Meet the 2013 SXSW Filmmakers #12: Katie Graham and Andrew Matthews On Their Gamers Movie for Non-Gamers, ‘Zero Charisma’

Having spent over a decade together, Katie Graham and Andrew Matthews have been romantically and creatively involved since high school. Their latest work is the entertaining indie comedy, “Zero Charisma.” The pair have collaborated previously with director Michael Paul Stephenson as DP (Graham) and editor (Matthews) on two of his docs, “Best Worst Movie,” and “The American Scream.”

What it’s about: An obsessive fantasy nerd gradually becomes unhinged when a charismatic hipster joins his role-playing game.

What you should know: “We want people to know that this film is not exclusively for gamers. There are a lot of movies out there for gamers by gamers that can be fun, but this film is an indie comedy/drama first and foremost.”

On the challenges: “Despite many good examples, it can still be hard to convince people that a untraditional main character will resonate with audiences. Just because someone is nether heroic nor a typical everyman doesn’t mean you can’t sympathize with his struggles.”

Films that inspired them: “We’re big time comedy nerds. We adore the Coen Brothers. “The Big Lebowski” is a big inspiration. And though they’re not films, we’ve long been influenced by TV comedies like Mr. Show and the UK Office.”

What’s next: “We’re currently writing a few scripts. The one we’re looking to develop into a feature is a comedy about the feasibility of “dropping out of society” in our digital, hyper-connected age.”

Indiewire invited SXSW Film Festival directors to tell us about their films, including what inspired them, the challenges they faced and what they’re doing next. We’ll be publishing their responses leading up to the 2013 festival.

Keep checking HERE every day up to the launch of the festival on March 8 for the latest profiles.