WEBVTT 1 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:17.960 Coming to you from the dining room table at East 2 00:00:18.039 --> 00:00:22.120 Barbary Lane. Welcome to a very special edition of Full 3 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:23.839 Circle the podcast. 4 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:26.359 I am your host, Charles Tyson Jr. 5 00:00:26.519 --> 00:00:29.879 And I'm your host Martha Madrigal. Today we're talking about 6 00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:33.840 the film regarding us. We had the absolute pleasure of 7 00:00:33.880 --> 00:00:36.039 watching the film last night, and I had to watch 8 00:00:36.039 --> 00:00:38.640 it again this morning because I knew there were pieces 9 00:00:38.679 --> 00:00:41.119 I missed, so I put it on my phone so 10 00:00:41.119 --> 00:00:43.520 I couldn't play with my phone, and I got so 11 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:46.119 much more. So I have a ton of notes we 12 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:49.719 have with us. One of the writers who is also 13 00:00:49.799 --> 00:00:52.920 the director of this film, David Beck, Welcome to the 14 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:54.079 Full Circle Table. 15 00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:55.960 Thank you so much for having me. 16 00:00:56.719 --> 00:01:04.760 Absolutely, you were several hats in this film. First of all, 17 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:08.599 you start in it. You're one of the prime characters 18 00:01:08.599 --> 00:01:11.400 in this film. Directed and wrote it, wrote it with 19 00:01:11.480 --> 00:01:12.319 Jennifer Bobby. 20 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:16.920 Yeah, with the great Jennifer Bobby, and I also produced 21 00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:21.959 it as one of the film Yeah. It's based on 22 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:25.640 what's inspired by I suppose a short film called Backup 23 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:29.599 Plan that played in film festivals around the world in 24 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:36.319 twenty nineteen, and Jennifer Bobby actually played Veronica, the lead 25 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:40.840 role in the short film, and then we decided to 26 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:43.680 you know, we always had a plan to make it bigger, 27 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:46.640 We had bigger ideas for it. First it was a 28 00:01:46.680 --> 00:01:50.560 TV series that we wrote, but then I sort of 29 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:53.879 I could see how to get a feature film produced, 30 00:01:55.359 --> 00:01:59.719 and for a TV series it's very difficult, so I thought, well, 31 00:01:59.760 --> 00:02:02.519 what we go that route instead? But I think it 32 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:04.079 works pretty well as a feature film. 33 00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:08.159 I think ultimately beautifully as the feature film. I really do, 34 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:08.560 thank you. 35 00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:14.360 Jennifer's character was a who so, yes, yeah, she's She's 36 00:02:14.439 --> 00:02:17.599 quite funny. She's most famous for her character Aunt Barbara. 37 00:02:18.360 --> 00:02:24.080 She was the top selling Tupperware snails person in all 38 00:02:24.120 --> 00:02:26.520 of North America. I think like five years in a 39 00:02:26.599 --> 00:02:31.199 row or something, Okay, And yeah, she ABC did a 40 00:02:31.240 --> 00:02:34.759 short documentary on her life and transition, and she was 41 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:38.240 on all the you know shows selling tupperware, Good Morning America, 42 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:42.400 the Today Show, all of the morning shows selling Tupperware 43 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:44.879 as Aunt Barbara. So just google Aunt Barbara and you'll 44 00:02:45.080 --> 00:02:46.560 you'll have many laughs. 45 00:02:47.080 --> 00:02:49.560 I will do that. I will do that. So who 46 00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:51.439 wrote the short, Jennifer or you? 47 00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:54.719 I wrote the short, but we, I mean, we collaborated 48 00:02:54.919 --> 00:02:58.439 very closely, just to get like the the sense right, 49 00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:01.280 you know, and as the lead actress, she had a 50 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:06.599 lot of ideas that she brought to the table. Yeah, okay, can. 51 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:09.560 We talk about what the backup plan is? What that red? 52 00:03:09.719 --> 00:03:14.199 Yeah, so backup plan basically, backup Plan took place in 53 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:16.599 real time. It was a fifteen minute short film and 54 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:19.800 it was the events I guess that were like the 55 00:03:19.919 --> 00:03:22.319 end of the first act of the film where my 56 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:28.599 character Denny goes as the Shakespeare telegram and delivers the form. 57 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:33.719 But Jennifer always says, well, you know, once you get 58 00:03:34.039 --> 00:03:37.919 suicidal ideation in your mind, it's always sort of in 59 00:03:37.960 --> 00:03:39.680 the back of your mind, like it's always sort of 60 00:03:39.719 --> 00:03:40.199 an option. 61 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:43.159 So that's right, it's always on the table. 