
Mann-Cooper was encouraged by her directing mentor Andy Fickman to tell her story and received support from her producing partner Carl Rumbaugh. “‘Functioning’ is based on my experience of being a woman trying to work with other women in this industry,” she said. “I think right now, everybody promotes women working together. I just found common themes with women who are at the top.”
‘The Way Out’
She shared that the new movie “The Way Out” is coming out in mid-February, and she is really excited about it. “We worked really hard in 2021,” she said. “I cannot believe that we are at this point. It took so long but it has been amazing.”
It was written and directed by Barry Jay. It deals with a young man that has to cope with the loss of his abusive father by taking advice from a charming, dangerous stranger who teaches him about life, sex, and fighting back. “I am really excited. Terror Films is our distribution company,” she said.
To learn more about producer and director Artisha Mann-Cooper, follow her on Instagram.
