Filmmaker Profile: Pete O'Hare and Phillip Kibbe
Pete O'Hare
Pete O'Hare is an award-winning and two-time Emmy-nominated cinematographer and filmmaker. He has filmed projects for Netflix, ESPN+, NBC, New York Knicks, and directed and filmed the documentary short films MUSE, A Day In September, and Baby Boy A. Pete lived at Unit J, the DIY loft from the show, for six years, and survived! Applying his documentary skill and experience to his friends and former living situation has been a process ten years in the making.
Phil Kibbe is a Brooklyn, NY-based filmmaker who specializes in docu-style content. His feature-length Documentary Float won Best Documentary Award at Charlotte Film Festival and Skyline Film Festival, and he is currently in production on The Bean, a feature-length documentary about the boxer Eric "Butterbean" Esch. He also co-directed the documentary short films A Day In September, and Baby Boy A alongside Pete O’Hare."
Phillip Kibbe
Phil Kibbe is a Brooklyn, NY-based filmmaker who specializes in docu-style content. His feature-length Documentary Float won Best Documentary Award at Charlotte Film Festival and Skyline Film Festival, and he is currently in production on The Bean, a feature-length documentary about the boxer Eric "Butterbean" Esch. He also co-directed the documentary short films A Day In September, and Baby Boy A alongside Pete O’Hare."
This Q&A is part of the Bushwick Film Fest Filmmaker Q&A series.
What inspired you to create this film, and how did the initial idea come to you?
I found my first place in NYC on Craigslist– a warehouse loft/DIY venue deep in Brooklyn with a stage in the living room, and neighbors who throw sex parties, drug ceremonies, and circus shows. After I moved out, I realized I had to make a show about this place!
Why does this story need to be told now?
Loft and Found explores the challenges of motivation and choice faced by so many millennials (including us!). We also celebrate the power of live community in an era of incessant lonely doomscrolling.
Describe who you want this film to reach.
For millennials (and also Gen Z, Gen X) who have grown up...and for those of us who are still working on it. Those who are passionately still pursuing their dreams, and those who need some inspiration. And also a good laugh!
What do you hope audiences will take away from watching your film?
They say the real miracle of Jesus was keeping 12 close friends in his 30s. It's hard out there! I hope the show will remind people of the importance of creativity, community, and a healthy dose of chaos. And it's never too late to pursue your dreams...or at least to pay your rent.
How do you want people to feel after they see your film?
We hope Loft and Found leaves you feeling like you've spent the night drinking with your best friends.
What was the biggest inspiration behind this film?
The cast is a group of phenomenal actors and performers. This film explores their reality--in real life and in the show, they tirelessly pursue their passions, and have to decide if growing up means giving up. And what does it mean to grow up anyway?
Pete O'Hare and Phillip Kibbe’s Q&A is part of the Bushwick Film Fest Filmmaker Q&A series.