62 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:46.280 It's always on the table exactly. So that was, you know, 63 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:50.159 it's a backup plan so in case, you know, something 64 00:03:50.199 --> 00:03:52.479 goes awry that you don't feel like there are any 65 00:03:52.520 --> 00:03:56.199 options that you know it. I mean, it's sad to say, 66 00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:58.199 but that's sort of always on the table, you know. 67 00:03:58.360 --> 00:04:01.479 So that that's the back a plan, you know. And 68 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:06.879 the film The Little Girl Isabelle played by Andrea Rosa Guzman. 69 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:12.199 She asks Veronica played by Alexander Gray in the feature uh, 70 00:04:12.879 --> 00:04:16.199 you know, because she reads her suicide letter. She says, 71 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:19.399 she asks her what's her what's your backup plan? You know, 72 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:22.600 I want to know what your backup plan is, which 73 00:04:22.600 --> 00:04:24.319 I think is kind of a poignant moment, you know, 74 00:04:24.360 --> 00:04:26.079 for a little kid to ask that. 75 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:30.199 Yeah, one of many, Yeah, yeah. And you know that's 76 00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:35.199 so much throughout this film rings true, you know, And 77 00:04:35.279 --> 00:04:37.399 I don't particularly care if it's a good film or 78 00:04:37.399 --> 00:04:39.560 a bad film. I love this movie, by the way, 79 00:04:39.959 --> 00:04:43.680 But my point being, you can tell you can see 80 00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:47.879 our fingerprints all over everything truth. When there are trans 81 00:04:47.959 --> 00:04:51.480 people involved in telling trans stories and queer people involved 82 00:04:51.560 --> 00:04:55.360 in telling queer stories, it's obvious it you feel it. 83 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:59.879 You know, I know that person exactly. I had to 84 00:05:00.399 --> 00:05:02.240 mothers I had, you know, I had two of them, 85 00:05:03.160 --> 00:05:07.240 still have one who so influenced my life, and who 86 00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:09.199 is the person I know I can run and cry 87 00:05:09.240 --> 00:05:12.240 to or whatever I need. She's there. 88 00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:15.839 Oh well, thank you for saying that. I mean, that's beautiful. 89 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:17.920 I mean that's why we really wanted to tell an 90 00:05:17.959 --> 00:05:23.040 authentic story. And you know, I'm proud that we had 91 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:27.199 trans representation basically on every level, from our executive producer 92 00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:32.560 Martine Rothblatt, our associate producer, Marcy Bauers, doctor Marcy Bauers 93 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:35.800 that we're talking about. And then obviously Jennifer Bobby Are 94 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:39.360 writer director all the way down to our production assistant, 95 00:05:39.399 --> 00:05:43.800 our art production assistant, you know. So I just, you know, 96 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:48.720 we wanted to tell a true story and it was inspired. Obviously, 97 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:51.720 it's all about the Catholic Church, and Jennifer and I 98 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:54.720 both went to Catholic school for you know, all through 99 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:57.240 grade school and high school, so we you know, we 100 00:05:57.279 --> 00:05:58.839 could draw on those experiences. 101 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:01.560 So we just I knew some but he did. I 102 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:02.839 knew somebody did. 103 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:05.800 This of our childhood and kind of combined them. You know. 104 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:09.800 I spent thirteen years in that bad boy, so I understand. 105 00:06:09.959 --> 00:06:15.720 Yeah. Yeah, it was a lot of lessons there to 106 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:16.839 learn and unlearned. 107 00:06:16.920 --> 00:06:19.879 Yes, yes, you know, and I think I think they've 108 00:06:20.279 --> 00:06:23.240 pushed most of us out, you know, or kept us 109 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:25.839 in the closet. In terms of teachers in Catholic school. 110 00:06:26.040 --> 00:06:30.040 You know, I had a good friend who also taught 111 00:06:30.279 --> 00:06:36.160 my son, who got fired because he had a civil 112 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:39.120 union in New Jersey. He lived in New Jersey and 113 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:46.040 worked in Philadelphia at a private Catholic school. And when 114 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:50.199 marriage equality passed and he could have a marriage, he 115 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:51.800 just kind of went to the principal and said, you know, 116 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:54.000 I'm going to be late for that in service day 117 00:06:54.040 --> 00:06:58.680 we're picking up our marriage license. And he was summarily fired. 