We are pleased to have the opportunity to talk with filmmaker Lindsey Phillips about her film The Exceptionally Extraordinary Emporium, which will be showing in the Indie Grits 2016 Festival.

1. What is your connection to the South?

I grew up in Ohio and went to school in Pittsburgh, but moved to New Orleans in 2010 in hopes of working in film. Since then I’ve been very happy to find a wonderful community of filmmakers and artists to collaborate with.

2. What was your muse for this film?

One of my favorite things about Carnival in New Orleans is seeing all the creative, unique, and simply amazing costumes that people create — even more remarkable are the variety of people that costume. I was so interested to see all these people from very different walks of life coming to one central place, the fabric store Jefferson Variety, and then going back out into the city with their costumes to celebrate in their respective communities.

3. What was your first film?

This is my first film! One that’s truly my baby.

4. Did anything interesting or funny happen on set during the shooting?

My Mardi Gras Magic Day was while I was filming one of my characters that was part of the Krewe of Tucks – he was riding on the upper part of the float. I had been following and filming the float for about half a mile when one of the riders on the lower half asked if I wanted to jump in on the float? So mid-route, while it was still in motion, I hopped onto the float and filmed the riders and was able to get great footage of the crowd. After about a mile or two I jumped off. It was cool for them to essentially let a stranger with a camera on board! I had a hunch though that this guy wasn’t even suppose to be part of the crew, he just jumped in too….

5. If you’ve been to Indie Grits before, what’s your favorite memory?

This will be my first time at Indie Grits! Yay!!!