Saint Audio had the opportunity to sit down with singer-songwriter Camille Trust and writer/director Walker Kalan to discuss their episodic comedy I Need Your Love, premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 9th.

I Need Your Love explores what it is to be an independent musician in New York City. In addition, Camille released a swinging new single “Desperate for Love”, with the music video (shot by the co-creators) premiering at Tribeca. Camille and Walker told us a little bit about their inspiration and what it was like to work on the project.

Tell us a little about I Need Your Love—what was the inspiration? What motivated you to tell Camille’s story?

Camille: We’ve been friends for 10 years. He’s been a witness to all the wins and losses. It’s important to tell and normalize the struggle of an artist. What happens to the 95% of us that don’t get the record? What is their story/narrative? It’s a very universal and human struggle to be in New York as a creative.

What is your creative process? How did you go about creating the episodes?

Camille: We sat down and brainstormed a lot of situations and themes. Then there would be a script and edits. It was a very natural, organic process. Working together, we tried to be the most real. For example, I would read a script and point out, ‘Oh a producer would never say that, but would say something like that this.’ And we would revise from there.

The first episode reminded me of Fleabag and the third episode of Black Mirror. What are your influences?

Walker: This is a huge compliment because Fleabag is my favorite work in any media. It’s a 10/10. Fleabag is our north star of sensibility. It is Super Black Mirror-y too with themes of fandom. All the notes that I like in movies and shows are not purely one thing; they are emotional but funny as hell. Broad City and Dave served as reference points too but not directly.

I noticed there is very little dialogue throughout both episodes. Why did you make the decision to do this?

Walker: There are stretches of time in silence, including the first 5 minutes of the first episode with zero dialogue, which was a risk. Camille is so expressive as person and performer. The vast majority of actors could not have pulled off, but it was intentional to not fill empty space with dialogue. Camille could carry the scene on her personality, and most significantly the pathos—we are feeling for her.

This was filmed on location in New York City. What was that experience like?

Walker: The greater city was a character in this, and the city was our friend throughout the whole process. If you don’t work with this place, it will destroy you. If you can’t live harmoniously with this place, it will destroy you. I ride everywhere on my bike, filling away places in mind that are beautiful and unnoticed. We’ve been able to find great locations out in the wild so to speak. Nothing was roped off for the filming. Our favorite location was the in the 5th episode: Giglio Feast in north Williamsburg, which has been running for over 500 years. It was a real throwback to an older Brooklyn with the lights, colors, and action surrounding.

Camille: We need to give credit here to cinematographer Danielle Elise Bartley who was an essential artist on this project, which was shot in pieces. It was also filmed in the summertime. it was hot and humid. We’d be in a stairwell in 95 degrees with 12 people on the stairwell.

Can you talk about your approach to humor in these episodes?

Camille: The comedy is natural!

Walker: I’ve seen her perform dozens of times, and I am always struck by not only the fact that she is talented singer and it’s so competitive, but that she has is the ability to hold a crowd between songs and engage in a way that is not studied. She’s present and funny in a world where singers are self-serious and trying to protect the brand.

Why do you feel it is important to show a female artist’s struggles in particular?

Camille: It’s important to show representation. Music is an extremely male dominated industry as is film. There are more men than women in the whole equation. As an artist, I wanted to show that we (as women) are here too, and we have a seat at the table. In other episodes, address the genderism of the music. It’s real and hard to fight for yourself and believe in yourself enough that you’ll have success. You have to remind yourself of that day in and day out.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Camille: Follow @inylseries on Instagram. The Tribeca Film Festival screenings are on June 9th, 12th and 16th. Also, ‘Desperate for Love,’ the song is available on streaming services now!

Walker: There are 5 episodes in this micro-season. We hope there are many more seasons to come!

Stream “Desperate For Love” on your favorite platforms, and check out I Need Your Love at Tribeca if you can!