118 00:06:59.079 --> 00:07:01.399 You know. It was almost like don't do this or 119 00:07:01.959 --> 00:07:06.199 And you know the thing was all of the priests 120 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:10.160 and folk around that school were at the you know, 121 00:07:10.199 --> 00:07:13.839 they had a reception when they civil union because no 122 00:07:13.879 --> 00:07:17.199 one knew that there would ever be anything more. And 123 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:21.759 everybody was cool with that, right, I mean because through 124 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:23.680 the queers and Catholic school, you don't have to throw 125 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:28.600 a rock far and look at the theology department, you know, 126 00:07:29.240 --> 00:07:34.680 I'm serious, and the clergy and the h and you know, 127 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:36.839 it was like don't if you're going to do this, 128 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:40.120 you can't work here anymore. And this is this is 129 00:07:41.360 --> 00:07:45.879 a man who loved that school so much. You know, 130 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:48.720 he went away to college and came back to teach there, 131 00:07:49.279 --> 00:07:53.439 passionate teacher everyone adored. And that was the bottom, like 132 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:56.639 this is still a Catholic school, you know, so you 133 00:07:56.639 --> 00:07:57.680 you hit on. 134 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:00.439 That, you know what, Martha, I just have to rejects 135 00:08:00.480 --> 00:08:04.360 because it was so ironic that after we wrote the 136 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:08.680 first draft of the feature in twenty twenty, at the 137 00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:12.720 height of the pandemic, that happened to an English teacher 138 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:15.639 of mine that I had, and he also went to 139 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:19.600 high school there. I'm from Kettering, Ohio Archbischophalter High School. 140 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:23.079 He'd been teaching there for twenty years. You know, he 141 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:27.040 was with got married, you know, when it was legalized, 142 00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:32.600 and just was fired just in twenty twenty, after he'd 143 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:34.759 been teaching there for years. Everybody knew he was gay. 144 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:38.399 Nobody cared. I mean even you know in two thousand 145 00:08:38.440 --> 00:08:43.480 and one and nobody cared. And now all of a sudden, 146 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:48.240 people care. It seems like people so certain areas of 147 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:51.799 the country are getting you know, pretty conservative. I mean, 148 00:08:52.600 --> 00:08:55.039 I know, they're cracking down on teaching and you have 149 00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:59.039 to sign an agreement about you won't you know, about abortion, 150 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:02.519 and you won't encourage abortions, and they have to sign 151 00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:05.240 their life away. It's yeah, it's insane. 152 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:08.039 The list of the things you can't teach is way 153 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:09.600 longer than the things you can. 154 00:09:10.039 --> 00:09:12.000 So it's like, well, what's going to be left? And 155 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:15.840 you know, I'm willing to stay out of the decisions 156 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:19.600 of religious schools if they you know, if the religious 157 00:09:19.639 --> 00:09:22.399 will stay out of the decisions of public schools, that's 158 00:09:22.440 --> 00:09:26.519 that would be my preference. You know. I guess if 159 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:28.480 you want to discriminate and this is the way you 160 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:30.600 want to do it, and you know this is your 161 00:09:30.600 --> 00:09:35.240 bottom line, you know that's been the argument, and I 162 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:40.240 guess fine. You know, we were talking before we started 163 00:09:40.279 --> 00:09:42.360 to record. We just had Nico Lang here for a 164 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:46.080 week and the first event that we did was a 165 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:52.399 Tuesday evening and I did it very intentionally in a 166 00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:57.000 u U church that is local to hear because it 167 00:09:57.039 --> 00:10:00.600 doesn't get much more liberal, I think, or more open, 168 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:02.639 because you're going to be an atheist and go to 169 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:08.279 a Unitarian Universalist church, right. And I called several of 170 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:10.960 the churches that I know are affirming all year long, 171 00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:15.759 because regardless of my personal beliefs or where I stand, 172 00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:17.960 I know how important that is for a lot of us, 173 00:10:18.679 --> 00:10:20.960 and a lot of us are just trying to heal 174 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:23.720 and trying to find that relationship and that connection again. 175 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:28.039 And the evening was supposed to be about community, right, 176 00:10:28.440 --> 00:10:31.080 And I mean, I'm a counselor whatever works for you, 177 00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:34.879 We're gonna that's where we're going to go. I liked 178 00:10:34.919 --> 00:10:37.159 the way it was handled, you know, I think that 179 00:10:38.039 --> 00:10:43.919 Alexandra did an amazing job portraying the conflict, right, the 180 00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:51.279 betrayal and sort of the ultimate really with reunification with 181 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:54.759 her faith but not that church. 