High Falls Film Festival - The Wedding Invitation
Three best friends endure heartbreak, humiliation and hangovers trying to get plus-ones for the wedding of a lifetime.
Interview with Writer/Director Rainy Kerwin
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I originally started writing The Wedding Invitation because there was a real lack of funny roles for women out there. This was before bridesmaids came out and I wanted to create roles where women could be funny, and inappropriate and silly in their underpants not just sexy. I was living in LA and struggling as an actress to get auditions that were meaty parts.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Is this a trick question? Ha! OK, you should not only watch this film, but you should watch it with your best friends because it's about friendship and empowerment and going after what you want with some drunken dry-heaving walk of shame moments that we can all relate to. And it happens to star three women -- something the money-men told us that we couldn't do.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Best friends. Empowerment. Taking control of your life. Whether it's hitting on guys instead of waiting for them to come to you, getting out of a bad relationship or starting your own business, the message is clear: take your control back. You're in charge.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
I began writing this film 10 years ago. Since I was a novice writer, it took several years before a solid draft emerged. So to say that it's evolved is definitely an understatement. At the time Sex and the City hugely influenced me dramatically. My original script had four female leads and voice over. Back then; the film was set up in a much different fashion. It was a $10 million film and we had a different director on board, a producer & a casting director. But unfortunately, we couldn't get it funded. They told us that women meant nothing in the foreign marketing in terms of sales and we had three female leads. So, after years of work, the project imploded. Three years ago I got dumped, and feeling like I was at rock bottom, and totally fearless, I decided to fund the film and make it on my own terms.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
After a year in the cave of post production, the film premiered at the Palm Beach International Film Festival. I was blown away by the reception and pleasantly surprised with the feedback. I’d hope it was funny, but it’s probably best not to take the writer, director, producer & lead actress' word for it.
Something that most strikes me when screening the film is that young men and older men and women have enjoyed it just as much is our target market audience of women in their 20’s, 30’s & 40’s. I think the world is ready to see more films starring women. Universal characters resonate with everybody. Men are watching female driven stories now. It's an exciting time for film.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Something that I didn't mention above is that someone wrote that we weren't feminist enough, because the girls in the story are chasing boys. But I didn't set out to make a feminist film. I set out to make a comedy where the girls were the funny & raunchy characters for a change. The boys are really just a device for the girls to come into their own and take their power back. It was originally titled (ironically) The Guy's the Prize -- because the guy was, in fact, not the prize. I think sometimes that just because I'm a female director who advocates for women in the industry, that I'm expected to make a certain kind of film. I'm a comedy director who happens to be a woman and hopefully in my lifetime I'll make a ton of different kinds of movies: inappropriate comedies, shoot'em up bad guy films (with bad ass chicks) and car chase films with lots of swearing. I've never successfully fit in the box... but I have recently stopped trying… I think… At least… I may try again tomorrow. Who knows?
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
First of all, I love what We Are Moving Stories stands for and how you want to celebrate filmmakers -- especially female filmmakers. I'm a huge advocate for female filmmakers and run a platform called buywomen.com designed to drive audiences to films written and directed by women. Since I'm releasing the film theatrically in April (a self-theatrical distribution venture) having my film featured on your site is a huge benefit. As you know, it's all about grassroots and groundswell. And that's exactly what platforms like yours can do for independent films. Thank you!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify thisfilm’s message?
There is always the dream that a dash of Paul Feig, peppered with a hint of Judd Apatow will come on as an EP, champion the film, and that Lionsgate will pick it up for distribution with a huge marketing spend, and put it in theaters across the US and Canada. But unfortunately on this journey called "independent filmmaking", I've found that the answer is always DIY. The cavalry is not coming and if you believe in the film and the audiences are reacting to it, in my opinion, you've got to put it in theaters and give it a real shot.
So to answer your question, you know… Feig, Apatow, Lionsgate, A24, Sony Pictures Classics, Focus Features...
Short of that... some press closer to release would be great.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I just want people to laugh. I want people to feel good. I made a movie that I would want to see at the theater. I want people to feel inspired when they leave the theater and go out and go after something they want. I want people to see the film with their friends and hopefully relate to the characters and the friendships on the screen.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
A theme that I play with in the film is "Can girls hit on guys?" I mean, the answer is obviously “Yes!” Girls can in fact hit on guys. But often times they don't, and the question is why don't they? Sure, some women do, but it is way more common for guys to hit on girls. Having done a lot of research on this and asking both men and women, I've got some clues to the answer. But I'll let you come to your own conclusions.
Would you like to add anything else?
Yes! This film was proudly shot with an all female crew. I didn't do it to be sexist. And I don't intend to make my next film that way. I think a 50-50 set is the way I like to go in the future. But in this particular instance it was my first feature and I was in charge for a change and I decided to try to up the numbers of women working in Hollywood -- at least in a small way.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Sage Scroope (producer), runs production at YouTube Red. Narmar Hanna (producer) is developing a feature. And for me, The Wedding Invitation was the first of the three pictures late that I'm doing with my production company, It's Raining Films. After The release of TWI in April, I'll begin production on my next feature November, 2017. It's a dark comedy that takes place in the middle of the desert called Dead Between LA & Vegas.
Interview: November 2016
_______________________________________________________________________________
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
_______________________________________________________________________________
The Wedding Invitation
Three best friends endure heartbreak, humiliation and hangovers trying to get plus-ones for the wedding of a lifetime.
Length:
88 mins
Director:
Rainy Kerwin
Producer:
Rainy Kerwin
Narmar Hanna
Sage Scroope
Writer:
Rainy Kerwin
About the writer, director and producer:
Rainy was born in Los Angeles but grew up in Winnipeg, Canada, playing girls’ ice hockey. She loves all things funny and is known as a bit of prankster.
Narmar Hanna is a Florida native living in Los Angeles. She’s an actress who also writes her own projects including the short film The Diner’s Club.
Sage Scroope hails from Australia and is a graduate of the AFI producing program. She’s been involved in producing over a dozen films.
Key cast:
Rainy Kerwin, Camille Guaty, Christina Ulloa, Eoin Macken and Nick George
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): I’m always open to an EP/Influencer who has the connections or name recognition to move the project forward. Film festival directors and journalists.
Funders:
The initial seeds of the budget were raised on Indiegogo. The rest of the film was funded by a handful private investors.
Where can I see it in the next month?
The Wedding Invitation will screen on Sunday, November 13th at the High Falls Film Festival in Rochester, NY. But after that the next opportunity to see the film will be in select cities in April and eventually everywhere on VOD. If you get on the Guest List at www.weddinginvmovie.com you can find out about sneak-peek screenings and get discounts on VOD.