Released yesterday, June 5th on Vimeo, Writer/Director Jenn Harris’ short film “She’s Clean” is a vulnerable and entertaining production. It’s a treatise on opening up in relationships. It also challenges the filmmaker to explore deep relationship and dating themes, confined to only one room—the bathroom. At only 15 minutes in length, Harris is able to explore her subject fully. She offers food for thought on dating preconceptions, stereotypes, and intimacy.
What works about Harris’ film—aside its potency—is the vulnerability the filmmaker brings to the camera. With a background in comedy (“Queer as Folk,” “New York is Dead”), one might expect this to be a non-traditional springboard to more serious films. But as Harris discussed with me, comedy is vulnerable. It’s the perfect segue into the themes she wishes to explore.
Besides the film’s content—which is good—what is remarkable is that Harris was able to bring in a plethora of actors who all got her vision and nailed the film’s more evocative side. Her characters (herself included) are naked for most of the film. However, this is not a sexy film but a real one. Harris guides her cast (with expert cinematography from Charlie Gruet) through the film with seeming ease.
Following the film’s release, Jenn Harris was kind enough to talk to us at The Movie Buff about “She’s Clean” its—struggles, challenges, and deeper treasure. The interview follows below. At the end, look for Harris’ social media pages and a link to watch the film.
*Note: interview has been edited for clarity.
Mark Ziobro for The Movie Buff: Thank you for joining us for this interview! Can you please introduce yourself for our readers?
JH: Thank you for having me! I’m Jenn. I’m an actress, director, writer and producer originally from the cornfields of Illinois where I obsessed over MTV as a kid. My short film “She’s Clean” that I directed, wrote and starred in is releasing on Vimeo on June 5th and I’m really excited to share it.
MZ: We’re talking about your short film “She’s Clean,” which I recently watched. Can you tell us a bit about it?
JH: Sure—It’s about a woman looking to marry her desires for sexual freedom with emotional intimacy by showering with her dates. It’s a bunch of short vignettes—a kind of fun and honest meditation on intimacy.
Poster for “She’s Clean.” (Photo: Sharky Parky Media).
MZ: Where did you get the concept for it?
JH:I decided to write “She’s Clean” during the pandemic. I knew I wanted to make another film and all these stories I had written down from me and friends’ dating experiences was the thing I couldn’t shake, so I got into Sundance COLLAB and wrote it through that program. It came partly from my experiences and partly from the experiences of my friends.
MZ: Was it hard to write this film? Or did the process come naturally?
JH: It was super easy and the concept and format came to me fairly easily and quickly; I just saw it. I found dating again so fascinating and odd and silly and sexy and sad and disappointing and I just found it all so fascinating like I was watching myself dating from across the street.
MZ: Can you tell us a bit about the casting process? Was it hard to find male actors for the film that were allies in your film’s themes?
JH: I worked with a friend and colleague, casting Director Andrew Fem, to find our actors. It wasn’t that difficult because I was very upfront and clear about what I wanted to shoot and they had the script and knew the trajectory of the main character and that their roles were supportive. I think it speaks a lot to these actors who were open and willing to help me tell and speak and show these moments in such a generous and vulnerable way.
I 100% believe Andrew and I found smart, generous, and deeply deeply empathetic actors who know how to support a story and THAT is maybe something of a jackpot I hit with these actors. I could go on and on about them and what they did for me which I think is actually radical—a group of men coming together to vulnerably and willingly tell a woman’s story. If there’s anything radical and beautifully unique and brave about my film I think it’s that.
MZ: Can you tell us about your decision to place the film entirely in one room—in this case the bathroom?
JH: I wanted the challenge as a filmmaker—one location—to attempt to make one location, one room, interesting and dynamic cinematically. And the bathroom, to me, is the most vulnerable and funny room we have.
MZ: Was it hard to film the short? If so, in what way?
JH: It’s hard to ask people for money and their time. It’s hard to line produce. It was hard with Covid challenges. But it’s the most joyful, fun and fulfilling thing I get to do.
MZ: For me, the film was about empowerment, feeling comfortable with yourself, and sharing vulnerability. Can you tell us what you hope viewers will take from the movie?
A scene from “She’s Clean.” (Photo courtesy Shark Party Media/Charlie Gruet).
JH:Exactly what you did. Thanks. I’m so glad. I would add communication and nuance inside and around intimacy and that we can express intimacy without exploitation.
MZ: Was it difficult making a vulnerable project like this coming from a background in comedy?
JH: It wasn’t because I can’t think of anything more vulnerable than comedy. Comedy is the truth. [It is] the hardest thing to do. Comedy that isn’t bullying or negative or a power trip is what we actually can connect with, I believe.
MZ: How do you think your film will help challenge stereotypes?
JH: I hope it can open up a wider vision of intimacy in film where people don’t necessarily need to fall in love or be in some kind of danger or fall victim to a filmmaker’s exploitation, but show more nuance around sex and intimacy. I’d like the viewer to get to absorb intimacy and sex in film rather than have it shoved at or upon them.
I’d like the viewer to get to absorb intimacy and sex in film rather than have it shoved at or upon them. ” Jenn harris
MZ: Lastly, how can people watch your film? And do you have any social media links you’d like to share for your work?
Mark is a New York based film critic and founder and Managing Editor of The Movie Buff. He has contributed film reviews to websites such as Movie-Blogger and Filmotomy, as well as local, independent print news medium. He is a lifelong lover of cinema, his favorite genres being drama, horror, and independent. Follow Mark @The_Movie_Buff on Twitter for all site news.