182 00:10:55.360 --> 00:11:01.480 Yeah, yeah, we thank you for saying that. I I 183 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:05.840 think it was a fascinating character because it's someone who 184 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:09.600 sort of hold holds on to her faith, you know, 185 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:13.679 despite the persecution and the discrimination, and it's like, well, 186 00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:17.840 I know the difference between faith and spirituality and religion, 187 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:22.360 you know, and and faith is personal. It's you know, 188 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:27.840 something that man cannot touch, you know, it's it's something 189 00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:31.559 sacred that's just between me and my higher power. And 190 00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:35.919 I love that that. I mean, she's sort of, in 191 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:39.480 a way was the wisest in the movie and the 192 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:41.879 sanest person in the movie. You know, we all were 193 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:45.759 kind of quirky, crazy characters, kooky characters, you know, including 194 00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:49.679 the kids, and she was just this this core, you know, 195 00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:55.799 stable force, the sense of calm in this world. And uh, 196 00:11:56.840 --> 00:11:59.039 that's what I that's what really drew me to the 197 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:02.240 the story, into the projects, you know, that's what a 198 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:06.200 story we wanted to tell. So yeah, because a lot 199 00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:09.960 of times as LGBTQ people were kind of once we 200 00:12:10.039 --> 00:12:15.879 come out as whatever we are, we're almost obligated to, uh, 201 00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:20.320 you know, throw that away, you know, not just the religion, 202 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:23.480 but like everything and and I think, you know, it's 203 00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:26.960 a it's a delicate conversation, but you know, there is 204 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:32.120 a huge difference between spirituality and religion, and a lot 205 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:37.080 of people enjoy the ritual of Catholicism or religion, you know, 206 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:40.919 the sacraments, the you know, the choir. You know that 207 00:12:41.080 --> 00:12:42.879 that was a big thing in the movie, like singing 208 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:45.399 in the church choir and participate in you know, in 209 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:50.200 the community, and it's like, what are we going to do? 210 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:51.639 We're not welcome, you know. 211 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:56.200 It's the cadence of it all, Like you know that, 212 00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:58.639 That's one of the things I always loved about Mass 213 00:12:58.759 --> 00:13:01.840 was the cadence. You know, I knew what was coming next. 214 00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:07.240 It was almost meditative for me to be there. That's 215 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:09.120 why a lot of folks I know are episcopal now 216 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:13.480 because they're actually welcomed there, they're actually invited in as 217 00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:15.480 opposed to we just don't talk about you. 218 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:18.360 Yeah, I mean I played the piano and I've I've 219 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:21.399 played the piano all through grade school and high school 220 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:23.519 and Catholic Mass. And I enjoyed it because I got 221 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:25.639 out of school a little early so I could rehearse, 222 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:28.559 you know, and I loved it. I love doing it. 223 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:31.519 But then now now I play for, yeah, an Episcopal 224 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:35.320 church that's you know, all affirming and welcoming and it's 225 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:38.360 great and they've never said anything that I've you know, 226 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:43.639 really have been horrified by. You know, sometimes they have 227 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:46.840 pastors who I don't agree with everything, but like, you know, 228 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:52.320 they're they're welcoming and that's a beautiful thing, it really is. Yeah, 229 00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:54.240 I don't know what to say about the Catholic Church. 230 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:57.399 They need to get with the times. I mean, you know, 231 00:13:57.440 --> 00:13:59.799 they need to let priests to marry at least for 232 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:02.360 on and so many. 233 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:06.039 Here's part of the one layer of the hypocrisy. By 234 00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:11.200 the way, because my kids went to a Ukrainian Catholic school, 235 00:14:11.320 --> 00:14:15.879 right and they're priests that they're kind of Eastern Orthodox, 236 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:20.039 I guess in the way that they practice Catholicism recognized 237 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:24.440 by the Roman Catholic Church. Their priests marry, their priests 238 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:27.360 are allowed to marry, and they still you know, participate 239 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:29.879 in the sacraments, and those sacraments are honored. So it's 240 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:35.039 like you've got these offshoots that are not really and 241 00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:39.679 it's perfectly fine, But the Roman Catholic Church still says, no, 242 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:42.360 we need women in leadership. 243 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:44.639 Roles too, but we definitely do. 244 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:48.039 Yeah, So I mean that's the Episcopal Church seems to be, 245 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:50.320 what is it, all of the pageantry and none of 246 00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:50.759 the guilt. 247 00:14:51.720 --> 00:14:56.320 So yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. 248 00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:58.480 I mean, which which makes sense why so many queer 249 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:01.320 folks would gravitate that way, right. 250 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:05.720 The priest still wears a dress. It's just you know, 251 00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:10.600 not not the same. And they're allowed to be married, 252 00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:13.480 and they're allowed to have lives and so well. 253 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:16.919 Like you know, they're they're human beings, right, they have desires, 254 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:20.039 they have needs, They you know, maybe want a family, 255 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:23.840 and it's like we put them on a pedestal in 256 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:26.480 the way that they're untouchable, that they're more godly than 257 00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:30.279 another person. And I think we're realizing as a you know, 258 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:33.159 as a community, as a global community, that we're all 259 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:36.919 the same, we're all equal, you know, we have to 260 00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:41.399 stop idolizing these people who are somehow untouchable, and we're 261 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:44.240 finding that out everywhere I mean not just with our 262 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:49.519 spiritual leaders, but you know, celebrities, with with you know, 263 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:53.759 obviously our politicians, with everyone. I mean, we're all human beings. 264 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:57.759 And I think that there's there's no secrets anymore in 265 00:15:57.799 --> 00:15:59.759 our world because we know everything now. We have all 266 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:03.960 this information that everything's coming out, So whatever you do, 267 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:07.120 it's going to come out somehow, just because of the 268 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:11.120 global society we live in now. And it's like we 269 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:14.159 all just have to be more forgiving and loving and 270 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:15.679 more compassionate to each other. 271 00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:21.039 And how many more examples do we need of the 272 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:28.639 fact that repression breeds harmful behavior, you know, like A 273 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:30.799 equals b. It's a direct correlation. 274 00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:34.000 You know. One of the things that really struck me 275 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:39.600 is this felt very much like a collaboration. I felt 276 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:42.480 the village involved in this film just watching it right 277 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:45.440 and of course reading the credits, I'm like, okay, there's 278 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:50.000 mals Marsy Bowers, you know, and the acting was brilliant 279 00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:53.120 and all that, But talk to me about bringing this together. 280 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:57.440 How did you take it from the short to this? 281 00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:01.039 That's a brilliant Thank you so much. 282 00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:05.799 I Mean, my belief for filmmaking and directing is that 283 00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:09.960 it is a collaboration and that it doesn't matter who 284 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:12.480 has the idea. If it's a good idea, let's do it. 285 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:18.119 And we wanted Alexander to feel like she had a voice, 286 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:20.079 you know, we you know, she was a producer on 287 00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:23.039 the film, and I thought that was very important because 288 00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:28.039 she's you know, carrying this film, and I really, I 289 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:30.400 just I knew we had a bigger story to tell 290 00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:31.079 than the short. 291 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:33.880 I'm going to check it out on Amazon Prime because 292 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:36.680 i want to see the genesis. You know, that led 293 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:38.319 to the full film, and. 294 00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:40.799 I'm a completionist, so now it's like, oh, there's something 295 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:41.559 else that's involved. 296 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:43.519 I got to watch that too, now I have to. 297 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:48.119 Yes, and the little girl in it, Valeria also, she 298 00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:50.759 was actually one of the little girls in the Florida 299 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:55.079 Project that film, the Ryan Baker film, which is wow, 300 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:58.400 brilliant film. Okay, yeah, William Dafoe, I believe he was 301 00:17:58.440 --> 00:18:02.960 not made for an oscar for that warmans, but it's 302 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:09.960 about the homeless camps outside Disney World in Florida. And 303 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:12.559 she was the little girl. She played Isabelle. But now 304 00:18:12.599 --> 00:18:15.200 she's like a teenager, you know, she's at sixteen, so 305 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:19.680 she was too old Okay, we were very excited about 306 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:21.079 the kids week ast. 307 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:29.440 Actually they were brilliant, Yeah, absolutely brilliant. Who played Isabelle Andrea. 308 00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:33.279 Her name is Andrea Rosa Guzman. It's her very first 309 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:37.319 screen project film. She's never done film or television before. 310 00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:44.079 She's a natural. She had a voiceover job at a 311 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:48.160 Disney cartoon for Disney Plus about kindergart I think it's 312 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:52.599 called Kindergarten. But she sings and you know, does crazy 313 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:56.480 voices on that show, and such a talent. 314 00:18:56.920 --> 00:19:00.279 She's got a beautiful voice. You know, she sang you. 315 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:01.880 Yeah, she did you. 316 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:03.920 Know one part in the film and we get to 317 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:04.640 hear her voice. 318 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:08.240 Yeah. She actually performing in the Nutcracker right now. 319 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:11.000 I love she dances too, so of course she does 320 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:14.839 triple threat. 321 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:19.160 Yes, but we got delayed filming so many times, and 322 00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:21.480 we were fifteen days out. We were supposed to film 323 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:26.440 of the Summer twenty twenty two. We we couldn't. We 324 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:28.920 lost funding. We were not able to secure like the 325 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:32.920 funding we needed, which we thought was a guarantee, and 326 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:37.119 we had to postpone filming by a year basically, and 327 00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:40.640 I said, you know what, let's just keep the kids 328 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:43.880 we have because they're so great, and let's just pray 329 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:47.359 that they don't, you know, have a growth spurt, right, 330 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:50.559 and let's just make them a year older. So they 331 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:52.880 were originally in the third grade now and during the 332 00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:56.599 fourth grade. But it worked out because I had time 333 00:19:56.759 --> 00:20:02.079 to work with Andrea, just one on one, and just 334 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:05.759 she and her mom and I would meet several times 335 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:08.519 throughout the year and just we would just work on 336 00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:11.160 you know, just relaxing on camera and just you know, 337 00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:14.480 getting comfortable and building a relationship. And so that was 338 00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:18.880 just really really helpful for the film. I don't know 339 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:22.400 if we would have gotten the performances we were able 340 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:25.480 to capture if we had filmed in twenty twenty two. So, 341 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:27.559 you know, everything works out for a. 342 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:31.240 Reason, exactly. I believe it does. And you know, for me, 343 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:37.359 fourth grade rang true, you know, because ugly bullied, I 344 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:41.000 was really bullied in school didn't start until kind of 345 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:45.000 the end of third grade, much more so in fourth grade. 346 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:49.599 That's where actually kids get mean, I mean that's just 347 00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:50.440 where it starts. 348 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:53.319 I mean, it just makes a lot more sense, you know, 349 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:56.039 fro fourth grade, because you're about to hit puberty. A 350 00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:57.920 lot of kids and a lot of kids are still 351 00:20:57.960 --> 00:21:02.599 like very kid. So it's like that, you know happens. Yeah, 352 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:03.559 so it all works. 353 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:06.079 Out, it does, it does. 354 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:11.640 Going back to what you said, Martha about the authenticity 355 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:16.400 of the film, that's something that I was thinking about 356 00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:22.640 for sure, and that comes from you know, us telling 357 00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:27.759 our own stories, because each of these characters, in different 358 00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:30.519 hands could easily be tropes. 359 00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.720 Oh yeah, you know what I mean. 360 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:39.519 Like starting with our main character. You know, if this 361 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:44.720 were any other Hollywood film, Veronica would have been like, 362 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:47.519 you know, the magical Negro, you know what I mean, 363 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:52.160 Like comes in to solve everyone's problems and show them 364 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:54.920 the air of their ways and then disappears, you know 365 00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:59.640 what I mean. But it she was a flawed character 366 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:05.200 as well, and no one felt like everyone felt real, 367 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:07.240 everyone felt like someone that I would have met, like 368 00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:11.119 your Your character reminded me of me when I was 369 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:14.519 hustling as a as an artist, as a professional artist. 370 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:18.279 You know, it's I'm going to do everything I can 371 00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:23.680 in front of everyone that I can until someone says, oh, here, 372 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:25.960 let me give you a bag full of money for 373 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:30.440 this thing that you're doing on the corner. Like I 374 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.359 knew these people. 375 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:35.319 You did a great job presenting both a human and 376 00:22:35.400 --> 00:22:36.920 a marginally bad actor. 377 00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:42.200 Thank you. I I kind of kicked myself in the 378 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:44.839 foot sometimes seeing those clips, I'm like, oh god, there's 379 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:47.119 so bad, Like what was I doing casting myself as 380 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:47.799 a bad actor. 381 00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:50.960 But I loved it. You did it well, You did 382 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:54.000 it well. It was the character was lovable and approachable 383 00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:55.839 and real, and. 384 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:57.200 You got to be a good actor to be a 385 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:58.400 bad actor on purpose. 386 00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.440 That's true. 387 00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:02.799 That's the other thing I'm going to say is that 388 00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:07.240 the storylines are queer stories. They just are. You know, 389 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:10.880 there are not that many sis people that can identify 390 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:14.720 sis het people who can identify with you know, losing 391 00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:18.319 their job, losing their home because of who they are. 392 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:26.160 That doesn't happen. It's not a Saisset story the way 393 00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:28.440 you know, the inter play between the man that played 394 00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:34.960 your husband and you felt real, did feel real, and you, 395 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:37.720 you know, your reaction. So we see him not be there, 396 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:42.079 he's absent, and you're trying to make up for it 397 00:23:42.119 --> 00:23:44.200 with the kid and tell the kid it's you know, 398 00:23:44.359 --> 00:23:47.000 it's okay, he's in France, you know, And then you 399 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:48.759 got the kid in school going no, he's not. I 400 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:52.200 saw him making out with some Asian dude around the corner. 401 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:53.880